High-End Furniture Upholsterer

Position Summary:

The Upholsterer fits, installs, and secures padding and cover material on furniture frames using a staple gun and tools, adhering to quality specifications. This detail-oriented role requires thoughtfully and thoroughly applying fiber, foam rubber, and thin padding strips with a pneumatic staple gun. Covers frames with pre-cut cloth, vinyl, or leather, securing materials with aluminum trim and cardboard strips for straight edges, pulling material tight by hand to prevent wrinkles, and stapling securely. Excess material is cut away, and a regulator is used to smooth seams. Essential duties include building dressmakers, centering fabric, and pleating/applying skirts to frames. The completed upholstered frames are moved to the next station. Excellent time management, organizational skills, quick learning, and the ability to retain small details about multiple products/tasks are required. A friendly attitude, exceptional customer service, accuracy in following instructions, and ruler reading are also crucial.

Key Responsibilities: 

·         Fabrication- cut and cover frame with fiber, foam rubber, and these strips of padding with a pneumatic staple gun to provide padding to the frame.

·         Glues, bolts or otherwise fastens or re-fastens furniture components.

·         Operates a wide variety of power and hand tools, such as lathes, band or table saws. sanders, drill press, rasps, chisels, and planes, etc.

·         Rebuilds, repairs, or replaces broken or damaged furniture components, such as legs, backrests, and support braces.

·         Prepares items of furniture for upholstering by re-tying or replacing springs, repadding arm and backrests, or seats.

·         Upholsters furniture by cutting, sewing, and fitting materials of fabric, leather, or plastic; glues tacks, staples, or otherwise attaches fringe, tape, binding, or other trim materials.

·         Finishes or refinishes wooden furniture parts by painting or varnishing as part of an upholstery job.

·         Makes time and material estimates needed to repair or upholster furniture, and recommends the quantity and quality of materials to meet specific job requirements.

·         Cover frame parts with pre-cut and sewn cloth, vinyl, or leather material.

·         Pull material tight by hand to prevent wrinkles, and staple the frame with a pneumatic staple gun. 

·         Place upholstered frames onto the cart and push to the next person on the upholstery line or final finish department.

·         Build a dressmaker’s and center fabric to frame.

·         Pleat skirts and apply skirts to frames.

Scope/Financial Responsibility:

Describe quantifiable measures that will help ascribe the value of the position.  Examples include the size of the budget, business metrics, etc.  Also, describe the impact on revenue, profit, or expenses by stating activities that could affect the financial results of Kravet.

Abilities/Key Competencies/Skills:

·         Must be able to work thoughtfully and thoroughly with continuous attention to detail

·         Ability to learn quickly and retain a wide range of small details concerning multiple product types, tasks, system processes, issues, and/or projects

·         Excellent time management and organizational skills

·         Comfortable with multi-tasking or pivoting between tasks as needed

·         Willingness to learn new products, procedures, and processes as business needs change

·         A friendly attitude with the ability to deliver exceptional customer service and stay motivated in a fast-paced environment

Experience/Certifications/Education:

·         High school diploma or equivalent

·         Previous experience with upholstery for at least eight (8) years

Organizational Relationship:

Identify who this position reports to and/or who reports to this position:

·         Supervisor, Upholstery

Travel Requirements (if any):

·         None

Physical Demands:

·         Must be able to stand for up to 9 hours per day

·         Must be able to move around the production floor to complete finishing tasks

·         Must be able to stoop, kneel, or crouch to complete finishing tasks at a low level

·         Must be able to carry and/or lift up to 50 pounds

·         Must have the ability to observe details of the finished product at close range

·         Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others can understand.  Must be able to exchange accurate information.

·         Ability to operate upholstery equipment using hands/fingers