Why some orders are taking longer, and what we’re doing about it

Over the past few months, some Hardman orders have taken longer than they should have. For customers waiting on furniture, especially those who ordered toward the end of 2025, this has been frustrating. We understand that.

This note is intended to explain what happened, what we are doing to correct it, and how we are changing the way we plan production going forward.

 

What happened at the end of 2025

At the end of 2025, we received an exceptionally high number of orders in a short period of time.

That level of demand was encouraging, but it also created a production backlog that was larger than we were prepared for. Many pieces moved through the workshop more slowly than planned, especially larger tables, beds, custom pieces, and orders requiring specific wood selections.

In hindsight, we should have adjusted our quoted delivery times earlier and communicated more clearly when the backlog began to build. Some customers received changing timelines rather than one clear and reliable update. That is not the standard we want to provide.

 

Material supply became harder through winter

The increase in orders came at the same time as a more difficult winter supply period.

Many of our pieces are made from large solid hardwood boards. For chairs,  dining tables, beds, and custom pieces, not every board is suitable. We need boards with the right length, thickness, drying quality, and visual character for each order.

During the winter months, the supply of suitable oak and walnut boards became less predictable. That meant some orders could not move forward simply because the right timber was not available at the right time.

To reduce this pressure, we have invested more heavily in advance wood purchasing. Instead of relying as closely on short-term availability, we are now holding more suitable material ahead of production. This helps us plan more reliably and reduce delays caused by material shortages.

 

Power interruptions added further pressure

The workshop also experienced unexpected power cuts during winter. For a furniture workshop using CNC equipment, sanding systems, extraction, and other machinery, that kind of interruption has a direct effect on production.

A lost production day is not always easy to recover. When a workshop is already dealing with high volume, those interruptions compound quickly.

To address this, we have invested in a high-power generator so the workshop can continue operating independently when the local power supply becomes unstable. This is a practical change intended to protect production time and reduce the risk of further interruptions.

 

Increasing production capacity

We have also purchased new machinery to increase workshop capacity.

This matters because many Hardman pieces involve a mix of precision machining, hand assembly, sanding, oiling, and finishing. Certain designs require substantial CNC time, and when demand rises sharply, those stages can become bottlenecks.

The new equipment is intended to help increase throughput while maintaining the level of detail and construction quality we expect from the workshop.

 

Pausing work that does not help clear the backlog

Erika and I have also looked closely at the work we directly control.

For now, we have paused development of new collections. New collection work takes up design time, sampling time, CNC time, finishing time, and production attention. In a normal period, that work is important for the future of the business. In the current period, clearing delayed customer orders has to come first.

We have also stopped placing new furniture orders for our showroom displays. Instead, we are temporarily curating new displays using pieces already in stock, cancelled orders, and existing furniture that can be refreshed with simpler changes, such as a new upholstery selection. This still allows us to create a considered showroom environment, but without adding unnecessary pressure to the workshop.

These are practical decisions Erika and I can make directly. Our priority is to make sure the work we control does not get in the way of completing existing customer orders.

 

What we are changing

We are making several practical changes.

• We have increased quoted delivery times where needed and will continue to monitor them to ensure they accurately reflect our current capacity.
  
  
• We are purchasing more wood in advance, especially for larger tables, beds, and custom orders.
  
  
• We have added generator capacity to protect the workshop from power interruptions.
  
  
• We are supporting further investment in machinery to increase production capacity, which will greatly help with bed and chair production.
  
  
• We have paused new collection development while we work through the backlog.
  
  
• We have stopped placing new showroom orders and are using existing pieces, stock pieces, and cancelled orders where possible.
  
  
• We are reviewing delayed orders more closely and prioritising orders that have already passed their original delivery window.
  
  
• We are improving how we communicate delays so customers receive clearer updates, rather than vague or shifting estimates.
  
  
  

What this means for current orders

For customers currently waiting, we know this explanation does not make the wait easier. A delay is still a delay.

Our goal now is to move through the backlog in a controlled way, without rushing pieces out before they are ready and without giving dates we cannot stand behind.

Where orders are delayed, we are working to provide clearer timelines, final product photographs, and more direct updates once a piece reaches the later stages of production.

 

Why are we sharing this

Hardman furniture is made from solid hardwood and built to order. That means our process depends on real materials, real workshop capacity, and the time required to properly build and finish each piece.

We are sharing this because we believe customers deserve a clearer explanation of what has caused the backlog and what we are doing to fix it.

The last few months have shown us where our planning and communication needed to improve. We are making those changes now, and we are grateful to the customers who have continued to work with us while we do so.

Liam Hardman
Founder, Hardman