Things Have Changed

[mike802]

If someone told me I was just "wrapping and stapling" I would show them the door, wouldn't be the first time.

[Mike]

when i was a kid i wasnt allowed  to have feet on he vcouch dont sit on the arm as many do.
theing wee to bew taken care of im still that way i hate it when i see someone on the road where there passenger has there shoe on the dash.   
i did have a cheap used rv guy bring me a few yards of spradling seat vinyl to make rv slide out awnings  totaly wrone but hey it was his money.
Im just glad my marine customer never bring me vinyl or sunbrella  to do somthing .

[catfish99218]

Had a lady bring me material (leather) she had acquired from an old couch she riped apart at the seams. They were two foot square pieces and she wanted me to upholster two bucket seats and a bench seat for a 1971 Falcon. The leather was brown and she tried to dye it black. I refused to do it and insisted I use my material. She agreed to it and of course I made sure she had beautiful seats for her car.  She has sent me 3 more customers since then. I tell them my way or the highway and it has worked good so far.

[kodydog]

Catfish you da man. And welcome to the board.

Sometimes you just have to say no. We just got the go ahead on an ottoman we've been screwing around with for the last two months. She wanted some kind of applique on the skirts and when we picked it up we told her we couldn't do it . She called us later and again we told her we couldn't do it. She called us last week and she said just do it any way you can.

Perseverance always pays. Even if you don't get the job.

[Mike]

Last week inhad this guy he wanted a new  upholstery skin for his rear Sunpad motor cover you know probly. 75"  by 40" he removed the vinyl off the wood and foam and wanted me to make it the same size with stripes. So I did giving him a little extra length in the 4o" side.
As I knew would happen he called to say he didn't have the  new   Vinyl on nd it was real tight  I told his ya it will be I'd heat the skin. Score streaching it on. Maybe he could lay it out in the sun first   But if you want a nice tight snug  city with no wrinkles then it's tight. He wanted to save money  now he see why the cost would have been more he actually had the hard job.  Today I got a call for a new t top canvas the guy would remove the old and install the new I just had to make it.  I gueese my price was still to high for him
I'd still have to go  pattern before sewing

[baileyuph]

A market overview and a good one at that is what is being presented here. 

Perhaps in a summary form, there are a couple glaring points that draws attention/questions.  The first one is, what makes the consumer think that providing their own fabric is a major cost savings to a project? 

For example, the typical call to my business is "I have my own material and how much will you charge to make this or make that?", which is usually cushions.  Then, after hearing the labor rate, they quickly push the escape button, discussion ends. 

My other question is, it seems they have conceptualized the labor process and in their mind, nothing to it.......................they don't grasp that the task isn't easy.

All that said, it leaves me with the question about why does our culture, a big part anyway, really think that trades which require skills are easily executed?

That one leaves me without a good clue or understanding of how this mind set has developed?

Anyone into marketing have a good reading on this?

Traditional drapes, those with pinched pleats, lined and more often included with sheers has gravitated to attaching a rod on the wall and "just" start wrapping is all it takes.  It would take a moroon to not see and understand the difference. 

Or are consumers in denial that there are professional ways of doing things and this consumer attitude stems from the simple fact that they can't afford to have anything done by professionals?

This "attitude" thing isn't only associated with home furnishings, in business it is identified with our auto work, and it is very obvious in our marine work also.

So it is a prevalent thing.

Sorry, but thanks for reading.

:)

Doyle

[sofadoc]

Doyle, your "pinch pleat" analogy is a prime example of why customers have such low cost expectations.

Pinch pleat drapes can be extremely time consuming and tedious. So the sewer would have to charge accordingly. The sewer quotes the customer a "custom" price for pinch pleat drapes.
The customer is thinking "I can buy them for less than half that amount at BB&B".

Mass-produce factories have devalued the rates for custom work. The customer now has absolutely no concept of the degree of difficulty.

The ONLY customers who do understand are the ones who've already tried to do it themselves.

[kodydog]

Adding on to what Sofa said.

Not all trades are under paid or devalued. Look at auto mechanics, electricians and plumbers. The difference is the consumer cannot go to Ikea Auto Repair and compare prices. In fact I've found if you compare most mechanics prices they are all about the same. Unlike upholsterers, and this is part of the problem.

Most consumers have no idea what the difference is between a $800 sofa and a $2000 one. They just know the $800 one looks good and feels good in the showroom. They also have no idea the difference between buying at Ikea or having a skilled craftsman reupholster and restore their old sofa.

There is a reason people are not getting into this field for employment. Its hard work, requires a ton of skills and takes years to get to the point of making a decent living.

Having said that, I have many customers who do appreciate my skills, and those I treat like gold.