Mark Font and Andrea Yebra of Viefe share how a family business that began with wooden buttons nearly 100 years ago evolved into one of Europe’s most respected makers of knobs, handles, and home accessories.This conversation explores Viefe’s journey from its roots in Catalonia’s woodturning tradition to becoming a global design brand with a growing U.S. presence. Mark and Andrea discuss their manufacturing approach, the art of merchandising, their U.S. showroom strategy, and how they balance tradition, innovation, and design trends while navigating tariffs and global supply chains.Origins of Viefe
Founded nearly 100 years ago by Font’s great-grandfather, originally a baker who shifted into woodturning
Early products: toy accessories, then wooden and later plastic buttons
Expansion into knobs and handles in the late 2000s
The Shift from Buttons to Handles
Market pressure from low-cost production in Asia made buttons less viable
In 2009, launched the first Viefe handle collection
By 2017, phased out buttons entirely, focusing on knobs, handles, hooks, and accessories
Craft, Manufacturing & Design Process
Manufacturing in Spain, Turkey, China, Vietnam, India, and Europe
Wood turning origins, now largely CNC milling for precision
Design philosophy: trend-spotting through travel, trade shows, customer input
Internal design briefs and team collaboration for new collections
U.S. Expansion Strategy
Entered U.S. market ~2019–2020 with warehouse in Canada
First KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) in 2020, right before the pandemic shutdown
Approach: bypass national distributors, instead build direct relationships with showrooms and reps
Current rep coverage: California, New York, Florida, Texas, Midwest, New England, and more
Navigating the Pandemic
Lucky timing: completed a new large facility in Spain right before COVID
Warehouse expansion allowed stockpiling and meeting surging demand during home-renovation boom
Grew 70% in one year despite shutdowns
Merchandising & Showroom Strategy
Display boards: a challenge in U.S. vs. Europe
Striking a balance between finishes vs. collections on boards
Special attention to long handles and accessories (like doorstops, hooks, appliance handles)
Showrooms customize boards; Viefe provides guidance and options
Cultural & Market Adaptation
American market requires bigger sizes, bolder finishes—“go big or go home”
Regional taste differences: California vs. New York vs. Midwest
Good design seen as universal, but scale and finish matter by market
Example: Brooklyn Collection works globally; Chassis line tailored for U.S. industrial aesthetic
Global Supply Chain & Tariffs
Viefe manufactures worldwide but keeps wood production local in Spain
Adapting to tariffs, supply chain volatility, and pricing confusion
Chose to delay raising prices rather than constantly shifting costs

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