American Golden Acoustic Slat Wood Wall Panels | SoundPanel®.

Our Factories

The Panel Hub™ believes that the quality of an acoustic wood wall panels should be defined by its materials, engineering, and execution, not by how many hands it passes through before reaching your wall. Our factory-direct, direct-to-consumer model is built around a simple idea: when unnecessary retail layers are removed, more of the cost can be invested where it matters most, in the product itself.

This page explains how our direct-to-consumer approach works, why traditional retail pricing often inflates costs, and how The Panel Hub is able to deliver high-quality wood slat wall panels without compromise. Transparency is central to our philosophy, and we want customers to understand exactly what they are paying for and why.

Why Traditional Retail Inflates the Cost of Wall Panels

In a traditional retail model, products often pass through multiple layers before reaching the end customer. Each layer adds cost without necessarily improving the product itself.

Common retail cost layers include:

Distributors and wholesalers
Physical showrooms and retail rent
Sales commissions and in-store staffing
Inventory handling and warehousing
Retailer markups and promotional pricing buffers

In many cases, the majority of what the customer pays is not directly related to materials, craftsmanship, or performance, but to maintaining the retail ecosystem around the product.

This model often forces manufacturers to make trade-offs to meet retail pricing expectations, such as:

Thinner veneer layers
Lower-density acoustic backing
Simplified edge finishing
Reduced quality control thresholds

While products may appear similar visually, these compromises can affect durability, precision, and long-term performance.

The Panel Hub Direct-to-Consumer Model

The Panel Hub was built differently from the start. We manufacture and supply our acoustic wood wall panels and groove panels directly, without relying on traditional retail chains or showroom networks. By selling direct to customers, designers, and commercial clients, we eliminate multiple layers of markup and redirect that cost back into the product.

Our model removes:

Distributor margins
Showroom commissions
Inflated list pricing designed for retail discounts

This approach allows us to maintain consistent pricing, invest in better materials, and prioritize long-term product performance over short-term retail incentives. By eliminating middleman warehouses, we also significantly reduce our supply chain carbon footprint. Learn more in our Environment & Sustainability page.

Where the Cost Actually Goes: Materials and Precision

Cutting out retail does not mean cutting corners. In fact, it allows us to do the opposite.

A significant portion of our cost structure is allocated directly to product quality, including:

Real wood veneer surfaces rather than synthetic laminates
Three-sided veneer wrapping for clean, finished edges
Denser and thicker acoustic felt backing materials for improved performance and longevity
Precision cutting to maintain consistent slat spacing and alignment
Controlled finishing processes for color stability and surface durability
Independent testing, certifications, and compliance standards
Acoustic performance, fire safety, and construction-grade compliance

Learn more about our Technical Specifications & Materials.

A Cost-to-Quality Breakdown

To win the trust of our clients, we believe in total transparency regarding our cost structure. When you buy a TPH panel, your investment is distributed toward performance engineering rather than administrative overhead.

Raw Materials (45% of Cost): We invest heavily in Grade-A American Walnut, Oak, and Ash veneers. We also prioritize the high-density fibers required for our SGS Certified 0.85 NRC rating.

Precision Manufacturing (25% of Cost): Our factory utilizes specialized post-milling wrapping machinery that allows for rounded edges and complex geometries that cheaper factories simply cannot produce.

Direct Logistics (20% of Cost): By managing our own fulfillment, we ensure that panels are handled with care and delivered faster, with a significantly lower carbon footprint than panels that sit in multiple warehouses.

Innovation & Support (10% of Cost): We reinvest our remaining margins into R&D for new finishes (like ChromaShield™ UV-Guard) and providing expert technical support for our clients.

Why We Don’t Use Retail Showrooms

Retail showrooms are often perceived as a sign of quality, but they introduce significant overhead that customers ultimately pay for. Instead of investing in physical retail locations, we invest in tools that support informed decision-making without inflating prices.

Our approach prioritizes:

Physical sample programs
Detailed technical specifications
Clear installation documentation
Responsive, product-focused customer support

Samples allow customers to evaluate materials in their own space and lighting conditions. Technical documentation and performance data provide clarity without relying on sales-driven environments. This approach keeps costs focused on the product while still providing confidence throughout the buying process.

Fair Pricing Without Cutting Corners

Our pricing philosophy is simple and consistent.

We do not:

Inflate prices to enable artificial discounts
Rely on frequent promotions to move inventory
Offset retail overhead through material compromises

Instead, we offer stable pricing that reflects the real value of the materials, engineering, and manufacturing behind each panel. Removing unnecessary retail markups allows us to deliver higher-quality products at a more accessible price point without sacrificing performance or durability.

Our Certifications

This not only reflects our commitment to responsible sourcing, but also to safety and high manufacturing standards.

ISO 9001 Certified

ISO 14001 Environmental Management

FSC Certified

Fire-Tested by SGS (EN 13501-1)

Certified Environmental Product Declaration

CE Certified (EN 13986)

FAQs: TPH™ Direct-to-Consumer Model

Are The Panel Hub panels manufactured in-house or sourced through retailers?

The Panel Hub works directly with manufacturing partners and supplies products factory-direct to customers. Panels are not sold through retail chains, distributors, or third-party showrooms, which allows tighter control over materials, production standards, and pricing.
How does factory-direct pricing affect product quality?

Factory-direct pricing allows more of the total cost to be allocated to materials, engineering, and quality control rather than retail overhead. This means higher-grade components, tighter tolerances, and consistent production standards without increasing the final price.
Are factory-direct panels lower quality than retail brands?

No. Factory-direct does not indicate lower quality. In many cases, retail pricing requires manufacturers to reduce material thickness, simplify finishes, or limit testing to meet margin requirements. The Panel Hub’s model removes those constraints by eliminating retail markups.
How does factory control improve consistency between panels?

Direct oversight of production allows tighter control over veneer selection, slat spacing, backing density, and finishing processes. This reduces variation between panels and ensures predictable installation results, especially for large or high-visibility projects.
Who benefits most from The Panel Hub’s factory-direct model?

The factory-direct model benefits homeowners, designers, architects, and commercial buyers who value transparency, consistent quality, and long-term performance. It is especially suited for projects where material integrity and predictable results matter more than retail branding.
Why is The Panel Hub significantly more affordable than showrooms?

Traditional retail brands operate through a complex chain of international exporters, national distributors, and regional wholesalers, each adding a "Retail Tax" of 20% to 50%. By shipping directly from our manufacturing line to your door, we eliminate these unnecessary markups. This allow us to reallocate those savings into superior raw materials, such as our 15mm AcuFelt™ and CoreShield™ cores, while still maintaining a mid-market price point.