Reusable covers protect upholstered furniture

Can replace plastic bags used in delivery

Gary Evans -- Furniture Today, May 21, 2009

Inventor Andrew Hurst demonstrates a reusable cover used to protect upholstered furniture during delivery.

PENNSAUKEN, N.J. — Fabric distributor United Fabrics has inked a deal with Australia's RapCo to be the exclusive U.S. distributor for reusable protective delivery covers for upholstered products.

RapCo says the tough, reusable covers can replace plastic bags for delivering and storing sofas and chairs, and can be reused dozens of times.

"They are waterproof and have padding where it's needed to protect the furniture and handles which means you can grip them, unlike slippery plastic," said RapCo's Andrew Hurst, who invented the product.

RapCo won the Peoples Choice Award on "The New Inventors," a prime-time television show in Australia. The show's fans liked the reusable value of the covers, which the company said makes them more ecologically friendly and, overall, less costly than throwaway materials.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Scott Warwick, vice president of business development for United Fabrics, which also trades as Pacific Hide & Leather in California. "Padding, handles and you can wrap a sofa in a couple of minutes. It saves time, money and there's no trash. Who can argue with that?"

Warwick said that when used responsibly, a RapCo covers cost a few dollars per use. He added that the padding reduces the chance of damage to the upholstery, and the handles make deliveries faster and help prevent injuries.

United Fabrics said RapCo covers create a favorable impression with consumers because the bags remain clean, look professional and protect their homes as well as the furniture. Since consumers are becoming more eco-friendly, the bags are a way to show that companies are environmentally responsible, Warwick added.

Brand-conscious businesses can have the covers printed with their logos or made with their colors.