ASK THE EXPERT
See What Others Have Asked
Where Can I Find Hand Crafted Wood Furniture?
Artisan owned Custom woodworking & upholstery shops. Links to over 100 Custom Woodworking shops that sell direct to individuals and through professional interior designers. Many of the companies listed are small shops producing custom pieces by individual artisans.
What Do Furniture Warranties Really Protect?
Furniture warranties are legal documents written to protect the furniture companies – not you! Extended warranties are one of the most profitable items sold by furniture retailers. Watch out for hidden tricks & traps.
Does Raymour & Flanigan Have Really Good Sofa Prices?
Does Raymour & Flanigan Have Really Good Sofa Prices? This is a detailed Cost Analysis of what goes into manufacturing a sectional sleeper.
Buyer’s Guide to Good (and Bad) Leather Furniture
The Buyer’s Guide to Leather provides important information furniture shoppers need to know before buying their next leather sofa or recliner.
Is the Burrow Union Sofa Good Quality & Value? Is There Anything Better?
Is the Burrow Union Sofa good quality & value? I’ve been looking at the Burrow Union Sofa that just came out recently, but I can’t find any details on the construction of the cushions or…
Apt2B sofas & sectionals: Are They Good Quality & Value?
Apt2B offers both imported pieces & USA made custom seating, built in the Los Angeles, California factory of DreamSofa.
Is the Linsy Rubik modular sofa sectional a good value?
The Linsy Rubik Modular Sofa Sectional offers good functionality, but poor durability. Comfort decreases within 3 – 5 years.
Flexsteel Review Update: Improved quality in 2023?
Flexsteel’s quality has improved recently. Previously, I wrote about concerns with their Nuvo (bonded) leather & seat cushions with limited durability. Nuvo leather has been discontinued. Cushions have improved.
Flexsteel vs. Jonathan Louis vs. Stanton: Who Makes the Best Sectional?
Which sectional is best? Flexsteel, Jonathan Louis or Stanton? Or is there another $4000 sectional that is even better?
What are the Best Leather Recliners for Large People That Are Affordable, Comfortable & Durable?
Hydeline & Barcalounger make the best leather recliners for large people. They can comfortably support up to 350 lbs. per seat for 10+ years.
Best Couch or Sectional For Narrow Doors and Stairways? 15 Brands Reviewed
Who makes the best couches and sectionals for older homes with small doors or narrow stairways? 15 brands reviewed.
Sofa Durability vs. Cost: How to Buy a Durable, Affordable Couch
How much does a couch cost that will last for 10 years? It could cost less than $1000. At the same time, $3000 sofas may last 5 yrs or less.
Jeff Frank is a 45-year veteran of the furniture industry.
He has worked directly with hundreds of manufacturers, retailers, designers, and suppliers.
Jeff’s manufacturing company, Simplicity Sofas, founded in 2007, won the $20,000 Grand Prize in a 2012 nationwide competition for “Most Innovative U.S. Small Business.”
Simplicity Sofas was one of the first furniture manufacturers to sell Direct to Consumer. The brand was selling nearly 100% of sales through its online website several years before Amazon and Wayfair popularized the concept.
After 15 years, Jeff retired from Simplicity Sofas to devote full time to this Insider’s Guide to Furniture blog.
Over his career, Jeff has been directly involved in all aspects of furniture manufacturing, retailing (both stores and online), and product design.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Jeff was a Buyer for a major furniture retail chain, purchasing over $200 million of furniture & mattresses.
As a Buyer, Jeff negotiated with hundreds of large & small furniture manufacturers. He also set pricing for Special Sales Events and the everyday showroom prices.
Other responsibilities included merchandising, advertising, customer service, and more.
In between Jeff’s work as a Buyer and his ownership of a furniture manufacturing firm, he formed a product design team that created a new type of modular, ready to assemble furniture.
Jeff has received 7 patents. 5 of these were licensed to a major furniture manufacturer, accounting for over $40 million in sales.
Jeff has been writing about the furniture industry for over a decade.
He has published more than 2000 articles & reviews, with over 2 million views.
The Insiders Guide To Furniture includes over 500 articles and reviews. Several of these are constantly being re-written and updated.
Research is ongoing. Jeff visits the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina to view new products. He also speaks frequently with factory executives.
He is happy to receive your Ask the Expert questions about product quality & value, brand comparisons, design & construction, costs & pricing, customer service & warranty issues, and many more furniture-related topics.