WORLD FURNITURE DIRECT…The name says it all. Fresno ’s furniture expert is also the President of World Furniture Direct. Bernie Siomiak spent 17 years as the owner of a large furniture manufacturing business here in Fresno . Over the years, Bernie, along with his brothers, took the company from a 2 car garage operation to a 15 million dollar a year plant shipping his designs to over 700 stores throughout the world. Selling his business in 1997, Bernie had the luxury of an early retirement and traveled throughout the entire world for 5 years. Finding himself in Hong Kong frequently where he traveled north to the furniture manufacturing region of Shenzhen. During this period he made many friends with some very successful Taiwanese and Chinese businessmen who owned factories in the area, as well as owners of factories in Maylasia , Indonesia , and Vietnam . After many trips overseas, Bernie realized that everyone who imported furniture into the US was doing so using a series of “middlemen” who all profited from the supply chain. This meant that the end user, or retail customer was paying way too much for the furniture by the time they purchased it. Bernie then decided to use his influence with his new friends and import a line of high quality furniture “directly” to Fresno , using only a few quality control people who actually live at the factory during production. Using his design background, Bernie used an automated computer assisted design software (autocad) to avoid translation issues and get the furniture built right. This painstaking work consumed over a year of his life, but in the end was well worth it.
World Furniture Direct opened it’s doors on January 18, 2003 on West Shaw avenue , 1 mile from highway 99. As success came slowly, Bernie bought the building after being open just 23 months. On August 15, 2005 a second location was added at Herndon and Blackstone, next to Costco at Riverpark. Today, World Furniture Direct is still importing many containers of furniture from all over the world. With a successful 2 store operation, Bernie is now looking for his next location to be outside of the Fresno area. The smart people of California have made World Furniture Direct a favorite furniture shopping destination, choosing to save hundreds, even thousands of dollars buying direct, at World Furniture Direct.
How can I tell if the furniture I am looking at is of good quality?
A. Ask questions. If the salesperson doesn’t know, then walk away. Look for the quality yourself. Do the drawers open smoothly? Are they dovetailed? Can you see particle board anywhere? Is it finished well? Don’t equate a brand name your grandmother used to buy with good quality. Almost every big name you will find at a full price retail furniture store is being made in China . That’s right, China . In many cases, the furniture I am buying from a factory overseas is also making furniture for Pulaski, Bernhardt, etc. Full price retail furniture stores are counting on you to walk in and buy like zombies. Don’t. Shop around and save. Check out World Furniture Direct.
Is furniture made of particle board bad?
A. Yes, and No. Yes, particle board is bad if the furniture is made exclusively of particle board or if major structural elements of the piece has particle board. Particle board is good when you are talking about large flat sections of veneer such as dining table tops, dresser tops and sides as long as the veneer is applied correctly by a reputable factory, like the ones World Furniture Direct uses.
Are their different grades of particle board?
A. Absolutely. Cheap particle board is very low in density, so when it breaks you see big particles that are very loosely pressed into the board. A much better choice is medium density fiberboard, or “MDF”. This product consists of fine particles that are pressed very firmly together using an extremely high pressure press. This is the ultimate surface for applying veneers, and is used in much of the better furniture made today.
Should I buy a dining table made of solid wood, or one with a veneered top?
A. For many years craftsmen have touted the benefits of both solid tops and veneered tops. I like both, but in most cases solid tops are no longer practical. Here’s why. A solid top must be laminated. In other words, to be made correctly, the solid lumber must be ripped into boards about 6” wide, then glued together with the grain placed correctly in an opposing pattern. In extremely expensive custom made furniture this process can be done correctly, but only by some of the finest craftsmen. When solid wood is laminated incorrectly you will see your top split and separate in time. Remember, veneers can be found in some of the finest antiques ever made. When the process of cutting veneers was first invented, only the very rich could afford to own a piece made with veneers. Most dining tables made today are made using veneers. In fact, the most elaborate tables involve many intricate cuts to achieve beautiful patterns in the dining tops. This process also allows the maker to use contrasting colors such as cherry and ebony.
What’s the deal with microfibers?
A. More than 60% of upholstery sold today is covered in a microfiber. This is one case where man has made something good. Microfiber has been invented as a suede-like material that is resistant to almost any stain you can think of. You can pour red wine on a white microfiber and clean it up with hot soapy water. The other good thing is that the many different colors it comes in do not vary from one dye lot to the next. You could buy a sofa today, and then buy the matching loveseat in 2 years, if the factory still making that model.
Are brand name mattresses the best?
A. No. Like anything else involving a brand name, you are paying for the national advertising campaign. If you like the cute little sheep, buy the cute little sheep, then go to a store that carries “clone” mattresses. But when someone buys one of the big name mattresses, like the ones that start with an “S’, they are paying upwards of 40% more than they should. And mattress only stores rely on only mattresses for their income, so they work on higher margins than regular furniture stores. I prefer to carry only a few brands of mattresses that are made at excellent local factories, with great warranties, that sell for a fraction of what a comparable name brand mattress would sell for. A mattress is the only furniture purchase that can positively impact your health. Think about it.
These Q and A were provided by Bernie Siomiak. President of World Furniture Direct.
