Hey Guys, Kelly Here.

Now that I’m back from #HPMKT and with it I have to let you in on a little secret … there is some SERIOUSLY uncomfortable product out there.  No I’m not talking quality (although we all know that story), I’m talking like what the hell, who the hell, how the heck did they think that people would want to sit in/on that!

Ok , so no one said this would be comfy but!  It’s also an interesting time because the furniture landscape is changing.  Brick and mortar stores (i.e. those with actual stores you can go to) are faced with tighter margins thanks to the internet as you, the consumer, do most of your research online.  They therefore aren’t stocking as many big bulky items like sofas, if any at all which poses 2 problems:

1. Gone are the days of going into an actual store and finding the exact chair/sofa/sectional model you want to test.  Floorspace is at a premium, and its safe to say 80% of the places that used to have models for you to try out in person are only carrying a few now.  Moreover, if they do carry more they aren’t centrally located so you have to find time from your busy schedule to make he trek. This makes it increasingly difficult for you AND designers/decorators to try before you buy; while you’re likely comfortable buying lighting, blankets and even dining tables online or off, seating is still a big challenge.

2. Gone are the days where manufacturers sold to a small set of retailers and actually got feedback on what customers thought.  Now more than ever they are left, frankly, guessing what is comfortable and more often than not based on what sells which is flawed for obvious reasons.  Moral of the story, you can’t always believe what you hear/read so rely on recommendations or go with what you know – and its important to recognize that just like technology changes so do manufacturing processes.  There’s great product and theirs crappy product and in trying to navigate your way to not wasting funds and being disappointed, you need help from someone on the inside!

It was sort of serendipitous timing that I had yet another conversation with one of our Stylists from the airport en route to Highpoint Market about how difficult it is to buy “upholstered” products online.  We’ve resolved the material and finish issues by sending samples to the client to touch and feel but whether you’re going to drop a few hundred or thousand on a SEAT how can we assure you that you’re making the right choice and going to end up loving the comfort and feel of the sit?

Our job as Remote Stylists is to source the best furniture/decor for you, in your desired budget and do that quickly and for free, then follow up with quick delivery without the hassle of having to return things you don’t like, which we don’t want to sell you in the first place.  If I wouldn’t put it in my home, I am definitely not telling you to put it in yours!

So how could I solve this buying “seating” online problem?

Well, I was on my way to the largest furniture market in the world, where almost every vendor would have thousands of feet of showroom floor place (see the wheels turning!).  I had registered for the fitbit walking challenge (and did log 53miles of showroom touring!) but all I have to say is I SO wish someone could have tracked how many squats I did.  Up down, up down … for 4 straight days I went.

Yes folks, I solved the problem by putting my fat-ladden butt/ass in each and every piece of furniture I could find.  I’m not some skinny blond waif, nor would I consider myself grossly overweight … I’m 5’6″ and indeed do sport a little extra around the hips/bum so feel like I should go in the average box.  I’m also approaching 39 years old at rapid fire speed and when I sit down after running around like crazy there’s only 1 thing that matters – its COMFORTABLE!  Of course I took into account where my arms went and how I fit in the chair but for the purpose of the For the Love of the Sit: Kelly’s 2016 Seating Guide I took into account some people are taller, others shorter, and likewise smaller and larger.   At the end of the day I selected a wide range of pieces from many lines, across a variety of styles and price points.

If only you could have seen the faces of people in the showrooms as this went down!! Yes that’s exhausted me (looking oh so fancy!) and my new selfie stick (which I clearly have no clue how to use).   I was that pushy annoying chic, asking people who were lounging about in what I wanted to sit in to move and by Monday …whoa – watch out;  the frantic speed with which I did my seating test was akin to a serious dose of speed!    Reps and those manning showrooms were in disbelief  with others shouting ‘you go girl’ in passing.  To put it in perspective I did the entire 4 floor Vanguard showroom in 12 minutes and you bet I sat on every piece of furniture in there, for just long enough to say #kellyapproved (or not)!  If only someone had me on video screaming “excuse me, plane to catch,” sweating like mad;  the visual was nothing short of INSANE and my tush 2 days later could tell you the whole story (ouch!).

We’re still compiling the list but a heads up that from all the furniture in the world we’ve selected 200+ options for 2016 that you can’t go wrong with purchasing online;  that’s right 200+ no-fail seating options for chairs, sofas, sectionals, desk and dining, all of which we can ship to you for $1 duties included in Canada/USA*

Remember, unless you are actually buying the floor model in a store, upholstery qualifies as custom item because they build it for you (to your desired size, fabric, stain, etc)  so the turnaround to get something to your door varies from 3 to 14 weeks no matter where you purchase i.e., but we even included quick ship delivery options for those with tight timelines and/or little patience (trust me, we get it!)

For the Love of the Sit: Kelly’s 2016 Seating Guide launches on December 21, 2015.  

Get on the list here.

My newly sculpted bottom thanks you for sharing with your friends too 🙂

Cheers,

Kelly ~ #kellyapproved

PS If you have seating needs before then, i.e. need to have it in your house before February, use the free Stylist help feature and we will hop on your file right away to make that happen.  We’ve got the intel already it’s just not in the pretty format 🙂

*some locations with remote access or ferry service do have unavoidable additional fees but we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how reasonable they are.