| I recently had a chance to tour the factory of the | | | | Patterns and Correct Sizes. Most piano covers are |
| company who makes about eighty percent of the | | | | made from a pattern that already exists. When an |
| piano covers for our customers. This is part of an | | | | order is placed for a cover the team at the plant will |
| annual visit to the plant that I like to make so that I can | | | | pull a pattern made of paper that has the outline of the |
| be sure I know the people who we deal with on a | | | | top of the piano with the brand and the model number |
| daily basis by name and, more importantly, that they | | | | clearly marked in the middle of the pattern. For each |
| know me. This trip has enabled me to receive | | | | model that they have made before, multiple copies of |
| exceptional attention to any issues that have arisen | | | | the pattern exist so that several can be made at the |
| and assured me that I will continue to receive that kind | | | | same time. The team told me that, while they have |
| of support going forward. It makes a great deal of | | | | made piano covers for about every brand and model |
| difference to be dealing with that type of supplier, one | | | | of piano, they still get custom sizes on a very regular |
| who says they will go above and beyond the call of | | | | basis, as many as two to three a day during the busy |
| duty to have a satisfied customer and who always | | | | season. The tricky part of making a custom piano |
| follows through on the commitment. | | | | cover for a size they have not made before, they told |
| This year I really wanted to spend time with the team | | | | me, is getting the pattern to be right the first time. |
| that makes the piano covers. I think many of our | | | | When I asked how they do that they told me one |
| customers have the illusion that piano covers are in | | | | word - communication. |
| stock and are ready to go as soon as they are ready | | | | When the need to make a cover that has not been |
| to order the product. That is only the case for a | | | | made before arises they ask the customer to tape |
| handful of the piano brands. We typically have | | | | paper together on top of the piano so that it hangs |
| Steinway covers in stock and will have a good | | | | over the edges of each section of the piano. They |
| number of Knabe and Chickering models and sizes as | | | | then ask the customer to simply trace the outer edge |
| well, but other models and sizes are typically made to | | | | of the piano using a marker or heavy pen/pencil on the |
| order within about 48 hours. There just isn't the sales | | | | paper and to send it in. They take the pattern provided |
| volume to be able to make them to stock. As I | | | | by the customer and make a pattern for their use |
| watched the manufacturing and sewing process and | | | | directly from the pattern the customer provided. It |
| asked questions of the team making the covers I was | | | | always fits exactly the way the customer wants it to |
| amazed at their knowledge of the materials and the | | | | fit and the benefit to the company is that they now |
| pianos themselves. I asked them what the number one | | | | have a perfect-fit pattern for the piano brand and |
| issue they face when making a piano cover and they | | | | model that can be used again for the next customer. |
| responded in unison...patterns and correct sizes. | | | | Very Impressive. |