Copyright M Live Michigan
ZEELAND, MI — Before the final grandfather clock rolls off the production line, Howard Miller plans to sell its remaining inventory as a “thank-you” to West Michigan for nearly a century of support. Howard Miller, a third-generation family business famous for its handcrafted clocks, will open its facility at 860 E. Main St. in Zeeland to the public starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. The sale will continue until 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. “It’s been an honor and privilege to headquarter our operations in West Michigan for the past 99 years,” Jim O’Keefe, vice president of sales and marketing at Howard Miller, said in a statement. “We’ve always enjoyed tremendous support from our community, from the skilled craftspeople who built our products to customers who have embraced our brands. This sale is our way of giving back to our employees, their families and friends, and to the broader West Michigan community for decades of support. All sales are cash and carry. Delivery is available for an additional charge and must be arranged at the time of the purchase. All first-quality products will have steep discounts. Seconds or scratch-and-dent items will be eligible for additional markdowns. Items for sale include grandfather, tripod, wall, table and mantle clocks, as well as curio, storage, bar and wine cabinets. Howard Miller in July announced it would wind down its manufacturing operations in anticipation of closing permanently in 2026. The company cited the impacts of the poor housing market, inflation and tariffs as reasons for shutting down. The Howard Miller Foundation intends to continue its philanthropic mission serving nonprofits along the Lakeshore Region. Howard Miller was founded in 1926 by Howard C. Miller, son of office furniture manufacturing legend Herman Miller. Initially, the company crafted fine chiming wall and mantel clocks designed to last generations, expanding over the decades to add grandfather clocks, curio cabinets, entertainment centers and more. In 1983, Howard Miller purchased Hekman Furniture Co., which will also be closing as part of this wind down. Some Hekman products will be available to purchase during the November sale. Howard Miller has earned many design awards and was twice selected as an international award winner by the American Institute of Interior Designs. Several of its products have been selected by Fortune Magazine as among the top 100 industrial design products in the world. Its clocks are displayed in museums nationwide.
