Getting Started in the Reupholstery Business

By The Foam Factory

Starting a reupholstery business can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. There are several tips and tricks you can use to get started with minimal stress and effort. So if you’re ready to get your business off the ground, here’s what you need to know!

Gathering Supplies

The first step in starting a reupholstery business is gathering the right supplies. You’ll need basic tools such as sewing scissors, a stapler, or even a tack hammer. In addition, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with different types of foam and find a good supplier of foam replacement for older furniture. You’ll also need fabric for upholstering chairs and couches, as well as batting or stuffing for pillows and cushions. Don’t forget about thread—you’ll want plenty on hand for all your projects!

Researching Techniques

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s time to start researching techniques. If possible, take classes at a local college or community center so you can learn the basics of upholstery from an expert. It’s also important that you understand how different fabrics react when exposed to moisture or heat. Knowing this will help ensure that your work meets safety standards and lasts longer than expected. Finally, make sure you understand the various techniques involved in upholstering various types of furniture pieces so that your customers are always satisfied with your work.

Building Your Customer Base

The last step in starting a reupholstery business is building up your customer base. Start by talking to friends and family who may have furniture they’d like updated or refurbished. Then reach out to local businesses and organizations who might be interested in having their furniture updated as well. Finally, consider creating an online presence by setting up social media accounts or launching a website where potential customers can learn more about your services and contact you directly for quotes or consultations.

With these tips in mind, anyone can easily become an expert in the world of reupholstery!

About The Foam Factory

The Foam Factory has been a family-owned and operated business for over 20 years. We specialize in a wide range of applications, including bedding, cushions, and packaging.

Three reasons why you should have attractive workplace furniture

Blog provided by Wicker Paradise

When it comes to running an efficient, profitable business, buying office furniture may be fairly low on your list of priorities. However, the many small practices your company implements still contribute to your success. Even the type of furniture in your workplace has the potential to help or hinder your employees as you pursue excellence in your chosen field. Here are three reasons why you should use aesthetically pleasing furniture:

It helps increase productivity

Studies have shown that more scenic and attractive office spaces result in higher productivity and employee well-being. Offices with lots of light, open windows, and natural, plant-based elements are less stressful and easier to work at.

It helps improve people’s image of your company

How do business partners and potential clients feel when they visit your office? For many companies, an office reception room is your first chance to make a good first impression about your organization, its values, and the people who work there. Make sure your reception room is attractive and welcoming, rather than dull and oppressive.

It helps increase employee retention

A study by Clutch found that the majority of workers (61%) valued an aesthetically pleasing, comfortable workplace the most. Even when presented with options such as workspace flexibility and a good community of workers, most employees thought office aesthetics were most important.

Attractive, natural furniture such as natural rattan furniture can help create a more nature-oriented and aesthetically pleasing environment in your office. If you’re interested in purchasing some for your office space, be sure to contact Wicker Paradise today.

How Lane Venture furniture fits in at the office

Blog provided by Wicker Paradise

As a brand, Lane Venture has developed a reputation for elegant furniture designs made from materials such as wicker, aluminum, and fabric. Most homeowners prefer to display their Lane Venture furniture in their living rooms and patios. However, the signature Lane Venture style shouldn’t be limited to home living areas. Business owners should consider adding Lane Venture furniture to their office spaces for the benefits of an aesthetically pleasing workplace.

Some may think that an aesthetically pleasing workplace is just a matter of preference, but data shows that every company should strive to have an aesthetically pleasing workplace for several reasons. First, an attractive workplace is crucial for employee recruitment and retention. Clutch surveyed workers on which aspect of a workplace they valued most. The majority of employees valued a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing workplace the most, even when presented with other options such as flexibility, community, and special privileges.

Second, other studies have shown that aesthetically pleasing workplaces can boost employee productivity and well-being. Attractive workplaces are less stressful and better at stimulating positive feelings. Drab, dull workplaces are more stressful and creatively stifling. In light of this, having an aesthetically pleasing workplace is not just a matter of preference, but a crucial element of running a lively and productive business.

Lane Venture furniture can add some grace and flavor to your office break room, outdoor work area, or office reception area. You can find a great collection of Lane Venture products at Wicker Paradise. Shop for wicker, rattan, or seagrass furniture and more at Wicker Paradise today!

Gardening Book Recommendations

Article written by : Home Improvment – Articles, Ideas and News

Below are a few gardeining books that I have come accross my research as being some of the best in the past couple of years.

1) Mentors in the Garden of Life’ by Colleen Plimpton

Price $16.95
It is a series of short stories about family, friends, life, plants, and how they all tie together over the course of a lifetime. Really, it’s soulful and delicious.

[Read more…]

Artificial Grass: Tips for Beginners

Article by Elite Sites

Are you thinking about purchasing synthetic grass for your home? Great news! Today’s latest synthetic turf products are made to look and perform like natural grass, except they don’t require the same amount of work. For example, fake grass doesn’t have to be watered, mowed, or fertilized. It doesn’t have to be repaired after heavy rain or rejuvenated after the summer months. But if you’re new to fake grass, it might seem like a complicated project. The good news is that with the right tools and preparation, installing a synthetic lawn is relatively easy. Here are a few tips for beginners.

Preparation Matters

Preparing the ground for fake grass is an important factor in the installation process, one that should be done properly. The preparation phase includes several steps, including but not limited to measuring and outlining, removing topsoil, and rough grading. If you’re not experienced in these techniques, you might want to hire a professional or study the installation manual and learn how to do each step on your own.

Ask for Help

While many people enjoy DIY projects (and installing fake grass certainly qualifies as a relatively easy DIY project) people who are new to the material might require help. Depending on the size of your project, you might need assistance with unloading the products from the delivery truck. You might also need assistance with preparing the ground and installing the fake grass.

Do you need a locking mailbox?

Article by Best Businesses

When you come around, for whatever reason, to change your mailbox, one of the biggest decisions is if you should get a locking mailbox. The process of locating, buying, and installing a mailbox is both costly and time-consuming, and is not something you want to repeat. Ideally, you want to make the right decision, the first time. Here are some factors that will govern if you need a locking mailbox:

Mail theft risk

Have you had any mail stolen or go missing in the recent past? Even if you don’t know, but never got something you know was sent, chances are that it was theft. Is your mailbox or house in a location that makes it easier for someone to steal your mail? Then, if so, you need a locking mailbox.

Mail volume

Measure your mail volume and incoming packages. Do you get a lot of letters or do you get package deliveries from online orders? Also, can you check your mailbox once or twice a day, or do you go several days before you can check for mail? The longer you need to go without checking, or the more high-value items you get, the more you need a secure mailbox.

Be aware that any change to location or type requires approval from your local USPS rep. Also, if your mailbox is in a row with your neighbors, then you will need their permission to make any significant changes.

Introducing Glass Pool Walls

Article by FRG News

Pools can be a great addition to any home. Not only do they raise the property value considerably, but they also make for a fun way to get the family together outside. Of course, pools need to be fenced off to mitigate the risk of children falling in. It’s also important to keep wildlife out that can drown and cause a mess. Until recently, options were relatively few for fencing a pool in. That was until now.

Glass swimming pool fences are the new trend in home design and it doesn’t look like it will be going away. They provide the necessary safety all pool owners are looking for, but do it an extremely fashionable way. Owners can choose from numerous options like round power coated posts to anchor the enclosure. Of course many opt for the frameless glass fences.

Not only do they look great, but glass pool walls don’t impede your vision of the pool, so you can always keep an eye on what’s going on. This is a safety advantage not afforded by traditional pool fences. But it could end up saving someone’s life.

When purchasing a glass wall for our pool, you will want the builder to confirm the structure meets Australian standards AS1926, AS2829 and AS1288.  Otherwise, your barrier will actually lack the safety precautions you bought it for.

Tips on Buying a New Garage Door

Garage Door

Article by Rich Bitch Itch

When you look for a new garage door, there are several different factors that you need to consider before purchasing one. Approaching the process can be confusing at first but here are some tips to get you started.

The Insulation Factor

Garages aren’t known to retain a lot of heat. Today’s doors have improved and now include better insulation techniques. Not only do they protect from the elements, but they also keep the temperature inside cool which makes for a more comfortable environment.

Consider what direction your door is facing also. If it’s directly facing the sun, you would be better off purchasing an insulated door for its temperature regulation.

Make Sure Your Garage Door Protects You

If you live in an area where hurricanes or natural disasters can happen, you would want as much reinforcement as possible. On the market there are storm-ready garage doors that have a reinforcement system built into it.

When you purchase a quality garage door, most of the time it will come with the installation of a garage door opener so you do not need to worry about a separate purchase.

How Much Does A Garage Door Cost?

Depending on the size of your garage and the quality of materials put in to your door, you can expect to pay in between $700 to $1600. If you are looking for an automatic door opener, tack on another $300. This is not including contractor costs or taxes.

Look around for different contractors offering you a better deal. It would be best to get multiple quotes and narrow down your options based on quality of work and professionalism.

Stop tolerating sagging cushions! How to replace your sofa cushions

Blog by The Foam Factory

When you first buy your sofa or couch, it might look perfect in your eyes. Maybe it complements the rest of your decorations, fits in with your color scheme, and is just the right size. But over time, you probably started noticing that the sofa isn’t as comfortable as it used to be, because there are spots where it feels a bit lumpy and the cushions have started to sag. You might not feel like buying a new couch when the one you have right now still looks good next to the rest of your furniture, but you can still enliven your couch by replacing your seat cushions.

You can start by removing the seat cushions and measuring them with a tape measure. First, lay the cushions flat in front of you. Measure them from Justify to right to find the width, and from top to bottom to find the length. Then, you can measure the cushion’s thickness by measuring the height of its padding. Once you have your measurements, you can order new cushions customized to your measurements from companies like The Foam Factory. For many couch cushion covers, there is likely a zipper on its exterior you can find and unzip. When the cushion covers are open, you can remove the old cushions and replace them with the new ones. It’s as easy as that.

This process works for any cushion or couch shape, as craftsmen at The Foam Factory can cut almost any shape you can think of. Even if you don’t see your desired cushion shape from their selection of seats and cushions, you can always contact them to work out details and pricing for your custom shape.

The benefits of packaging foam

As online shoppers, we’ve come to expect one of several different types of cushioning inside our packages. We’ve gotten used to seeing bubble wrap, cardboard, and foam inside our boxes from Amazon. But does it really make a difference which of these our products are packed with?

While bubble wrap may be a time-tested cushioning method, foam might provide some benefits that would be better for your unique packaging needs. If your product’s physical appearance needs to stay spotless, foam is designed to have a softer, gentler touch that will make sure your products won’t get any scratches or aesthetic damage. It also ensures that sensitive objects like glass or lenses won’t get banged up.

In terms of more heavy-duty products, foam does a fair job of protecting against impacts as well. Polyethylene is a stronger type of packing foam that is resistant against vibrations and damage, while still retaining a degree of flexibility. It may not be bubble wrap, but it offers similar benefits, while still being more malleable to your needs and easier to pack.

This is because foam can be molded to the specific shape of your products, which means it can take up less space inside your box. It can also insulate objects that are temperature-sensitive and protect against moisture, as polyethylene foam does not absorb liquids. If you’re shipping electronic products, foam also comes in an anti-static form that protects against any electrical charges building up inside your package.

Chances are that there is a type of foam that’s perfect for your specific needs. The experts at The Foam Factory can help you find what you’re looking for.