4 Questions to Ask Your Restaurant Furniture Manufacturer
While food remains the focus, the furniture influences the identity of the space. Know what to ask your furniture partner.
Furniture is the centerpiece of today’s restaurants. While food remains the focus, the furniture is going to help create the identity of the space. And before that furniture appears in your dining area, it’s produced by a restaurant furniture manufacturer like us. Although a lot of furniture makers claim to produce high-quality goods, how can you quickly identify the good from the bad? Here’s the answer: Ask some questions. Here are four of the most important questions to get you started:
Question 1: What’s the Time Frame?
Time frame? What time frame? You needed everything yesterday. But, if a furniture manufacturer promises you custom or high-quality work in only a few short weeks, you should probably start to wonder if the quality will be up to snuff. At the same time, a quality manufacturing company will be willing to work with your timeline, create schedules that meet your needs and keep you up to date every step of the way. Be sure to ask how long everything will take from the start (consultation) to finish (grand opening) and allow for unknown delays that may arise along the way.
Question 2: Where Do the Materials Come From?
This is an especially important issue for restaurants who have a particular theme or reputation to stay true to. If local food is your game, locally-sourced materials for your furniture are a natural complement. If you pride yourself on providing fresh and natural ingredient, why should your chairs and tables be any different? Before you commit, ask what types of wood are used and what that wood is stained with. Find out if there are alternate options if the primary source doesn’t suit your needs. Be as choosy with your furniture as you are with your food and make sure you choose a manufacturer that is, too.
Question 3: What’s the Warranty?
What if something goes wrong with your furniture? While a good manufacturer will make sure to do it right the first time, things do happen, and a quality company will make sure to remedy their mistakes. Do they offer any warranties for manufacturer's defect (a flaw occurring in production by the manufacturer, not caused by the purchaser)? What about any other issues occurring after purchase? Be clear about any warranties offered, and what will void them, before making your final purchasing decision.
Question 4: Do You Customize?
While many manufacturers will have an inventory of pre-designed pieces to choose from, a quality vendor will be willing to go above and beyond to make your furniture your own. From fabrics and finishings to paints and stains, just because portions of the furniture may not be custom, that doesn’t mean it can’t be tailored with other elements to fit your individual needs.
If you’re asking the right questions, there’s no reason you won’t end up with a reputable manufacturer who can produce the right combination of furniture for your unique restaurant.