Simplicity Sofas Challenges World's RTA Sofa Manufacturers

May 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Simplicity Sofas published a YouTube video this week featuring an 8 year old boy, Skyler Miller of High Point, NC, who assembles a full-size Simplicity Sofa by himself in less than 4 minutes.  The entire assembly in shown in real time on the video.  The video lasts 3 minutes and 51 seconds including Skyler's introduction and even straightening the cushions at the end.

Skyler's YouTube video can be found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwPONAW3llY

Skyler weighs 60 lbs.  The sofa weighed 150 lbs.  Skyler had no difficulty assembling the sofa.  He did not use or need any tools.  When Skyler was asked if he had ever assembled one of the sofas previously, he admitted that he had assembled and taken apart  that same sofa 7 times before the video was shot.  The video was shot in 1 take and there was no editing of the assembly process.  It should be mentioned that Skyler is a professional sofa assembler as he did receive compensation for his performance.

Simplicity Sofas is convinced that there is no other RTA sofa in the world that can even pretend to challenge the simplicity and speed of its patented assembly process.  It is issuing a worldwide challenge to all RTA sofa manufacturers  to come forward and publicly demonstrate how fast and simple their sofa assemblies are (or aren't).

Everybody has heard the horror stories about how difficult it can be to assemble RTA (Ready-To-Assemble) furniture.  RTA sofas are no exception. 1-2 hour assembly times are common.  Tools are essential and are usually included in the box with the furniture.

Most RTA sofas are designed with one primary goal -- make them as cheap as possible. Style, comfort and ease of assembly are secondary considerations. Making the box as flat as possible to reduce ocean freight costs is considered more important.

For Simplicity Sofas style, comfort and ease of assembly were the primary considerations.  Price was secondary.  The company's prices are considerably higher than its competitors, but it is the only RTA upholstery company with solid oak frames, premium Ultracell or down-blend cushions, optional slipcovers and a choice of over 100 fabrics.

Simplicity Sofas sells the products it makes through its website http://www.simplicitysofas.com.  It does not sell to retailers.  

Many, if not most of its customers are skeptical when told that assembly of its sofas takes only a few minutes and does not require tools.  That was the reason behind Skyler's video.

The Simplicity Sofas patented assembly system was developed by Glenn Laughlin and Jeff Frank.  Glenn and Jeff have worked together on developing RTA upholstered furniture designs for nearly 20 years and have been awarded 5 US patents for their work.  Products based on their patents have been sold in 30 countries around the world.

Glenn and Jeff's approach to developing RTA sofas has been different from other manufacturers.  The first requirement was that the furniture must look good and feel comfortable.  Equally important, it must be simple for a single person to assemble.

The problem with designing an RTA sofa with those requirements is that most people have the idea that knockdown or ready to assemble furniture is cheaper than "real" furniture.

With a high quality sofa, however, it actually costs more to make an RTA sofa than it would to build an identical conventional sofa. Inside surfaces that are not visible on the conventional sofa must be finished or covered because they are visible on the RTA  sofa.

Simplicity Sofas' solution to the cost dilemma was to sell directly from the factory to the consumer. By eliminating the retail markup, the products could be priced attractively for the consumers while at the same time the factory could control quality and service directly without having to depend on retail middlemen.

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@Simplicity Sofas

North Carolina manufacturer of custom-built RTA sofas, sleepers & chairs.

100% solid oak frames. We do not use plywood, particle board or chipcore in our sofas*

Select from a choice of 100 fabrics and multiple cushion options

15 min. assembly with no tools.

All Simplicity Sofas furniture is guaranteed to fit through all doors & stairways wider than 15".

The company specializes in hard-to-find small sofa sizes starting at 66".

Prices for a custom built RTA sofa range from $749 - $1200.

Simplicity Sofas' Return Policy -- If you are not happy with our furniture for any reason whatsoever, you may return it for a full refund, including shipping.

Ships nationwide (Call for rates outside the continental US).

Order your free catalog and fabric swatches at http://www.simplicitysofas.com.

* The new sectional uses a plywood frame due to engineering considerations.