Thos. Moser, a high-end furniture maker based in Auburn, has been sold to a Portland holding company.
The new owner is Chenmark, a family-owned firm that acquires and operates small businesses.
Thos. Moser was founded by Thomas Moser, a Bates College professor, in 1972.
In recent years, the company has been led by his son Aaron Moser, who is chairman of the board and will stay on in an ambassador role, “helping to ensure the values and traditions that have defined the company continue to thrive,” a Chenmark spokesperson told Mainebiz in an email.
Philip Hussey, a Chenmark vice president, has been named CEO of Thos. Moser and will “work closely alongside the existing Thos. Moser leadership team,” Chenmark said.
Auburn base
Operations will continue to be based in Auburn, where the company has an 80,000-square-foot workshop on Wrights Landing Road, near the airport.
Thos. Moser has 112 employees, and the team is expected to remain in place.
The furniture is still hand-crafted, with furniture sold both direct to consumers and through retail channels from stores in Freeport, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Chenmark said there are no immediate plans to expand the retail presence.
“Thos. Moser will continue to build on [Thomas Moser’s] design sensibility, artistry, faith in its craftspeople, and gratitude for customers who appreciate handmade, sustainably built furniture for everyday living,” Aaron Moser said in a news release. “We’re confident that Chenmark shares the vision and values that will keep this legacy alive. This is not simply a business transition — it’s the continuation of a story that started in Maine and will remain deeply rooted here.”
Chenmark’s founding Higgins family said in the release that it considers itself a “steward” of an “iconic brand.”
“We are deeply honored to be entrusted as stewards of the Thos. Moser legacy and brand,” said James Higgins, founding partner at Chenmark. “Our mission is to care for and build on the traditions that make this company so special. Thos. Moser’s commitment to excellence and sustainability aligns perfectly with our company’s values, and we are excited by the opportunity to help shape the company’s future.”