How to clean and repair your leather furniture

When it comes to repairing and caring for leather furniture, there are hundreds of options.  Furniture stores and online retailers offer up products that do everything from cleaning to dying leather.  However, you should proceed with extreme caution when you use these DIY products on your furniture.  I’ve heard and seen the effects of horror stories where these products ruined people’s leather furniture, so here are a few pointers on what to look out for.

1. Don’t use any products that contain alcohol or acetone.  Alcohol seeps into and damages the protective surface of furniture leather.  Acetone will remove the dye and color from leather.

2. Be sure to use products designed for upholstery.  Leather used for shoes, jackets and clothing is very different than that used in furniture.

3. Only use products designed for the type of leather you have.  Most furniture is made of aniline, semi-aniline or fully-finished leather.  Because of the differences in finish, it is very important to use only products designed for the leather you have.

4. Dying leather is a highly specialized art.  Professionals receive extensive training on color matching and dying, and it’s not at all likely that any DIY dye kit will produce very good dying results.  So, be very careful with these products – test them on a part of the furniture that no one will ever see before you use it on the visible part of the piece.

5. Stay away from products that say they are for multiple surfaces, even if one of those surfaces is leather.  Most of the time these products contain elements that will damage leather.  It is best to stick with products made specifically for leather.

Also, there are lots of people out there who have heard old wives’ tales about household products to use on leather.  Some of these can be helpful, but there are many that do not work and will ruin your leather furniture.  One example is using olive oil to fix minor dings and scratches on leather.  People also try using finger nail polish remover, shoe polish and window cleaner, among other things, to work on damaged leather.  All of these options can cause major damage to your leather down the road.

Any questions?  Have any experiences with leather products to share?  Post them in the comments!

Reasons: Cracked Motorcycle and Car Leather Seats

Most car interior leather and motorcycle seats are fully finished, and there are a couple of reasons why it cracks. Cracking usually occurs when the protective coating on fully finished leather is worn down or when there has been a manufacturer problem.

1. Body oil and dirt can cause leather to crack -

It is very easy for dirt and oils to collect on the surface of leather.  Together, these act like a fine sand paper, breaking down the protective layer on fully finished leather over time, eventually leading to visible cracks at the surface.  Once the protective layer is broken down, the leather underneath, which is incredibly porous, soaks up the dirt and oil sitting on its surface causing further abrasion and damage.

2. A manufacturer problem can cause leather to crack -

Tanneries put a layer of dye and a protective top coating on cow hide (almost like paint on drywall) to make fully finished leather.  Leather has a lot of give and will stretch and move as people sit and slide around on it, so the manufacturer needs to stretch it properly before they put on the dye and protective top coating.  If they don’t stretch it well, the leather will quickly stretch more than the dye can handle, and the coating will crack.

Once leather is cracked, a leather repair professional can typically fix it, however, it is much cheaper and easier to clean and take care of your leather seats from the start than to deal with cracking after it happens.

We’d be happy to answer any additional questions you have.  Please post questions in the comments below.

Franchising Opportunities

A Fibrenew franchise is a very profitable business, whether you choose to be an owner operator with a single vehicle or expand your business to include multiple technicians and vehicles. For less than the cost of an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) you will learn a skill, which when applied, will provide you with an income and give you the opportunity to grow a business.

Fibrenew is a "niche market" business refurbishing and re-dyeing all leather and plastic, offering clients a "GREEN" environmental and cost saving alternative to replacing or recovering damaged pieces. Since 1987 we have expanded our global presence to include over 202 franchise units in 8 countries, 100 of which are located in the U.S.A.

Fibrenew: A Lifestyle Franchise Business

•     Home-based, mobile business
•     Monday – Friday work week, set your own hours
•     Few or no employees to start
•     Low overhead and high profit margins
•     More personal & family time

The Fibrenew market is as broad and diverse as your imagination!

•     Car dealerships, rental agencies, fleet vehicles
•     Offices, restaurants, bars, theaters
•     Medical, dental, veterinary clinics
•     Transportation companies, insurance companies
•     Furniture stores, homes, fitness centers
•     Marinas, commercial and private aircraft

When you are awarded a Fibrenew franchise, you receive:

•     An exclusive protected territory
•     Use of Trade name and Trademark
•     Access to proprietary products and methods and manuals
•     Comprehensive training program
•     Complete inventory and equipment
•     Business cards, invoices, statements, envelopes and brochures
•     Ongoing technical support via phone and internet
•     Access to our Technical Library
•     Continuous education, support via seminars, workshops and conferences

“Hands on training & active involvement of professionals are vital to the success of any business.”

Click here to request a Fibrenew Franchise Information and a Fibrenew representative will contact you within two business days to discuss the opportunity of owning and operating a Fibrenew franchise.

Tips How to Hunt on Ebay for Old Leather Furniture

Sometimes leather furniture upholstery is way beyond repair. Either that or the repairs will cost more than the furniture is for. Instead, you may decide to go treasure hunting for old leather furniture rather than having it professionally restored. If you have never used Ebay before, you are in for a treat. The website has numerous options where you can search for an item that you are looking for and then either have the option to buy it now or bid on it.

When considering old leather furniture on Ebay, it may take a while to find because it isn’t something that is posted on a daily basis. You need to take into consideration how much you are willing to spend on a piece of furniture. You can’t forget to take into account how much it may cost to have it shipped to you. If you find a piece of furniture that is somewhat close to you in proximity, it may end up being cheaper to go get it and load it yourself after you have purchased it rather than having it sent via freight.

One thing about treasure hunting for old leather furniture on Ebay is that you need to be absolutely sure to know what you are getting. You don’t want another piece of broken down furniture that you will be disappointed in. Instead, feel free to ask the seller numerous questions and even ask for additional photos. If they are sincerely interested in selling the piece of furniture to you, they should be more than willing to accommodate for your needs.

There are a few things that you may want to ask the seller when you have treasure hunted and found an ideal piece of furniture for your home:
• What are the dimensions?
• Is there any damage to it?
• How did you take care of it?
• Does this come from a smoke free home?
• Does this come from a pet free home?
• What color is it?
• What company manufactured it?
• How old is it?
• Why are they selling it?

These are just a few suggestions to you to ask a seller when contemplating making a big purchase of furniture on the world’s most popular auction website. If it doesn’t work out for you, there are other treasures waiting to be discovered elsewhere. Happy hunting and visit us at www.fibrenew-franchising.com for more about leather upholstery and franchising.

Franchising Expo in Brisbane

Fibrenew Franchising is gearing up for the Franchising Expo in Brisbane, July 19-20. For a FREE ticket, visit: http://www.infosalons.com.au/FRANCHISING14/index.php/ and use code: FFE. Come visit our booth: A18

We are the market leader in the restoration of leather, plastic and vinyl. A mobile service that caters to the aviation, automobile, marine, commercial and residential markets. With all these potential revenue streams and opportunities across so many markets, our company and franchisees have grown and thrived through every recession. That really speaks to the fact that there is always a need for our services.

Fibrenew is a low cost, high profit home-based mobile service franchise catering to an executive clientele in the above mentioned markets, as well as a number of other niche markets. The diversity of our opportunity is so large that in every economic down turn, our franchise system has thrived. Providing a foundation to our franchisees, to design a lifestyle, according to their own needs.

For more information visit us at www.fibrenew-franchising.com.

Fibrenew Franchise Opportunity

Liquid Capital Requirement (cash available): $200,000
Total Capital Requirement: $200,000

Training and Support: Yes
Financing Assistance: Yes

"Be in business for yourself, but never by yourself!"

A Fibrenew franchise can be a very profitable business whether you choose to be an owner operator with a single vehicle or expand your business to include multiple vehicles. For less than the cost of an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) you will learn a skill, which when applied, will provide you with an income and give you the opportunity to grow a business.

The Fibrenew Market Is As Broad And Diverse As Your Imagination!

• Car dealerships, rental agencies, fleet vehicles
• Offices, restaurants, bars, theaters
• Transportation companies, insurance companies
• Furniture stores, homes, Fitness Centers
• Marinas, commercial and private aircraft

When You Are Awarded A Fibrenew Franchise, You Receive:

• An exclusive protected territory
• Use of Trade name and Trademark
• Access to proprietary products and methods and manuals
• Comprehensive training program
• Complete inventory and equipment
• Business cards, Invoices, Statements, Envelopes and Brochures
• Ongoing Technical Support via phone and internet
• Access to our Technical Library
• Continuous education, support via seminars, workshops and conferences

Fibrenew offers Regional Seminars on a regular basis and requires all franchise owners to attend. Besides their educational value they offer everyone an opportunity to meet, network and share valuable business experiences. . . read more!

Visit Fibrenew Franchising for more information on how to own a Fibrenew franchise!

Reblog: Fully-finished leather furniture and auto upholstery

There are many types of leather, and leather jargon can be very overwhelming to people trying to figure out what kind of leather they have and want to buy. We at Fibrenew Franchising - Best Franchise Business Opportunity shares this tip for you to understand the types of leather.

What makes one type of leather different from another?

Leather is often sorted by the type of finish it has.  The three main types of upholstery leather finish are fully-finished, aniline and semi-aniline.  All of these terms are indicative of the type of dyes and protective layers used on the hide, and each surface reacts differently to cleaning products and damage.

What does fully-finished mean?

When tanneries make fully-finished leather out of hide, they put a dye and protective layer on it that will make it more resilient to damage than other types of leather.  You can think of this process like putting paint onto drywall.  It actually forms a thin barrier between the hide and the air.


What does fully-finished leather look like?

Fully-finished leather is usually glossy with a little bit of a shine to it.

Where will I see fully-finished leather?

Fully-finished leather is one of the most popular finishes for upholstery leather due to its durability.  It is used in almost 100 percent of auto leather and makes up a large percentage of furniture leather.

Furniture brands like Lazy Boy, Palliser, Natuzzi and Elite use a lot of fully-finished leather.

What are the benefits and down sides of fully-finished leather?

Pros:

    Fully-finished leather is excellent for pieces that need to withstand some wear and tear.  That’s why it’s so commonly used in cars.  If you have kids or pets, fully-finished leather is probably the way to go with furniture leather as well.
    It is usually less expensive than other types of leather.  Because the layer of dye on top of the leather covers imperfections in the hide, manufacturers can use hides that aren’t naturally as pretty as those they have to use with other finishes.
    It is easy to clean up.  After something spills on fully-finished leather, you usually have time to wipe it up with a damp cloth and dry it before it is damaged from the spill.
    Professionals can usually clean and repair fully-finished leather without much trouble.

Cons:

    Fully-finished leather is not as natural looking as aniline and semi-aniline leather.

Questions about fully finished leather? Comments? We’d love to hear from you!

Source: http://www.fibrenew.com/blog/what-is-fully-finished-leather-cars-andsofas/