The pros:
Get paid to do work you can push into what is normally slow time, and do at your convenience.
Profitable!
The cons:
You have to inspect and document as if each order was an insurance claim. No one remembers the broken straps or melts being there before you took them in.
Space. This takes up a serious amount of space.
Drying. You'll need space not only for storage, but for making sure incoming wet cushions are completely dry before putting them away. This has become a major hassle. (see below) Moisture probes don't go far enough into the cushion to know that it's dry inside.
If your systems are weak, handling cushions will be difficult.
Insurance. Make sure your coverage includes storage. Many insurance companies require a pretty expensive add-on if you hold anything longer that the time it takes to service the item, and if you're advertising storage, they can deny coverage if something happens.
We've noticed that there are four type of stuffing: Closed cell foam - perfect but expensive; Open-cell "fast drain" - can take several days to dry and the fabric may also hold water inside, Stacked batts of polyfil - acts similar to "fast drain"; Open cell foam - can take weeks to dry in a dry room, or may never dry completely. Absolutely the wrong foam to use outdoors and will lead to moldy cushions.
Closed cell foam seems to be used only by the top manufacturers or in yacht cushions - we're seeing more of the cheaper or wrong stuff every year.
Bottom line is, like other specialties, you have to pay attention or you'll buy stuff. I'm also not sure all of us are doing a proper accounting of all of the peripheral work that goes into handling cushions, the margins may be slimmer than we think.
