If you're in the market for a recliner and you're considering leather,
there are some factors that you need to look into. So, imagine that you can go
into a store and know enough about leather to make a decision that's educated and one
that you're going to enjoy for years to come.
So, today I would like to cover four topics. First, durability of leather.
Secondly, split hide versus top grain. Third, is common misconceptions with
leather. And lastly a product out there known as bonded leather.
Today, I'd like to talk to you a little about leather and specifically four
topic. So, to begin with let's go with durability. Number one. Many people come
in and, over the years, I've been asked, "Is this leather durable? Is it gonna hold up
well? A top grain leather is gonna last four times longer than fabric on average.
Another demonstration that I like to do with clients is I get a pen and
a swatch of top grain leather then I'll have them stick the pen into the leather
to see the durability. They will literally break this pen before I'm going to
puncture this leather. So durability wise a top grain leather is gonna be very
durable and I emphasize that because not all leather is going to be a top grain
leather. So, that brings me to topic number two "What's the difference between
a split hide and a top grain?" So, all leather when it comes off the animal and
it starts the process has to be split in half so literally if you can imagine
leather and if it was that thick which it's not but if it was they take it and
they slice it right down the center. And what you have there is now we had one
hyde now we have two. We have a top grain and we have the split hyde. Now,
the difference between those two. The top grain is going to be the softest and the
most durable. Also, it's not going to make you sweat it's gonna be very breathable.
So, in furniture it's what we at La-Z-Boy like to use and we believe the only
product as far as leather. Anywhere you touch should be the top grain. The split
hide does have uses. So, sides of the furniture back of the furniture but
specifically not on the main parts of the furniture. So when you go into a
store you want to ask the question, "Is this top grain leather or is this a
split hide leather?" What I have here is a La-Z-Boy Rocker-Recliner that's covered
in leather. Everywhere you touch is going to be top grain. The sides and back
are going to be a split hide and what you can see and feel when you come into
a La-Z-Boy store with this combination is how a top grain is so much softer
than a split hide. Like you may have experienced in
your car. The split hide is gonna be a little bit grainier. It will feel a
little bit thicker. Just not as buttery soft as this top grain. That's something
that we can actually show you and you can see the difference. Topic number
three that I'd like to discuss in regard to leather - common misconceptions. Many
times in my career I've greeted a client and ask them if they're looking for
fabric or for leather. And the answer is fabric. And my response is always, "Why
fabric?" Because I want to understand my client and help them make a good
decision. And the response typically if they're not looking for leather
specifically is one of three things. It's too hot. It's too cold. Or it's sticky. And
while that conception is true. It's not true for furniture in the house with top
grain leather. What it is true for is where most people get their opinion - their car.
And their car leather is not typically going to be a top grain it's only going
to be a split hide with vinyl sides and that's going to have a really thick
layer of polyurethane on top that's gonna make it sticky. The fact of the
matter is that a top grain leather is going to breathe well and it's going to
be the temperature of your home. So that may be a reason for you to reconsider
leather if you're not currently looking. Fourth topic that I'd like to educate
you on today is bonded leather. That's a term that's very common out there and
not everybody takes the time to educate their customer. Bonded leather in
our opinion is actually a fabric and let me tell you why. Bonded leather is
technically the shavings of the very top part of the leather so that a company
can get down below where the hair and the scars and any kind of
imperfections on a leather are so they can turn it into a piece of furniture
that has consistency. So those shavings get put into a vat with some kind of
paste added to it and that product which has leather in it is put on typically a
polyurethane possibly a polyester fabric and it's
bonded to the back of it which makes it bonded leather. So while it has a great
hand and is a great product for somebody who likes a fabric with a leather feel
it's not actually leather. Hopefully the information I've given you today has
given you the ability to go make a smart decision and buy a leather
product. The four topics we went over today, durability, number one. Number two,
top grain versus split hide and the differences there. Number three, common
misconceptions. And number four, bonded leather and what it actually is. Here at
La-Z-Boy we're trained four times the industry standard to be able to give you
the kind of information that will lead, guide, and direct you through your purchase. So
if you're looking for leather furniture and specifically leather recliners, we're
the best out there. We'd love to have you visit our stores here in the Southeast.
Again I'm Dustin DeGoursey, vice president of sales, for
La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.