Jane (left) and James Baker
In 12 years, Jane and James Baker have turned an idea into a successful small business.
Now they hope to make it a successful, not-so-small business, after selling their company to an Ohio firm.
The Bakers have sold WoodWare Furniture Co. to Ghent Manufacturing Co. for an undisclosed price, it was announced Tuesday.
The Bakers will continue to manage WoodWare, a four-employee business based at 400 W. Main St., Ephrata.
WoodWare makes tables, carts and lecterns that hold computers and audio-visual equipment.
"It's a perfect marriage," Jane Baker said. "They were looking to diversify. We were looking for exposure. They have a big dealer network. That was what we always wanted."
By becoming a division of Ghent and selling products through Ghent's dealers, WoodWare foresees a sharp rise in its sales of $500,000 a year.
"We're looking to blow that out of the water with our new organization and our new products," Jane Baker said.
The Bakers, of Lititz, started WoodWare in 1998, counting on the combination of Jane Baker's advertising and graphics talent, and James Baker's knowledge of furniture design and production.
Jane Baker had been an advertising freelancer. James Baker had been a Yerger Bros. executive, developing office furniture that Yerger Bros. made for Staples, OfficeMax and Williams-Sonoma.
"We started out with not a single client, not a single backer. We financed it ourselves and took the leap," Jane Baker said.
The Bakers initially targeted the education market because schools "pay their bills," she said.
From the outset, their strategy has been to offer products with "the function and value where they need to be," meaning the items are both durable and affordable, Jane Baker said.
Today schools account for 70 percent of WoodWare's sales. The balance comes from business and government.
WoodWare designs its own products, getting area manufacturers to make the parts to WoodWare's specifications.
With the new ownership, Jane Baker, previously WoodWare president, now is its director of marketing and business development. James Baker, previously vice president, now is its director of operations and design.