There are so many tasks before opening a new restaurant, or the daily responsibilities of running the restaurant once open, that furniture for the customers tends to be overlooked. Because of these time constraints, ordering restaurant furniture may be quick with very little thought put into the decision, other than the price, the style or look and when can the furniture be delivered. There may be a lot of pressure to quickly get a restaurant open, such as bank loans or staff being hired. Beware, though that quick decisions when purchasing restaurant furniture can lead to excessive costs, primarily maintenance and replacement costs. Below are some suggestions on how to end restaurant furniture problems, saving restaurant owners money.
1. For new or existing restaurants, select the right product
Order the right furniture for the target customer is important, because the architect, designer and owner have a style in mind that coordinates with the rest of the décor. Someone with expertise needs to make specifications for the anticipated customer so that the right furniture product can be selected. Without specifications in place to compare products, it is impossible to get the correct price. Appropriate materials for the type of restaurant should be used. For example, furniture constructed with fabric or upholstery may not be right for a fast food location where food and drink are commonly spilled, and the furniture may be treated roughly.
2. Picking the right vendor is important as picking the right product
Picking the right vendor is important because it is critical to be able to trust the source of restaurant furniture. One vendor may have a lower price, but if that vendor does not give the specifications or does not know how the product is built, it is a risk to base the purchase based on price alone. As with most purchases, get references and perform the due diligence with all vendors.
3. Proper use of the furniture
Using the restaurant furniture properly is next on the list of keeping the furniture in the best shape. It is common in restaurants to see chairs being used as ladders, table tops to be used for work benches and cleaning people moving around furniture too roughly. Proper use should fall in the hands of restaurant managers, to supervise how the furniture is used and correct anyone not following procedure.
4. Maintenance of the furniture
Furniture maintenance is commonly ignored until it is too late and the furniture needs to be replaced. Many people in the restaurant business may not realize the importance of preparing a written maintenance plan to care for furniture. Just as oil should be routinely changed in a car, the screws and hardware on table bases or chairs should be tightened on a regular basis. Prepare a written plan involving how furniture is to be maintained, and then follow up to make sure the plan is being completed. This advice sounds simple, but it is may be difficult to incorporate because of the myriad list of daily tasks. Hiring the right manager is a key to making sure maintenance gets done. The same new restaurant furniture purchase of $10,000 may last 3 years without maintenance, or could last up to 10 years with the proper maintenance.
Solving restaurant furniture problems before they happen may take more time, but the effort put into researching restaurant tables, chairs and barstools and preparing a maintenance plan will be time well spent.
