Generally I think that table of rankings is fairly accurate, though I would buy the Bradington-Young down one notch as its not in the same league as H&M or Leathercraft.
There's no magic in furniture pricing. Its a material/labor intensive business. If you want the top quality, then you have to start with the best ingredients, the same as a Master Chef would do. They cost more. Then you have to prepare it correctly, otherwise it never turns out right. That's the reason a brand like H&M costs more. Same as Royal Pedic mattresses. They start with the best ingredients and have the best 'food preparers' as well. It takes more money to make it. Companies like that make no higher margins on their product, they just have higher production costs than the cheapies.
Everyone has to buy withing their "comfort level". If you have to overextend to buy something, its not fun - so don't do that.
However if you have the available funds to buy good quality and just want to be a bit frugal, then do the math and learn of the brand reputation. Sometimes the good stuff has a lower cost over the usable lifespan of the item because it lasts so much longer. Cheap furniture rarely lasts - and it begins breaking down soon after purchase.
Forums like this are the best source of knowledge for what works, and what doesn't. When you get to liking a particular brand or piece, toss out the name and see if anyone has experience with it. Then you'll know.
I tend to keep my customers a long time, and I've been doing this full time since 1985. To me, the smart ones start conservatively, when they're young. I see them in their late 20's buy one or two good pieces per year. Every year. Before too long, they're in their 40's and I go over to their home to drop something off and I'm just shocked to see a mini-Keeping Room in their house! I'd forgotten many of the specific items they had bought fifteen years ago. Now their home as a beautiful collection and I want to buy back some of the pieces that I can no longer get. To me, that's the smart way to do it. Add a piece or two a year that's the quality you want, and then make-do with the ones you can't afford to replace at this time. Using that method, you'll have wonderful furnishings as the years add up.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
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