London’s eighteenth-century upholders were key figures in fashionably and stylishly furnishing homes, increasingly so for those of the middling ranks. The upholding trade adapted to changes throughout the eighteenth century. At the beginning of the century, upholders were primarily manufacturers, assemblers, and sellers of household goods. By mid-century, about the time Thomas Chippendale opened for business, they had also become primary providers of funeral undertaking goods and services. Their business model continued to evolve and, by 1760, upholders became measurably more active as brokers and appraisers of household goods. Also growing was their involvement in the auction business. One important conclusion in this book is that the desire for more profits motivated upholders to change their business model to include these other business lines.