Top 5 problems designers are facing with furniture procurement and how to avoid them
Have you ever been working on a project and suddenly, the lead time gets pushed back?
We know the stress of lead times, believe me. Have you ever had one of those days where you think nothing else can go wrong and then you’re told you can’t have the furniture you need for another week? It’s common for lead times to be pushed back, this can be due to many different scenarios such as; overseas manufacturing delays, material shortages, vendor backorder, etc. This then causes delays for the project’s completion, missing opening dates and client dissatisfaction, some things unfortunately can’t be helped, however, there are things us procurement companies can be doing to help plan for this.
From a procurement perspective, ensuring we’re considering all the possibilities is key. Planning to face issues with plenty of time is important. It’s better to overestimate than underestimate lead times. The solution is to create phased procurement schedules which can help with meeting specific deadlines. Approving finishes with the client as soon as possible giving the manufacturers plenty of time to work their magic. Another key is to ensure we’re transparent with our clients, letting them know when they need to have their samples approved by a certain time in order to meet their desired deadline, we’d rather let you know before it’s too late.
The battle of samples
Imagine sending off for a colour sample and the result is completely different… It’s so overwhelmingly common for samples to be completely off. The solution? Send a colour you don’t want and you’ll get the right one back.
All jokes aside, there’s no better way to view a sample than in person. That may sound impossible as everyone is online and the only way to view a sample is through a picture. If only there was a space for you to visit where you can view colours and fabrics in person... OH, there is! Our Concept loft is the place to be, drop us a line and head over to see us and our fantastic concept loft. The problem to all your sample needs- solved.
The Goldie Locks of chairs
Like colour samples, in person beats pictures by a mile. Testing out a chair in person is far more reliable than trusting comfort from just an image. Thinking you’ve found ‘the one’ only for it to arrive and be the most uncomfortable chair you’ve ever sat in must be top 10 worst experiences in the industry. Think about Goldie Locks, she didn’t pick her bed just by looking at them now did she, otherwise she would never have found ‘the one’.
Like many problems faced in this industry, having to change your furniture can cause delays as the whole procurement has to restart, budgets may also be affected by this, resulting in rework costs. We can ensure that we work with many trusted partners and manufacturers who deliver on price, quality and comfort. Facing this problem is easy, samples are the way to truly see and feel the product, this cuts out the reworking struggle and extra costs. Again, we offer an amazing space dedicated to helping you find your perfect furniture, colours, you name it. So, you can play Goldie Locks for the day here at HRH (minus the bears).
Design intent protection
Have you ever found some procurement companies often prioritise the cheapest solutions over preserving the original design vision?
Some companies disregard the initial design brought to them and it is often an afterthought which can lead to a loss of creative control for designers, dissatisfaction with the result and compromised aesthetics.
To avoid this issue, procurement companies like us need to understand designer’s “non-negotiable” specifications and document them to avoid miscommunication. Other issues designers may face can be avoided by simply establishing substitution approvals, given the desired product may be over budget or unavailable for the lead time. We ensure we take good care of the designs sent our way, more ways we like to keep your designs safe and considered is ensuring we understand all your needs and wants through clear communication. Discussion is very important to make sure everyone is on the same page resulting in the perfect end result for you and your spaces.
Communication is key
Designers, do you want clear communication?
Often, you may face slow response times, inconsistent updates, missing information and surprise delays. And no one wants that.
Communication is one of the strongest tools and with such accessible means of communication, it’s easy. No one wants to have to guess when their furniture is going to be delivered, imagine waiting on a parcel from your favorite online shop- the unknown keeps you up at night, or at least it does for me. Lack of communication can lead to installation delays and hours wasted chasing up furniture rather than being able to actually design.
We ensure that we keep our clients informed throughout the process, no ghosting, no short replies that sound like riddles, just simple clear communication to keep everyone at ease throughout the project.
