Our Story
Roots
Built from scratch.
Our origin story dates back to the early 1960s, when a South African-born cabinetmaker and metalworker named Grahame Watson set up shop on Bainbridge Island near our present-day Poulsbo, Washington home. Twenty-five years later, Grahame handed the keys to a partnership led by Bill Haggerty, Daniel Warn, and Clif McKenzie, whose leadership stemmed more from custodianship than ownership. These days, we continue to honor Grahame's vertical integration model but have developed a continuation strategy to ensure long-term stability for the hardworking men and women who form the backbone of Watson.
We love this place.
The Orchard is more than merely our Pacific Northwest headquarters and the land that surrounds it. The Orchard defines us, feeds us, fills us. With a perimeter of towering Douglas firs and vistas of the Olympic Mountains, it’s quite the inspirational workplace. The Orchard is more expansive than its literal acreage; it's an oxygen-rich metaphor of what we're here to do and, more importantly, what we’re here to take care of.
People
Meet Our Team
At Watson Furniture, our team is the heart of our success. Comprised of passionate designers, skilled craftsmen, and dedicated customer service professionals, we are united by our commitment to excellence. Each person brings a unique perspective and wealth of experience, ensuring everything we do meets the highest standards of quality and design. We don't just make furniture; we build relationships and careers for a lifetime.
There’s dignity in working with your hands.
Making beautiful things is immensely satisfying. We all feel it here, whether we’re designing, building, marketing, or shipping Watson furniture. There’s something very special about contributing to a process that results in tangible products made with care and respect. Equally true for those of us in innovation, sales, and support roles as it is for those of us on the factory floor. In addition to creating goods, Watson is creating jobs for people who want what a lot of workers don’t have: the pride that comes with craftsmanship. That’s what building and manufacturing can do.
We expect certain things of ourselves and of one another. It helps us do our jobs better, both as builders and as citizens of the world.
Embody Character
We operate with a high degree of kindness, humility, and respect. Our character is revealed in our words, choices, and actions.
Take Responsibility
We are responsible for asking questions and taking action. We don’t blame others. We don’t make excuses. We seek solutions and we finish what we start.
Play to Win as a Team
We embrace individual challenges and strive to get better every day. We work together to create competitive advantages and we play by the rules. We understand our future depends upon our ability to hustle, compete, and win.