Furniture and how to buy it

Reputation vs. Price

2009-06-13T15:52:00.003+10:00

I would always recommend to anyone looking at purchasing an expensive piece of furniture, make sure you go somewhere reputable. A recommendation from a family member or friend, about their positive purchaing experiences, for my money is worth more than saving a few bucks.

I have lost count, over the years of the people who have told me they have bought things from newly opened short lease industrial estate sellers - you place an order pay your deposit and they disappear, or you get your lounge home to find it falls apart in three months. You must choose a reputable retailer to buy your furniture. It's way too large a purchase to risk with companies that set up for a short term to sell containers of furniture quickly to make a few bucks and then disappear off the planet.

With many pieces, you can't see what's in it, under it or how its put together. A reliable and long term trading retailer, stakes their reputation on what they sell. They spend years creating relationships with manufacturers and its to nobodies benefit to sell rubbish.

A sofa for example - may look fabulous but you have no real way of knowing that it's not put together using sticky tape and cotton wool. A good retailer will take the time to tell you how its put together, what kind of foam is in it, the warranties applicable to the frame and fabric.

A good reputable retailer is going to be there to answer your enquiries in three months time when ou want to know how to clean it, they are going tobe able to give you future direction on buying another piece to go with your timber dining table, and they will be there (most importantly) if something goes wrong.

Believe me, things don't often go wrong - but let's say your one of the unlucky ones you bought an oak dining table and four months after you had it delivered, it warps... a good retailer will address the issue and turn you into their latest raving fan. A shonky retailer is long gone.

Fabric - the beginning

2009-05-12T18:47:00.003+10:00

If you are contemplating a new piece of upholstered funiture, Warwicks Fabric can be a great place to start. An incredibly informative site, full of good ideas and very helpful when it comes to selecting the right fabric for your home.

You can browse current ranges, look at various colourways, ideas on co-ordinating fabrics - the sites a great place to start if you like the idea of contrasts and co-ordinates, and if you want information on fabric care.

Make note of the fabrics you like, even features important to you, so you can at least have the knowledge to be able to discuss it with your sales consultant.

Think about your home and the style of upholstered piece you are looking for. Fabric should work in harmony with the piece you are covering. Bold and strong colours look particularly good on solid modern looking sofas.. soft wild florals look at their best on generous, rounded style sofas... there are always exceptions but choosing the wrong fabric can be a costly mistake.

New site

2009-05-02T15:42:00.003+10:00

well this is my new site designer-hub.info and I will regularly be putting in all kinds of fabulous sites from around the world. Currently no furniture sites, but am doing my darndest to try and find some. Shipping may be an issue, but from what I have seen Homewares are sure to be added soon.

So you need a sofa

2009-04-25T18:31:00.004+10:00

An emphasis on a few things I have said before - buying furniture shouldn't be a stress, you are about to spend a large amount of money on something you may have for a long time, so the least you can do is enjoy it.

The number one thing I would tell you to do before you go out and about to look for the perfect sofa is... MEASURE. It's amazing the amount of people who go shopping for a sofa and don't take the measurements of their room.

Grab a notebook and a tape measure. Run a tape along the four walls of your room, make note of them. Take a measurement of your existing lounge. These notes will help you and your sales consultant greatly. If you simply want to replace what you have with something the same size, you know. If you want to replace the sofa with something different you will be able to work out if it fits. You can go into great detail of room layout and how much room you need to leave here and there for other pieces, but of primary concern should be the space you have to put the piece you are buying.

Its also of paramount importance that all parties who have an interest in the purchase have a chat about what they want. don't leave it until you are ready to pay the deposit to speak up about a desire for matching ottomans. You will get the best deal and have everyone walking away from the purchase if you can sit down with a consultant and say, we like this lounge, we need it in black leather, we want two matching recliners.

Do some thinking and talking before your shopping expedition. Think about the colours you want, the seating arrangements you need. Consultants are always happy and grateful if you bring in curtain samples or cutouts from magazines.. they always help us to narrow down your search and give fabric and finish suggestions.

Do some research before you go shopping. One thing I say to people looking to purchase or use a service for anything... a reccommendation from someone who has used or purchased and had a good experience is always a good place to start.

Its a big purchase

2009-04-21T22:03:00.003+10:00

So take your time and think.

Particularly at the moment, tough times and all that, you will find plenty of furniture retailers offering great deals, floor clearance, big discount deals -

Well a few words of advice I would give anyone buying clearance furniture -

1. It's not a bargain if it's not right. Something may very well be a great deal, good condition, and you can have it straight away. BUT.... if you woke up this morning and decided you are looking for a brown leather recliner suite and this item on sale is a lime green fabric modular... well "It's not a bargain if it's not right"

2. Don't buy something JUST because it's on sale and it's $1500 cheaper than the one you saw that you really liked... see rule 1. A lounge particularly, you may have for 20 years - you do not want to hate it for 20 years.

3. Be prepared to wait. Sometimes what you want is available straight away, often it isn't. To order an item to be made to the size you want, in the fabric you want is well worth the 8 week wait. A lot of elements go in to making a piece of furniture, as much as I would always ask for an approximate time for delivery, don't ever ask them to hurry. I would never want a buffet that normally takes 8 weeks to make, to be made in 2. Ultimately they usually look like they've been made in two.

Buying furniture can be as major a purchase as buying a car, don't hurry, be thorough and use your brains, most of all have fun.

Shopping is personal

2009-04-16T22:05:00.001+10:00

This is a somewhat unplanned blog entry.

An interesting day has given me some cause for thought on the subject of furniture shopping being personal.

I'd been working with an employer since Christmas, managing a store selling high end furniture pieces. They are a manufacturer and have recently gone into retail.

With the current econmic situation in Australia, biting hard (like other countries) I have recently found myself in a rather strange situation. This company was selling furniture at way of too high margins...and taking no heed in my arguments as to measures they could take to weather this storm. They were going under. I was offered a managerial position at another store. Reputable product, ticked all the boxes for me. Until I got there.

I spent two days being instructed how to manage customers, with vague margin guidelines, discoeunt play-acting and being told "don't spend too much time with a customer, give them a price and walk away."

Every fibre of my being, for two days was saying "Run away, run away"... so after explaining that it wasn't for me and that I thought their way of dealing with customers was nothing short of ludicrous, I've left them to it and will find something else to do to feed myself. If they are still in business this time next year I will eat my reading glasses.

I tell you this story because I want to stress to you, that buying furniture for your home, IS a personal experience. It should be a fun experience, it should leave you feeling comfortable and assured in your purchase. If at any time in the process you start to feel like you are being sold a used car by someone who doesn't care about what you are buying and the money you are spending that should be a red flag.

Sales people, selling products that cost thousands of dollars and who earn good money and commission from your purchase, owe you their experience, time and care.

A recommendation from a relative or friend about service they got from a store is always a good place to start. Visit stores and get a feel for their product, it costs nothing to look.

Furnishing a home and where to start

2009-04-14T15:53:00.000+10:00

The aim of my this new blog, is to help you become educated about home furnishings and confident enough to happily go and purchase furniture for your own home.

It sounds easy, but to the uninitiated buying retail furniture can be daunting and terrifying. Many consumers, unwilling to ask enough questions (or the right questions) can end up purchasing goods that are "close enough" rather than right.

Furniture isn't a purchase we make regularly. Maybe you bought everything when you first got married, now the kids are gone and its time to replace some old stuff.
Many customers that I deal with on a day-to-day basis, are out shopping for furniture for the first time in twenty years, some for the first time ever. Mattresses are renowned as being an item that ideally you should replace maybe every 5-6 years.. it's not unheard of for a customer to present and say it's been 20.

So let's agree it can be a while in between purchases. Since last time you shopped everything has changed, the prices all seem so high, the styles are all different and you don't even know where to begin.

Well that's why I'm here.

A bit of knowledge, some guidance on what to look for, why pieces cost what they cost, some suggestions about colour, some tips on dealing with sales staff... should see you being able to happily and confidently choose your next piece of furniture, and have you feeling happy that you got a good deal.