Peachy the Magazine October November 2014 | Page 119

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The first known photo of Bassett Furniture, aka “Old Town.” Photo courtesy of Bassett
Historical Center.
JBIII’s strategies at Vaughan-Bassett
were practical, and they produced
results. He kept his bank account fat and
his factories lean, investing in cuttingedge five axis routers and luring the
best talent. He warehoused increased
inventory so that he could implement
and market an express shipping program that the Chinese could not rival.
He went without a salary when needed,
infused millions of his own equity into
the enterprise and worked harder and
longer than anyone. Most significantly,
he bolstered his workers and made them
believe in themselves and their ability to
innovate and compete. He backed up his
words with actions, canvassing them for
suggestions on improving operations,

offering creative incentives, doing any
and everything to prevent lay-offs and
providing a free on-site medical clinic
not only for the workers, but for their
families as well. He kept his sense of
humor, even when he could not sleep
at night, and took solace in his quite
remarkable wife, his lively children, his
loyal bird dogs and the ever-present
notion that he was doing the right thing.
As a result Vaughan-Bassett was able to
play ball with the Chinese until it became
apparent that the game was being
played on a field that was increasingly
uneven. JBIII was neither a xenophobe
nor a protectionist, and he had a pugilistic bent, relishing a good fight, but
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