Alpha Omega Western Furnishings is based in Grass Valley, California and has been in business since 1983. The company is known for using wagon wheels to produce various items such as chandeliers, benches, tables, and so much more. Many of the company’s products are featured at theme parks and lodges in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about the company, call 1-800-959-7320.
Q&A WITH COMPANY OWNER TERRY HERTZ:
What kinds of items does your company manufacture and/or sell?
We make benches, dining tables, coffee tables, chandeliers, just about everything. Our items are great for both indoor and outdoor use. We also rebuild a lot of old wheels.
How much do your pieces of furniture cost?
There are not too many people making things in America any more. Our competitors import things from Brazil, Taiwan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and other countries. We make everything here. Our price points start at $400 for a small chandelier and up to $4,000 for table. In this economy, people can’t afford a lot of things, but we think our prices are very fair.
What are the most popular kinds of items you sell?
Wagon wheel chandeliers
Briefly describe how you make an item you sell.
It’s a bit of a long process. It can take up to 8 to 10 weeks to make something like a chandelier. We generally like to get things done within 4 to 6 weeks, but we’ll knock something out in a week or two if the immediate need is there. When working with wagon wheels, we try to pick out quality materials. Then we may have to rebuild them a bit, sand them, and seal them. We offer lots of options on styles and colors because all of our items are custom-made.
What specific kinds of wood does your company use to make its items?
We make most of our products from 100% reclaimed hardwood. We occasionally use some reclaimed softwood and redwood.
How did you get into this business?
I’m one of those people who think they were born 150 years too late. I’ve always had an attraction to the western culture and wagon wheels. When I first got started at this, I built a bench and put it outside a retail store and it was a traffic stopper. One thing led to another, and now we’re making 100 different items.
What’s the craziest custom request you’ve had?
We’ve done lots of unique stuff. We’ve made pictures for a Disney lodge in Orlando, items for lodges in Canada, Six Flags, the Miami Zoo, and McDonald’s. We try to keep our product line pretty unique. We handcraft everything one at a time. We’ve made triple deer chandeliers, which are pretty different.
What kinds of items do you enjoy making most?
The railroad bench is my favorite item to make. It’s a heavy, old, and thick bench with railroad ties. I use parts of old bridges and beams to make it. It’s very dense hardwood with incredible character. It has a clean look. It weighs about 500 pounds.