As a designer, you’re constantly battling tight deadlines and budgets. Sometimes you need to call in the reinforcements.
Hospitality furniture manufacturers can be a big help in making a project the success you’ve envisioned.
With plenty of hospitality furniture companies to choose from, it’s important to make sure the manufacturer you partner with can deliver. Carelessly selecting a manufacturer can jeopardize a project’s completion and drive up its costs.
So how do you find the right hotel furniture manufacturer for the job?
Taking a holistic look at everything they bring to the table.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what sets the best hotel furniture manufacturers apart.
8 Things the Best Hotel Furniture Manufacturers Simply Do
There’s nothing like having a project partner that makes life easier.
As you well know, having one less thing to worry about in any hotel project – whether it’s a complete overhaul or a simple refresh – can make a major difference and allow you to focus your attention where it’s needed more.
In your search for the right manufacturer, make sure they can at minimum offer the following:
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Provide American-made products
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Be an involved partner
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Design for installation
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Provide proper documentation
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One-stop shopping
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Quality control
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Adherence to health and safety standards
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Warranty
1. Provide AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCTS
Offshore manufacturing may seem cheaper on the surface, but it can end up costing you more in the long run. Make sure your manufacturer is domestically producing the products you’re purchasing and isn’t a middleman for internationally made goods. Benefits of using a manufacturer in the USA often include:
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Shorter lead times
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IP protection
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Availability of replacement parts
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High-quality products
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Safer materials
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Higher ROI
RELATED: 14 Factors to Consider in Your Hotel Furniture Design
2. Be an involved Partner
You shouldn’t have to struggle to work with a hospitality furniture manufacturer.
As with any custom hospitality furniture project, obstacles can -- and often do -- come up. Your manufacturer should be a true partner through the duration of your project, available to answer all your questions or help you navigate the unexpected.
3. design for Installation
When a manufacturer designs a project, furniture installation should be at the forefront of their mind. Key installation considerations include:
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Space limitations for assembly
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Maneuverability in stairwells, elevators, and hallways
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Proper equipment or resources for unloading
Failing to plan for installation can lead to a host of problems for your project, including needless delays and increased costs.
4. Provide PROPER DOCUMENTATION
It’s important to have proper documentation and spec sheets, from furniture layout to electrical requirements.
Your manufacturer should be able to provide you with guidelines outlining guestroom blocking and electrical service to avoid things like an electrical outlet being covered by a headboard or a dresser obstructing a walkway.
5. ONE-STOP SHOP
A word of caution: Not every manufacturer is a one-stop shop, meaning they can’t provide you with an entire furniture and millwork package for guestrooms.
Working with manufacturers who can meet all your project’s needs saves you a lot of valuable time because you’ll only have one FF&E casegood and millwork point-of-contact.
6. QUALITY CONTROL
Quality control is an important part of the furniture manufacturing process -- it holds your manufacturer accountable and makes sure the job is done right the first time.
A designer should receive hospitality furniture free of defects, on time, and within budget. Through quality control, your manufacturer can ensure the products you’ve ordered are the products you receive in the condition you expect.
7. Adherence to HEALTH & SAFETY standards
Though this goes without saying, furniture used in your design should not pose a threat to guests’ health and safety. Your manufacturer should be aware of and adhere to the regulations set by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The federal law sets strict guidelines for the use of new and existing chemicals.
8. A WARRANTY
Your manufacturer should provide a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for every piece of furniture they produce. The warranty should be valid for several years from the date of delivery.
Bonus Must Offering: Site Visit & SurveyIf there’s one thing we’ve learned in our decades of hotel casegoods manufacturing it’s that there’s nothing like a site visit and survey. If the hotel furniture makers don’t advertise this as on of their offerings, be sure to ask about it. During a site visit, a manufacturer gains firsthand experience of the hotel's environment, which is crucial for crafting furniture that not only fits physically but also complements the design aesthetics of the hotel. By directly assessing the site, a manufacturer can identify potential logistical issues, such as narrow entryways or inadequate elevator space, which could impede the delivery and installation of the furniture. This proactive approach ensures that the final products are manufactured to precise specifications, align with your vision, and fit seamlessly into the designated spaces, thereby safeguarding the investment and maximizing the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the furniture within the hotel setting. |
Assembling the Best Team Possible
Hotel projects of any nature can be complex and a lot to manage – there’s no question about that.
But with the right partners involved in the effort – namely an experienced hotel casegoods manufacturer – brining the project to a successful completion doesn’t have to be one that’s a struggle to reach the finish line.
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