What, exactly, is happening at the former Howard Miller in Zeeland? According to a release from investors, the historic clockmaking company will relaunch under new ownership.
The official announcement came May 7. The company will operate under the direction of Jim O’Keefe, the brand’s former vice president of sales and marketing, and will remain headquartered in Zeeland.
The relaunch is a complete change of direction for a brand that announced it would shutter nearly a year ago. In July 2025, company representatives cited a “convergence” of market influences, including tariffs and the larger furniture industry, as reasons for the closure.
The announcement impacted close to 200 employees at plants in Zeeland and Traverse City, as well as two sites in North Carolina. The company was expected to wind down production after the fourth quarter and remain open to sell off inventory in 2026. There was an equipment auction in February.
At the time, President and CEO Howard “Buzz” Miller — grandson of the company’s founder — said representatives had been unsuccessful in securing a buyer, but would entertain offers. According to the new release, an investor group including J.C. Huizenga, Phil Poel and Bill McKendry first approached Howard Miller in mid-2025. The parties closed on the deal March 9.
O’Keefe wrote the new ownership group is building on “an established tradition of quality workmanship and iconic design.”
“Howard Miller has always had a deep connection with the people who bring these clocks into their homes,” O’Keefe wrote. “Our goal is to honor that legacy while building a company that carries it forward in a meaningful way.”
According to the release, members of the original family will remain involved as advisors, and the company will relaunch with the brand’s most popular designs first before ramping up production of new and updated collections.
“Howard Miller is a rare kind of brand — one with deep cultural roots and a legacy of craftsmanship that still resonates today,” Huizenga wrote in the release. “We see an opportunity to not just preserve what Howard Miller has been, but to reintroduce what it can be for the next generation.”
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Howard Miller will relaunch under new ownership in Zeeland
Reporting by Austin Metz, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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