Crate and Barrel was selling curved glass coffee tables, which were actually plastic last year, but due to many maintenance issues, this item was discontinued. I suppose they don't want to go into selling glass tables due to possible legal problems in case somebody gets hurt, so they were trying get around this by selling plastic.

Anyway, this is a good new for us, because we are happy to satisfy this demand.

UPDATE: apparently Crate and Barrel is selling the clear plastic coffee table again under its CB2 brand and it's called the peekaboo clear coffee table. After talking to one of the sales people I was told that this table had many maintenance issues, so I am looking forward those customers ordering glass as their second choice.

Just made an order of shipment of curved glass coffee tables. This time, I wen with the original FontanaArte coffee table dimensions increasing to height to 280MM (15 inches). While nobody really had any concerns about the height of the first order, the extra 2 inches will make the table look more mature and bigger.

I was browsing around how other online retailers sell curved glass coffee table, and I was amused how many "brands" just stick their name on this "china made", 80 years old design, curved glass coffee table, and call it their own product. We all tend to think whatever comes from Italy must be good and special. The truth is, there are businessmen in Italy also, and all they care about is how to make money, and if they can increase a value of something just by sing "it's from Italy, they will do so. You can see that, miniforms have done just that: go on the miniforms website (http://www.miniforms.com) click products > coffee table > curvo. What amuses me, is that www.umodern.com even has a name of the designer (from miniforms) next to the products (Designed by I. Bardini). So Mr. Bardini is charging roughly $400 extra for his his plagiarized design.

I was really thinking for a while that I would take that same approach that all these brands are taking and BS people that my tables are "Italian designed and made" and sell them with 90% profit margin, but that just would not be me :). I am more of an Ikea guy, who likes to give people value, great value if possible. I believe this is how you can build faithful customer base and win in the long run.