The fallout between the Brooklyn shop Teak and the Scandinavian sofa maker OMHU has left hundreds of customers in a mess. The two companies had a very profitable partnership, with Teak selling OMHU’s “Teddy” modular sofas in its Greenpoint storefront for years. Now, after a contract dispute, dozens of customers are asking for refunds and even to dispute charges on their credit cards.
On August 6, OMHU said it would not renew its contract with Teak when it expired on August 16. Teak’s owner, Caitlin Maestrini, claims OMHU ran out of notice, violating an earlier agreement that the distributor must give 90 days’ warning before ending a lease. OMHU was busy opening a warehouse in North Carolina and expanding its U.S. presence, according to the company’s spokesperson, Simon Salomonsson.
Because the deal was exclusive, Teak lost its right to sell Teddy sofas in the U.S. and could no longer stock or sell them from its Greenpoint shop. Maestrini says that 75 % of Teak’s income came from the brand, so the break‑up threatens the store’s survival.
The dispute has left roughly 300 orders of Teddy sofas stuck in a New Jersey warehouse. Maestrini says Teak can’t afford to pay for shipping, so the pieces sit there with no timeline for delivery. Customers who ordered in June now wait months, and some have already written off $2,900 in delays. Many have followed Maestrini’s advice to challenge the $2,500 per‑sofa charge on their credit cards.
One customer, Jasmine Espana, bought a sofa in June, expecting an eight‑week delivery, but her order took three months. She called Maestrini and asked for a refund. “I was told it might take up to 30 days,” she said. “That’s not okay.” She ended up disputing the charge with her card issuer and received a full refund.
Maestrini has threatened a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to keep the business afloat while she holds out for negotiations with shipping partners. She’s also asking staff to consider layoffs: with OMHU gone, the shop would lose most of its revenue. Her message to customers is clear: if you can’t wait for a refund, file a dispute.
They also say that OMHU’s expansion into North Carolina and the U.S. market runs counter to their agreement and that the company had no obligation to offer a 90‑day notification. OMHU hasn’t responded to requests for comment.
The appeal of OMHU’s modular “Teddy” sofas—soft cushions, corduroy fabric, and modular design—has made them a Brooklyn must‑see. The store’s marketing, seen across the borough and beyond, highlighted the brand as a centerpiece of modern Scandinavian design. Losing that partnership could spell the end for Teak’s high‑end retail model.
Though the store sold other items—like a $460 steel cup rack—the bulk of sales came from OMHU. “[OMHU] just wants to dominate the market for itself,” Maestrini says. She once considered OMHU’s founders friends, but now she feels betrayed.
If Teak can’t pay for the New Jersey goods, customers may have to take their money back from card companies. Or the shop could negotiate with both parents—teaching customers a lesson in the importance of clear contracts. Meanwhile, OMHU’s future in the Brooklyn retail space remains to be seen, and the chapter booked for Teak may look different next month.
For shoppers and fans of Scandinavian furniture, the fight between Teak and OMHU serves as a cautionary tale about supply chain planning and contract clarity in the age of fast‑fashion retail. If you’re waiting on a sofa or have bought a piece from either company, keep an eye on updates—especially look out for any new shipping deadlines or refund confirmations.
Source: New York Post
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