As the calendar turned to August 1, we mark our semi-annual upholstery sale. Normally, we are full of excitement, and the store is filled with furniture for you to test drive. Well, things look a little different this year. I’m certain you’ve heard of – if you haven’t actually experienced – all the supply chain issues out there. Everything is taking a million times longer to get anywhere, and big boats stuck in canals don’t help. The upholstery business has been hit by supply chain issues big time. What used to be a 12-to-14-week lead time is now a 30-to-34-week lead time. Yes, you heard me. It could take more than six months to get your furniture. Let me be clear, this isn’t just the small American-made furniture companies like Cisco Brothers. This includes mass makers as well. Even Ikea is having a hard time getting you product!

Before we launch our sale, I wanted to share a few of the reasons for the long lead times. Then, I want to clean your palette with pretty pictures to inspire you to be patient because it’s so worth it!

COVID, obviously, knocked everything off track. Manufacturers closed down, which was the first domino. Then when they reopened, they had to put into place safety protocols that took extra time away from production. And, of course, there were delays from staff being socially distanced, quarantined, or out sick.  

While we were all at home, we decided to redecorate or move. The housing market was on fire, our design partners were busier than ever, and our team was selling more furniture than we have in our entire history. It’s a good problem to have for us, but that demand, along with the bottleneck created by the shutdowns, caused further delays.

Then, there was an ice storm in Texas that caused foam in cushions to be delayed (believe it or not), fabric mills stopped weaving because of COVID, and other raw materials have become scarce. If you’re working with lumber, you know what I mean. Makers have been put on allocation for raw materials, not because they aren’t willing to pay for it, but that it can’t be found.

All of these, and more, are reasons why your new sofa, chair, or bed will take longer. But, here’s the good news. It’s totally worth the wait. Cisco has always been known for longer than industry average lead times, but that’s because your furniture is literally a pile of wood and metal and a bolt of fabric before we tell them what to make. It is custom-made based on what you are ordering. Highly skilled craftspeople are making each piece, and it’s being made in the U.S. with kiln-dried hardwoods that are harvested in North America by FSC certified companies. They aren’t waiting to get materials from China. Fabric from Europe, yes, however.  

I promise, if you are patient and wait just a little longer, you won’t regret it. And, with our semi-annual upholstery sale, we sweeten the deal with an additional 10 percent off our already below MSRP pricing. Here are just a few rooms with Cisco Brothers upholstery to inspire you. Stop in this month so our team can help you get started!