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Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

“Bonded Leather”, A Good Thing!

In some ways explaining what bonded leather is can be the same as describing the difference between ground beef and a sirloin steak.  The food is all steak, only one is ground up and one is a whole piece.   sofaBonded leather is similar whereas you have bonded leather and a full grain leather hide.  Bonded leather is leather scraps that are “left over” on the factory floor.  These leather scraps are gathered and ground up, then pressed together with a bonding agent to form a “hide”.  Thus the name “bonded leather”.  Sometimes the process stops here and the bonded leather is 100% leather.  Other times the pressed hide is covered in polyurethane that is colored and textured to match a premium hide.  This bonded product has much better characteristics than vinyl.

The difference between bonded leather and genuine leather, in terms of quality and looks, can be hard to see. If it is done properly, the grains and textures of bonded leather should look very close to that of genuine leather.  In some cases, the only different may be that the texture of the bonded leather may not be quite as pronounced as that of natural-grained genuine leather. The function, smell, and overall appearance can remain much the same, however.

The other major difference with bonded leather is in the cost. It is often available at a substantial discount over genuine leather.  This is because the leather scraps, or leather fibers, would have no other value, or very little value, if not made into a bonded form.   Therefore, it is still considered a good deal for the manufacturer to sell it at a reduced cost.

One of the most common applications for bonded leather is in the covers for books, especially Bibles.  The leather for Bibles can be bonded and still very easily create the desired look and feel.  While full disclosure often means the words “bonded leather” appear somewhere on the cover, it would otherwise be hard to tell the difference.  It has become such a product of choice for Bibles that finding them in genuine leather is becoming more difficult.

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Will the “iPad” Replace Store Catalogs?

iPads are quite prevalent in the furniture industry.  Recently I attended the International Furniture Market in High Point, North Carolina, and iPads were everywhere.  In a sales meeting a sales rep pointed out that he carries all of his product photos and order forms on on his iPad and can give a presentation to a furniture store owner seamlessly.  Furniture factories are underwriting iPads for their salesforce because of all the money saved on photos.  Some companies spend upwards of $25,000 annually on such photos.

Along those lines, a retail salesperson will be able to virtually carry every item in the store under their arm.  All sofa fabrics will be current (no more reelections…).  No more walking back to a catalog room and fumbling for the right catalog (probably missing anyway…).  Also, a salesperson will be able search their iPad for a category and item, then check with supplier on availability.

So, thanks Apple for changing the way furniture is sold!

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Spring Furniture Market

Well, it was that time again, where all of the furniture industry join together in High Point, North Carolina to view hot new furniture styles and colors!  This year was no exception.  In sofa fabrics we saw a lot of bright colors and bold reds.  Leather is trending with button cushions.  In bedroom furniture, the storage bed is still very popular, as is the marble top Louis Philippe.  As for formal dining, that business is dropping because people are moving away from the formal dining room, but we did see some counter height formal dining which was eye catching.  The mattress designs have not changed much but we are beginning to see a hint of color in what is normally an off-white world.

Large retail buyers were looking for exclusives and all buyers were looking for great values, which is tough to find right now as manufactures are forced to push through price increases during the coming months.  Market attendance seems to be at an all time low due to retailers either not being able to afford to travel, or buyers are staying home to mind the store.

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

“Honey, Don’t Always Sit on That Side of the Sofa.”

“Honey, why do you always sit on that side of the sofa when you watch TV!?” my wife says.  29042 loveseatWhat!?  “It’s my house and my furniture too” I reply!  I can’t believe it…  She goes on to explain that sitting on one cushion will ruin the sofa.  I need to change it up and spend equal amounts of time on each cushion to even the wear.

A few months ago we bought a beautiful new leather sofa.   My wife had talked about it for months.  I wasn’t paying attention.  But I should have taken a hint. I hate to shop, can think of nothing more heinous, especially for furniture.  I think I would rather stand in line at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for days than hang around a furniture store for an hour.

Anyway, we shop and shop and shop.  Finally, we find a nice soft Royal Heritage® leather sofa that feels soft as a baby’s butt. Long enough to stretch out on and take a Sunday nap.  Even the arms were padded enough to cradle my head perfectly.  Better yet, the thing comes with a large ottoman that I can put my feet up on.  If this is how the sofas are in heaven, I can’t wait to get there!

So, it’s Monday night, I’ve worked hard all day and I am beat.  All I can think of is getting home, getting into sweat pants and a big t-shirt, grabbing a beer and potato chips, maybe sneak a few pieces of candy my wife has hidden, then plopping on my new leather sofa with feet propped up on the ottoman (socks only of course).  I have the end table strategically placed on my left and at the perfect height.  The lamp switch is at shoulder height for easy on and off.  Huge matching leather storage ottoman placed perfectly in front of me.

heated-throw-blanket~360204_304I grab my favorite blanket out of the storage ottoman along with a pillow.  I put the pillow beside me as an arm rest and throw the blanket over my lap and legs.  The beer, chips and candy are placed on the end table to my left exactly at arm distance.  The computer is on my lap and NFL.com dialed up.  I reach across to the TV remote control (placed a half inch from the beer).  Monday Night football begins and the opening song of the show drifts heavenly through the room.

“You always sit on that cushion” a voice says.  What? Who is talking – oh crap, that’s right, my wife is sitting just seven feet away in a chair reading.  I completely forgot she was there – forgot she was even home…    Look, I am a big guy, with a computer on my lap; I do tend to punish a sofa cushion.  “This is MY spot” I say.  “I have all the comforts of home right here, I always sit here – I HAVE to sit here” I reply defiantly.  I even went into an explanation about dominant eye…  “I don’t care, you are ruining that cushion!  Look, it already looks more smashed than the one at the end, and we’ve only had the sofa for a couple of months” my wife replies.  “Ok, ok, geesh, I will sit on the other end I guess”.

I slowly throw the blanket off my lap, set the lap top down and push the pillow away.  I shove the ottoman out so I can stand up.  I pick up my beer, chips and candy (which she now sees and makes a comment that she has to change the hiding place…), and carry them over to the other end table on the right side of the sofa.  I sit down.  The cushion sits much harder at this end, and higher.  dog-on-sofaI don’t like it.  There is no lamp on this side and it is uncomfortable to make the reach now with my opposite hand…  I put my feet back up on the ottoman, pull the blanket back over me and put the pillow under my arm as the armrest.  I am uncomfortable and a plant is in the way…

My wife is now happy.  I am not. This end of the sofa is too hard.  I can’t reach my beer and food comfortably. The pillow does not feel the same under my arm.  The blanket is cold now.  And I can’t see the football game as well because I am not using my dominant eye…  So, I remove the pillow and call my dog Benson up on the sofa.

He gets comfortable next to me and I have a new soft arm rest on my left side.  It’s a little better now..  Then I hear “Andrew, how many times have I told you to not let the dog on the sofa!?”  Geesh, I can’t win…

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

“Sleep Tight, Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite!”

Bed-bugsWhat!? Bed bugs have been found inside the Indiana University campus library?  And inside the store “Niketown” in NYC?  Bloomingdales NYC?  How creepy can this get?  What’s next, finding them inside the local country club?

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small little wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded mammals.  Humans are the ideal host.  They can be light tan or burnt orange in color.  Just after molting most of them are plane white.  Bed bugs have evolved over millions of years as nest parasites – inhabiting the nest of birds and bats for instance.  Some of them have learned to adapt to the human environment and live in “our nest”.

They are called bed bugs because they prefer to live in our beds, mattresses, sofas and other soft furniture.

Bed bugs feed for about 5 minutes, then go into hiding for about 5 to 10 days then feed again.  If there is no food readily available (human blood), bed bugs have been known to lie dormant for months waiting to feed again.

Are Bed Bugs Dangerous to Humans?

Not really.  Other than a mosquito bite type look or a small rash, there is not much danger to bed bug bites and they are not known to carry any diseases.  In extreme cases people can have an allergic reaction.  Bed bugs bite by injecting a small amount of their saliva into the human host which results in a painless reaction.  Quite often the bite does not manifest itself for an hour or two, maybe much longer.  Therefore, sometimes it is hard to detect that you have bed bugs right away because you don’t have symptoms.

How do Bed Bugs Get in to Your Home?

Although studies have shown that bed bugs can travel in one’s luggage, the most common way to bring them into your home is via used furniture and mattresses.

How to Eliminate and Prevent Bed Bugs?

Once you detect that you have a bed bug problem you may want to call a pest removal professional first as they can help in the detection and recommend a removal process for your particular situation.

If you decide to do it yourself the first step would be to remove the coverings on any item of furniture or mattress that is infected.  If you are able to wash the fabric in hot water do so, if not, wash normally but set the dryer on hot – at least 120º.  If in the winter, you may take these coverings outside and leave in the freezing weather for 24 hours.

Then vacuum the mattress or sofa all over especially in the folds and cracks.  Then use insecticides to kill the bugs.

Preventing Bed Bugs by Encasing Your Mattress and Box Spring.

Bed-Bug-Kit-258x300You could encase both the mattress and box spring as a proactive measure.  As soon as you put the encasement on your bed any bed bugs trapped inside will eventually die, provided you do not unzip shortly after putting them on.  Some people encase their new beds as it prevents bugs from getting in and makes it easier to clean.

Bed bug covers can be purchased online and from most reputable retailers.  Make sure you are buying “bed bug specific” and that you cover both the mattress and box.

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Royal Heritage Pillow Top Mattress

Royal Heritage Memory Foam Revolutionizes Pillow Top Experience.
The unsurpassed Simmons RH Beautyrest World Class Latex_Visco Pillow Top Fullperformance of advanced Memory Foam results in a night of blissful, undisturbed sleep. The result is the ultimate Royal Heritage experience!
Created in a special sealed chamber our Advanced Royal Heritage Memory Foam
not only responds quickly to your movements, but also helps dissipate heat to help keep you at your ideal sleeping temperature.
Another innovation that makes this mattress revolutionary is the addition of the top layer. The plush mattress top creates a smooth surface, allowing you to better feel the comfort layers and support.