25 Ways To Destroy A Couch

Repairing furniture for as many years as we have exposes us to a lot of “creative” methods in which couches can be destroyed. Our leather repair experts have seen it all and them some. To lighten up your week, we thought we’d share our top 25 ways a couch can be destroyed. Keep in mind, not all of these are repairable and don’t try any at home, but even for some of these complete couch destroyers, we can bring the furniture back from the brink!

25 Ways To Destroy A Couch

Take it to an open field, and proceed to destroy it “Office Space”-style.

Plan for a summer bonfire, and use the couch as kindling for your s’mores.

Haul the couch out a window or off of a building (given there are no pedestrians within range).

Shred it like cheese in a sofa shredder.

Buy a set of skis, attach them to the bottom, and find a snowy hill/mountain.

Find an empty parking lot, attach wheels to the bottom of the couch, and pull it behind a truck. See how many times you can swerve to make the couch hit a light post.

Find a trucker willing to make your couch his road kill.

One word: sledgehammer.

Go bungee jumping, except attach the couch to the bungee instead of yourself.

Nail to the bottom of a pool for underwater fun. For additional ambiance, add a side table and lamp.

Drizzle bacon grease all over the couch, then let your dogs do what they will with it.

Tape ketchup packets over the entire couch and tell your kids to jump on it.

For girls: break the frame underneath the cushions and invite over your significant other. Sit on the couch and act like you broke it, then cry hysterically about how fat you are. Tell him to get rid of the couch immediately.

For a complete Freddie costume on Halloween, use a chainsaw to cut the couch into sections during trick-or-treating.

Tote the couch to a bridge, then dump it off the side.

Donate the couch to a fraternity house.

Give your kids markers and set them loose in the living room.

Go four-wheeling after a rainy day, then roll around on your couch before showering.

Invite your hairy or slobbering dog to take a nap on the couch.

Before declawing your cat, allow him to use the couch as a scratching post.

Play “tug of war” with your couch – attach each end to a vehicle and see who breaks off the biggest piece.

Potty train your puppy on your couch.

Make your couch “outdoor furniture,” and leave it outside during a thunderstorm.

Take your couch on a skydiving trip but don’t pack its parachute right.

Invite your kids to eat their chocolate Easter bunnies on your couch.

If your couch met any of these disastrous fates or is just looking shabby, give one of our leather experts a call to bring it back to showroom condition.

Source: Fibrenew

From School Teacher and Engineer to Franchise Business Owner

At Fibrenew we are big on supporting one another. In doing that, we would like to share spotlight interviews with our existing Franchises. Today we are looking at Mark Canon and his Fibrenew Franchise in South Orlando, Florida.

Mark joined the Fibrenew family in May of 2012. Coming to Fibrenew from a varied background; he was a Math and Science school teacher in his early to mid 20’s before returning to school and pursuing an engineering degree. Mark worked as a power systems engineer for 12 years before finding the Fibrenew opportunity.

One of the reasons Mark was drawn to Fibrenew was the freedom to control his own destiny and the ability work his own hours. Setting his own hours was important for two reasons. One, the heat and humidity of Florida has Mark out the door so he can complete projects early in the mornings and spend the hot afternoons making follow up calls and knocking on doors to build new connections. The second reason was his children, Mark likes that he is able to be available for school activities, sports, doctors appointments and other things related to his two children. He also appreciates that he does not spend a lot of time behind a desk.

Right now it is just Mark running his Franchise and for now he enjoys it that way, he likes the physical hands-on work that Fibrenew requires. He is not ruling out the potential for a technician down the road, but right now he enjoys working the Franchise alone. “It is good exercise” Mark jokes. He hopes to continue to see his franchise grow, particularly within the small specialty car industry, doing warranty work for local Orlando furniture shops and he would love to add some aviation plastic work to his consistent business… continue reading!

 

 

A Successful Fibrenew Franchise Owner Balances Work and Home Life

At Fibrenew, we are big on supporting one another. In doing that, we would like to share spotlight interviews with our franchisees. Today we are looking at Ann Benes and her Fibrenew Lincoln Franchise in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Ann and her family were looking for a small business franchise opportunity that would help supplement their farming income. Ann’s husband Pat was initially going to be the one running the business. The plan was to use the flexibility of owning and operating a Fibrenew franchise while he continued to operate the family farm. However, over 13 years later, Fibrenew Lincoln is now operated by Ann while Pat works the farm full time. The flexibility factor is still a huge perk for their family as Ann is able to work around the kids’ school and extra curricular schedules and still have plenty of extra family time.

A typical day has Ann seeing her children off to school in the morning before taking her Fibrenew vehicle out to complete various types of Fibrenew leather, plastic and vinyl repairs for her customers in and around Lincoln. Ann structures her schedule so she’s able to be home shortly after her children arrive home from school. This is when she tackles the day’s paperwork and answers emails and return phone calls. For now, it is a successful framework. When asked what the future holds for the Franchise, Ann says she just takes it year by year. As with any small business owner, their goal each year is to see growth. Down the road, one of their children may want to take part in operation or they will look at the possibility of selling the business . . . Read More!

Making Old Into New

Keith Stewart of Oconomowoc’s Fibrenew works to restore the interior of a BMW.

OCONOMOWOC — Entrepreneur Keith Stewart and his wife, Laurie, are fading and ripped upholsteries’ worst enemies.

The Stewarts recently became the new owners of Oconomowoc’s Fibrenew, an upholstery repair and restoration service. Fibrenew repairs, re-dyes, restores and cleans leather, plastic, vinyl and fabric. Basically, if there’s faded or ripped fabric, Keith Stewart will do everything he can to bring it back to life.

Stewart works with furniture, cars, boats and even planes. There was even a time he had to reupholster 61 chairs for a Cousins Subs that was reopening. He had a little bit of help from Laurie Stewart and his father-inlaw on that one.

Keith Stewart became an entrepreneur after spending his entire post-college life in the metal industry, where he commercially heat-treated metal.

A leather chair that was ruined by a dog.

The same chair after restoration.

He enjoyed his time doing it, but after several years of doing it he realized there isn’t a lot of change or innovation in the field.

“We used to joke that heat treating is the second oldest profession,” Stewart said. “It goes back to the Middle Ages if not earlier. There isn’t anything going on and frankly, it was just boring. It was more interesting to try and do something new.”

So he tried something new. With the help of a franchise coach, Stewart spent a year researching businesses he wanted to be a part of. The business coach found Fibrenew and presented it to Stewart.

Along with Laurie, Keith Stewart spent time talking to the local development person in Hartford about the company. He spent a day shadowing a franchisee in Chicago and when he decided the business was right for him, he approached the former owner, who was looking to retire… read more!

Reblog: An Adventure Every Day: Fibrenew Tampa Franchisee is Living His Dream

Sam Torres had high hopes for his family’s financial future, despite being massively underemployed during an economic recession of 2008. He knew he was smart. He knew he was a hard worker. He knew his strength was connecting with people and solving their problems. So when he and his wife Penny came across the opportunity to own a Fibrenew franchise, they pounced.

Opening Fibrenew Tampa was the best decision the couple has made. Even through the struggling economy they worked diligently at forming a customer foundation that has grown steadily through every economic high and low. The franchise has not only provided Torres with a job for the past nine years, but has exceeded their financial goals, allowing the family a relaxed, comfortable lifestyle. “My wife said I am never allowed to give the business up!” Torres laughs.

Being a Fibrenew franchisee suits Torres well. “What I do for a living is not ordinary. It’s like an adventure every day,” he grins. His daily adventures include appointments with clients from a variety of industries: from moving companies and furniture stores to warranty companies and marinas. Fibrenew Tampa has been so accomplished with its performance Torres recently added Tesla to his client list. The secret to his success? “People skills,” he says. “If people like you, it makes them more comfortable.” continue reading!

Freedom To Be His Own Boss

When asked; Why Fibrenew? Franchisee Henry Garner responds; Because being a Fibrenew franchisee means you’re your own boss, you’re part of a supportive head office, and no two days are alike.

Since opening Fibrenew Alpharetta in 2012, Henry Garner has become the go-to guy for leather, plastic and vinyl restoration in the area. How does he know he provides solid service using top-of-the-line products? “The only time I ever really hear of my competition is when they’ve screwed up and someone calls Fibrenew to fix it!” he says.

There were a few components of Fibrenew that drew him to the franchise in the first place. First, the freedom to be his own boss was compelling. Garner admits this is something he appreciates every day. “If I had someone telling me what to do or looking over my shoulder it would drive me crazy!”

Leather Furniture Redye By FibrenewSecond, he immediately recognized the encouragement for success from head office. When recalling his early exploration into the company, Garner says, “I was really impressed with the support Fibrenew had. I remember before I purchased the business I was talking to the support team about the process and they genuinely cared about me being part of this.” And even after opening the doors to Fibrenew Alpharetta Garner received the same support from the franchise team. “One of the many things I appreciate is how quickly you can get somebody on the phone and how there is always someone there to answer questions.” continue reading!

Fibrenew: The Franchise that Drives A Family Business

Michael & Dianna Carter purchased their Fibrenew franchise in 2001 and have driven their success by restoring leather, plastic and vinyl materials in the Loudoun County, Virginia area ever since. By first cultivating strong relationships with car dealerships in their local market, the Carters quickly built a successful family business.

After shifting careers from telecommunications to a driver at UPS, Michael was seeking the perfect self-employment opportunity. He knew he found it with Fibrenew, a franchise that fit both his lifelong passion for automobiles and his desire to be able to enjoy his growing family.

Fibrenew Franchisee Michael Carter“When my wife and I first considered a Fibrenew mobile franchise, we realized we could have both the financial freedom we sought and the flexibility to be available to our kids’ little league schedules, horseback riding lessons and concerts at school,” says Michael . . . continue reading!

The Family-Like Support At Fibrenew Was Most Appealing for Jim O’Brien

Today’s spotlight is on Jim O’Brien of Mertztown, Pennsylvania and his Fibrenew Reading Franchise.

When asked what drew him to Fibrenew, Jim mentions the family-like support as the biggest factor. As Jim was exploring the possibility of coming on board with Fibrenew, he talked with several existing franchisees to learn about their experience. After hearing about the great support they receive from Fibrenew head office and reviewing the business model that Fibrenew provided, Jim was convinced that a Fibrenew Franchise was right for him and he made the investment. That and how well the industry fit his personality and interests.

Jim owns several classic cars; three Auburn Cord Duesenbergs from the 30’s, a Plymouth Valiant and a Nash Metropolitan. He has his sights set on blending his love of classic cars with his Fibrenew business and breaking into the classic car restoration industry in his area. For now, he is building his business in the commercial, medical and residential markets…read more!

Fibrenew’s Commitment To The Environment

Long before the marketing departments of many large corporations touted their green nature, Fibrenew was playing its part to help save the environment. The mobile service company, which was founded in 1987, specializes in restoring damaged leather, plastic and vinyl. The company’s service helps save thousands of items from ending up in landfills each year.

“It’s win win.” says the company’s CEO, Michael Wilson. “We have built our business by offering a service that everyone needs. There is leather, plastic and vinyl everywhere that becomes damaged at some point in its lifecycle. Its in homes, offices, clinics, hospitals, boats, planes, trains and automobiles, you name it. Fibrenew helps customers save money, time and the environment by restoring damaged items and we make a living doing it. Everybody wins.” . . . read more!

Reblog: From Tow Truck Driver to Fibrenew Franchise Owner

Evan Kelly of Fibrenew Boulder Golden, is self-described outdoor enthusiast. He was introduced to Fibrenew through a Franchise Broker while he was recovering from a life changing mountain bike accident. He had been in the automotive towing industry for 8 years and he needed something new and different, something more family friendly, but still something rewarding and hands-on in nature. The Fibrenew opportunity with its growth potential, freedom to schedule his own time and green renewal aspects really appealed to him.

He finds the repairs most gratifying, and like many, the color matching to be the most fascinating. When we spoke with him he was working on a 1980 Camaro Pace Car and was re-dying the driver’s seat. Evan spends most of his early mornings doing paperwork and administrative work, and spends his afternoons on restoration projects and making sales calls.

Evan has targeted the residential, automotive and medical industries as places he wants to focus his efforts to start. He is working on partnering with a full service car wash to follow up cleanings with repairs of car interiors.

Evan has been with Fibrenew since the spring of 2015 and has a definite vision for his 5 and 10 year plan. Both based on growing his business and adding in technicians to help with the added workload. With his motivation, hard working get-your-hands-dirty attitude we’ll be sure to see his Franchise reach all his personal and professional goals.

Evan Kelly of Fibrenew Boulder-Golden can be reached at: http://www.fibrenew.com/bouldergolden – bouldergolden@fibrenew.com or 303-919-6878.