What happens to furniture that gets damaged in transit? Sadly, many returns end up in a landfill; a manufacturer might also ask a customer to dispose of the damaged item on their own. Either way, salvageable components are likely not reused.

But Detroit-based furniture company Floyd wants to change this status quo. Founded in 2013 by Kyle Hoff and Alex O’Dell, Floyd started with a single product, The Floyd Leg, which “was developed out of a reaction to disposable furniture and allowed anyone to make a table from any found surface material.” The duo has maintained this practical-design philosophy ever since, as they have expanded their product lines to include sofas, tables, and more.

As part of its “Full Cycle” program, the company takes back any items damaged in transit (which comprises than 2% of total orders). “Then it mixes and matches parts, like table legs, as necessary to make fully functional (if aesthetically flawed) kits.” These are sold online at a discount.

One year in, Full Cycle has resold 272 items; nearly 40,000 pounds of furniture. And, it makes good business sense too—as Floyd gets, on average, “72% of return revenue from this Full Cycle furniture…the program is helping offset losses to furniture returns in a significant way.”

“Longer term, we’re striving to own more of the process, to build more of a marketplace, or opportunity, for people to bring product back to refinish and service it,” notes Hoff.

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