Poochie makes durable and affordable beds

Jamie 'Poochie' Bryce claims it takes him approximately 45 minutes to build and wrap a bed base from scratch. This may seem almost impossible for someone who is not familiar with the upholstering, but, according to Bryce, his more than 10 years experience has made him a master of the craft.

Located at the corner of Water Lane and Orange Street in downtown Kingston, Bryce is one of several upholsterers who make and sell bed sets within the area. He explained that he was introduced to the trade by a family member during his teenage years, and he has not turned back since.

"To some persons, they may just see us as people making beds, but to us, we are life starters. These are what the average young persons use to start their life with. Sometimes it's just a bed and a fan, and I am happy to contribute to that," he said.

As he sprays the post of a bed base, he explained that the finished products are not only extremely affordable but also durable.

"Mi know people have them bed for more than 10 years. A lot of times, the only thing that they will change is the mattress, but if they want it to last longer, all they have to do is let me add spring to it. You can get a single bed base for as little as $6,000 and a complete set for either $14,000 or $16,000. I also make double-and queen-sized beds with prices that start at $18,000," he said.

With the summer holidays set to start in less than two weeks, Poochie said that small beds are his best sellers.

"This is the time when children a go spend time with relatives, so you always find people a buy the little bed dem. Christmas is a good time as well, but during this time, I can sell a few of them per week," he said.