Let's move away from Planned Obsolescence

Here's my idea: let us minimize waste of resources in furniture creation and see more cost savings over the long term.

How? Move away from products created in the space of planned obsolescence.

Planned Obsolescence is the opposite of long-lived products and usually:
• Includes product made to fail within a specified (short) period of time. Think of Furniture that you buy knowing that it will fall apart in less than 3 years.
• The manufacturer has used inferior quality components which drives product failure, and in turn, the consumer to repurchase or replace said product within a short period (3-5 years).
• This is an "OK" model with rapidly changing technology. However, with certain goods like furniture and home décor, it’s downright misleading, because the real costs related to the product are hidden.

Example: The cheaply made $500 table may be a fraction of the cost of its a well-made, more expensive counterpart.

However, think about replacing that $500 table every seven years (if you’re lucky). When you add up the ten purchases of "that table" over the average 70 year lifetime, the total cost of having the inferior table is $5000!

That doesn't include the cost of shipping, handling, tax, financing charges, disposal, shopping time, etc.

On the other hand, think about buying furniture that lasts a lifetime and as a result, can be passed on to your kids or grand kids, gifted, resold, etc., AND INCREASES IN VALUE OVER TIME!

Above: Contemporary African Home side table in solid laminated wenge.

I always think about my Trinidadian grandparents who were very humble people with very little money. But oh boy did my grandmother love her depression glass collection and her solid antique Victorian high boy. She and my grandfather (innocent bystander) bought those items from their savings when they were newly married. Those pieces are still holding strong in my dad's home nearly 70 years later.