Commercial Chairs v. Retail Chairs, which one is best

Wood Restaurant ChairsWhat are commercial chairs or commercial bar stools and what does that mean to a restaurant owner?  Sometimes commercial chairs are referred to as wholesale chairs because they are purchased in larger quantities than retail chairs.  While two chairs may look the same in person or in a picture, the difference can be very important to the restaurant owner.  First, the most important difference between commercial chairs and retail chairs is durability.  Generally speaking, the joints where the rungs under the seat meet the legs are fastened more securely in a commercial chair for durability — the number one consideration in a commercial chair.

In wood commercial bar stools or chairs, a compressed tenon joint is sometimes found in a retail chair, but it is a more important feature in a commercial chair.  When purchasing a wooden chair, asking how the joints in the chair are made is very important.  On better chairs, a wooden dowel called a stretcher, fits into a chair leg tightly with a mortise and tenon joint, which is a machined joint attaching 2 pieces of wood.The best wooden chairs have a compressed tenon joint, which means that the wood stretcher going into the chair leg is actually bigger than the hole to accept it.  To make it fit, the stretcher is compressed and put into the leg with glue expanding the compression and making this a superior fit.

Wholesale restaurant chairs may also be made of metal or combinations of metal, wood, and vinyl.  Once again, the key here is how the joints are made in the legs and anywhere the pieces fit together.  Some restaurant chairs are made with screws or bolts to hold the joints together, which reduces the cost of the chairs but they may not be as durable, making them more appropriate for a retail customer.  Screws and bolts also tend to come loose over time, needing constant management to keep the chairs safe for customer use. The best joint in a metal chair is a welded joint, which is slightly more expensive, but has very minimal maintenance costs.

Wholesale barstools, also referred to as commercial barstools, have the same durability questions mentioned above regarding joints.  However, barstools sometimes swivel, and the difference between a restaurant swivel application and a retail swivel application is substantial.  Swivels for retail barstools may have a plastic plate that separates two pieces of metal; one metal piece of the swivel  is attached to the barstool base and the other half is attached to the bottom of the barstool seat.  In a commercial barstool, more frequently a quality ball bearing swivel, rather than plastic, will be found.   Swivels also may come with a memory feature, so when a person exits a bar stool, the seat returns to the starting position. The memory feature is mainly used in retail applications.

Some of the most important factors, after considering durability, are price, availability and lead times. Other differences between retail and commercial chairs to consider are options such as comfort, style, and general accommodation.  The price of restaurant bar stools or chairs may be more or less expensive than retail chairs so while price is a factor, lower prices are not necessarily found at retail stores. The time it takes to get chairs delivered to a location depends on how much customization needs to be done regarding paint colors, fabric, or applying a logo feature.  A good online company will have someone in house that can assist with style and color to fit a restaurant décor, while this expertise may be lacking in a retail store.  If only a few chairs or barstools need to be purchased, a commercial chair dealer can often recommend a local retail store to help, thus reducing the cost of freight for just 3 or 4 units.  One final difference between a commercial chair and a retail chair is accommodation.  Generally, commercial chairs or barstools tend to fit more human body types, so everyone can feel comfortable while dining out.

To summarize, the important differences between retail and commercial seating are durability, price, lead times, comfort, style, and accommodating the general public.  For more details on an appropriate fit to a restaurant contact an experienced online restaurant furniture dealer.