Most home and office furniture suppliers use catalogues to sell their products. These do not only provide a good idea of what the company has to offer, but also a record of what they typically have in stock. Catalogue sales have proven to be very lucrative over the years, and traditionally, a catalogue was posted to people at home or at work, and they would order their goods from there. Nowadays, we have online versions that provide the convenience of ordering and paying online for goods, and suppliers make extensive use of this way of selling office furniture.
A catalogue – whether online or printed – can be a really good starting point for anyone who needs to purchase office furniture. There are, however, some drawbacks to solely using a catalogue without the input of the supplier. Not all of us are interior designers and talented experts, and many people may fail to take certain aspects into consideration when ordering directly from one. It just is not the same as being in a showroom and being able to inspect the items in person.
The photographs taken often make items look extremely good, but in real life, they could be shabbily made with inferior materials. In addition, bad choices can be made for specific jobs if an expert is not consulted. The person choosing the furniture may not be aware of exactly how the item operates, or be able to comprehend the size and dimensions of the item from the photograph and description.
They may also end up with pieces of furniture that look completely different to what they ordered, and then the items must be returned and replaced with more suitable items. Being in a showroom enables the buyer to ask the sales consultants advice about the types of furniture they need, to sit in the chairs to feel how comfortable (or not) they are, or see exactly how certain pieces work and where they are best applied.
The ideal solution to these problems is to choose a supplier that has a showroom in your area, but still provides you with a catalogue. The supplier should be able to personally visit your business premises and help the buyer to make better-informed choices about the particular items that should be purchased. Often, different jobs require different types of chairs or tables, and a good sales consultant will be able to tell the difference and explain this to the buyer. This will help to prevent the buyer from making costly mistakes or having to deal with returns and refunds.
Because we take a personal approach to our clients and our business, we do supply you with an office furniture catalogue, but in addition to this, we also send a relationship manager or sales consultant out to your premises to discuss your needs. Before ordering office furniture, it is important to have a thorough understanding of exactly which items will be needed, the available space, the traffic flow, the placement of said furniture, and also the customer’s budget. The overall look and feel of the business is also important.
A good sales consultant can advise on all of these factors, and oversee the process of ordering from the catalogue, but with some human input. This can make all the difference in the world when it comes to choosing the right pieces and at the right prices!
If you are in need of new furniture and would like to see our available products, contact our sales team, and we will work with you to help you make a well-informed purchase.