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56 MATERIALS MAY/JUN 2026 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

stoneburnerinc.com customer orientation, and management—provides a practical
tool for family businesses to enhance their competitiveness
while contributing to sustainable forest-based development.
The framework emphasises that balancing economic
performance with long-term relationships and resource efficiency
is both feasible and beneficial for family-owned wood-processing

and furniture companies.
Fourth, the study confirms that family businesses are
not merely economic actors but also important agents of
sustainability in forest-based value chains.
Their emphasis on continuity, local community ties, and
responsible sourcing supports broader forestry goals such as
legal wood trade, reduced waste, cascading use, and climate-
smart forest management.
Conclusions The findings have practical implications for managers, owners,

This study examined how family businesses in the wood- and policymakers in the wood industry. Family businesses should
processing and furniture industry perceive external determinants recognise their relational strengths as assets for sustainability.
of their microeconomic environment and how non-economic They can differentiate themselves in the market by building
goals influence their managerial orientation. trust through certification, transparent supply chains, and long-
Based on an empirical survey of 432 family businesses term customer partnerships.
in Slovakia, the research yielded several key conclusions. Policymakers should design programs that strengthen
First, customers are the most important external determinant, trust-based networks among family firms, facilitate succession

while intermediaries are perceived as least important. planning with sustainability criteria, and reward resource-efficient
This strong market orientation reflects the demand-driven production.
nature of the wood industry and implies that customer Industry associations can promote the strategic framework
expectations—including demands for sustainable and certified as a benchmark for continuous improvement.
wood products—can effectively drive responsible business By integrating family business research with forest-sector
practices. studies, this paper contributes a deeper understanding of
Second, relational factors such as trust, reputation, and how firm-level perceptions and priorities influence sustainable
long-term relationships play a more central role in family forest-based development.
business management than explicit non-economic goals like The empirical evidence from Slovakia adds a Central and

sustainability or intergenerational continuity. Eastern European perspective to the predominantly Western-
This suggests that policies aimed at promoting sustainability focused literature.
in family businesses should leverage trust-building and The strategic framework offers a concrete pathway for
reputational incentives rather than relying solely on formal family businesses to align their long-term survival with the
sustainability targets. responsible use of forest resources, thereby supporting the
Third, the proposed strategic framework—organised around transition toward a circular, bio-based economy. FDM
succession, legal environment, ecology, economic objectives, ENQUIRY NO. 3302