Austin Weeks' Biographical Sketch

My interest in working with wood began at a very young age. Throughout my childhood my reverence and appreciation for the material was cultivated by both its abundance in my life and my father’s teaching.  Today, I feel a distinct connection with wood and its origins, trees and forests.  That connection and my acquired and instinctive skill in working wood are the basis for my career choice and my pride in the products and happy customers we produce at Gary Weeks & Co.

It has been my privilege to be involved with the creation and growth of the product line that we offer and the business that it has allowed. Our signature at Gary Weeks & Co. is our rocking chair.  The Weeks Rocker® (my father’s original design) is, in my opinion and experience, the finest, most comfortable, and most beautiful wooden chair available to consumers.  My personal handwork goes into the creation of nearly every part of every chair and table we produce, so I have a vested interest in the final quality and appearance of the furniture.

The people involved with Gary Weeks & Co. impart the quality we produce.  I think what really sets us apart is our ability to produce quality handmade furniture of our own design at a relatively low price with a comparatively short lead time.  We constantly strive to refine our methods and choices in materials in order to keep quality at the highest level.  We have a close knit group that performs well as a team and it shows in our furniture and business presence.

Each of our furniture makers is a formidable artist and craftsman in his/her own right.  I think we all enjoy the opportunity to gain valuable experience with a unique, small but growing family business.  Everyone also seems to appreciate the living wage we afford them in exchange for their labors.  We all have a share in the profits as well.  Most importantly, we have an absolute commitment to satisfying our customers.

It seems like most of the products for sale today are now made in a foreign country.  Even many of the things that are made here in America are made by foreign workers, legal and illegal.  This system does have its benefits.  We all see the lower price of things made in China, but what are the costs?  The benefit of maintaining a manufacturing base to our local economies and in turn our national economy is profound.  Gary Weeks and Co. is a small business whose stakeholders are all Americans.  We make things, build things, manufacture furniture right here in the USA and sell it directly to the end user.  The only thing that will allow the continuation of American manufacturing is producing the highest quality possible.  Quality creates value.  High value is the only counter to low price.  We strive to create value.  I am proud to see that it has been recognized by our customers worldwide.

Needless to say, as a member of the Weeks family, my roots are deeply intertwined with the roots of the company.  I grew up in Wimberley, where the shop is located, and I now have a family of my own.  My wife, Robin, and I, with our two daughters, Bela and Wiley, live in a house that I designed and built here on Spoke Hill.  We all spend a great deal of time at the shop and enjoying our cherished Texas Hill Country.  My interests beyond woodworking include fishing, politics, tennis, wilderness, college football, sustainablility, paddling, public radio, golf, building design and construction, camping, traveling and raising healthy happy kids.

We look forward to the future and appreciate your business.