How old are we anyway

[MinUph]

Just post your age so we all know how old we really are. If you want that is.
I'm 66

[65Buick]

37.5 years

[kodydog]

59 and 11/12 but don't tell anyone. I plan on staying 59 for a very long time.

[Darren Henry]

53.

[sofadoc]

I'll be 60 on Jan. 31

[65Buick]

Kody, that's my dad's bday. He's going to be 70.

[scott_san_diego]

55

[NDAV8R]

No, I Didn't Die!  I am 61.3!

[Mojo]

Fitty Nine

Mojo

[Darren Henry]

"No, I Didn't Die!"

Hi Gale. Glad to hear that and to see you back. Are you getting this cold snap over there, or is it staying north west of you ?

[scottymc]

Just turned 58

[NDAV8R]

"No, I Didn't Die!"

Hi Gale. Glad to hear that and to see you back. Are you getting this cold snap over there, or is it staying north west of you ?

Yes we are getting the cold...I know you guys like to share!

[65Buick]

I keep hearing
'It's a dying profession'
Or
'It's a dying trade'

Determined to make that not so...

[sofadoc]

I keep hearing
'It's a dying profession'
Or
'It's a dying trade'

I've seen a dramatic transformation over the last 20 or so years.
The commercial store fronts continue to dry up. The number of college age students choosing upholstery as a career is almost non-existent.

But the change that I've seen, is the large number of people that make a mid-life career change into upholstery. They usually work from home. Sure, some of them are "off the grid" when it comes to reporting their income and collecting sales tax. But many are doing it right with a really nice "virtual store front" via website or social media.

Perhaps their ultimate goal is to build up the business and move out of the garage into a brick and mortar shop with multiple employees. But I think many are quite satisfied to work alone at home for the duration of their career.

Many factors come into play. The old "You just can't get good help anymore!" complaint always rears it's ugly head.

Many upholsterers are reluctant to train people that will end up striking out on their own and competing against them.

Wholesale suppliers are no longer interested in chasing down every rabbit trail to find rural home-based shops.

People need to start making a living wage right out of school. They have no patience for a lengthy apprenticeship.

One of my supply salesmen always tells me "In every small town, when the upholsterer dies, nobody takes his place".
I don't think the trade will ever disappear completely, but the way it exists will continue to change.

[kodydog]

Sofa nailed it. To add to his reply, unlike 50 years ago new furniture is not worth reupholstering. Use to be an upholsterer could make a pretty good living recovering furniture that was 15 or 20 years old. And he could do it for less than a new piece of furniture. Now days most upholsterers don't even try to compete with new furniture. That leaves a few options, antiques, furniture built in the 60's or later, commercial, cars and boats. Anything that doesn't compete with the stuff coming out of china. If you are sticking with furniture the next problem is convincing the customer a piece of furniture built in the 60's is much sturdier and worth reupholstering.

This means less furniture that needs to be recovered. The good thing for us diehards who are sticking it out is there are less upholsterers doing it. Most of us stay pretty busy.

I think someone getting into upholstery today will stay busy. Getting the experience is the hard part. If you could find an upholsterer who needs help and if you could convince him to hire you your knowledge would increase expeditiously.