By BRENDA OWEN
Pontotoc Progress

Another Pontotoc furniture manufacturer will soon close its doors leaving more than 100 people unemployed.
Upholstery manufacturer and multi-line importer Brookwood Furniture Company Inc. will cease operations at its plants in Mississippi within 60 days.


Brookwood Furniture will continue in the upholstery business through existing partnerships in China.
The Pontotoc plant will continue to operate until late September or early October, as will the plant at Bruce.
Regarding the closure, Brookwood CEO Dick Howard said, “Our Mississippi production and office personnel are amongst the best in the business, and we very deeply regret having to close our Mississippi manufacturing operation.”
A press release from the company stated, “Like many manufacturers, Brookwood has faced increasing input, operating and transportation costs while the upholstery category is under price pressure at retail. The company could have chosen to degrade the product by putting a lesser construction or materials choice beneath the cover, but felt that unfair to a loyal customer base and their expectations for quality and value.
“Recent years have seen consistent losses from the manufacturing operation, and the current depressed business climate has heightened that reality.”