Ben Null

Maiden native is known for
making unusual products

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Ben Null of Maiden says he has done about everything except preach and steal.

The Maiden native's first love is gardening, but woodwork also plays a big part in his life. Null used to build houses and owned a sawmill at one time. He also worked for Superior Chair Company, now known as Ethan Allen.

His father had a furniture business which was later bought out by Carolina Mills. Null ran the business for several years and said he "got to making odds and ends of things," such as wooden bowls, butter molds, swings, toothpick holders, rocking horses and small chairs.

In 1987, he turned his furniture business, now known as Null Industries, Inc., over to his son Phillip. Null now has a shop of his own besides his son's business where he employs four people.

Some of his latest products include buttermolds with designs such as pineapples and swans inside them. He also makes a wooden rocking chair for children. The chair is covered in a fur-like fabric from Glenoitt Mills in Tarboro, N.C.

"It's the same fabric as what's inside of a London Fog Coat," Null said. He adds that the fabric is non-toxic, which is a benefit for people with small children.

After the chair is covered with fabric, it is decorated to look like a teddy bear.

Some of his works are made out of maple wood and others are made of cherry. Some things are a combination of both kinds of wood.

Null says he has customers all over the United States, but does no advertising. "I sell to anybody. It's by word-of-mouth," he said.

He even has a business card which is made of two-ply black willow wood, and since he's located beside a cemetery on Cemetery St., he says he is "near his silent friends."