ZEELAND — An iconic, third-generation business in Zeeland known for handcrafted clocks will shutter manufacturing operations after nearly 100 years, the business announced in a release July 10.
Howard Miller, which employs approximately 195 people at plants in Zeeland and Traverse City, as well as two sites in North Carolina, will wind down production after the fourth quarter, remaining open into 2026 to sell off inventory.
Employees, distributors and customers were informed July 9, according to the release. Employees will receive a severance package and job placement support.
The company cited a “convergence” of market influences, including tariffs and the larger furniture industry.
“We are incredibly disappointed to have reached this point in our journey,” said President and CEO Howard “Buzz” Miller, grandson of the company’s founder. “For nearly a century, we have manufactured clocks, custom cabinets and other furniture designed to enhance the lives of our customers at home. We’ve been blessed with an incredible workforce of skilled craftspeople and professionals who enabled our company to grow and prosper for decades.
“… Furniture sales are closely linked to the health of the housing market, which is struggling. Our hopes for a market recovery early in the year were quickly dashed as tariffs rattled the supply chain, sparked recession fears and pushed mortgage rates higher. The furniture industry continues to shed jobs and announce plant closings.
“This has been compounded by inflation and rising interest rates. Our business has been directly impacted by tariffs that have increased the cost of essential components unavailable domestically and driven specialty suppliers out of business, making it unsustainable for us to continue our operations.
“We are deeply grateful to our talented team, our committed distributors and our loyal customers who have supported us throughout the years. We will complete orders currently in process with the intent of winding down manufacturing operations and then remaining open and available into next year as the finished goods of clocks and furniture are sold through the company’s various distribution channels.”
According to Miller, the company has been unable to find a buyer, but would entertain offers.
The Howard Miller Foundation, the release said, “will continue to fulfill its philanthropic mission and its longstanding commitment to nonprofits along the lakeshore.”
Howard Miller was founded in 1926 by Howard C. Miller, son of furniture legend Herman Miller, whose resulting business employs thousands in the Zeeland area.
Howard Miller started by crafting chiming wall clocks and mantel clocks with all-wood casings, according to the company’s website. Over the years, it began producing high-end cabinets and desks.
By the 1940s, Howard Miller was making avant garde clocks still found in galleries around the world. During WWII, the company aided in the war effort, producing anti-aircraft gun covers for planes built by the Ford Motor Company.
In the 1950s, the company focused on futuristic clocks, then turned attention to iconic grandfather clocks in the 1960s. In 1983, Howard Miller purchased the Hekman Furniture Company in Grand Rapids. In 1994, the company bought Woodmark Upholstery. By 2001, Howard Miller had produced over 15 million clocks.
The business’ name is found on multiple buildings in Zeeland, including the Howard Miller Public Library and the Howard Miller Community Center.
‘The forefront of clockmaking’
Zeeland Mayor Kevin Klynstra responded to a request for comment via email to The Sentinel, saying it’s a sad day for the company’s employees and the city.
“It’s always hard to see a company close, especially one that’s been around for 100 years,” Klynstra wrote. “(Howard Miller) has always been a big part of the history of Zeeland. They have been at the forefront of clockmaking for a long time and the family has always been very generous, donating thousands of dollars to local nonprofits and Hope College.”
Katelyn Bosch VerMerris, director of the Zeeland Historical Society, also commented on the lasting legacy of the iconic brand.
“Clock manufacturing has a significant and far-reaching legacy in Zeeland, from the hundreds of people who worked in the industry, to the historic factories that still define our landscape, to the clocks that now grace homes across the country,” she said.
“For over 100 years, Howard Miller Clock Company and the family have been pillars in the Zeeland community, representing the best of Zeeland — entrepreneurial spirit, design innovation, and a commitment to quality that has stood the test of time.”
To learn more, go to howardmiller.com.
Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Howard Miller, iconic Michigan clockmaker, will shutter in Zeeland after nearly 100 years
Reporting by Austin Metz, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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