October 24, 2023
A small furniture company based in the heart of High Point, North Carolina bears the title of being one of a few women-owned furniture companies.
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DARRAN Furniture is a furniture manufacturer that is woman-owned and family-operated. According to Data USA, women only make up 26.6% of the manufacturing side of the furniture industry.
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“It’s unique for sure. Our industry has always been in the past kind of a ‘good ol’ boy’ furniture network. It’s been challenging,” said Jennifer Cashion, who took over her father’s position as president of the company in 2009.
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Cashion details her experience as a woman in the furniture industry, “A lot of people had been used to dealing with my dad and then me, a woman, especially a younger woman at the time in 2009, I think that transition and that respect just took a little longer.”
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Cashion graduated in 2001 with a degree in communications. When the market crashed shortly after beginning the job search, Cashion transitioned into working in sales at DARRAN Furniture. When she took over her father’s position, Cashion noticed the difficulties in making a name for herself in her father’s footsteps.
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“When I took over, everyone still wanted to go to my dad with issues or to ask questions, and I told him if I’m ever going to be able to do this job, if I’m ever going to be able to learn it, I need to be in your office,” Cashion said motioning to the space around her. “He moved me in here so anytime anyone came in to see him, they would have to walk past me.”
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Phillip Krieger, director of engineering at DARRAN Furniture, has worked at Herman Miller, Geiger, and Teknion: all large, male-owned furniture corporations.
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“One of the major differences I would have to say is that the Teknion’s and Herman Miller’s of the world are more humongous corporations versus the more family feel of a smaller size woman-owned business, ” said Kreiger, who has held a position at DARRAN Furniture for a little over a year and half.
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“Even though I’ve held some higher roles in large corporations, you still feel like you’re position number 31 down the food chain,” Krieger said. “You don’t feel like you’re important and that you make a difference everyday when you come into work. It’s a better feeling, better atmosphere, and better environment to work in.”
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Cashion commented on how women tend to bring a softer touch to the space they inhabit, noting her biggest challenge as a female executive in a very demanding industry is the balance of raising children and running a business.
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“I do think as a mom it certainly pulls on you more when your time is limited with your kids due to work volume and stress.” Cashion, a mom of two girls, said, “My family and kids are very important to me, but I also constantly think about the 150 people we employ and their families, who count on the company and me to work hard to ensure our success.”
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Maeve Stickell, a sophomore Interior Design student at High Point University, comments on the distinction of being an up-and-coming female in the furniture industry.
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“It’s definitely changed a lot the past few years, and I expect the industry to be very different once I graduate.” Stickell said, “Working in the furniture market, I have found the majority of my bosses to be male; however, there is quite a large community of female interior designers emerging in furniture.
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When asked about what advice Cashion has for young women entering the furniture industry, she says, “Once you get in, you will never get out. I think the furniture industry has come a long way with women entering the industry both on the interior design side and on the executive level side, but it’s an amazing industry.”