The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

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Safety-Belt Air Bags Gain Ground

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To be successful in the field of auto upholstery, we have to keep pace with the constant innovations car manufacturers make to their vehicle interiors. One of those innovations is the placement of safety air bags. Most of us already have experience working with seat, headliner, dashboard and steering wheel air bags. But since last year, Ford has been sewing them into … [Read more...] about Safety-Belt Air Bags Gain Ground

NC Trim Shop Closes After 30 Years

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While we're on the subject of how you learned auto upholstery, let's all tip our hats to Gary Childress of Auto Top & Trim Shop in Reidsville, North Carolina. After suffering a stroke in August that left him unable to live on his own or drive, Childress has decided to close his 30-year-old shop and move to Shelby to partner with his son, Sandy, in opening Kustom Auto Trim … [Read more...] about NC Trim Shop Closes After 30 Years

Billboard Advertising for Less than $100

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I recently found out that advertising my auto upholstery shop on a park bench would cost about $500 a month. I was so shocked that I didn’t even bother asking how much a traditional billboard would cost. Then I remembered a clever trick that I saw on a trip to Las Vegas last year. Businesses hired box trucks to drive up and down the strip with giant company ads on them. … [Read more...] about Billboard Advertising for Less than $100

How Did You Learn Auto Upholstery?

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Stories about how individual auto trimmers learned the trade has always intrigued me. It’s one of the last remaining crafts where apprenticeship is essential, so there’s always an interesting story to be told. I’d like to share with you the story of how I learned auto upholstery; and hopefully you’ll share yours in the comments section below. I have a feeling that they’re … [Read more...] about How Did You Learn Auto Upholstery?