The true origins of Sheffield Furniture & Interiors go back to 1934 when the supervisor of a Pennsylvania furniture factory took a chance and hired a young man as his new drill press operator. On his first day, he struggled to keep up because one of his arms had been crippled by polio. The supervisor was impressed with the young man’s persistence but knew he would have to let him go. The young man was determined to successfully run the drill press, despite his handicap, and came up with an ingenious plan. That young man was my grandfather, Francis Shrawder.

After his shift, Francis told his supervisor that the next day he would outproduce the best operator by double. All he needed was a night in the factory so he could use the machine shop to fit the drill press with a foot lever. His supervisor was skeptical but agreed. Francis worked all night and made good on his promise.

His supervisor was so impressed with the new invention that he made Francis the head of quality and efficiency. His first task was to fit every drill press with a foot lever. Within a year, the factory was producing a 3-drawer chest with less than half a man-hour of labor.

Francis Shrawder went on to start a furniture repair and refinishing shop, and his reputation for quality craftsmanship spread. The shop employed as many as five people, including my father Lee Shrawder. In 1983, my grandfather retired, and my wife Liz and I purchased his shop and planned to build it into a full-service, upscale furniture retailer. As time passed, we became experts at repairing and refinishing everything from church pews to dining tables to Steinway pianos. In the early 1990s, Liz and I began selling furniture and in 2000, our partner Dave Zartman joined us. With the help of our amazing team, we turned that little restoration business into the Sheffield Furniture & Interiors that today employs approximately 100 people.

We now carry over 100 of the finest furniture brands and have helped to furnish homes worldwide. Our award-winning interior designers love what they do, and it shows in every project. Our clients include CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, sports figures, U.S. senators, governors, and those who are just starting out.

In keeping with my grandfather’s legacy, we hold ourselves and our team to very high standards. The Shrawder family believes in a first-class strategy. We only hire first-class people, purchase from first-class furniture manufacturers, and serve the very best clients. This makes our business fun and ensures a great experience for our clients.

Commitment to excellence remains a family tradition that is being continued by our sons Matt and Joe and Joe’s wife Katie. On behalf of our extended family, I invite you to experience Sheffield and discover for yourself why we are the Philadelphia areas premier destination for fine furniture and interior design.

- Jim Shrawder
President