Furniture Reporter

Here is a sneak peak of the furniture catalog coming tommorow:

As some of you have seen the soccer pitch is still there. It is staying for a while after the party and now nonmembers can come in!

 
Appreciating Trend, Depreciating Value

Why buy equipment that is capital intensive? Depreciating equipment that is constantly superseded? Health care is by far the largest segment in rentals with an aging population in a maturing industry, but the younger generation is catching the trend. Specific and rare items are a jewel in the crown, and a low concentration level reflects a largely fragmented market.
This Industry Market Research report provides a detailed analysis of the Health Furniture, Party Supplies & Other Rental in the US industry, including key growth trends, statistics, forecasts, the competitive environment including market shares and the key issues facing the industry.

 
Industry Definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in renting consumer goods (except consumer electronics and appliances, formal wear and costumes, and prerecorded video tapes). The main product segments available for rental within this industry are: home health equipment; recreational goods; and other consumer goods.

 
Report Contents

The Key Statistics chapter provides the key indicators for the industry for at least the last three years. The statistics included are industry revenue, industry gross product, employment, establishments, exports, imports, domestic demand and total wages.
The Market Characteristics chapter covers the following: Market Size, Linkages, Demand Determinants, Domestic and International Markets, Basis of Competition and Life Cycle. The Market Size section gives the size of the domestic market as well as the size of the export market. The Linkages section lists the industry’s major supplier and major customer industries. The Demand Determinants section lists the key factors which are likely to cause demand to rise or fall. The Domestic and International Markets section defines the market for the products and services of the industry. This section provides the size of the domestic market and the proportion accounted for by imports and exports and trends in the levels of imports and exports. The Basis of Competition section outlines the key types of competition between firms within the industry as well as highlighting competition from substitute products in alternative industries. The Life Cycle section provides an analysis of which stage of development the industry is at.
The Segmentation chapter covers the following: Products and Service Segmentation, Major Market Segments, Industry Concentration and Geographic Spread. The Products and Service Segmentation section details the key products and/or services provided by this industry, highlighting the most important where possible to demonstrate which have a more significant influence over industry results as a whole. The Major Market Segments section details the key client industries and/or groups as well as giving an indication as to which of these are the most important to the industry. The Industry Concentration section provides an indicator of how much industry revenue is accounted for by the top four players. The Geographic Spread section provides a guide to the regional share of industry revenue/gross product.
The Industry Conditions chapter covers the following: Barriers to Entry, Taxation, Industry Assistance, Regulation and Deregulation, Cost Structure, Capital and Labor Intensity, Technology and Systems, Industry Volatility and Globalization. The Barriers to Entry section outlines factors that can prevent a new company from entering this industry and also gives an indication of the extent to which this occurs. The Taxation section details all kinds of taxation that are specific or are particularly important to this industry, including taxation concessions. The Industry Assistance section refers to any government and/or other measures designed to improve the performance of this industry. The Regulation and Deregulation section details any applicable regulation and/or deregulation to this industry. The Cost Structure section details the average costs for a company operating in this industry as a percentage of total revenue. The Capital and Labor Intensity section provides a guide to the amount of capital used in production/providing a service compared to the amount of labor in the total mix of inputs. The Technology and Systems section acknowledges the latest technology and/or systems available to this industry within the country. Technology refers to machinery and equipment and systems refers to methods of production that enable better and more efficient production. The Industry Volatility section refers to the year on year fluctuations which occur in industry output. The Globalization section gives an indication of the extent to which the industry is global based on factors such as the level of foreign ownership, the proportion of demand accounted for by foreign operators and the volume of production conducted in other countries.
The Performance chapter provides an analysis of both the industry’s Current Performance and Historical Performance. The Current Performance section provides the key analysis for the industry over the past five years with key performance indicators discussed. The Historical Performance section details previously important events in the development of the industry.
The Key Competitors chapter lists the major players in the industry as well as an analysis of each major player’s activities in the industry. Market share information is included where possible.
The Key Factors chapter covers the industry’s Key Sensitivities and Key Success Factors. The Key Sensitivities section outlines the key factors that are outside the control of an operator in the industry, but are likely to have significant impact on a business. The Key Success Factors section details the factors within the control of an industry operator and which should be followed in order to be successful in the industry. Often this will include behavior that will help to minimize the effects of the Key Sensitivities.
The Outlook chapter is a key analysis section of the report and outlines expectations for the key industry indicators over the next five year period, including forecasts.
  
 

Table of Contents

 
INDUSTRY DEFINITION
Activities (Products and Services)
Similar Industries
Other Related Industries

KEY STATISTICS
Current Prices
Constant Prices
Real Growth
Ratio Table

SEGMENTATION
Products and Service Segmentation
Major Market Segments
Industry Concentration
Geographic Spread

MARKET CHARACTERISTICS
Market Size
Linkages
Demand Determinants
Domestic and International Markets
Basis of Competition

Life Cycle

INDUSTRY CONDITIONS
Barriers to Entry
Taxation
Industry Assistance
Regulation and Deregulation
Cost Structure
Capital and Labor Intensity
Technology and Systems
Industry Volatility
Globalization

KEY FACTORS
Key Sensitivities
Key Success Factors

KEY COMPETITORS
Major Players
Player Performance
Other Players

INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Current Performance
Historical Performance

OUTLOOK

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Interest in vintage furniture is at an all time high with shows and auctions commanding top-dollar for your grandmother’s tired old Danish modern dining set.  Scores of national chain retailers such as Design Within Reach, Modernica and Room & Board offer good replicas of many pieces, or contemporary licensed “originals”.  But when buying vintage – whether from a dealer or an individual – how do you know you’re getting an authentic piece?  A trained eye knows how to spot the details. 

Le Corbusier LC2 chair

There are too many designers and styles to deal with in a single post, so today I’ll deal with Le Corbusier – designer of the ever-popular cube-like chrome and black leather LC2 and LC3 chairs or glass-topped steel LC6 dining tables.  These pieces may seem ubiquitous because they seem to be available everywhere at every price point.  And that’s because anyone can make a chair that looks like a Corbusier as long as they vary it just enough to not infringe on the trademark.  They can vary the dimensions, throwing the proportions off.  Or the termination of the legs may be different.  The welds will almost always be rough.  And if it’s vintage and shows any rust, it’s most certainly not the real thing as they never, ever rust.

If you’re buying new, there’s only one source for an original – Cassina.  They have their own stores in select cities and sell through other retailers everywhere.  So if you want the real thing, just ask if it’s made by Cassina and check the tag and paperwork that comes with it.  But if you’re buying vintage, know what to look for and never take the dealer’s word for it – it’s amazing how often they’re wrong.

Here are my rules for buying a Corbusier LC series chair:

Rule 1:  If it’s cheap, it’s fake.  An authentic LC2 or LC3 chair starts at $3,200 new and prices range from $2,000 and up for good vintage pieces.  If you think you’re getting a bargain for much less than that, the joke’s on you.

Rule 2:  Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s real.  There are a lot of good fakes – some are even better-made than the real thing - but they are not going to retain their value like the real thing.  And ignorant (or ambitious) sellers can ask outrageous prices.

Rule 3:  Know where to find the serial number.  On Le Corbusier’s LC2 and LC3 chairs, feel under the upper-most chrome bar on the left arm of the chair.  Authentic chairs have a serial number etched into the chrome – you can feel the bumps with your fingers.  On some vintage pieces, the placement of the serial number may vary – sometimes it’s behind the backrest or on the right arm bar – but most years it was on the left side.

From the Cassina website: “According to the designer’s heirs “all pieces of furniture which do not bear the logotype Cassina, the signature of Le Corbusier and the production number are counterfeits”. All authentic Le Corbusier furniture is indelibly marked with the indicia shown below.”

A great side-by-side analysis of the real thing vs. a knock-off can be seen here.

If you can’t afford the real thing but want a good fake, look at the weld seams and the legs.  The legs should end cleanly with a chrome end-piece – not with a rubber cap and not with tapered ends.

In future postings, I will write about Mies van der Rohe’s “Barcelona” chair and ottoman, Arne Jacobsen’s “Egg” and “Swan” chairs, Eames’ Lounge Chair and Ottoman and other iconic – and often imitated pieces.

A new collection of pieces we’ve already seen (just saying) from Tom Dixon has shown up on the designer’s website. I don’t care if I’ve seen enough Slab Dining Tables and globe lamps to get me though the next decade, this Slab Chair is still beautiful. The stacking chair shows such economy, with thin, organically branch-like legs and its slight seat surface. The deep backrest creates a sense of almost impossible balance and nearly throws off the elegance of the chair. But not quite — I’m seeing a slightly quirky detail in an otherwise petite and pretty form. Awesome. I’ll never afford it. But awesome.

I was looking at the Club Penguin Blog and found a sneak peek for the upcoming furniture catalog.

Here are my guesses:
1st: Metal Thing
2nd: Sofa
3rd: Coffee Machine
4th: Pizza Oven

In other news, the Soccer Pitch is still open and now Non-Members can go in there.

Keep Waddling,

Grizzle Man