This is what’s called “Promotional Furniture.” It’s what you often see on the back page ads of the local newspaper with big call outs saying “Premium Quality Sofa – Only $999!” The fact is, you can’t make a quality sofa and sell it for that kind of money. You get what you pay for. This sofa will likely have a short lifespan and won’t offer much in the way of seating pleasure during that time.

There’s a thousand ways to make a product cheaper while still being able to state a few positives. Put in fewer springs (increase the interval between springs), don’t use Teflon coated clips, thinner lumber, cheaper fabric, reduced frame structural components and so on. Some drug store furniture I’ve seen looks like it was made for children because they’ve scaled it down in size so much, in order to bring the sticker price down.

My uncle used to tell me as a kid, “Don’t believe anything you read, and only half of what you see!” Rip Esselstyn, author of Engine 2, states in his book that on food packaging, many companies use weight instead of calories to calculate percentages of contents. They can use a variety of little spin techniques to make 2% milk look like it’s 2% fat when it’s actually 35% fat by calories. Whoops! (In case you’re wondering how they do this, here’s a link – True Milk Fat Content).

Well, that’s my rant for the day. If I get going any further a I may not stop! Hope everyone’s having a great summer.

See you soon!

Archie

Did you know that the Self-Storage industry is now worth $17 Billion a year! That’s more than the movie industry.

Ever watch Shark Tank? I see the products that people come up with, which the Sharks are willing to invest in, and I wonder who’s buying this stuff. It’s junk.

We’re out of control.

The Solution: Think Quality over Quantity. Think Value. Not just financial value but value to your quality of life.

I know it’s hard to do. It’s what we work at doing at Studio 201. Finding a balance between low priced junk and overpriced excess.

Buy less. Buy Better.

See you soon!

Archie

When I first entered the new furniture market as a retailer I wasn’t expecting this. I had simply set out to find better than average quality, (I’m of the opinion that most goods sold today are simply junk), while still setting limits on cost, so that most middle income families could still afford our offerings. One day we looked around and realized that most of what we had to offer was Canadian made. What a pleasant surprise!

Studio 201 Dining Chair 1370

Now, on to the good stuff. Some of you know that area rugs were high on my list of priorities this time around and I’m very happy with the result. Over the coming weeks there will be new arrivals from the Calvin Klein Collection, some replacements from the Andy Warhol Collection, and major additions to the indoor/outdoor collection.

Indoor/Outdoor has become a very interesting group. Firstly, you know I like multi-functional and the designs coming out are impressive. Pricing is also very, very good on these. From the mult-functional viewpoint, the new designs are being used in unexpected places like dining rooms, kids rooms and family rooms.

We’re also introducing a custom line in which you can choose from over 80 high style designs and choose your own color coordination. There are over 120 wool colors to choose from and it’s all 100% New Zealand Wool. This line is more premium priced, but it will represent an excellent choice for that special project that you want to make top tier!

Surprisingly, I also selected a grouping that is nylon! I was impressed to learn more about the durability factor. The company produces this particular nylon to their own specifications to achieve great color and textural effects, with great durability and accessible mid-point pricing.

There are more surprises coming in rugs, as well as lighting and a great selection of art from my favorite supplier, many items customized just for our Studio 201 customers!

See You Soon

Archie

Studio 201 Furniture

One of the most common things we witness from people who want to make wise furniture buying decisions is when they open a drawer and look for the famed “dovetail joint”. The dovetail joint has long been considered a sign of great furniture construction. The need for a strong joint on a drawer front was due to the stress placed on it by filling it with weight and then pulling on it. It’s kind of like filling a cardboard box with rocks and then pulling it around by the side. Before long the side of the box will come off. In the past, when furniture was hand made, craftsmen constructed beautiful, highly efficient, hand-cut, strong dovetail joints. The public learned to look for them. Unfortunately marketing people are aware of this and it’s easy to have a machine cut the shape of a dovetail but, when not done correctly and with care, it leaves a weak joint.

We can certainly still take into consideration the dovetail joint, but that alone is not an indicator of quality. Instead consider the piece as a whole. What material is the piece is made of? What is the overall fit and finish of the piece? Is there a kick plate nailed to the front of the case to form legs or are the legs and integrated part of the overall structure of the chest? There are many ways to recognize quality (including the source you buy from) which, combined will give you your best indication of quality.

While I’m at it, let me mention veneers. People looking for dovetails is what we see most often and people asking if furniture is veneered is the thing we hear most often. Solid wood obviously has it’s advantages, but the finest furniture ever made is constructed with veneers. What you need to avoid are things like photofinish and cheaply constructed thin veneers. Once again this is our own fault as consumers, with putting too much of a premium on low price and not enough on value. Just like with dovetails, our best bet is to take into consideration the overall construction of the piece and the source offering it to us.

Thanks and see you at Studio 201 Furniture!

Archie