What does being an upholsterer mean to you?
Being an upholsterer is an opportunity to support my family, meet new friends, and serve the public in a creative way.

How did you get started in upholstery?
I went to our local community college for two years, and that’s where I got started in upholstery with Bob after my dad made me get a summer job. After that, I worked with Billy for a while, learning more about the trade and building my skills before eventually branching out on my own.

What types of upholstery do you do?
We just do automotive.

How long have you been upholstering?
I’ve been upholstering full time since 1984.

What is your biggest consumer demand?
We do a lot of headliners and leather interiors.

What is your favorite upholstery project you’ve done?
We worked on a chariot that the customer used in Christmas parades around the area. 

What was the strangest item you’ve found in a restoration?
We’ve found everything from a dead rat to cocaine.

Have you noticed any up and coming trends?
Red interiors are definitely coming back in style!

What changes would benefit the upholstery industry?
I’d like to see more schooling and training opportunities for future upholsterers. We need better ways to teach the trade and prepare the next generation of upholsterers.

Have you ever been featured on television, online, or in another publication?
We’ve been in the newspaper before.

Some answers have been edited for clarity.