Black Friday in times of crisis: how beds and politics are connected

History knows of no example where a serious political crisis associated with military action has had a positive impact on consumer sentiment. Of course, people actively buy canned goods, sugar, cereals, chargers, and everything else needed for basic needs. But the furniture market always suffers. Exceptions include purchasing folding beds for refugees, multi-functional medical beds for hospitals, or cheap stools and beds when the legs suddenly break under your own furniture. People buy quality furniture only as a last resort. And this is driven not only by a desire for a change in their home, but also by the simple desire to save money, which can become mere paper at any moment.

Well, what about the assortment? Did the import substitution strategy work? So far, everything has not changed: there is a lot of timber and metal in our country, but there is a problem with technology. Bright heads have either already left or are hiding from subpoenas. Businessmen are in no hurry to invest their capital in the development of paints and varnishes, fasteners, fittings, and components. Setting up parallel imports is difficult and takes months. And you can’t smuggle a lot of manure through third countries. Everything is sad with upholstery raw materials. The fabric is not coming from the European Union; Chinese and Turkish analogues are still coming, but they are not always ideal. Furniture makers do not rule out a quick switch to fabric from Ivanovo weavers, although helping out a domestic manufacturer is not so bad.

The most difficult thing is with the machines that were and are being worn in modern domestic production, mainly imported ones. Those that are already in use require maintenance and replacement of consumable components. It takes years to create analogues: during this time, any enterprise will go bankrupt or lose its highly qualified staff of furniture makers. The situation is approximately the same with varnishes, paints, and other chemicals that are important for processing and finishing. Domestic bedrooms, living rooms and hallways will not be distinguished by gloss and impeccability. Even in the era of the USSR, everyone was chasing imported options and overpaying for the opportunity to buy something out of turn. The country of victorious communism devoted all its resources to the development of space and the defense industry.

Furniture sellers were not pleased with the annual Black Friday either. According to information from the largest federal furniture store Postelli, there was no rush sale on November 11th. Buyers did not use promotional offers for new orders: many simply canceled old orders for beds and mattresses and reordered them at lower prices. Many were lucky: they received what they had been waiting for for several months, and at a discount. Some have decided to buy what is available rather than wait for the version they want. So if you need furniture for a rented apartment or simply as a replacement for old firewood, then feel free to buy affordable furniture from the leftovers. The situation will not improve in the coming months - the opinions of experts on this issue completely coincide.

But there is no reason for sadness - any difficulties strengthen us. Even with complete economic isolation, the day will come when a young graduate student in a provincial laboratory will invent a unique varnish formula. And there will be no analogues in the world! If the entire periodic table is available on the territory of the Russian Federation, then making high-quality canopies or locks for cabinet doors is not so difficult. The Kulibins and Lomonosovs of the 21st century will definitely appear! Being well-fed and spoiled has never been a good incentive for creative or technical exploration. But need and an attempt to cook soup from an ax sometimes give excellent results. Under the conditions of a total blockade and sanctions, Iran was able to make its own drone and a host of other weapons. And Russian engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs will definitely succeed in something. You can do experiments and calculations on an old table and stool from the seventies. Let's just wait and believe!