Meet Joe Chou of China Furniture and Arts in Westmont

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Chou.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Joe. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My father was a carpenter by trade and owned his own shop before he immigrated to the US to serve the Chinese community in 1982. That’s when I initially learned about furniture. At that time, it was never my intention to run the business and continue the legacy. It was not until I finished my master’s degree in Chicago that I would assume an ownership role. It was around that time that I also met my wife Lili, and together we have been running the store for 27 years in Westmont.

Seeing my father operating his business mainly through engagement with the Chinese community when I first came to Chicago in 1988, I noticed then that Chinese culture still seemed somewhat mysterious to the western world. The furniture and art pieces were mostly only seen in the movies or magazines as accent pieces in the background. I believed that there could be a larger market for our products if only they were made more widely available to the world. The unique quality and beauty of these pieces meant that they could earn a spot in any home.

I started to research the history of Chinese furniture and traveled all over China to find the sources where the pieces were originally made. In doing so, I was able to find partners who could build high quality handmade furniture. Those trips were quite stressful and the early days were a struggle, but it all paid off when I saw how our clients appreciated what had been brought to their home to make it more unique and elegant.

Through those journeys, I not only found pieces that were unique, but also was able to make them more affordable to the public by eliminating the middlemen. The passion we have for Chinese inspired furniture and décor made our business a success. We are constantly updating our collection and creating new designs that adhere to the leading trends. We often transform hints from Chinese culture into functional pieces, giving new life to a vintage piece. We insist on maintaining the highest quality of product and standards of service.

Aside from our online store, we continue to maintain a physical store serving the Chicagoland area. The showroom is truly like no other. We treat it like a museum filled with pieces from various eras and Chinese dynasties throughout thousands of years. We love it when first time visitors express their awe and admiration for what we have built here.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When Lili and I started to work in this shop, there were only two of us in the store and we had to handle everything in the operation: purchasing, importing, warehousing, selling, servicing. Without internet at the time, after the store was closed the communication with the factories started. We had little time to ourselves besides work. Our motivation and entrepreneurial spirit carried us through those long hours. However, it did provide us with the chance to learn and know every detail of our business.

Traveling to China in the early 90’s was pretty rough. Getting to the sources sometimes meant days on the road, and many of them were unpaved. However, it also created the opportunity to obtain the rare and genuine. As for the furniture, due to the humidity and climate differences, treating solid wood before production and servicing it after sale was very challenging. I spent my first couple of years learning various furniture repair techniques every time I visited the factories and worked with them.

It was also a challenge to transform a 10,000 square foot showroom into a digital platform. Our team started in 2000 and now we have the largest selection available on the internet that serves not only nationwide but also all over the world. We are very proud that most of the tasks were done in house. From designing, photo shooting, marketing, shipping and service, we were lucky to have talented people that helped us grow.

China Furniture and Arts – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
1. We custom design and hand make Asian style solid wood furniture and import Chinese antiques and replicas. Our expertise in traditional Chinese rosewood furniture provides impeccable quality of product and service. We are the premier dealer or rosewood furniture in the US and one of the only companies that offers these products for sale online. With the passion for Chinese furniture and art, we continue to discover new designs. Our handmade solid rosewood furniture can even be custom ordered to meet clients’ needs. Our lifetime warranty reflects the confidence that our quality is second to none.

2. We started with only two people selling locally and now we have about 20 talented employees we enjoy working with. Today, we serve clients nationwide and our website features 2000+ items. It’s the largest Chinese furniture & décor specialty store online. As recognition for our product grew throughout the years, many movie/tv productions sought us out and featured our products in their scenes. Iron Man 3, The Good Wife, Ugly Betty, and House of Cards are just a few examples. We even sold a life size Chinese gong to NASDAQ that is currently being used on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor.

3. Our consistency of providing quality of product and service earned very high ranking in various platforms like Houzz, Amazon and BBB

4. We are celebrating the business’s 35th anniversary this summer.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is seeing a goal achieved through hard work and perseverance. There is no greater satisfaction. To think of the humble beginnings of when our business was first starting out, and to see it continue to thrive and grow today, is incredibly rewarding.

We believe in both the quality of what we sell, and also the high emphasis we place on pleasing our customers. To see their positive reactions is a constant reminder that puts everything we have worked for into perspective.

Contact Info:

• Address: 35 S Cass Ave, Westmont IL 60559
• Website: www.chinafurnitureonline.com
• Phone: 630-241-2888
• Email: asst2@chinafurnitureandarts.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChinaFurnitureAndArts/
• Other: Houzz – https://www.houzz.com/pro/chinafurnitureandarts/china-furniture-and-arts ; Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/chinafurniture/boards/

Image Credit:
Tri Ngo

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