David Bryant, owner of Fibrenew East, works on a sample chair Thursday in his home workshop.
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Telegram photo / Emma Tannenbaum

David Bryant, owner of Fibrenew East, works on a sample chair Thursday in his home workshop.

Firm gives old items new look

By John Henderson

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On his horse farm in Spring Hope, David Bryant is building a fast-growing restoration and repair business, Fibrenew East.

The company restores, among other things, leather couches; chairs; aircraft consoles, interiors and seats; boat seats, consoles and interiors; car bumpers, consoles and door panels; horse saddles; medical tables and chairs; motorcycle seats; and vinyl seats and flooring. In most cases, Bryant will go to a client’s home to do the work.

“In most cases, I’ll go to houses (to make repairs), unless it’s a big job like a full couch restoration, which I’ll bring to the shop,” Bryant said. “Most of what I do is mobile. I do the work out of back of my truck. I carry air compressors, dyes, that kind of stuff. The hardest thing I do is matching colors. I have to match colors.”

In a down economy in which people are trying to save money, business has tripled since opening in 2009.

Q: What services or products do you provide?

A: I do repairs and restoration and redying and cleaning of leather, vinyl, plastics fabrics and upholstery. The company fixes cracks, stains, scratches, holes, rips and fades in leather. The business is environmentally friendly. When you do repair work, it keeps people from throwing (the product) in landfills. I’m really not doing any advertising. (Business) is kind of word of mouth. I get referrals from furniture companies, car dealers, individuals. I do a lot of (leather and vinyl repair on) trucks for Lilly International. I can re-dye floor mats. A lot of homeowners have trouble getting red stains out of furniture. I can do that. It takes special chemicals and heat to get it out.

Q: How many people do you employ?

A: Me.

Q: When were you established?

A: April 2009.

Q: What’s your business philosophy?

A: If you do good, high-quality work, you’re always going to stay busy.

Q: What makes your business unique?

A: Just what I do. The odd stuff I fix. People have no idea (some products) can even be fixed, like leather furniture when cats claw it up or dogs chew holes, or a car seat that has a hole in it from a screwdriver.

Q: Why did you pick Rocky Mount as a place to do business?

A: I used to own a chair and equipment rentals business in Rocky Mount. I wasn’t going to leave the area.

Q: How has your company grown?

A: Business has about tripled from the first year.

Q: What changes do you expect for your company in coming years?

A: It’s got nothing but potential to grow. The biggest problem is getting people to realize they can restore products. When I started going into furniture stores showing people pictures of what I did, even people working in the store had no idea what could be done, so it’s kind of educational process.

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AT A GLANCE

Address: 5129 Richardson Road, Spring Hope.

Telephone: 382-0541

Website: fibrenew.com/east

Email: east@fibrenew.com

Hours: By appoint-ment

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