The American Hardwood Information Center

What The American Hardwood Information Center does

The American Hardwood Information Center (AHIC) is the consumer- and professional-facing information program of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA), a nonprofit U.S. trade association headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. AHIC serves two primary audiences — homeowners/consumers seeking guidance on flooring, cabinetry, furniture, moulding, and millwork, and specifying professionals (architects, interior designers, builders, contractors) requiring technical specifications, lumber grades, finishing systems, and continuing education content for residential and commercial projects. Its core offerings are free informational resources distributed through the HardwoodInfo.com website, a Guide to American Hardwoods mobile app, an American Hardwoods Collection sample kit (20 domestic species samples plus a stain simulator) shipped to qualified architects and designers, a Species Guide covering 20+ American hardwoods, expert-authored articles and case studies, and continuing education courses including content on carbon-neutral design.

The underlying platform is a curated content library that incorporates Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) standard finishing systems, USDA Forest Service forestry statistics for sustainability claims, and the registered "Real American Hardwood" trademark managed via the Real American Hardwood Coalition. Content distribution is achieved primarily through organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Pinterest, Houzz, YouTube, Instagram) and direct email/mail contact, with international reach coordinated through the sister organization American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).

AHIC's business model is not commercial in the conventional sense — it generates no direct revenue from product sales. All resources, including the sample kit and mobile app, are provided free of charge. The organization's operating budget is funded indirectly through HMA membership dues and industry contributions. Its strategic significance lies in industry promotion: differentiating genuine American hardwood products from imitations, educating specifiers on technical standards, and sustaining demand for the U.S. hardwood manufacturing sector rather than generating standalone commercial returns.

Name

The American Hardwood Information Center

Legal name

Hardwood Manufacturers Association

Website

https://hardwoodinfo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Hardwood Information Center is the consumer and professional information program of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, providing free educational resources — including a website, mobile app, species guides, and a sample kit — about American hardwoods to homeowners, architects, designers, and builders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hardwood Industry Information Services

NAICS

Information (51)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)

akta.pro primary industry

Hardwood Lumber Distribution & Trading (IMAMAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hardwood Lumber Sawmills (IMAMABAB), Hardwood Floor Installation (HSAPAGAA)

Keywords

• Hardwood species information
• Wood finishing systems
• Lumber grade specifications
• Sustainable building materials
• Interior design resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry Association Funding: The American Hardwood Information Center operates as a division of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association. As a trade association, its primary funding comes from membership dues and industry contributions rather than direct revenue from product sales. The organization provides free educational resources to promote the American hardwood industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The American Hardwood Information Center is a free, authoritative online information hub for American hardwood products, providing species guides, technical specifications, finishing system references, design inspiration galleries, case studies, expert insights, and continuing education resources. Operated as a program of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, it distributes a complimentary physical American Hardwoods Collection sample kit to qualified design professionals and offers a mobile application (Guide to American Hardwoods) for on-the-go species reference.

Product overview

The American Hardwood Information Center operates HardwoodInfo.com as a comprehensive informational resource website rather than a software product platform. The site offers a unified information portal providing species guides, image galleries, case studies, expert insights, professional specifying resources, finishing guides, and a mobile application. Key offerings include the Species Guide (covering 20 American hardwood species), the American Hardwoods Collection sample kit (free physical samples for design professionals), the Guide to American Hardwoods mobile app, Case Studies featuring architectural projects, Expert Insights articles from industry professionals like Wendy Silverstein, Professional Specifying Resources (craftsmanship standards, lumber grades, sawing methods), the Finishing Systems Guide (13 AWI standard finishing systems), and Continuing Education courses. The site also provides Where to Buy directories connecting consumers with flooring, cabinetry, furniture, and woodwork suppliers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Real American Hardwood: A registered trademark and promotional brand used in conjunction with AHIC resources to identify sustainably sourced American hardwood products.

Products and services

• HardwoodInfo.com Website A free, authoritative online resource providing comprehensive information about American hardwood species, technical specifications, design inspiration, and educational content for consumers and design professionals.
• Species Guide

Quantifiable outcome

• U.S. hardwood forest growth exceeds removal by 2.3:1 ratio
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Stefan Diez / Diez OfficeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Collaborated with AHEC and urban greening specialists OMC°C on the Vert project, an innovative demonstration structure using red oak glulam triangles debuted at Chelsea College of Arts during London Design Festival.
• OMC°C (Urban Greening Specialists)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Urban greening specialists collaborated with AHEC and Diez Office on the Vert project showcasing glue-laminated timber capabilities and urban greening solutions.
• Red Dot Design Museum (Singapore)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with AHEC to showcase work of 10 young designers from Asia and Australia at the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore, featuring pieces made from American hardwood species.
• Hardwood Manufacturers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Hardwood Information Center operates as a division/initiated program of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA), the national trade association representing American hardwood producers and manufacturers. AHIC serves as the consumer and professional facing information arm of HMA.
• American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHEC is described as the 'sister organization' to AHIC. The organizations collaborate on international promotion and case studies. AHEC provided the case study for the Vert project showcasing red oak glulam in urban greening applications at the London Design Festival.
• Real American Hardwood CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Real American Hardwood Coalition owns the 'Real American Hardwood' trademark. The Coalition works to promote American hardwoods and differentiate genuine products from imitations.
• Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWI provides the industry-standard finishing systems, quality grades, and craftsmanship standards referenced throughout AHIC's professional resources. AHIC publishes AWI specifications and standards as part of its technical content for specifiers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WoodWorks: Wood Products Council program providing free education, technical support, and project resources to architects and engineers specifying wood-based building materials; comparable to AHIC's information-and-education model serving design professionals.
• Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI): Forest sustainability certification organization that publishes standards, education, and chain-of-custody information for forest products, paralleling AHIC's mission of promoting responsibly sourced hardwoods to specifiers and consumers.
• National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA): Trade association dedicated to wood flooring with technical resources, training, certification, and installer education; comparable to AHIC because it publishes specifications and educational content targeting both consumers and flooring professionals.
• National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA): Trade association governing U.S. hardwood lumber grading rules and inspection standards; comparable to AHIC as a hardwood-industry body that publishes technical standards, supports members, and runs educational programming for lumber buyers and sellers.
• APA - The Engineered Wood Association: Trade association for engineered wood products that publishes technical specifications, builder resources, and sustainability documentation; comparable to AHIC in serving as a category-specific information and standards body for a wood-product vertical.
• Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association (HPVA): Trade association for the hardwood plywood and veneer industry that publishes standards and advocacy content; comparable to AHIC as a hardwood-segment trade body running technical publication and member-funded promotion programs.
• Forest Stewardship Council US (FSC US): Sustainability certification and information body for forest products, comparable to AHIC's role of educating consumers and professionals on responsible sourcing of wood-based materials and reinforcing sustainability claims in specifying decisions.
• Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI): Standards-setting body whose finishing systems and craftsmanship standards are published through AHIC; comparable as a wood-product industry association providing technical specifications, continuing education, and quality standards to architects and specifiers.
• American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC): Sister organization to AHIC operating under the same Hardwood Manufacturers Association umbrella; focuses on international promotion of American hardwoods, including flagship showcase projects such as the 2024 'Vert' installation at London Design Festival, giving AHIC a comparable information-and-advocacy model for export markets.

Broad incumbents

• Houzz: Large consumer-and-professional design platform that distributes inspiration galleries, professional directories, and product information; comparable to AHIC as a multi-channel information hub reaching the same architect-designer-homeowner audience, but at much broader category scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AmericanHardwds
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HardwoodInformation
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanHardwoods
• Instagraminstagram.com/American_Hardwds
• Pinterestpinterest.com/americanhardwds
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-hardwood-information-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The American Hardwood Information Center