Frequently Asked Questions

1: Are you really an Upholsterer?

A: Yes I am a fully qualified upholsterer I did a 5 year apprenticeship in the late 60s

2: Why are you offering to teach people instead of just earning more money doing upholstery?

A: Upholstery is trade that has less and less young kids picking it up. Big furniture companies do not train people anymore, they have become automated. I am now teaching as I don't have to do work everyday I have made lots of money. Now I want others to be as fortunate as me.

3: Can anyone really learn upholstery and do it at home.

A: Yes they can if they are a handy person. Apprentices spend the first year just sweeping the floors and doing the crappy jobs, at home you don't have to do that, so you learn quicker.

4: Can I really earn big money at home?

A: Yes you can because there are a lot of people who do not want to buy new furniture. Their old furniture suits their home so they are willing to pay to have it fixed up.

5: How long will it take to learn upholstery, can I start making money soon.

A: It depends on how much time you spend learning, I have had people start making money in the first week. If you watch the DVDs and just do exactly what I tell you it will not be long.

6: Why do you say to start on small things first instead of doing a big job to learn on?

A: The reason you start small is to get an idea for how fabric and materials feel, how they stretch and how to handle them. Once you understand how to do small jobs then the bigger jobs are easier to do.

7: I am worried about how to get materials and upholstery supplies as there are no suppliers near where I live.

A: It does not matter where you live as most upholstery suppliers will post or get a trucking company to deliver to you. All you do is call and tell them what they want and you will have the goods within a week.

8: Where do I get fabric samples from?

A: Again most Upholstery suppliers carry fabrics and vinyl. There are also fabric suppliers who will send you some samples free, all you need to do is call them.

9: Is it difficult to get foam.

A: No it is the same as getting fabric all you do is call the foam company and you can order foam cut to size or by the sheet and they send it to you.

10: Where can I get furniture to practice on?

A: You do your own chair first, or you can get things from the dump or even from friends and do up. Getting things from the dump is good because you can practice and then sell them later, so you make a profit,

11: I don't have a big sewing machine so how can I get things sewn while I am learning.

A: All you do is ask around near where you live and you will find someone who can  sew. A small ad on a bulletin board at the super market or in the local newspaper and you will find someone.

12: Do I need to spend lots of money to start up an upholstery business?

A: No you do not, you probably have most of the tools at home already. Most handy people have tools like a small compressor, drills screw drivers etc. Also the package comes with a tools you need DVD and anything you don't have can be ordered from upholstery suppliers for a 1 or 2 hundred dollars tops.

13: How do I find out what to charge people for a job.

A: You can call an upholsterer and ask what they charge for doing a similar job . Most will tell you within a few dollars what it would cost, then you can decide what you want to charge. Don't forget you will have much less overheads that an upholstery shop does, so you can do a job a little cheaper. This is why working at home is so good and also why you get lots of work regardless of what the economy is doing.

Upholstery is really just doing the same steps again and again, once you learn how to do a chair then it is the same action to recover a settee or sofa.

You can contact me at email to up upholsterytrainingacademy@gmail.com 

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