Will offer only imported products

PONTOTOC, Miss. — Midpriced upholstery and imported case goods resource Brookwood Furniture is closing its upholstery manufacturing operations here and will source its product from China.

The shutdown is expected in the next 60 days and will idle some 100 employees.

The 40-year-old company said in a news release, “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 its expectations for quality and value.”

The company also said that in recent years it has seen “consistent” losses from the manufacturing operation, “and the current depressed business climate has heightened that reality.”

In March, the company said it would only import product it couldn’t make competitively through its own manufacturing operations.

Formed earlier, the company’s Timothy Scott International division offers fully upholstered seating from Asia. The company’s wood line is called Aubrey Nichole Designs and was established in the last two years.

Brookwood said previously that it is taking advantage of the 20 years of overseas design and sourcing experience of President Phil Hood, who became a principal in the company two years ago.