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FURNITURE FACTORY IN THE ARCTIC?
X
Full Size Sofa and Love Seat, Tuxedo Style, Traditional Skirting, Bolsters, Reversable Pattern Aligned Cushions

                     The Story

   T
he Department of Economic Development, 
   Government of Northwest Territories, Canada,
   had a fledgling upholstery operation severely
   in need of production and design engineering. 
   The operation was located in Hay River "North
   of 60°" (the parallel) and handicapped by its
   location hundreds of miles from its suppliers
   and major markets.

    
CONSULTING FIRM SAYS "IMPOSSIBLE"

   A major and well respected consulting firm,
   conducted a year long feasibility study of 
   the project and gave it a resounding thumbs
   down.  Not possible to carry off.  Dozens of
   reasons were given in its 200 page report.

     
GOVT OFFICIALS NOT CONVINCED

   Unconvinced, Govt. officials sought out the
   services of Brooks Engineering & Design, a
   then, one man operation working the twin
   disciplines of industrial engineering and
   industrial design.  Being highly impressed
   with the company's production engineering
   work for a successful British Columbia interior
   furnishings company, they wanted to enlist
   the aid of "the Yank" who enjoyed moving
   low tech operations to higher tech.

  
EXISTING FURNITURE AN EMBARRASMENT

   The existing line of furniture had a park bench
   like appearance with 2" thick, very hard foam 
   cushions.  The furniture was so unattractive
   and production so flawed that some workers 
   were embarrassed to the point of taking a 
   back road arriving behind the factory where 
   they could park out of sight so no one would
   know where they worked. 
 
       "YANK" DESIGNS NEW FURNITURE 
 
   Reinvention of the entire seating line was 
   necessary including frames, tooling, jigs 
   and production system.  Space being at a
   premium (unavailable), the existing facility
   had to be used (the Moose Hall- an old
   house with walls removed). No room for
   shipping so a 40' semi trailer was backed
   up to the front to serve as a shipping room.

     FURNITURE FACTORY BESTS BIGGIES

   Bottom Line
:  Pride in the operation and its
   new furniture blossomed.  Employees begged
   to show it off at the regional fair. Factory was
   fully operational in 12 months.  A successful
  
trade show drew rave reviews including a CBC
   interview with the "Yank".
 Perhaps best of all,
   the little company
won a bidding competition
   with major southern manufacturers
 to supply
   the NWT Govt's annual furniture needs 
and
  
was operating in the black the first year.
    


    

Tuxedo Style, Contemporary, Bold Floral Pattern Chair, Sofa Set
Furniture Factory Frame Shop Interior, Part Storage R, Foam Wrap Storage L, Seat Cushion Foam in Attic not shown
 



                     Century Style love seat in brown suede.  A product of the 

          Hay River Furniture Factory, Hay River, NWT, Canada - Ca 1976




 



                                  Classic Style Nylon White Velvet Sofa and Love Seat

                                               



 
 
        
                 Above Center:

                           Arctic factory space at a premium so back a semi-trailer up
                  to the 
factory door for a shipping room.  
                                  

           



                          Above:         The crew that made it all happen


                    Below:         With a little help from the local newspaper
























 










                                                 Century Style 3 cushion sofa and chair





                   

                                              Grand opening ceremonies for hospital

                                         Hay River, NWT, Canada






                                                     An oldie "Snow Cat" ready and waiting






                                              
                                 Dumptruck Northwest Territories Style







                                            Pulled and waiting for the "Spring Break Up"







                                             River Barges frozen in place til spring thaw







                                     Typical Northwest Territories sunset - A daily occurence





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