Have you ever returned to a store to replace your favorite shoes only to find that they now cost an extra $20 more? I bet you looked at the soles to see if they were different, was the leather the same, was in insole different... I bet you tried to see why they were $20 more. If you could not see any quality enhancement I bet you took your money and bought something else that had more apparent value.
We feel this way at Hickory Chair. We do not want to raise our prices to cover the increasing cost of materials. We want to offset those expenses with a lean, efficient workroom that creates special pieces right the first time in just a few weeks from order. Over the past 10 years we have only had three price increases while adding options, sizes and reducing the time you wait for a piece to be made.
Recently we upgraded our standard throw pillows to luxurious 100% goose feathers and now offer optional hidden zippers for no additional charge. Most throw pillows in stores are filled with polyester fiber. Better manufacturers use Blend-Down which is a mix of polyester fiber mixed with small duck feathers and down. Very few invest in 100% goose feathers to fill throw pillows like Hickory Chair. The benefit is that not only do our throw pillows look plump and feel plush, they require less maintenance to keep them looking and feeling new. Goose feathers are less likely to migrate out of the pillow casing than down or duck feathers. All pillows whether throw pillows, back pillows or seat cushions require plumping or fluffing to keep their shape over time. Some interesting information is available at ehow on goose versus duck down. We prefer not to use petroleum based polyester fiber in our throw pillows when we can use goose feathers which are natural and biodegradeable when the throw pillows are no longer needed... in other words environmentally friendly.
Our goose feather filled throw pillows are also generously scaled. Most sofas are standard with 20-inch to 22-inch throw pillows. It is important that the throw pillows are in proportion to the sofa. Depending on the particular sofa, some are standard with as many as four throw pillows. Some have round bolsters. We also offer throw pillows in a range of sizes so you can add them to existing sofas and beds in your home.
While our throw pillows are sewn closed as our standard, we now offer hidden zippers upon request at no charge. The hidden zippers allow one to remove the pillow cover for a change of fabric or to have them professionally cleaned. Always have upholstery fabrics professionally cleaned as very few were designed to be washable at home.
