Consumer discovers racist label on sofa
Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, April 30, 2007
Mississauga, Ontario — A leather sofa sold by retailer Vanaik Furniture and Mattress here bore a label describing its color as "Nigger-brown," shocking the customer who saw the label when the product was delivered, according to The Toronto Star.
The 30-year-old consumer, who is black and a New York native, said her 7-year-old daughter discovered the label after the delivery men left. She said her calls to the store had not been returned.
Romesh Kumar, Vanaik's assistant manager, told the Star the blame was with his supplier, Cosmos Furniture in Scarborough, Ontario, who in turn said the blame was with the manufacturer in Guangzhou, China.
The story did not identify the Chinese producer, but quoted the Cosmos official as saying he would demand the company remove similar labels. The label pictured in the Star identified the model as "Abby" but did not name the manufacturer.
Cosmos Furniture and Vanaik's have not responded to Furniture/Today's request for comment.
