This Company Will Bring You a Sofa in a Van to Test Before You Buy

Let's face it: Buying a sofa can be quite an ordeal. You've got to trek to a showroom, seat test multiple models (if they're even all in stock), then sift through upholstery options. If you want to buy online, you avoid that hassle, but are left at the mercy of online reviews to trust the seat comfort. Enter Maker&Son, a new furniture venture founded by two industry veterans with the goal of taking some of the most painful parts out of sofa shopping. The company, which was founded in the U.K. in 2018 and landed stateside this year, is on a mission to create sustainable, comfortable, long-lasting furniture—and they'll drive right to your door to sell it to you.

Alex Willcock and Felix Conran (father and son, if you couldn't guess from the company name) began Maker&Son after careers in the furniture business: Conran is grandson of noted British designer Sir Terence Conran, and Willcock is a furniture designer and manufacturer and former Creative Director for The Conran Group. They're bringing the expertise from these previous ventures to Maker & Son, whose defining trademark might be its unconventional way it meets its customers.

Photo credit: Courtesy Maker&Son
Photo credit: Courtesy Maker&Son

The "Mobile Showroom" was initially devised in the early stages of the company—"when Felix and I were literally selling from the back of our car," says Willcock— as a way to bring human customer service to any shopper, without shelling out for a storefront. It grew to be so popular—and convenient—that the company now employs a fleet of its trademark vans across the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Simply book a visit on the company's site, and one of their vans will come to you.

And just what can you expect to find inside these roving showrooms? Well, Willcock and Conran's goal is pretty clear: "Right from the start we were here to produce something that was literally the most comfortable thing you had ever sat in," says Willcock. But they were also determined to do that using all natural materials (read: none of the foam common in many sofas) harvested sustainably. "We spent about two years before we launched thinking about what it was going to mean to produce sustainable furniture," says Conran.

Photo credit: Courtesy Maker&Son
Photo credit: Courtesy Maker&Son

As of now, the company offers three styles, all available in sofas, loveseats, and sectionals: the Song, Marnie, and Otter. Each model consists of a carefully-constructed layering of natural materials within a durable, hardwood frame—all hand-constructed in the brand's studio in West Sussex. "We've got a very traditional way of making our sofas," says Willcock. "It all begins with the frame." Maker & Son's are hand doweled, glued and screwed, making for a long-lasting skeleton. (The brand offers a 30-year warranty on its sofas.) On top of the frame sit three types of springs arranged in a zig-zag pattern, offering different levels of support in the front, middle, and back of the sofa. Covering these are layers of jute, cotton, rubberized fiber, and wool. "The combination of all of these make for an incredibly comfortable seat," says Willcock.

This more traditional approach also makes for a durable sofa that's sure to have a long life, making it a sound—and sustainable—investment. "One of our shared values is a commitment to making things that are beautiful and will also last a long time," says Willcock.

Buying a sofa? Check out our guide here.


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