The upholstered furniture products at the CIFF exhibition are abundant, bringing together the most innovative designs in sofas, beds, lounge chairs, and other products globally. It is an unmissable event for many buyers.
At the exhibition, upholstered furniture buyers will not only focus on the exterior design but will also consider factors such as comfort, safety, and reliable quality.
What key inspection points should international buyers focus on when evaluating upholstered furniture suppliers?
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I. Quality: Upholstered Furniture Frame and Structure
1. Frame Material and Craftsmanship:
Upon arriving at the CIFF site, you can inquire about the material situation of the furniture: “What materials are mainly used for the frame?”
Standard questions for solid wood frames:
- “Is it pure solid wood or veneered solid wood?”
- “Has the solid wood been kiln-dried? What is the controlled moisture content?”
- “What type of paint is used (eco-friendly paint / PU paint), and does it comply with the E0 environmental standard?”
Taking moisture content as an example, it relates to the service life of solid wood furniture. Generally, the moisture content of wood used for furniture manufacturing needs to comply with international standards. Wood with a moisture content usually below 12% is less prone to deformation or other damage.
For metal furniture:
- “Is the metal material 304 stainless steel or ordinary steel?”
- “What rust-proof treatment has been applied, such as painting or galvanization?”
- “Are the welded joints secure and free of burrs?”
- “What is the load-bearing capacity in kilograms?”
2. Structural Connections:
The structural connection of the furniture also significantly impacts product quality. If there are issues with the connection process, abnormal noises may occur during use. You can ask the supplier: “What primary connection method is used for the frame?”
II. User Experience: Filling Materials
3. Filling Material Specifications:
The furniture’s filling material significantly affects the user experience. Generally, using high-density foam provides excellent support, while low-quality, low-density foam can feel very soft and saggy, deforming easily after prolonged sitting without bouncing back.
At the exhibition, you can ask the supplier: “What specification of foam is mainly used for the cushion of this furniture? What are the density and resilience (rebound rate) of the foam?”
4. Down Filling:
If the filling material is down, you need to clarify the ratio of materials used. For instance, you can ask the supplier: “If down is used, what is the ratio of down to feather/fiber? Has it been treated for anti-allergy and deodorization?”
III. Sourcing Upholstered Furniture at CIFF: Fabrics and More
5. Fire Retardancy Standards:
Something many people are unaware of is that fabric is closely related to safety—specifically, fire retardancy standards. This is especially true for furniture exported to Europe and the United States, where target markets have stricter safety standards, such as US Standard TB117-2013 or UK Standard BS5852.
You can ask the supplier: “Can your upholstered products pass the fire retardancy standards for our market?”
6. Fabric Quality:
Generally, assessing the quality of upholstered furniture fabric requires considering its abrasion resistance.
Typically, materials suitable for household standards are Martindale 20,000 cycles or more. The core question: “What is the Martindale rating of the fabric?”
In addition, you can ask: “What is the color fastness of the fabric? Has it undergone formaldehyde testing?”
IV. Craftsmanship Details
8. Stitching and Seams:
At the exhibition, you can carefully check whether the stitching on the upholstered furniture is straight, uniform, and free of skipped stitches. If the stitching is neat even at the furniture corners, it indicates high craftsmanship requirements and attention to detail.
In summary, product quality is often revealed in the details. The importance of inspecting product details is arguably as crucial as third-party testing reports.