Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509220112
SECTION: FALL HOME PAGE: 15 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At the other end of the spectrum, many people also came in asking for a couple of filing cabinets they could lay an old door or a piece of Formica on to create a work surface, he said.
But while it's possible to set a computer up on one of these types of desks, Hyre said, more and more people seem to want furniture specifically adapted to the computer age.
"A lot of people call in about computer desks," said Gary Mitchell, one of the owners of Office Suppliers, Inc. "They want a place to put the computer."
Manufacturers are helping the trend along by building efficient L-shaped desks made up of interchangeable components and entire work stations that can can be folded up into a credenza or armoire.
Manufacturers also are making smaller desks that will fit better into a home environment, Mitchell said.
Hyre said his company does a big business in used and refinished office furniture that its commercial customers have traded in.
Mitchell said that many of his customers already have desks that they adapt to computer use by buying a printer stand and a keyboard tray or pad. By taking this route, a home office can often be converted for computer use for as little as $150 to $350.
In general, Mitchell said, furniture designed for computers is usually less expensive than other types of furniture.
Ready-to-assemble furniture is a big part of a fast-growing market, Hyre said. Both his store and Mitchell's keep RTA furniture in stock, and will assemble it for the buyer for a small fee.
Originally, this type of furniture was "not as nice," Hyre said. It was made of particle board and covered with melamine, a thin laminate.
But Sauder Woodworking, one of the leading manufacturers of RTA furniture has a line that is "decent and less expensive" for buyers who "don't want to spend a ton," Hyre said.
According to publicity releases put out by the company, RTA now accounts for 15 percent to 20 percent of all wood furniture sales, and it costs 25 percent to 50 percent less than traditional furniture.
Many of the company's products have etched wood finishes that look and feel like real wood, real wood accents and concealed fasteners that make it difficult to distinguish from finished furniture.
The company also manufactures entire at-home work space kits that cost about the same as a standard desk.
The more expensive line includes features such as decorative inlays, brass-finished Queen Anne hardware, and a hutch with etched-glass doors.
by CNB