Edward Victor Maison

When my grandfather took over the business, bamboo rakes were one of our other highest selling items. The business sold over 50,000 rakes a year for 25 years to a store called Agway. When World War II occurred however, and the embargo on Japan went into effect, the company was unable to purchase materials from Japan. As a result of this, Agway, among others turned to another suppler. Their new supplier made his rakes out of wood as opposed to bamboo. After the war, when the market began to rise again, Agway and many other companies no longer bought from Bamboo and Rattan Works, Inc., and because of this, the Bamboo Works stopped selling bamboo rakes in fear of being pushed out of the market .

Bamboo and Rattan Works then moved into the production of custom bamboo blinds. It carried ten different types, one of which was a tortoise shell style. These blinds were made into any measurement needed. Having preexisting relations with Bloomingdale's, from selling them materials, we sold thousands of these custom made blinds to them, and others, including walk in or call in customers. Eventually, because of the time and work needed to create one blind, our company turned to importing prefabricated blinds. After ten or so years, we began to notice a decline in customer orders, and reverted back to custom made blinds .

3 of 5