In a perfect world, you wouldn't have to work hard to find the right hotel casegoods manufacturer. You'd already know them and have completed a few different projects together.
RFQs for any new hotel casegoods projects would be a thing of the past for you.
Unfortunately, that's not how it works. All projects are different and things aren’t always as simple as making one phone call to get moving forward.
Whether you’re working on your first project or your 100th, finding the right hospitality casegoods manufacturer does require doing some evaluation of all contenders – even those you’ve worked with before. There are plenty of variables to consider when partnering with anyone on a project: availability, labor rates, capabilities, and much more can change over time.
How do you find the best hotel casegoods manufacturer for your project?
It starts with doing plenty of research and a thorough evaluation of your potential casegood partners.
In this article we'll look at:
The criteria to evaluate hospitality casegoods manufacturers on
How hotel furniture manufacturers in the USA improve your ROI
& more!
Think of the last car you bought.
Chances are it didn't simply appear in your driveway one morning and, as luck would have it, have all the features and amenities you were looking for.
In reality, you probably spent a lot of time researching what your next vehicle might look like and went on a few test drives before committing to anything.
While partnering with a hospitality casegoods manufacturer is a far cry from getting a new set of wheels, the process should be similar.
We all have.
Despite going into the relationship with the best of intentions, things for one reason or another (usually, a few reasons) just didn't work out. Perhaps key deadlines were missed. Or maybe the quality of the finished piece(s) wasn't where it needed to be. Or worse yet, there was a total communication breakdown on their end.
Suffice it to say, the last thing anyone wants to deal with when bringing new hotel casegoods into their facility is a partner who only makes the FF&E procurement process more difficult than need be. That only costs time and money – two of the most important commodities for any effort.
While there's no foolproof way to avoid ever having a partnership you'd sooner forget about, you can take some steps to prevent it from happening in the first place. When looking at potential partners for your project, there are some standards to evaluate them on to make sure you're making the best decision possible.
It's just like your car we were talking about earlier. Long before you signed on the dotted line and drove it off the lot, you did your homework on the vehicle to make sure that it met your needs and wants, but also compared it to a few other vehicles as well.
What should you evaluate your potential hotel furniture supply company on? These eight criteria:
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Location Where is the manufacturer located? Those operating completely overseas can open your project up to a host of issues that can cost time and money. |
Responsive Communication Effective communication is a must for any project, especially for custom projects. What are their communication practices and who is your primary point of contact? |
Detailed Drawings Detailed product drawings ensure accurate order fulfillment. There’s really no reason why your supply shouldn’t be able to provide you with them. |
Eco-friendly/Sustainable Manufacturing Practices Sustainability is increasingly important. What are their manufacturing practices? Do they have any certifications or industry recognitions? |
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Factory Provided Storage Storage services from suppliers help manage phased deliveries and minimize damage. Is this something they offer or will you need to find another solution? |
Warranty A good warranty means having peace of mind about your order long after it's delivered and installed. How long is the warranty for and what does it cover? |
Lead Time Planning around your schedule means the difference between a project that’s completed on time or not. How long does it generally take for order fulfillment? What happens if there are delays? |
Installation Some manufacturers offer installation, considering logistics like room dimensions and utilities. Does your manufacturer offer installation services? If not, is there an installer they recommend? |
Consider this part two of your evaluation.
After you've whittled your list of potential partners down based on the eight criteria above, it's time to go a bit deeper. Like that car you bought, after narrowing down your selection to a few models, you probably took it on a test drive to see how it handles.
Put simply, there are some services that you should just expect from a reliable and experienced hotel furniture manufacturer. In some cases, it means taking a second look at some elements of the eight points of criteria, but through a different lens.
1. American Designed & Manufactured Products: Opt for domestically made hotel FF&E designer and manufacturer to avoid the hidden costs associated with offshore manufacturing, such as longer lead times, communication barriers, or difficulty in sourcing replacement parts.
2. Cohesive Partnership: Collaboration with your furniture manufacturer should be seamless. They should feel like another member of your team, working closely with you toward successful completion and addressing any issues that arise head-on.
Space constraints during assembly
Navigation through stairwells, elevators, and hallways
Equipment for unloading Neglecting these considerations can cause delays and extra costs
To that end, a site visit and survey (something a U.S.-based partner can easily do) go a long way to circumvent issues come installation day.
4. Proper Documentation: Getting essential documents and specifications about your order should be a given for your manufacturer. That includes documents that cover everything from detailed drawings and furniture layout to electrical schematics to avoid practical issues like blocked outlets or obstructed pathways.
5. One-Stop Shopping: There's nothing more convenient than centralization. Look for a hotel casegoods designer & manufacturer that can handle the entire furniture and millwork package for guest rooms, simplifying contact and saving time by consolidating your FF&E needs to a single point of contact.
6. Quality Control: Your order should arrive looking like it literally came off the assembly line ready for immediate use. You shouldn't be getting pieces that are defective or have glaring errors. Your manufacturer should have rigorous quality control standards.
7. Health & Safety: The last thing on your mind should be whether or not your casegoods are safe for use. While it's good practice to double check, make sure that your hotel FF&E manufacturer is not only able to comply with all relevant health and safety standards, including those set by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
8. Warranty: Again, a warrant is a must. Manufacturers should offer a warranty covering material and workmanship defects under normal usage for several years post-delivery. A five-year warranty is considered standard.
Let's take a step back in time for a second.
Go back a few decades in manufacturing and one of the biggest movements in it was shifting production overseas. Speaking purely from an economic standpoint, it made sense at the time. In overseas markets, labor was cheaper, there were fewer regulations, and shipping costs weren't a dealbreaker.
Fast-forward to today and much has changed.
Overseas manufacturing is no longer the perceived bargain that it once was. And now more than ever, the U.S. is focused on bringing manufacturing back to American shores, whether it's incentivizing using a U.S.-based manufacturer or imposing tariffs and other fees on foreign-produced goods.
But beyond the government-led efforts to reclaim the American manufacturing sector, the simple fact is there are plenty of major benefits to working with a hotel casegoods provider that's in the same country as you.
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Shorter Lead Times International manufacturing no longer guarantees faster order fulfillment. Between material sourcing and shipping, it can add months to your project’s timeline. |
Reduced Risk Offshoring introduces risks such as weak intellectual property protection, counterfeit products, and discovering defects only upon delivery, which could significantly delay projects. |
Faster Access to Replacement Parts Quick access to replacement parts is crucial; domestic sourcing ensures rapid delivery, preventing lengthy project delays and maintaining customer satisfaction. |
Better Product Quality Domestic manufacturing allows strict quality control at every production stage, ensuring top-quality products. This close oversight meets the expectations of various stakeholders and enhances the hospitality experience. |
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Responsiveness The ability to quickly adapt to changing market trends is crucial. Domestic manufacturers can respond swiftly, providing a competitive edge over those with overseas production dependencies. |
Safer Materials & Products U.S. regulations limit harmful chemicals in furniture, protecting against health risks associated with toxic flame retardants used in some imported products. These safety measures benefit human and environmental health. |
Meet Face-to-Face Physical meetings can streamline issue resolution. Domestic production avoids complications such as time zone differences, language barriers, and cultural misunderstandings, and facilitates on-site support during installation and post-production. |
Made in the USA Many hotel owners prefer American-made products and are willing to pay a premium for them. Domestic manufacturing enhances their brand reputation with guests and ROI. |
If there's anything that we've all learned well in the last several years, it's that the global supply chain is delicate. It took an entire pandemic to find out just how fragile it can be.
But even without a pandemic, there's nothing like having a supply chain that, while diverse and redundant, is firmly rooted in your own country. There's no need to worry about tariffs, import fees, and other unpredictable expenses that come with using foreign manufacturers. You also don't have to deal with the communication and cultural barriers that can slow down the production process.
Moreover, working with a domestic manufacturer means you have access to their facilities for quality control inspections throughout the production process. This saves time and ensures the end product is up to your standards.
This category of review can get quite complicated – there are seemingly limitless options – from materials to design and aesthetics – to create custom hotel casegoods.
Compounding matters more (in a good way) is that no two hotel projects are the same.
Beyond the ability to meet your design vision, or help you distill a clearer version of it, your casegoods manufacturer should create finished pieces that:
1. Meet ADA Regulations Since 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has mandated accessible design in hotels, crucially affecting room and furniture layout to accommodate guests with disabilities. Requirements include:
Minimum 32” doorways and 54” clearance around doors for wheelchair rotation.
Furniture placement ensures 32” clear pathways.
Bed heights of 20-23” from floor to mattress top.
Accessible electrical outlets and data ports. Compliance is essential before opening your hotel.
2. Use Materials That Match Style & Utility: Choosing materials for hotel casegoods involves balancing durability, functionality, and budget. Opting for more durable, albeit costlier materials can offer longer-term savings in maintenance and replacement.
3. Seamlessly Integrates Technology: Modern hotel furniture must integrate technology to meet guest expectations, from smart rooms to keyless entries. Although costly initially, tech enhancements can significantly boost profitability.
4. Meets Architectural Woodworking Standards: Adherence to the Architectural Woodwork Institute’s (AWI) standards ensures high-quality woodwork in hotel furnishings. AWI’s guidelines cover:
Economy Grade: Basic quality for non-public areas.
Custom Grade: Offers flexibility in design, suitable for most high-quality hotel furnishings.
Premium Grade: The highest standard for heavily used and prominent furniture.
Back to your car one last time.
While it would have been wonderful to simply pull up to a dealership's lot and drive away in the first car that seemed right, if nothing else that would have been irresponsible. There’s no guarantee the car you picked would be one you’d be happy that you spend so much money on.
Similarly, it’d be a lot easier if picking a hospitality casegoods manufacturer for your project was just as simple.
The fact remains that finding the right casegoods provider is something that requires research and evaluation for each and every project to find the right partner.
We’d like to learn more about your project and how we can make it a little easier for you. Speak with a member of our team today: