7 Factors to Consider When Buying New Hotel Casegoods
Deciding on the right hotel casegoods is key to guest satisfaction and promoting the brand value of your business — so your choice needs to be strategic. There are a variety of factors to consider, but for most buyers and interior designers, the cost is the biggest contributing factor. In this blog, we cover 7 other factors that you might not have considered before that make a big difference beyond just price.
When choosing a casegoods vendor, it’s important to consider whether the vendor has a manufacturing facility or not. Choosing a casegoods vendor that will need to outsource the manufacturing will likely result in an increase in production costs, compromise in quality, less room for competitive pricing, and even a lack of service support. When your vendor has manufacturing capabilities, you can be more involved in the process from planning to deployment. It’s also important to consider the years of experience, skilled team, and accreditations of the vendor. With experts and designers in-house, you’ll be granted a higher level of transparency in the overall process and can incorporate any ad-hoc changes to your products — even during the manufacturing process.
When considering new casegoods for your hotel, lodge, or resort think critically about the quality and durability of the materials. It’s not unusual to consider trendy casegoods options when updating your hotel or furnishing a brand new space. However, trendier designs are not often manufactured with high-quality materials. This is because it’s expected that with the shift in trends, the pieces will be replaced sooner rather than later. The current pattern of consumption (more, faster, cheaper) is unsustainable, especially when it comes to the hospitality industry. It’s more cost-effective to invest in furniture and specific materials that will last and are timeless in appearance to act as a base for a style that will continue to evolve with time.
When considering the purchase of new hotel casegoods, many people don’t think about how handling, packing, and shipping will impact the overall cost of the project. Whether your casegoods vendor in the United States or based overseas could play a considerable role in your project. Choosing hotel casegoods manufactured overseas can result in higher handling, packaging, assembly, and freight costs. It’s also important to consider the lead times for your casegoods depending on the location of your vendor. In the last couple of years, there have been global supply chain issues creating massive delays. Lead times can be expected to double, or even triple, depending on the commodity, region, and importing stations.
Read More ➡️ Hotel Furniture: Why Buy from Domestic Manufacturers?
Shipping and handling can often result in large amounts of waste — whether from fuel costs shipping from overseas or the actual packing and shipping supplies used to contain products.
Waste is an important factor to consider if your business wants to lessen its environmental impact. Over the last several years, the eco-friendly furniture market has grown in the U.S. This includes how materials are sourced, the treatment of workers, and waste generated. When purchasing casegoods find cost-effective options that have a low environmental impact.
Storage may not be a factor that every buyer is required to consider, but it’s important to mention. If you represent a large hotel or resort, storage may be a concern. When replacing casegoods, it may be necessary to replace furniture floor-by-floor. You may need to work with a vendor that can not only procure and manufacture products but store them as well. Or have a storage facility in mind for your products. This may also impact the kind of materials you chose for your casegoods. You may need to consider materials that can better withstand storage for long periods of time.
Does the manufacturer you’re considering offer a warranty? How long is it? Choose a manufacturer that stands before their warranty and make sure that it best suits your needs. Another way to determine whether the warranty, and the manufacturer’s service support, will be a good fit for your project is to read case studies, testimonials, and reviews. The right vendor/manufacturer will have a substantial warranty, as well as consistent service support during the life of the project and beyond.
In line with the warranty, consider whether or not the vendor or manufacturer will provide touch-up services. Even the most durable furniture will need a touch-up over the years. This means you’ll need access to the same stains, paints, and colorants used in the manufacturing process. Utilizing a domestic manufacturer for your casegoods means touch-up materials can be shipped to you quickly and easily. If you purchase casegoods from an overseas vendor, it’s common to have to wait up to three months — if you can get them at all — which isn’t ideal because touch-ups should be quick and convenient.
As you can see, when it comes to selecting new hotel casegoods, there is a lot more to consider than just the cost. It’s important to find a vendor/manufacturer that meets all your specific needs and can create casegoods that are cost-effective, high quality, and durable — and will be there to provide service support and touch-ups if ever needed.
Contact WoodgeniX today to see how we can bring your casegoods vision to life.