Bradenton native Ryan Bergeron has recently launched The Wood Reserve Design Center,  a new resource for design professionals. The Wood Reserve's start in 2016 was humble, focusing on engraved wooden items such as ornaments and bookmarks, which Bergeron continues to design and sell. However, Bergeron's vision expanded over time. A major shift occurred in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, when he committed to running the business full-time and significantly broadened its scope. He began partnerships with approximately 20 Amish and American wood shops across Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Together, they started producing and selling handcrafted solid wood and reclaimed wood furniture, each piece rooted in tradition and built to last.  Bergeron focuses on the business side of operations—sales, marketing, shipping and logistics—while the partners dedicate themselves entirely to production, ensuring every table, cabinet and console meets exacting standards. The Wood Reserve’s new Design Center is meant to be a collaborative resource. The space welcomes interior designers, realtors, builders and homeowners. Inside, visitors can get close-up looks at different wood species, compare finishes and explore custom furniture options while working closely with The Wood Reserve team to bring ideas to life. The company supports clients nationwide through its online operations, while offering a more personal, local experience through the Design Center. For trade professionals, The Wood Reserve also offers an exclusive program providing discounts that can be passed on to clients. “When partners come in, we go through all the product options and see if there are any customizations that are needed. They can choose wood type, stain type, hardware for the doors and drawers and any number of other options or customizations,” Bergeron says. “We stock finished samples here at our location so local customers can come in and see them in person, but they can also be ordered through our website.” The Wood Reserve’s commitment to quality means patience is part of the process. Lead times can range from one to six months. “It's a higher-end furniture market–definitely not the kind of stuff that you can get online and delivered within two days,” explains Bergeron. “It takes time, depending on the wood shop and what their current lead times are. It's definitely a unique industry, but we've been able to make it work pretty well.” Sustainability is woven into the brand as deeply as craftsmanship. Many of the builders source lumber from responsibly managed forests, and The Wood Reserve partners with the National Forest Foundation to plant one tree for every product sold. “A lot of our builders do source their lumber from sustainable forests, where the wood that's harvested is replanted and regrown, which helps offset the materials that are being used to build our furniture,” explains Bergeron. “We also partner with the National Forest Foundation to plant trees for every product that's sold so every time a product is purchased from us, we donate for the amount of one tree for every product. “While the Design Center is open to the public, Bergeron encourages appointments to ensure visitors receive dedicated, one-on-one attention. For him, the Bradenton location is more than strategic—it’s personal. Bergeron takes pride in having his business down the road from his parents’ home, where he grew up, and conveniently situated between his own house and his daughters’ school, making his company a true local labor of love.