Why You Need To Interview Your Furniture Dealer Partner
We asked our team of workspace experts to provide insight on why it is important for clients to interview and meet their furniture dealer partner. Hear from what our team had to say!
Its important for a client to know who they are working with along with their experience level and services offered.
It’s the best time to get a full understanding of your clients’ needs and be on top of the project.
A furniture dealership’s responsibility is to deliver the vision of the end user and A&D firm. There are so many tasks that are done behind the scenes, by so many individuals, that impact the success of the deliverable. Meeting the dealer allows all to understand the expectations and to know the critical timelines and elements required that may not be known by the parties that are not intimately connected to the furniture manufacturers and other subcontractors responsible for installation.
Your furniture dealer partner will be with you throughout your entire move process. BOS offers full service in-house workspace services and service clients from design through installation. The people you work with often determine how successful a project is.
I believe it’s important because as a furniture dealership we need to know the client’s goals, determine their needs in regards to budget, learn the usage of the space and the time frame. Without knowing these important details from the client, you won’t be able to create a beautiful and functional space for the end user.
As a dealer, we pursue a partnership with clients for the long haul. As opposed to dumping furniture off at their door step or dock, we want to be engaged in every process of the project, for every project. It is extremely important that the client has faith and trust in their dealer. Getting together at the very beginning allows for both parties to understand each other’s roles and to start creating that trust. After all, the client’s projects lie within the dealer’s hands.
‘The office’ as most people know it has changed and continues to change dramatically. A better understanding of human needs, healthier environments and evolving technology has changed the way we address ‘efficiency’ and ‘productivity’ through new workplace furniture solutions.
Frequently, furniture dealer partners are not brought in before the schematic design phase and this should not be the case. A dealer has multiple professionals on staff with valuable years of experience. Utilizing a dealer when brainstorming private office layouts and the ideal workstation can help save time and money to both the client and design firm.
Usually, the dealer only sells the furniture. The additional services a dealer provides are considered to be free of any charge.
A dealer designer is able to provide multiple idea starter layouts based on client’s desire and budget. This, in turn, allows a design firm to focus on materials, finishes, and overall look of the space. By freeing a Design firm from research and time put into the necessary details to provide a feasible, and well thought-out furniture solution, they are, in essence, saving the client money.
Bringing the furniture provider in at the earliest possible moment allows them to be included in the conversations giving them an intimate perspective on the desires of the client.
Dealers are experts as it relates to furniture. Most other organizations that impact furniture, while they might be knowledgeable, do have a tendency to miss some key factors that a dealership could provide from a simple interview process.
Selecting a furniture dealer partner before the schematic design phase allows the entire team to work together from the beginning. So many times clients’ wants, ideas & needs are lost in the process.
It is important that the clients meet the furniture dealer prior to starting the design process to better initiate the relationship and get a well-rounded interaction to jump start the partnership.
A furniture specialist can be a significant partner during the schematic design phase, because they should have relevant input to assist in a productive and space-efficient design. Providing multiple options for the end user to create a space that promotes the culture the client wants.
With the availability of our integrated pallet and floor to ceiling product we can truly provide a non-traditional space that will allow for change easily. Understanding the client’s needs upfront is crucial to designing a productive workspace.
Main clients are concerned about the budget of their project, which is very important, however, it is crucial to interview the team they will partner with to ensure the individuals both within the dealer team and between the dealer / client mesh will together. A move to a new facility is a big undertaking that does not happen often for a company, therefore, they need to ensure their partners in this task work well with their team.
It always good to have a direct conversation between clients and the furniture dealer so that nothing gets lost in translation along the way. That way the furniture dealer knows exactly what the client is looking for and can offer the best options for their needs.
Meeting before the design phase is important to get to know the client’s expectations and their work culture.
So one can understand the different solutions for their space.
To confirm they have the expertise, capabilities and services required to complete their request and also learn the comfort level with the dealer and project team.
Interviewing your dealer partner will ensure that the client finds the right team to fulfill their overall vision. It is essential for the client to understand and visualize their main contact, design, support and installation team so that they feel confident in structure and follow through.
It is important to meet and interview the furniture dealer to allow for a relationship and trust to be formed between the partnership. If you don’t know who is going to help you make the large purchase how can you feel confident it is going to be done right?
The look and design of furniture can impact the overall design of the space.
To ensure the client is getting exactly what they want to achieve in their space.
An interview can provide some insight into what a client is looking for, before any questions are even asked. It also can enhance the comfort level between all participants, providing better interaction throughout the process.
It is important to make sure you partner with a dealer who will listen and tailor their designs to meet your needs and not give you a blanket response. You want to be sure they have the knowledge and resources to meet your needs.
You are entrusting this team with a space that is very important to your company. Most companies don’t change their spaces often so you want to ensure the vendor you partner with has the experience and knowledge to help you create the space that will truly meet the functionality needs as well as the aesthetic and budget you want for your space. A good partner can also advise on where to get the most impact for your money if budget is a concern.
They should get to know their dealer partner from the start. Make sure the dealer partner has the client’s best interest at heart.
Make sure you are both on the same page on what your needs are and that the furniture dealer has the correct solution you are looking for. The client also needs to see if the dealer can perform the tasks needed specific to their company (installation, decommission, or incorporating existing furniture).
Because it is important for the client to see all that the dealer can offer and have an in-depth discussion about their expectations.
In order to build an amazing space, it is important to build a good relationship with your dealer so they know exactly what your vision is so they can make your vision a reality.
