The simple answer to this question is that the manufacturing cost of furniture is a combination of: Cost of materials Cost of labor. Cost of manufacturing overhead (administrative, sales, rent, equipment, machinery, etc.) Cost of…
Chests that tipped over when children tried climbing up using the drawers as steps. This led to a massive recall and industry-wide regulations requiring similar items to be securely anchored to the wall. Know someone…
When IKEA first appeared they revolutionized the furniture business in a number of ways. The most obvious was how they were able to offer serviceable products at prices that were far below competitors’ prices. The…
IKEA furniture is popular with: Consumers on a limited budget. Students or others living in temporary housing. (IKEA can be cheaper than renting furniture.) People moving into their first homes. Anyone who likes simple, clean modern…
IKEA was the first company to conceive of home furnishings as a lifestyle instead of individual stand-alone products. IKEA is not just furniture. It also includes a wide range of complimentary home furnishings related products….
IKEA is not usually a waste of money. They provide simple, tasteful furniture styles at a minimal cost. This can be an excellent alternative for young people with limited budgets entering the workforce, starting a…
Many people just need low cost furniture that will hold up for a few years and then get left behind. IKEA manages to do this with a minimalist modern style that is aesthetically acceptable to…
Discount stores sell goods inexpensively because they buy massive quantities at low prices and have developed efficient operations strategies to reduce overhead costs. Contrary to popular public perception, they are rarely buying and selling close-out…
There are a couple of different definitions of “modular furniture.” Modular wood furniture typically refers to furniture that is purchased unassembled. Modular groupings may consist of several pieces that can be part of a larger…
The biggest problem with furniture salespeople is that so many of them don’t know very much about the products they are selling. A salesperson selling cars without knowing much about them is probably equally annoying….
Ashley uses two different types of “leathers” on their furniture. Bonded leather and leather match. These materials are not the same as “all top grain leather” made from animal hides. Bonded leather is the result of a synthetic…
Furniture prices are flexible and constantly changing. Sometimes (but not always) a retailer will respond to online competition. It doesn’t hurt to try negotiating a better price than what is listed in the store, but…
All articles & reviews published in this blog are based on the experience & opinions of Jeff Frank, a 45 year furniture industry veteran..
If you feel that any of the information or opinions are outdated, incorrect, or misleading, please notify Jeff for a prompt correction.
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