Past WebinarsWebinars are recorded so NUA members can watch them again for reference or if they missed the original broadcast. |
2023 |
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| THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL SKILLS WHEN MASTERING UPHOLSTERY
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2022 |
| WOOD CONSERVATION WITH KEVIN SOUTHWICK Over the past twenty-five years, Kevin Southwick has honed his understanding of finishes, applications and methods which have been published in several woodworking magazines. His webinar will address frame repairs before upholstering, and strengthening wood to hold staples or tacks, and many more valuable tips for the upholsterer.
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| Holiday Upholstery Gift Ideas. Gifts for yourself and gifts for your favorite upholsterer with Rhonda Shanahan and Nancy SargentJoin Rhonda and Nancy's show and tell of the gifts you and you favorite upholsterer will want this holiday season!
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| Industrial Sewing Machine Maintenance by SailriteMatt Grant covers basic care and maintenance and valuable troubleshooting information to help you deal with common issues when sewing on your industrial walking foot machine.
Sailrite is owned and operated by the second generation of the Grant family, Matt and Hallie Grant. Together they lead Sailrite's constantly growing list of crew members, including the third generation of Grants. Join to Watch |
| Making Upholstery Frames in Plywood - strategies and techniquesBest practices for plywood frames including types of joints and other considerations with multiple examples to illustrate concepts.
Lewis Mabon is a furniture designer, specializing in upholstery, with experience in residential, commercial, office, hospitality, outdoor and healthcare furniture. He has worked most recently for Leggett & Platt, and before that, Herman Miller. He is a scholar on furniture history with vast private library. Join to Watch |
| Working profitably with designersJoin the discussion with high end designers Ella Hall, Justin Dazey, and Richelle Plett, moderated by Ruti Wajnberg as they talk about ways to increase your comfort level and profitability while collaborating with designers.
Ella Hall is the founder of Stitchroom, a Brooklyn upholstery shop that can help you make custom pillows, cushions, curtains, and other upholstery. After receiving a degree in fashion design at Parsons, Ella pursued a career in interior design, where she learned all about designers’ processes and all their major pain points. Always the entrepreneur, Ella saw a legitimate opportunity to build a business within an industry that hadn’t changed for decades. Richelle Plett is an interior designer in Kansas City. She previously owned an upholstery studio that specialized in the restoration of vintage seating, rescuing both curb treasures and iconic designs. Today she teaches professional designers about the science of upholstery construction and encourages a collaborative spirit between the design industry and professional upholstery. After receiving his B.A. in Interior Design from Washington State University, Justin Dazey spent over a decade developing a career culminating as a Design Director responsible for a small team of Interior Designers and the daily operations of a multi-million dollar luxury design showroom. During this time he had the opportunity to partner with multiple Custom Upholsterers and Soft Goods Workrooms on a wide variety of projects. In 2013 Justin made the leap from one side of the Upholstery/Designer relationship to the other. Beginning work for a third generation upholstery family he soon found himself operating their newly acquired urban showroom while studying the trade and is now a full time Upholsterer. Developing and sharing practices that smooth the interface between Upholsterer and Interior Designer has been a natural outcome of this perspective. Join to Watch |
| Unique Pattern Matching TechniquesNine types of matching are described. How to choose the best strategy based on the fabric and the furniture. How to communicate and manage expectations with the customer. How to make your own tools for matching. How to add “matching windows” to cardboard patterns. How to handle huge repeats, like 330”. And special flow-match short-cut for re-upholsters and prototype builders.
Lewis Mabon is a furniture designer, specializing in upholstery, with experience in residential, commercial, office, hospitality, outdoor and healthcare furniture. He has worked most recently for Leggett & Platt, and before that, Herman Miller. He is a scholar on furniture history with vast private library. Join to Watch |
May 10th: Introduction to S.C.O.R.E. Resources For Small Business presented by Mark Krosse, SCORE volunteer mentorSCORE is America's largest support organization for small businesses with locations and volunteers in all 50 states. Learn about free mentoring, education, and resources to help grow your business.
Mark Krosse helps new entrepreneurs get started and experienced business owners solve problems to grow their cash flow. He helps with the fundamentals of starting a business: organization, business strategy, offering selection, marketing plans, financing alternatives, and risk assessment-all the key elements of constructing a business plan. For experienced clients, he has expertise in strategy development, sales, marketing, e-commerce social media, technology, finance, and operations. During his business career, he has served national and global clients around the world and in many types of services industries and manufacturing industries, both assembly and process. Since joining the SCORE volunteer team in 2005, Mark has served hundreds of small business entrepreneurs, helping them launch and operate successful businesses. Some have since expanded nationally. Join to Watch |
April 12: Michelle Minner of Blue Roof Cabin shares "How to Photograph Your Work Using an iPhone"Photographing our work for social media can be difficult! Deciding what angle to use that doesn't distort takes more than just an artistic eye. Michelle will explain basic lighting techniques and composition. Learn how to make the most of your phone apps to highlight and edit for photos you'll be proud to share.
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Tuesday March 8: "How to Choose Fabrics that Protect Your Health and Our Planet" with Patty Grossman of Two Sisters Ecotextiles.All of us live intimately with fabrics each day. Fabrics are all around us. Your fabric choices are incredibly important. You can have a dramatic positive impact on greening our world and keeping your family optimally healthy through your fabric choices. We want you to be confident that the fabrics you choose will ensure your health and happiness - not undermine it. Isn't it important to know that your choices will keep the promise to our children - yours and mine - that we'll leave them a vibrant diverse world?
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February 8th: "Enhance Your Upholstery Business by Offering Chair Caning Services" with Cathryn Peters of The Wicker WomanHave you ever given thought to learning the related skill of chair caning and then offering it as an additional service to your customers? In this presentation, Cathryn Peters, aka The Wicker Woman, will first touch on some of the historical aspects of the ancient craft of chair seat weaving and its various materials. And then give a hands-on, brief, spline cane demonstration, following up with suggestions of ways to incorporate your newly learned skill into your business. This additional skill set will create more income for you and provide an added service for the public, helping to perpetuate the craft.
Cathryn Peters, owner of The Wicker Woman® has been restoring wicker furniture, weaving chair seats and teaching those skills for over 40 years. She has a special passion and mission to pass on her skills to others through her website and in-person instruction, so this ancient craft does not truly become a lost art. Cathryn has taught chair caning, other seat weaving techniques, and basketry across the country through woodworking schools, folk schools, basket guild workshops, and community education programs. Her efforts in the craft business, furniture restoration, and basketry world are mentioned in many books and periodicals, most recently hand-twisted rush seating in the 2017 edition of English Arts and Crafts Furniture by cabinetmaker, Nancy Hiller. Cathryn is a founding member of the first and only North American chair caning guild, called The SeatWeavers’ Guild, Inc.® and served two terms (2007-2011) as President, webmaster for seven years, Vice President and is currently serving as a member-at-large. Join to Watch |
January 11th: " upholstery restoration" with Heather PorterUpholstery conservation treatments carried out by museums, historic houses and other heritage organizations can differ from reupholstery using traditional materials and techniques. Emphasis sometimes requires retaining damaged materials to improve their appearance and make them safe for display. There are a number of established textile conservation methods that can be utilized when conserving the showcover and trimmings, either in situ or by temporarily removing them for more extensive treatment. At other times, the structure of the upholstery might need adjustment to restore a collapsed profile to the original shape, or retain expanding springs to reduce pressure on the materials above and below. If upholstery is inappropriate and needs to be replaced for historical accuracy, then physical examination of the frame, historical research and sourcing reproduction fabrics might all be necessary to ensure the best possible outcome. The talk will also show a number of techniques used to reduce further damage to the frame and limit the use of traditional materials while aiming to achieve the appearance of fixed upholstery.
Heather is currently a freelance upholstery conservator in London, UK. She has worked in the upholstery trade and is also a trained upholstery conservator, having graduated from the Royal College of Art/Victoria & Albert Museum with an MA in Upholstery Conservation in 2001. After graduation she spent 8 years working in various institutions in America before returning to London. Most recently she was Senior Conservator (Upholstery) at the National Trust where she oversaw the conservation of the upholstery collection at Knole House, Kent. Heather is an accredited member of the Institute of Conservation (ICON). Her particular interests are the use of non-traditional upholstery techniques and different approaches to treatments. Join to Watch |
2021DECEMBER 14TH: Furniture Maker and NUA Board Member at Large, Lewis Mabon, will discuss NUA/IFAI Outdoor Cushions and Their HistoryJoin designer and inventor Lewis Mabon as he takes you on his journey of outdoor cushions. Learn how the cushions are made now, their challenges to comfort, and what led to a patent-pending invention. A detailed description of how Mabon was instrumental in developing outdoor cushions as breathable and comfortable as indoor cushions!
November 9th: "Wise Words from an Upholstery Podcaster" with Robbie RichardsonThis month's webinar is presented by Robbie Richardson, master upholsterer and founder of In Stitches - The Upholstery Podcast, which tells the story of the skill that lies beneath the covers! Described as essential listening for upholsters and teachers alike, the In Stitches podcast is 100% by upholsters, for upholsters! Join us as the tables are turned and Robbie is in the hot seat himself, relating his own journey in upholstery and taking our questions! As he says on In Stitches, "Everyone is welcome, so switch on, tune in, grab a coffee or listen as you work."
Robbie has been a passionate upholsterer since he started at eight years old with his grandfather. He takes great pride in his skill and craftsmanship and won’t be happy until you are too; his greatest delight is seeing the smile on a satisfied client’s face. Robbie is a master upholsterer and co-owner of Richardson and Paige, Distinctive Upholstery, Curtains & Soft Furnishings in Wiltshire, United Kingdom. He started the In Stitches upholstery podcast in 2020 and hasn't looked back. In his spare time, Robbie is a keen sportsman and a national long-distance time trial cyclist. Join to WatchOctober 12th: "Delegate or Automate: How to Take Your Business to the Next Level" presented by My Designer Concierge (Industry Partner)Are you: Pressed for time? Running on empty? Do you find you do not have enough hours in the day to get everything done? Are you drowning in work without an end in sight? Are your work and personal life balance less than ideal? Automating and delegating daily and weekly tasks is one of the key strategies to "getting it all done". Join me, Jill Ragan Scully, owner of My Designer Concierge, while I share with you a few different ways you can manage tasks within your business to work more effectively and efficiently. Choosing how you spend your time is important for a good work/life balance and stress reduction. What would you do with a few extra hours each week?
Born in the Midwest, Jill grew up in Minnesota, started college in Wisconsin, took a brief hiatus to travel, and continued her studies in Minnesota. She received a thorough education in interior design, window treatment design/fabrication, and upholstery. Jill started Impressive Windows & Interiors LLC when her children were young and worked part-time until they were older. In 2015, before her boys left the nest, she opened a showroom in downtown Hastings, Minnesota. She recognized the need for access to a broader range of products and services for her peers, so Jill founded My Designer Concierge, a buying group for the soft furnishing industry in 2017. In 2019, she furthered her dedication to the soft furnishing industry by founding a cordless shade distribution company focused on child-safety called Cordless-Shade.com. Join to WatchSeptember 14th: "A reading and conversation with Nick Kary, author of Material: Making and the Art of Transformation"In our present age of computer-assisted design, mass production, and machine precision, the traditional skills of the maker or craftsperson are hard to find. Yet the desire for well-made and beautiful objects from the hands (and mind) of a skilled artisan is just as present today as it ever has been. Whether the medium they work with is wood, metal, clay or something else, traditional makers are living links to the rich vein of knowledge and skills that defines our common human heritage. More than this, though, many of us harbor a deep and secret yearning to produce something – to build or shape, to imagine and create our own objects that are imbued not only with beauty and functionality, but with a story and, in essence, a spirit drawn from us.
Nick Kary has spent a lifetime making, teaching, and writing. Over the past 35 years he has developed his skill set as a craftsman and designer of fine furniture from workshops in London, Mexico and Devon, for clients including Terence Conran, Madonna and Elton John. An associate lecturer at Plymouth University and Schumacher College, Nick also teaches furniture making from his own workshops at The Brake, the home and creative centre he established with his wife Dolly, outside Totnes, England. It is here that he can practice his passion for helping others find another way of ‘thinking through their hands’. Join to WatchAugust 10th: "Skilled Workforce: How Online Training Programs Could Help You Grow Your Team with NUA Educational Partner The Funky Little Chair"We know there is a significant and growing need for skilled tradespeople as our existing workforce continues to age out, but what should modern vocational training look like? And how do we overcome a serious lack of facilities and infrastructure to help more promising candidates successfully make the leap from hobby to career? Cynthia Bleskachek shares a preview of The Funky Little Chair's new Basic Level Certificate and talks about the important role that online resources can play in helping to rebuild apprenticeship paths in the U.S. There will be time after the webinar, so come with your thoughts and questions.
Cynthia Bleskachek is the creator of The Funky Little Chair in St. Paul, Minnesota. With over two decades of experience "at the bench," Cynthia is an exceptional modern upholsterer with a specific passion for modern training and education. As a respected leader in the industry, she has traveled across the country to teach, speak and provide technical/training support to both professional upholsterers and workroom owners. In addition to overseeing curriculum development and live training in St. Paul, Cynthia has been an instructor at Workroom Tech in Tryon, North Carolina, Craftsy in Denver, Colorado, and Custom Workroom Conference. She has a YouTube Channel with over 30,000 subscribers and currently serves on the board for the National Upholstery Association. WatchJune 8th, 2021: "Valuing Your Worth: Determine the pitfalls and benefits of working with the trade" with Richelle PlettDoes working with a designer make you crazy? Join upholstery industry expert Richelle Plett as she shares her unique perspective on the subject. Her well-rounded education as a designer AND an upholsterer will assist you in reducing the complexities of current relationships and navigate new ones in the future.
Richelle Plett's's love of vintage furniture and upholstery led her to own a brick and mortar design studio with custom upholstery and window treatment workroom called Sitzen Upholstery and Design. Known for her vast selection of “roadkill” quality constructed upholstered frames that just needed a little love, the business mantra was, “Pick a frame, pick a fabric and we do the rest!” This structure allowed her to keenly understand how fabrics and upholstery wear in real life and to truly comprehend the value of upholstery construction. Today she loves working with design clients to help them “furnish forward” and enjoys teaching professional designers about upholstery construction. May 11th, 2021: "To Burn or Not to Burn: New Federal Flammability Law for Upholstered Furniture and What it Means for Your Company", presented by Neal Cohen Law LLC40 years in the making, with the federal government first beginning work on this project in 1968, the Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act (SOFFA) will finally go into effect June 25, 2021. Signed into law in December 2020, this law, known as the Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act (SOFFA), nationalizes the 2013 version of California’s Technical Bulletin 117. Join IFAI and product safety attorney and former CPSC official Neal Cohen who will explain the federal requirements of the new law, its origins, and – importantly – best practices and what to expect from CPSC and in the marketplace. This special event was not recorded. April 11, 2021: "The History of Upholstered Furniture" with Gareth ReesDuring the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns, Gareth taught a series of successful lectures on furniture history to students across the UK and just recently started another series of lectures to members of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers, worldwide. In this webinar, Gareth presents a very condensed version of those lectures to the NUA audience here in the United States. Gareth has a wealth of design and upholstery knowledge and his passion for sharing it is infectious. He provides a relaxed, informal yet informative learning experience.
Gareth Rees has been working as an upholsterer for 25 years. He gained his training on the shop floor, working in various workshops in England and Wales and is versed in many aspects of furniture making from cabinet work to mattress making. Gareth started his own company in 2004 and in this time has taken commissions and private work for high end interior design companies, bespoke furniture makers, private collectors, antique dealers, embassies and museums. Here in the US, Gareth is the course writer and primary tutor for Upholstery Education, offering continuing education classes to upholstery professionals and aspiring individuals new to the trade. Back home in the United Kingdom, Gareth is a Director and full time instructor at the British School of Upholstered Furniture in Oxfordshire, UK where he teaches the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) Diploma program. He is also the lead tutor for the Advancements in Traditional Upholstery Diploma, run in association with the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers (GTU). In October 2020, Gareth was voted Chairman of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers. In this new role, Gareth is eager to promote and celebrate the craft and trade of upholstery to a broader spectrum of people. Although a full time educator, Gareth still takes on commissions from select clients, predominantly focusing on the decorative arts from 1840-1950. March 9, 2021: "Social Media & the SaleS funnel" with Kate the SocialiteSocial Media & the Sales Funnel is a no-nonsense presentation on why your marketing strategy shouldn't start and end with Instagram, and how you can set up a complete sales funnel without chasing new followers. After this presentation, you'll understand which new actions you should take to market your business more effectively, as well as which marketing tasks you can stop doing.
Kate the Socialite runs an international marketing agency that helps custom workroom owners simplify their marketing and get real results. She is the host of The Kate Show, an Apple Top 200 podcast, and is obsessed with making marketing easier for the home industry. If you're ready to grow your upholstery business with a real (and really simple) sales funnel, go to www.SocialiteVault.com. February 9, 2021: "A Professional's guide to understanding leather" with Beverly McAuley & William DowdThis unique learning experience included a virtual tour of an Italian tannery and a live stream guide through the Moore & Giles showroom featuring multiple examples of leather. During this webinar, you will gain a better understanding of how leather is made, clarification on industry terminology, and insight into the alternatives. Learn about sustainability, healthy products, and inspiring new developments within the leather industry. January 12, 2021: "Fast Furniture and its Discontents" with Shelly Leer & Jamie FacciolaThis lively discussion between an upholstery educator and a critical observer of furniture waste shone a light on this taboo topic and examined why upholsterers should be paying attention. Presented by Shelly Leer of @home_room_shop and Jamie Facciola of @furniture.cycle. 2020December 11, 2020: "VIrtual Upholstery Symposium"In lieu of a webinar, the NUA hosted a Virtual Upholstery Symposium with panelists Rachel Fletcher of Knox Upholstery, Grant Trick of Grant Trick Furnishings, Cynthia Bleskachek of The Funky Little Chair, and Bruno Paulin Lopez of Atelier de France. The moderator will be Elizabeth DeCrescenzo of Nailed it Upholstery.This special event was not recorded. November 10, 2020: “Wooden Furniture Repair: Glue and Touch-ups” with Scott BennettHow do you repair loose parts and touch up marks on wooden furniture? Scott Bennett, from the Fixing Furniture YouTube channel, will provide detailed how-to information so you can successfully make these minor repairs in your workshop. During the webinar, Scott references the following supplemental document:
Scott Bennett is the owner of Wooden It Be Nice - Custom Woodworking where he specializes in furniture repairs. Scott is also the host of two YouTube channels: "Fixing Furniture" and "Home Improvement Woodworking". On the "Fixing Furniture" channel, Scott shares his knowledge of furniture repairs to build a community and empower viewers to be successful in their own repair projects. Scott holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Lakehead University and lives in Brooklin, Ontario. October 13, 2020: “Upholstered Furniture Design” with Lewis MabonIn the webinar, seasoned furniture designer Lewis Mabon explains how upholstery works, explores the historical development of the technology of upholstery—past to present—and examines common upholstery terms. “Upholstered Furniture Design” is an introductory, interactive session perfect for students just beginning their upholstery education or for experienced professionals interested in learning more about designing furniture for upholstery. To participate remotely in the hands-on activities, attendees should gather these household items prior to joining:
Attendees should also watch a YouTube video of the “swimming cap trick” (example) beforehand. After the webinar, Lewis recommends checking out these additional resources from the AHFA website: September 8, 2020: "Pick Your Performance" with Taylor Souder of Greenhouse FabricsWith a plethora of performance fabric options on the market, how do you determine which brand is best for you and your client? In this webinar, Taylor breaks down these four popular performance lines so you can choose which performance fabric works best for your client:
August 11, 2020: "Hiring Your First Employee" with Michele Williams of Scarlet Thread ConsultingMichele Williams, owner of Scarlet Thread Consulting, is a business strategist and coach serving the interior design industry including stagers and custom workrooms. In this webinar, Michele breaks down what you need to do and know to get ready for that first hire! July 14, 2020: Gracious Council with Angie Avard TurnerAngie Avard Turner—attorney, creative, and owner of Gracious Counsel—addresses some of the most common legal issues people have when running a business. In this webinar, you'll learn tips for choosing an attorney, why you should consider incorporating, how contract language can make or break your business relationships, why it's important to protect your intellectual property and web presence, and best practices for social media. June 9, 2020: Publishing a book, Interview with upholstery and soft furnishings authorsWe had a great discussion with four published authors. Authors included:
May 12, 2020: Insurance Needs of Your Upholstery BusinessThis webinar gives a broad overview of various types of insurance coverage, include general liability, professional liability and workers compensation. Special highlighting will be given to specific insurance issues that relate to the field of upholstery. April 14, 2020: Textile Safety, Why and How to Green your Textile ChoicesIf you have not had a customer ask you for fire retardant free fabric and furniture before, you will. Or chemical free, or non-toxic. Patty Grossman of Two Sisters Ecotextiles will give you the information with which to answer these questions for your customers and prospects. Join to WatchBonus Webinar with Michele Williams: Managing your finances during a business disruptionMarch 12, 2020: NUA Presents the 2020-2023 Strategic PlanThe NUA President, Rachel Fletcher, presents the current Strategic Plan. Q & A after with the Board of Directors. March 10, 2020: Once Upon a Hide: Everything you’ve always wanted to know about leather but were afraid to askFrom how to help your clients select the perfect leather to calculating the number of hides that you’ll need to complete the masterpiece, the Crest Leather team will share answers to the most commonly asked questions about leather. We will test your knowledge at the end of the webinar and a few lucky listeners will win a free leather hide. Topics covered include:
Feb 11, 2020: Understanding Performance FabricsLearn the essentials of unparalleled fabric performance from NUA Industry Partner, United Fabrics. United Fabrics is a wholesale distributor of fabric, faux leather, and genuine leather. They have been a proud supplier to the upholstery industry for over 70 years. United Fabrics welcomes Sunbrella to join the discussion and highlight the basics of performance fabrics, including how they’re manufactured, features and benefits of using performance fabrics in both indoor and outdoor spaces, and how these fabrics are best maintained. Jan 14, 2020: How to do Email Marketing with Joy and EaseEmail marketing offers an incredibly high return on your time and money when compared to other digital marketing methods. In this webinar, Kimberly Beer you will share the current strategies that are working with this powerful sales, marketing and customer service tool. You will also learn how to make your job as an email marketer easier and more joyful (yes, joyful!). Tips and tool recommendations will be provided. 2019Dec 10, 2019: The Big Three -Ready for Year EndPresented by Sandy Schlafer this webinar will focus on ensuring your QuickBooks setup is correct so that you can accurately run the three most important reports -Profit & Loss, Balance Statement and Sales by Item Summary. In addition we will review what is needed in order to be ready for year end and tax season. Nov 12, 2019: Tools & GadgetsRhonda Shanahan, owner of The Whimsical Chair, shares demonstrations and answers questions on a variety of tools used in an upholstery shop, including: button press, soda blaster, foam cutters, tool sharpeners, leather stitcher, double welt gauge, magnets, and more! Join to WatchOct 8, 2019: French Mattress CushionsTracy Windley from Sew Elegant gave a tutorial on a Tufted French Mattress Cushion. She discussed fabric suitability, pattern choices, stuffing options and foam, and hand tufting to create the signature stitching. This video was only available for one month; it is no longer available. Sept 10, 2019: Website BasicsJason Chagnon, president of Providentia Marketing, talked about the basics of having a business website, including some great marketing tips. Join to WatchAug 13, 2019: Foam SelectionRandy Oelschlager, owner of Fabric Supply Inc., talked about foam. How to select the appropriate foam for the job? What does IFD and HR mean? How can foam be recycled? Best ways to cut foam? Information about indoor and outdoor foam. All things FOAM! Randy also took questions during this live webinar. July 9, 2019: Meet the NUA Board of DirectorsMembers of the NUA Board of Directors spoke about the NUA. Participants asked questions, gave suggestions, and got to know the group that worked so hard to get the NUA up and running. |