Outdoor furnishings brand KNF Designs has temporarily paused production and shipping from its Mexico facility as it pursues an operational transition. Founder Neille Olson said the move was driven by a combination of factors, including tariff uncertainty, cross-border complexity, rising costs and the timing of their lease renewal in Mexico.
“When we looked at the long-term model, it became clear that the existing structure was not the most viable path forward for us,” she said.
KNF Designs, which specializes in artistic mosaic outdoor tables, was founded nearly 30 years ago by Olson in Arizona. As the company grew, Olson sought larger production facilities and found a factory just 7 miles away across the border in Mexico.
While that nearshoring model worked for KNF for many years, more recently, production in Mexico has been more complicated thanks to new tariffs, inflation and other factors. Olson said that with their factory lease coming up for renewal, she knew the time was right to find a more favorable production location.
“It was a tough decision, but the timing with the lease really brought everything to a head,” she said. “And it was always my broader vision to potentially partner with someone who had a different reach than we had.”
Though she cannot reveal their new production partner just yet, Olson said she has received support and offers for collaboration from within the industry.
“I’m overwhelmed at how supportive folks have been,” she said. “This is my life’s work — it matters to me, and these relationships matter to me.”
For now, KNF has halted production, so no new orders will be taken or fulfilled until the next production deal is inked. The company sent out notices to dealers via their reps to inform them of the pause. Olson doesn’t have a specific date for when the company’s production will be back online, but she said she hopes their customers are willing to wait and work with them through this transition period.
“I’m grateful that people really love our art, and our focus now is to protect the value of what KNF has built for almost three decades and determine the most responsible and sustainable path forward,” she said.
We, as a long-time dealer, did not receive any notice and attempts to find out where our order is have gone unanswered. If they are shifting production, they should let their customers know where their orders stand. Hopefully we can recover the money we prepaid last month (at their demand) for the order.
Hello Michael- I emailed you personally on May 8th, apologies if you did not receive it- please check your spam folder. Customer-Care sent/is sending emails this week regarding how to handle open orders. I will also phone you today 🙂 Thank you! Neille