How Restaurants Keep More Margin by Restoring Furniture in 2023

Why Restaurants Should Restore Furniture & Booths

Chefs and restaurant owners nationwide continue to strive for the best ways to retain more margin in their businesses. We all know the restaurant industry can be brutally expensive. Theft and shrink are also just part of the biz, mostly internal and some just be the design of the business. So more and more restauranteurs are looking to fabric and color restoration companies to help me bring new life to their old digs.

Refurbsining helps in financial downtimes

It’s been a tough few years due to the pandemic and recovering economy. Many restaurants sat vacant and unkept, others have been overwhelmed with “catch-up” business for those that could not wait to get back out and spend money on food and beverage experiences. Others have bought used spaces that need some help desperately in the design category.

So now, restaurant owners are seeking and relying on color and fabric restoration services to help weather the difficult seasons that we have been through. When your dining rooming begins to show signs of wear, tear, abuse and neglect, it directly reflects on the business and the operators themselves. It can damage the image and decrease sales. Over time many nasty little annoyances can happen to your restaurant.

These may include:

• Seating may rip or tear

• Booths can crack from excessive wear

• Leather and vinyl can fade from the sun and lose their luster

Help for restaurant profits

Though restaurants are back open and adhering to semi-normal operating hours, additional waves of the variant have caused many customers to stay away from establishments that pack people in. Additionally, restaurant operators struggled with rising product costs and labor shortages. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts food prices will continue to rise between 5 and 6 percent in 2022. High food costs can be attributed to supply chain issues, high labor costs, and disrupted harvests.

As the price of food rising is also affecting restaurants in dramatic ways through smaller food orders, reducing menu elements, and incurring greater pain from internal food shrink, restaurants are also still feeling the labor shortage. A current statistic out there suggests that nearly 60% of franchise brands and local owners cannot find the labor to meet current demand despite offering increased wages and hiring incentives.

So what do restaurant owners do? They need to attract valuable talent so they must increase wages. Many are offering sign-on bonuses and finding other ways to combat the crunch. Some restaurants are enabling online ordering and looking for ways to sell more off-site and operate with fewer employees.

Refurbish vs Replace

So this brings us to a growing trend. Restaurant furniture such as booths, chairs, vinyl surface areas, benches, leather, plastics, and more can be restored for less than half the price of buying new. Your local Color Glo Specialist should be in your address book.

We can even bring worn carpet back to life.

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Contact a Color Glo Specialist about Your Restaurant’s Fabric & Surfaces Needs

The Cost of Repairing vs. Replacing Boat Seats

Repairing vs. Replacing Boat Seats

The summer has come to an end, sadly… Boat owners are quite used to the right of passage of being a boat owner, which includes plenty of maintenance. Some people address repairs in the spring - some tackle them in the fall so spring is more fluid ritual of actually getting to the water.

Despite regular maintenance and care, it’s likely your boat seats will sustain damage as your it ages. Marine-grade vinyl is durable, water-resistant, and not prone to fading. But wear and tear is inevitable. Stepping on and off the boat also adds additional wear on the surfaces as your feet or shoes dig in for stability. Eventually, even marine-grade vinyl will fade or crack, and constant exposure to water makes mildew a concern.

As your boat gets a layer of dirt and dinge that becomes harder to remove over the years, you may find yourself vising a boat show or looking at websites for upgrade solutions. But the price of new boats is heavy stuff, specifically in today's financial environment. Supply chain issues, rising oil prices, inflation, and labor shortages are causing the price of boats to hit record highs - still. The price of fiberglass outboard boats is up almost 10% from 2019. While prices are starting to find their peak, buying a new boat (amongst other toys) may be out of reach for many people.

Cost of Reupholstery

If your boat’s vinyl seats, hard plastic areas, and even windshields are showing signs of age and wear, you may want to consider your options. You might immediately think that re-upholstering is the way to go. While this option is definitely cheaper than replacing or buying new, it can still be very expensive. You can expect to pay upwards of $500 to reupholster a captain’s chair and somewhere in the ballpark of $100 - $300 per cushion. Hourly rates may range from $50 - $100 per hour in boat upholstery repair costs.

You’ll also have to dock the boat while this work is being done. Depending on your vendor and how they work, this could cut into your summer boating fun.

The Color Glo solution

Color Glo International grounds its business in refurbishing vs replacing. A much more cost-effective solution is to repair your damaged surfaces on-site with a CGI specialist at your location. Color Glo is a national and international leader in leather and vinyl restoration and boat upholstery repair.

Color Glo International’s specialists use water-based products and are trained in the latest restoration techniques to make repairs on-site (in your boat) and save you money. From serving marinas to boat dealers to boat owners, Color Glo has the tools and experience to get the job done right. Our technicians can restore boat seats, tops, engine enclosures, ceilings, beds, and carpeting. They repair and re-dye tears, holes, scuffs, and scratches. We can even re-dye/re-color vinyl and plastics.

Want a new boat? Change its look!

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Preventing damage

Once a Color Glo franchise has come to visit you and repair cracks, sun-fading, cloudy plastic shields, tears, burns, and more you may want to take some steps to prolong the life of your newly refurbished marine equipment.

Just like if you were to remove your boat from the water after every use, you’ll want to keep it clean in between uses. No doubt, while you're having fun in the sun, spills will happen, and crumbs and other food will fall to the floor. You’ll want to wipe, vacuum, or clean these up quickly. You can also install vents in your boat cover to allow the interior of your boat to properly dry when you close it up for the evening. It’s also important to deep clean your boat a couple of times a month when it gets frequent use. Gentle cleansers and soft cloths work well both inside and outside of your boat.

Request a free quote

Color Glo International can help with many upgrades inside of your marine equipment We can refurbish your plastic, vinyl, and upholstery while working on-site, at your location. Burns, fading, tears, etc, will all be restored to new, saving you up to 70% over buying new.

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Contact a Color Glo Specialist about your Boat restoration project.

RV Repairs & Upgrades that increase Value

Why RV Repairs Increase RV Value

Over the past couple of years, you probably either hit the road with your RV or camper more than usual or you may have bought one for the very first time. You may notice that when living in your RV part-time, it begins to show some wear and tear very quickly. We’ve put together a few repairs and upgrade ideas that can not only help you maintain your RV value but increase your value and help get prepared for your fall/winter adventures or the next upcoming season.

Now, while you might consider your RV an extension of your home where valuable family memories are made, you also realize that, like any automobile, it is a depreciating asset. It is very likely that your RV lost 10 - 30% of its value the minute you drove it off the lot. Class A RVs will lose up to 50% of it’s value after a decade in service, according to J.D. Power, which is a leading vehicle data and information provider.

Depreciation

There are many factors that influence a camper’s depreciation. Understanding these factors can help you maintain your RV’s value. The hardest depreciating factor to combat is time. While mileage does not play a significant role in the value of your recreational vehicle, time certainly does.

There are some steps you can take to boost your RV’s resale value and keep it in the best shape possible as you head out on new adventures. In addition to making sure that your RV undergoes regular maintenance to stay road-ready, there are things you can do to the interior to increase appeal. This is where Color Glo International comes in…

Upgrades That Increase Sale Price

Reupholster the furniture

RV upholstery is built to withstand the elements, but normal use or wear and tear and the damaging rays of the sun can cause fading and blemishes. Ensuring your upholstery is in prime condition by making repairs will dress up your RV interior.

Change the carpet

If your RV has carpet, you may want to replace it when it starts to show signs of wear. Children, pets, and outdoor debris can do a big number on the carpet in your recreational vehicle. Carpet is also known to trap unpleasant odors and bacteria. In addition to vacuuming regularly, replacing our carpet can go a long way to making your RV shine with glory!

Replace window coverings

Having the proper window coverings or blinds offers privacy and can help protect your interiors from damaging UV rays. As manufacturers improve the quality of window coverings, staying on top of the latest styles and quality trends can make a buyer take notice.

Update cabinetry

You’ve had your RV for years - let’s face it, the styles change. What once was chic and functional is now old and archaic. Cabinets that were cutting edge now look dated and worn. It’s not cost-effective to replace them, but swapping out the hardware is a simple way to give them an upgrade and bolster your resale value. In a similar vein, adding a peel-and-stick backsplash can brighten up your RV’s appearance and give it a contemporary touch.

Who doesn’t want that??

Sanitize the cabin

If your RV gets used, then you’ve probably wondered “what is that smell”?if you have dogs, cats, children (or spouses), then it’s likely stuff just doesn’t smell fresh. Furthermore, the average steering wheel contains several times more dirt, grime, and bacteria than the average public restroom. Getting your RV sanitized at least once a season will ensure it’s free of germs and that it stays in tip-top shape for the next adventure.

Add storage

If you have space in your RV that can be repurposed or maybe a corner or wall with dead space behind it that doesn’t make sense, then consider adding more storage and opening everything up. Keeping things stowed properly and in an organized fashion will help you declutter and appear more attractive to potential buyers.

RV Pro Tip ***

Often when people buy used RVs or even larger motorhomes, their first inclination is to rip out some of the built-in seating. Try to resist… One of the best ways to ramp up the value of your RV is to have plenty of sleeping spaces. You might like the look of a modern sofa or freestanding table, but unless it can convert to a bed, it will only decrease the attractiveness of the vehicle.

Request a free quote

Color Glo International can help with many upgrades inside of your RV. Some of our specialties are actually in categories above and beyond the basics mentioned above. We can bring the yellow tinge on your headlamps back to crystal clear. We can refurbish your leather, vinyl, and upholstery while working on-site, at your location. Burns, fading, tears, etc, will all be restored to new, saving you up to 70% over buying new.

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Contact a Color Glo Specialist about your RV restoration project.

How To Determine If Its Worth Restoring My Furniture

To Restore Or Not To Restore

You’ve got that old leather couch or high quality (be it old) fabric chair that needs to be replaced. Or maybe you’ve found a wonderful piece at a vintage shop that is begging you to take it home to refinish it. Easy and affordable right?

Before undergoing the journey of such furniture repair you need to ask yourself a few key questions:

1. What would the replacement cost be vs. restoring it? (might take some homework)

2. What type of fabric is it?

3. What is the furniture worth? This usually includes a sentimental value as much as a monetary value.

Material

Let’s get into material. Usually the piece you are looking to restore is leather (in most cases) Is it genuine leather or is it bonded leather? If the top layer of the leather furniture is flaking and peeling away, then chances are likely that you have bonded leather. Bonded leather isn’t real leather so unfortunately its rather disposable and can not be repaired.

Bonded leather is actually bits of leather sprayed over vinyl. The top side of the vinyl is then stamped and colored to have a leather-like look.

If you’ve determined that you have genuine leather furniture, then you do have some repair options. There are many furniture cleaners and protectors on the market that home-owners can try themselves to repair dirty surfaces, stains rips and tears.

** Pro Tips - If you are in the market for new leather furniture you may want to consult our article about “Top Questions To Ask Before Buying Leather Furniture”

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Replacement cost

You probably have already done the math… what is your time and money worth when considering attempting to repair furniture vs. buying brand new. For some, they simply don’t have the time so nearly everything in their lives becomes disposable. But for others, the value of restoring something has a special place. Then cost becomes the only factor.

If cost of replacement is a concern but also time and money spent on on a DIY solution concerns you, then that’s when you should seek a professional. At Color Glo, we offer up to a 70% savings in restoration vs buying new. A CGI specialist will come on-site (so you don’t have to haul your item anywhere) and they’ll work to asses the damage, color match the material and apply special techniques to restore the area back to new.

Leather Care Tips

If you’ve recently bought new leather furniture, you may want to fuel up on some knowledge on how to take care of your furniture to avoid repairs and long-term wear. To learn more, view this article on “How To Care For Leather Furniture”. You’'ll also find some great tips on “How To Remove Candle Wax From Leather”.

Other materials

Leather is not the only material that can be restored. CGI specialists can bring vinyl, plastics, fabric and more back to life. We specialize in both residential and commercial/medical equipment including planes, helicopters, automobiles, watercraft and more.

A CGI specialist restoring a bench seat in a business setting.

View our service categories and learn more about restoring your old items back to new.

Color Glo Specialist Can Help

Color Glo International is the industry leader in restoring furniture, boats, RV's, aircraft, commercial equipment & more. Color Glo specialists can repair or clean anything from rips, tears, burns, frayed stitching, beverage & food stains, lipstick, ink stains, and everything in between. Give a Color Glo certified technician a call. We are mobile and offer onsite service so there is little inconvenience to you, our customer!  

Our repairs and cleaning are environmentally safe and children/pet friendly.  We use water-based products so you don’t have the dingy chemical feeling after we’ve completed our service.  We even have general cleaning kits to provide you for the next time you find yourself needing a spot removal product that really works!