Buying for Retail-Some Advice for Purchasing Quality Leather Furniture

A great article re-emerged from Russell Bienenstock in the home furnishings industry's top publication on the benefits and advantages to buying leather furniture products.  His first in a two part piece in the New Rochelle, New York-based Furniture World Magazine made me think-WOW!  This blogger shares some of it here and I must say it was very informative and helps with the argument on whether or not to use this material in a modern office or living space:

"...From a consumer standpoint, buying a leather sofa can seem like a “no-brainer, wrote Bienenstock. "There are no fabric patterns to choose, simplifying decorating decisions for the design-challenged. It is also true that quality leather has properties which can make it superior to many fabrics. 

Consider the following...Leather outlasts most fabric coverings. It has an exceptionally long useful life. It will not tear and is half again as strong as other upholstery materials -- even along the seam lines. It is fire resistant and emits no toxic fumes, even when exposed to intense heat. Modern full grain leather products won’t crack or peel. Quality leather stretches and retains its shape without sagging. It 'breathes', assumes body temperature rapidly and is instantaneously comfortable. It resists heat and sun damage. Leather is a practical material, ideal for busy lifestyles. No special solvents or cleaners and no lengthy or expensive procedures are necessary for its care. Leather generally ages well.

On the other hand, depending on how it is used, covers promoted and sold as leather differ in how long they will last, how easy they are to clean, in their suppleness and, how effectively they can be repaired. There are big differences in leather price, quality and wear, yet retail customers may have trouble evaluating how these differences correlate with desired benefits. This is not surprising since even retail salespeople who should have this expertise, may not be conversant with the types of leather, finishes or products such as leather splits, vinyl and fabric/leather composite materials.

Although home furnishings industry professionals do not need to know the fine details of leather production, basic information regarding hide quality, tanning, dyeing and finishing can help retailers to steer customers toward making informed purchase decisions."

The article stresses that there is quality to be had across the entire price point spectrum.  Best to be educated than to make a poor design and material choice.  In the end the value will be appreciated by the owner or end users.

Don't think leather is only for the ultra-rich.  Bienenstock remarked that tanning technology, globalization and composite leather materials are changing the marketplace making leather furniture more affordable and gaining broad consumer appeal.

For more on how GET, LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific furniture needs-even leather-please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility.  All the solutions are Made in America!!!

Safe and Flexible with Bunk Beds

A recent article by Atlanta, Georgia based on-line magazine Student Housing Business.com featured a Q&A with Savoy Contract Furniture Marketing Manager Kelly Uhland with the focus on Bunk Bed Safety in boarding schools, colleges and universities.  One of the most experienced teams in the furniture business specializing in student housing and residence hall furnishings are based at Savoy's Home Office in Montoursville, Pennsylvania.  

Foremost in these professionals' thoughts? Student safety. 

Property management firms, designers, and school administrators all need to take a hard look at the realities of students sleeping six feet off the floor and what can be done to protect them.

"Estimates show more than 2,000 instances each year where 18-22 year old students seek medical treatment for bunk-bed related injuries," said Uhland. "Recent litigation has cited both institutions and manufacturers liable for the injury, even when alcohol was involved."

Uhland noted that Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations provide voluntary measures to be taken by manufacturers like Savoy Contract Furniture-just one of the many companies that make institutional beds for the 7,000 higher education institutions in America serving 15 million students.

"Limited budgets create tough decisions for builders even as risk managers shake their heads. Lawsuits continue to be on the rise, and people are taking notice," said Uhland.

She offers some advice to housing managers and school and college administrators  to make sleeping on campus safer:

• Look for adjustable height beds that do not exceed 30 inches. 

• Bolt on guard rails.

• Documentation is key. 

Uhland noted that there are many questions to ask and answers to seek when procuring residence hall furniture. 

Keep in mind that versatility, storage, style and budget may drive decisions from one vendor to the next, but safety must drive the final decision to make that purchase without compromising  design.

For more information on how GET, LLC and Savoy Furniture (GSA Dorm and Quarters Contract #GS-27F-3019D (John Savoy & Son, Inc.)) can assist with your case goods needs, call us at 671-483-0789 or check out our website at www.get-guam.com.

FF&E Services-Preparing Cost Estimates and Specifications

GET, LLC revisits our discussion on Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment or FF&E-this blog post focuses on effort needed to prepare a cost estimate and specifications for your next project.   

The sage wisdom of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Handbook of Professional Practice asks us to remember that your architect or construction professional must be able to estimate costs to provide the client with figures for a furniture budget. Pricing estimates can be calculated by applying an appropriate discount to current list price information obtained from the manufacturer. More accurate pricing can be obtained directly from manufacturer’s representatives, dealers, like GET, LLC.

To make budget estimates as accurate as possible, the architect must consider applicable taxes, shipping and storage costs, access fees and installation costs.

We must remind you to prepare accurate and clearly written furniture specifications for all types of furniture and furnishings. Specifications for freestanding furniture pieces are the simplest to prepare, and most vendors will assist with the preparation-including our partner Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register. Systems furniture can be specified in general terms, since most systems vendors prepare full and detailed parts lists for individual orders.

There are three types of specifications for furniture and furnishings. Proprietary specifications identify products and materials by manufacturer’s name, model number, or part number. This is a “closed” specification and does not allow for substitution-used by many designers to control aesthetics, function, and quality. Descriptive specifications describe in detail the performance characteristics, materials, finishes, workmanship, and fabrication of a particular product and list several comparable manufacturers. This type of specification is used in an “open” bid situation. Performance specifications describe only the desired or required results and neither prescribe product characteristics nor reference manufacturers.

For more on how GET, LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific FF&E needs- please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility.  All the solutions are Made in America!

FF&E Services-Defining and Developing Solutions

GET, LLC continues our discussion on Furniture, Furnishings and Equipment or FF&E-this blog focusing on the abilities needed to define requirements and develop solutions for your end user or building owner. 

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Handbook of Professional Practice says that to determine the client’s furniture requirements, the architect or consultant must fully understand the client’s FF&E budget and then carefully evaluate their individual work space needs to include spatial constraints and overall equipment needs. The use of customized survey forms to gather, process, and document this information is helpful with this part of the process-in fact, many systems furniture companies have their own sample forms which can be used as a starting point.

Also, design teams and consultants should be able to evaluate alternative furniture products and make appropriate recommendations with respect to the client’s overall furniture needs. This comes with experience and requires knowledge of available resources for all types of furniture and furnishings. Research skills are needed to find alternative products in various price ranges.  There is no question that this task requires a clear understanding of the costs and benefits of various alternative products, as well as persistence and creativity.

Companies like ours work hard to understand what you need in your respective office or building and remain committed to offering the best solutions for your organization.

For more on how GET,LLC through our friends at Savoy Contract Furniture and teaming partner American Hotel Register can assist you with your specific FF&E needs- please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789 to discuss the best solution for your facility.  All the solutions are Made in America!