NEWS

Knock First to feature hot-selling sofas by Dorm Depot this Fall
From the creators of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Knock First is a lightning fast, half-hour, do-it-yourself TV show where teenagers transform their outdated cribs into kickin’ pads with the help of a hip young designer and two totally handy carpenters.

Starting this Fall in Boston and LA, Knock First will begin applying that powerful formula in an all new show for the "twenty something" and college-age crowd. Knock First uses only the most fun and hip furniture for its room makeovers, and Dorm Depot is honored to be featured in Knock First’s upcoming LA shows. Come check us out on ABC TV this Fall.

Also in the news
Dorm Depot’s innovative furniture has also been featured in the following media recently:

- San Francisco Chronicle
- LA Times
- USA Today
- San Jose Mercury News
- Fortune.com
- CNN.com

press releases

Students: Beware of Used Couches
8.1.04

Los Gatos, California August 1, 2004 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) The "dorm couch" is one of the most coveted possessions in a dorm room. It evokes feelings of home and comfort and creates a warm social environment. Dorm rooms with couches become gathering spots for study groups, weekly TV rituals and impromptu socializing. Students who are tutors or Resident Assistants often need additional seating in their room and strongly prefer couches to beds to accommodate this. So where do students go to get couches? Because they have limited budgets, most go to Goodwill, The Salvation Army, garage sales or friends & family to find a decent used couch. And, most are getting more than they bargained for. What's in those used couches - even the ones that have been in your own family for years?

According to the UC Davis Healthcenter, "old overstuffed furniture can be a haven for mold and dust mites". One of the most strongly allergenic materials found indoors is house dust, often heavily contaminated with the fecal pellets and cast skins of dust mites. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments. Unfortunately, vacuuming does not solve the problem - 90% to 95% of house dust mites remain in upholstery even after a thorough vacuuming. And most students wouldn't even bother trying to vacuum their couch, even if they had a vacuum (which of course they don't).

Thought those late nights "socializing" were the cause of student fatigue? Guess again. Doctors estimate that one in five college students suffer from allergies, and many don't even know it. Worse yet is the fact that many students living in dorms don't take the necessary steps to keep their environment clean and allergen-free. The most common sources of dust mites are mattresses and upholstered furniture.
Consider the following facts: A typical mattress or couch may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites living inside it. And if your cushion is two years or more old, 10 percent of its weight is more than likely composed of dead mites and their fecal droppings.

Allergies cause more than itchy eyes and sneezing - blocked nasal passages lead to headaches, fatigue and even depression - all of which can have a significant impact on a student's ability to concentrate and study. An estimated two million school days are lost each year due to allergies, with the indirect cost of doctor visits, prescriptions and other remedies reaching an estimated $4 billion.

While college students may not have a choice about which mattress ends up in their dorm room, they do have choices when it comes to dorm couches and other
furniture. To keep dorm room mites to a minimum, experts advise replacing upholstered wooden couches with metal ones and NEVER using a second-hand couch. The Dorm Depot^TM sofa (www.dormdepot.com) is a terrific option. Not only is this low-cost couch completely recyclable, it features a rigid aluminum frame that cannot host mites or mold and replaceable cushions. It also has an easily removable, washable polyester slipcover. 

Oh by the way, there are a few other "friends" that may be in that used couch. Lice, molds, skin "dander", human excretions, bed bugs and cockroaches... just to name a few! GROSS.

For additional tips on keeping dorm rooms allergen free, explore the following links:

www.achooallergy.com
www.aafa.org
www.allergyetc.com

Article sources:
http://healthcenter.ucdavis.edu/htallergies.html
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC2551.htm
http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~acarolog/dustmite.htm
http://www.colleges.com/Umagazine/articles.taf?category=health& article=HN_991119allergies
 

Dorm Depot Enters College Market With Affordable
Environmentally Friendly Furniture

SARATOGA, California July 30, 2002 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) - - Dorm Depot™ today announced its entry into the $5 billion dorm decor market with the launch of its innovative sofa. Representing a significant breakthrough in traditional furniture design, Dorm Depot™ products are made from environmentally friendly materials, are completely recyclable, and combine multiple functions to make the most out of space-challenged dormitories.

The Dorm Depot couch can be ordered online and shipped directly to the customer by UPS. The couch is about one-half the price of most futons and offers unique benefits to this highly mobile market. Weighing just thirty pounds, the couch can be assembled in minutes and actually adds storage to the room with eight cubic feet of space under the seat bench. The couch was designed to appeal to college students with an upscale jet-black frame and full-length plush slipcovers that add personality, comfort and functionality to any dorm room.

“Dorm Depot™ has really hit the mark with this product. Other options such as inflatables, bean bags, futons or used couches were either too expensive, difficult to obtain, or simply did not have the look that I wanted”, says Hanson Li, a student at Stanford University.

Founded in January 2001, Dorm Depot™ creates products that deliver more than just a low price point. “There are a number of issues that are unique to students living in dorm rooms,” says Barry Shimelfarb, President and cofounder of Dorm Depot™. “They sleep, study and socialize in a 14’ x 14’ space and move at least six times in four years." Continues Shimelfarb, “To really add value in this market, products must be available online, shippable for a reasonable price and be multifunctional in order to address space issues.”

Social & Environmental Responsibility

Dorm Depot™ products are made from recycled post-industrial aluminum alloys. The minimal scrap material resulting from the manufacturing process is also recycled into other products, thereby eliminating any waste. Dorm Depot™ partnered with Hope Rehabilitation Services to pack and fulfill its initial inventory build. Hope is a non-profit organization that employs individuals with developmental learning disabilities. Dorm Depot™ also donates a portion of sales proceeds to specific charities each year.

Dorm Depot™ will begin volume shipments nationwide of the their couch on August 1, 2002. Pricing and availability for additional products will be announced in September 2002. All products will be sold through the www.dormdepot.com website and exclusive retail partners

Copyright 2001-08, Dorm Depot, LLC. All rights reserved. Dorm Depot is a trademark of Dorm Depot, LLC