I've been to BDDW's showroom (very beautiful) and to their woodshop in Philadelphia and know some of the employees fairly well. And I think forwardthunk (a disgruntled john e-r., according to most guesses by employees) is simply bitter and angry after being let go after a brief two weeks (a trial period in which he proved unemployable - had he not been fired, he would've gotten health benefits, a very competitive wage, and a cool, stable (and safe) place to work). It's been almost a year since your firing -you are 25 now and far too old for this - I hope soon you will find a good job, an end to your bitterness (perhaps real therapy, not apartment therapy?), and better ways to spend your evenings that do not include posting on-line lies about a good employer and company whose only transgression was to find you lacking the skills needed of their artisans, workers, and craftspeople (yes, women work in the woodshop too!).

BDDW's woodshop has been welcomed by Philadelphia - it has brought well-paying jobs and a new creativity to a struggling neighborhood (and city and country) where safe and well-paid manufacturing and artisan jobs are increasingly rare (where else can recent art school grads even think of finding a job these days?). Having seen it, I believe BDDW's production process (good working conditions, benefits, and wages in a safe and creative environment) is as beautiful as their final products (a rarity these days) and I'm quite happy to see they have not allowed themselves to grow so big or uncaring that they move production overseas to some sweatshop (it's clear john r. has never seen the inside of a real sweatshop or he wouldn't throw the term about so lightly). These creations really are a labor of love.
Bravo to BDDW.

I have a medium sized custom woodworking shop five minutes from BDDW's facility. Upon hearing that they moved there, I went over to introduce myself. I was blown away by every aspect of the shop. From lumber in stock to the finished and unfinished pieces of furniture to the machinery to the radiant heat that they were putting into the new plant floor that they were pouring, everything pointed to a top flight company. I saw no attempts to cut corners. I saw nothing that would place employees in harm's way.

I recommended that an architect freind of mine apply for a woodworking job there. She did and was hired and is thrilled to be working (with health insurance and other benefits) for BDDW and Tyler. I went to the company Christmas party and saw dozens of happy, seemingly well adjusted employees enjoying themselves. With its jobs, artistic integrity and superior design and products how could BDDW be anything but a welcome addition to the creative community of Philadelphia?