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The Consumer’s Guide on

How to PurcHase Fine LeatHer FurnitureSmart advice, tips and mistakes to avoid which guarantee you years of happiness with your furniture!

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ForewordThe guide you’re now holding was inspired by a simple question a customer recently asked me. He had his family come in late on a Sunday afternoon evidently after shopping for a good part of the weekend. As I started discussing a particular leather sofa he abruptly asked why the difference in price from store to store? They all “looked” the same.

I could tell he was frustrated.

He further explained to me that they had spent a couple of weeks shopping for leather furniture only to get conflicting information or, even worse, asking the sales consultants for information about the quality only to get vacant stares. It became apparent to me that consumers need more information on leather furniture to know how to determine value and the best decision for their family.

Since 1927, our family has been serving the Philadelphia area and providing families with quality leather furniture which lasts for generations. All we do is leather furniture and we are the area’s top experts when it comes to fine leather furniture.

I’ve put this helpful information together to help you avoid common mistakes consumers make when buying leather furniture. I invite you to experience the “Leather Expressions Difference” first-hand and schedule your complimentary furniture design consultation. The details are on the back cover of this guide.

Steve Erdman

At Leather Expressions, we stand behind our furniture.

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Table oF ConTenTs

Question #1 - How Will I Use My New Sofa, Chair Or Sectional? ................................................ 5

Question #2 - What Configurations Are Available? ...................... 7

Question #3 - What Do I Need To Know About Quality And Construction? ..................................... 8

Question #4 - What’s On The Inside? ......................................... 12

Frame Construction .............................................. 12

Cushions ............................................................... 13

Tailoring ................................................................ 13

Question #5 - Is All Leather The Same? ...................................... 15

Top Grain Leather Is Your Best Buy ...................... 16

The Truth About Leather Grades ......................... 16

What Is Bonded Leather? ..................................... 17

Question #6 - What If I Want Something That Is Not On Display? ....................................... 19

Seven Tips To Finding The Right Quality Leather Furniture ............ 20

Three Generations Of Service - The Leather Expressions Story ...... 22

©2015 Leather Expressions. All rights reserved.

On behalf of the entire team here at Leather Expressions, we hope you find this guide helpful and look forward to meeting you!

Top Grain leather is the best choice for your active family.

How will i Use My new soFa, CHair or seCTional?

blend your style choices with your lifestyle needs and to be very aware of HOW you use the living room.

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QUesTion #1 The single biggest mistake we see our customers make is to purchase a new sofa or chair that is either too big, too small, or just simply doesn’t match their lifestyle. Perhaps they select a sectional that doesn’t fit their house layout properly and now they are stuck with a portion of it in front of a window.

Or a sofa with hidden recline mechanisms is bought for a nice recline feature, but when they go to take a nap on a Sunday afternoon the mechanism digs into their hip…not very relaxing. Or worse, for an active family with pets, kids, or both, their new sofa looks as though it was reclaimed from a cheap hotel after 30 years of hard use due to accidental spills and pet hair.

see, the key to fully enjoying your new sofa - no matter what type of set up you select from sectional to three piece suite - is to be honest with yourself about how you and your family use the living room and how your new furniture will integrate with it.

If your living room is more of a sanctuary where only the adults sit and converse, your focus should be on the finer details such as tailoring, how the fabric looks and feels, along with the ornamental details like trim and leg choice.

Conversely, if your living room is more akin to Grand Central station where eating, homework, and emails are taken care of while watching the evening shows, then durability, built-in features like recliners and seated position comfort should be the main focus.

Finally, you need to consider “style.” No matter how the room is used, style is important but styles come and go. Comfort lasts much longer. Remember, once you are seated, it is the comfort that counts.

For instance, modern styled sofas offer a sleeker low-to-the-floor look but may offer a challenge for some whose “seat” ends up below their knees making it difficult to get up.

The takeaway here is to blend your style choices with your lifestyle needs and to be very aware of HOW you use the living room. Don’t be afraid to explain your lifestyle patterns with your consultant. They are here to help and ensure you get the absolute best experience with your new furniture.

blend your style choices with your lifestyle needs and to be very aware of HOW you use the living room.

wHaT ConFigUraTions are available?

The choice is yours: choose your style, configuration, leather & colors!

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QUesTion #2Once you have decided on what type of sofa to get, it is imperative you give thought to the available pieces and configuration of these pieces in relation to the living room, den, or formal sitting room where they will be placed.

Your design consultant will help you with this in relation to how the room flows, where doors are, and how high the window sills are in the room. Some do not wish to block anything, others are indifferent. The consultants at Leather Expressions will help you to get the perfect configuration without sacrificing or changing how you wish to relax on your new furniture.

Regarding sectionals, ample thought should be given to who will be using the piece, how many people, how they will sit or lie down, and whether the sectional accommodates all needs.

Consider family movie night or lazy Sunday afternoons with your spouse. If all parties wish to be together, you should certainly work with your consultant to achieve this.

If family movie night is a priority and something you do regularly, be sure to not accept just anything. Your design consultant has ample options available and can find the perfect fit no matter who lies down, who puts their feet up, and who curls up in the corner.

When it comes to a three piece set (sofa, loveseat, and chair), follow the same thought process and have an honest conversation with yourself - how will my family use this new furniture?

Thorough discussion with your consultant will result in the perfect blend of comfort and function regardless of room size and room flow. Our consultants do this every day and have a wealth of experience to work from in helping you find the perfect solution for even the most difficult of spaces.

Last, be sure to consider the tables and lamps that will complete your living room. Are they complementing to your new furniture? For instance, if your living room is the place where homework is done and the occasional meal is eaten, you may consider a lift top table and lamps that illuminate the space easily.

If you do a lot of reading but nothing else, you may consider a lamp set that articulates so no matter what position you read in, you will never have eye strain caused by dim lighting. The key here is to make sure all pieces complement the form and function so they can together create the ultimate experience in relaxation and enjoyment.

The choice is yours: choose your

QUesTion #3At Leather Expressions, our goal is to take the mystery out of buying quality leather furniture and offering you exceptional and unparalleled value.

Once you are armed with the right knowledge, you can make a choice that is right for you and once you have a better understanding about how the product is built internally, you are more equipped to make an informed decision.

The sad thing is that more than 80% of those who buy leather furniture have no idea about the quality they’re buying. They seem to buy for looks, not for quality. It’s one of the most expensive purchases people make for their home and yet they have little knowledge about it. Since they don’t know what they are getting, how can they know if they a paying a fair price for it?

One of the most common practices in furniture manufacturing is to copy another brands’ best-selling styles. Don’t be fooled by the “same” piece of furniture being offered at different stores at drastically different prices. When this happens, they often replace the quality features with inferior construction materials. You, the consumer, would have no idea because these features are unseen. Unless you know how to tell the difference, you could easily overpay for a poor quality sofa.

Consider this point: a sofa is the second most used piece of furniture in your home, second only to a mattress. Therefore, quality construction is something that begs your attention. You’ve heard the phrase “you get what you pay for”, right? Well this applies to upholstered items.

wHaT do i need To Know aboUT QUaliTy and ConsTrUCTion?

Paying attention to quality and knowing how you will use the sofa will help you make a more educated purchase.

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A reputable store with fair pricing (none of this 50% off sale mumbo jumbo), will be able to show you the quality differences between sofas at varying price points. There are quality differences to be considered and it may be worthwhile to consider investing in that quality.

Paying attention to quality and knowing how you will use the sofa will help you make a more educated purchase and know that down the road you will not be disappointed with how your new sofa performs in the home.

Our most popular brand is Natuzzi, one of the largest and most respected leather furniture brands in the world. In fact, Leather Expressions has the largest Natuzzi gallery in the USA. Each Natuzzi design is individually engineered and tested for maximum seating comfort and their innovative construction systems adjusts to best support weight distribution. Natuzzi is committed to meeting international quality management and environmental protection standards.

do yoU really wanT To MaKe a $3,300 MisTaKe?This is what will happen if you purchase a cheap, Bonded leather sofa from “THEM”

You need to replace it, so you invest $1,100 in a slightly nicer sofa, but it’s still Imitation leather. That lasts a little longer, but wears out in year four. At this point, you really wish you had bought a Top Grain leather sofa, but you can’t afford it since you already spent $2,000 on two sub-par sofas. So, you invest $1,300 in a slightly better, but still not Top Grain leather sofa. Five years later, this third sofa is worn out and you’re out $3,300 and have no sofa.

After only a few short years, your $900 Bonded leather sofa will look like this.

Let’s say you purchase a Bonded, Imitation, or Synthetic leather

sofa for $900.

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SavE TiME and MOnEy By invESTinG in a TOP Grain

lEaTHEr SOfa THE firST TiME!

How To avoid MaKing a $3,300 soFa MisTaKe

At Leather Expressions, we use only Top Grain leather meaning you can’t make a $3,300 sofa mistake with us. The below picture is a Top Grain leather sofa Leather Expressions carried fifteen years ago that my brother Rick put in his home. aS yOu Can SEE, THE SOfa iS in nEar PErfECT COndiTiOn!

QUesTion #4 All leather furniture we carry is “bench made quality frame construction” which means our furniture uses the best materials for long lasting durability and built with your active family in mind. At Leather Expressions we believe an educated customer is the best customer. Here we start to tell the inside story.

When considering the internal value and longevity of a sofa there are three essential components:

• The frame

• The cushions

• The tailoring

asK aboUT THe FraMe ConsTrUCTion

The frame is the foundation of your leather furniture item. If it looks great but falls apart quickly due to a cheap interior frame, you’ll have

wHaT’s on THe inside?Don’t worry mom, your Top Grain leather will look great for years to come!

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a costly mistake on your hands. Your furniture consultant can explain the frame construction for the pieces you are considering.

In the past, hardwood frame construction was the gold standard in furniture. However, over time a sofa made entirely of hardwood can warp and split, causing damage to the furniture. Advances in manufacturing technology have resulted in engineered wood components and composites that are stronger than many solid woods. The furniture at Leather Expressions combines both wood solids and composites into a design that’s more durable and long-lasting, guaranteeing you years of enjoyment.

THe CUsHions

Pick up the seat cushion. There is a correlation between weight and quality. Cushions are rated by foam density so the heavier the cushion the better the quality. In higher quality sofas, like the ones we carry from Natuzzi, the seat cushions are made from 2.2 pound high resiliency urethane foam wrapped in polyester fiber. In lower quality sofas, the foam density is usually lower than 1.5 pounds.

This lower quality foam leads to buyer’s remorse very quickly. We hear many stories of customers buying “Bargain Furniture” with cheaply made foam cushions that rapidly collapse, loose their shape and become lumpy. At Leather Expressions, our furniture only uses superior filling materials that hold up to active family use.

eye THe Tailoring

Another point worthy of your time is the tailoring of the sofa. How does it appear on the sales floor? Are the seams, welts, and accent stitching straight as an arrow? Is the piping even? Are the outsides padded to improve the longevity and the appearance? If not, the leather will be prone to rubbing, scuffing and wear marks.

If the answers to the above questions are no’s, this is likely an indication of overall quality. Not to say that a minor variance from end to end of the sofa is a direct indication of poor quality. But we submit for consideration - if the manufacturer doesn’t put time and effort into the small details, ones which you can see front and center, what other details are being overlooked when it comes to the internal construction of your sofa?

is all leaTHer THe saMe?

Top Grain leather is your best, most durable choice for pets.

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QUesTion #5Unfortunately, the term “leather”, in the last numbers of years, has had a broad stroke applied to it. There are now many different types of leather, from 100% Top Grain, Split Grain, all the way down to Bonded leather. It’s easy to be confused about how to choose the right leather for your new sofa set, so here are key points to consider.

It is fairly common to see furniture stores promoting furniture as “Genuine Leather”. The problem with using a term like “Genuine Leather” is it offers no details about specifically what kind of leather it is. Then again, maybe that’s the point. At Leather Expressions, we take the time to teach you about leather, so you will be able to make an informed buying decision on which type of leather best fits your needs.

All furniture leather is a by-product of the beef industry. The first step in creating leather furniture is to GRADE the quality of hides. Only about 5% of the hides are judged to be select enough to be used for quality leather furniture, with the balance of the hides being used for clothing, shoes, handbags, automotive applications, etc.

Hides are graded and sorted according to their quality in a process called SELECTION. After the sorting process, the hides are then prepared by cleaning and washing. The hides that are judged to be furniture quality go to a splitting machine. The original thickness of a hide is much too thick to be used to upholster furniture. The average thickness of a cowhide is 5mm. Upholstery leather requires a minimum thickness of 0.9-1.4 m. The splitting machine then does its work. It splits the hide into 2 or 3 pieces.

Leather is also pet and child friendly. Because of its dense fiber composition, it is highly unlikely to tear or puncture, and will never pill. Further, it is very easy to maintain and clean, making it far superior to most other performance fabrics. Many people with allergies will only buy Top Grain leather furniture because of its hypo-allergenic qualities.

reMeMber - ToP grain leaTHer is always yoUr besT bUy!

When buying a quality leather sofa make sure it’s Top Grain leather. If a salesperson presents the sofa as a leather match or says it’s leather-like, then it’s not leather. You can tell if it’s leather vinyl if you look at the underside of the back of the sofa. If you see a white gauze backing, it’s vinyl. The reason Top Grain leather is your best buy is because this is the strongest portion of the hide. Properly tanned, it will outlast the best wearing upholstery fabric by 4 or 5 times. The bottom 2/3 of the hides are referred to as Split Grain leather. Split hides are coarser and stiffer, tending to crack more easily. The average wear time of a Split hide is about five years. Another problem with a Split Grain leather is that it doesn’t breathe like Top Grain leather. On average, Top Grain leather costs more than three times what Split Grain costs. In an effort for manufacturers to keep costs down, they will often use Split Grain hides on leather furniture. To provide the best value we can, at Leather Expressions some sofas use Split Grain leather on the outsides in non-wear areas.

THe TrUTH aboUT leaTHer grades

Don’t be confused by a leather “grade”. This simply refers to the price grading system used by the furniture manufacturer. The furniture manufacturer is free to use whatever method they want. One manufacturer may use a numbering system to designate their price for example grade 10, grade 20, etc. Another may use letters, grade A, grade B, grade C, etc. When shopping for leather furniture, as long as

“We purchased our leather couch, chair and ottoman back in August of 2004 from Leather Expressions. Steve (Erdman) was not only knowledgeable but friendly and courteous. In the 10 years we have owned it, it has survived 4 Greyhounds and 2 children. We recently moved in the beginning of 2015 and the furniture is still as BEAUTIFUL as it was in 2004. We are planning on passing it down to our son. We are sure he will enjoy it as much as we did for many years to come.”

Bob & Kerry lynady Leather Expressions Happy Customer

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it’s Top Grain leather, the leather’s price grade has nothing to do with the leather’s cleanability or wearability characteristics. It is important to know how your furniture will be used and choose leather that will perform well for you.

wHaT is bonded leaTHer?

Lastly, Bonded leather is not what you think. In fact, there is less than 20% of actual real leather in the material. Bonded leather is made by taking scraps of real leather and blending them with polyurethane and adhering them to a heavy cotton backing layer. This product sometimes offers the look and feel of leather without the price of Top Grain. However, it won’t hold up like Top Grain and often lacks superior frame and cushion durability.

These are just a few of the leather basics you need to know to make a quality leather furniture investment. If you have any other questions on leather, please visit www.leatherexpressions.com for a more complete education or feel free to contact one of our furniture consultants.

wHaT iF i wanT soMeTHing THaT is noT on disPlay?

at leather Expressions, we create it your way.

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QUesTion #6Often when shopping for furniture, you’ll find pieces that are close to what you like, but not exactly. In most furniture stores, you’re stuck with only being able to choose from the furniture that they keep in stock, limiting your options for fabric, layout, size, and more. Why settle for something less than what you want?

At Leather Expressions, we have a true “create it your way” approach to leather furniture. Our team of professionals will help you create a plan quickly with our selection of over 400 different leathers and the latest designs. They will help you pick the leather and help you select the configuration that best suits your needs and gives you exactly what you want.

While we truly are “special order specialists,” we’ve also made a large commitment to have our most popular leather furniture items in stock for immediate delivery.

With over 700 leather furniture manufacturers to choose from, we select only the cream of the crop. We shop the international markets for authentic values and select our merchandise with the active family in mind. In today’s global economy we buy from quality controlled shops where we can offer you the best overall value.

“I’ve been buying leather furniture from Steve and Rick Erdman for decades. They’re friendly and nice and they treat me like family whenever I stop by. I love how they take the time to show me the intricate details of the furniture I’m buying and they’re not at all pushy during the process, answering all of my questions. Even though I live in the city, I often bring friends to the Leather Expressions showroom to shop because I know they’ll take care of them like they’ve done for me! I can honestly say that there’s no better shopping experience anywhere!

Charlotte Brown Leather Expressions Happy Customer

seven HelPFUl TiPs To Finding THe rigHT QUaliTy leaTHer FUrniTUre

Check for padding underneath the leather. Quality leather sofas have a foam pad underneath the leather to protect the leather from the frame. This step also adds to the eye appeal and improves the tailoring.

Stay away from shredded foam. While less expensive than solid foam, it tends to “migrate” to the lowest possible point leaving your furniture with that baggy- saggy look.

Make sure you sit on the furniture in the same manner you intend to use it, before buying it. This might sound over simplistic, however the list is long of consumers who bought sofas through a catalog or internet source and end up with buyer’s remorse because it was not comfortable and they are now stuck with their purchase. Be certain that the height and angle of the back as well as the depth of the seat correspond with your size.

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As with any furniture purchase, it is important to decide what life span and service you expect from your furniture. As we have discussed through this leather guide, while leather is more expensive than cloth covered furniture, it can still be constructed quite cheaply.

Check the warranty and ask clarifying questions. The rule is that the better the interior construction, the better the warranty. At Leather Expressions, all of our furniture has a lifetime warranty on frame and springs.

Know what to expect on delivery day. Delivery does not always include set up or removal of trash. Make sure you know if your furniture is going to be set up in your room or simply deposited on your front lawn. Also know if delivery people are trained professionals who know how to handle furniture without damaging your home or your new furniture.

Do business with a person not a nameless, faceless institution. Build a relationship with a retailer you can trust, and who always backs up his products. There is nothing more frustrating than buying an expensive piece of furniture, having problems with it, and then getting the run-around when you call the retailer for help.

at leather Expressions, we don’t believe in that kind of customer treatment. i realize that you work hard for your money. you deserve to get the best value for you dollar and part of that value is being taken care of on the warranty or any other issues you might have. Our furniture is top quality and we rarely have customers that have problems, but no one is perfect. i’ll be the first to admit it. if there is anything that you have questions about, we’ll take care of it promptly and properly, i promise.

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In the early 1920’s, our grandfather Lloyd Erdman, Sr. worked as an upholsterer at Grand Upholstery. He was an ambitious young man, and supplemented his income by candling eggs in his parent’s basement, where he developed a route to sell them. One day he purchased a piece of furniture from his employer, and brought it with him on his egg route in an attempt to sell it. Soon he was selling furniture to his egg customers, for installments; each week.

In 1927 he purchased a small store at 4947 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia. Here he sold furniture, and also upholstered furniture. By 1932, he and his wife Marion gave birth to a son, Lloyd Erdman, Jr. Later, after serving his country, Lloyd joined his father in the furniture business.

Around 1960, the store moved to larger quarters at the corner of Frankford Avenue & Harrison Street, where Aria Frankford Hospital now stands. My father and grandfather serviced the Philadelphia area here for years, until my father eventually moved to 2217 Bristol Pike in Bensalem, PA In 1971. My brother Rick and I (Steve) joined my Dad, Lloyd Jr., in 1976.

Seeing the need for a specialty store, my brother Rick and I decided to take the business in a different direction. We became Leather Expressions and the rest is history. We now have one location in Montgomeryville. Although we took on a more specialized product, the goal that began on an egg route has remained the same, providing the ultimate in value and service.

THree generaTions oF serviCe

The Leather Expressions Story

How we began - From Erdman Furniture to Leather Expressions Furniture

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We sell only quality products, built to give you years of problem-free enjoyment. We are committed to you, our customer, with all the necessary information to make an informed buying decision. Our goal is that you are 100% satisfied. We are owner operators and are accountable thru every step of the sales ownership process. We have an exceptional delivery team and should a need for service after the sale arise, we have the best service team with over 15 years of experience to handle any post sale situation.

Reading this leather education guide was an important first step towards your dream living space. Your next move should be to reach out to a professional designer, like Leather Expressions, and schedule a design consultation to determine the best way to proceed with your furniture needs. The details are on the back cover of this guide.

THanK yoU For sUPPorTing oUr FaMily owned bUsiness.

927 Bethlehem Pike Colmar, Pa 18915

215-631-1500 info@leatherexpressions.com

www.leatherexpressions.com

Reduce your stress and allow our design consultants to guide you through the leather furniture buying process! We’ll even come to your home.

Call us today at 215-631-1500 or go to LeatherExpressions.com/consult to schedule your free design consultation. During this valuable consult we’ll go over:

• How to assess your space needs and determine the right fit

• How to fit your sofa with the other items in your room

• How to tell the difference in leathers

• How to avoid costly special order mistakes

• AND MORE!

We’ve been helping Philadelphia furniture buyers for over 80 years and I guarantee our time together will be valuable. Call today or go to LeatherExpressions.com/consult.

One Hour, No-Obligation Furniture Design Consultation to Find Your Perfect Leather Furniture

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