Re: Brass and/or Iron Beds: Recommendations?
The one constant I have heard in the store since being in this business is "I like it, but do you have anything cheaper?" I hear it every day! And retailers pass that onto manufacturers, and the manufacturers look for a way to meet that demand to move product. They are forced to go to foreign markets for the less expensive labor and material.
But now guess what they are hearing? "I don't want anything from China".
That's been the buzz for the past 18 to 24 months in the industry and they are responding to that as well. Right now the hottest thing in the industry is "Made in USA", but guess what? The customer still wants it cheaper. So there is movement to keep production here, but take things out of the product to get the costs down. An example? Upholstery makers giving up on solid hardwood frames for laminated engineered wood (plywood). Moving away from 8-way hand-tied spring decks and using drop-in spring grids. Some leather companies are using the Splits on sides and backs of pieces rather than Top Grain leather and banking on the fact that 99% of the buyers won't know and 98% of the retailers won't tell them (or know themselves). Its a disturbing trend....because some of these producers are quietly changing the way they do their builds. And they most likely will be successful with this new approach because that leather sofa will sell for $ 1,499 and you can bet the largest tag on it will be MADE IN THE USA. Meanwhile, to get the sofa done right and still made in America you've got to put another thousand dollars behind it.
I almost bought into one of these 'reduced' feature lines. In fact I ordered some pieces in it recently to serve my customer looking for Made in USA at that $ 1,499 price point. If bugged me for days, however, because I know the content of the goods is compromised. After a week, I cancelled the order. I can't sell that, because I have no confidence in the product and would have to disclose to my customers the shortcomings of the product because I know its there. So, the customer that doesn't want to pay the price for a quality piece will have to shop elsewhere where another store will be more than happy to take their money and give them less than they may have bargained for. I take a lot of pride in carrying only quality goods, and only ones that I would have in my own home.
Duane Collie
Straight answers from thirty-six years in the business.
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