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How to choose a Contract furniture Upholsterer
Furniture plays an important role in any commercial space, be it an office, hotel, restaurant, or any other business establishment. Well-upholstered furniture not only enhances the appearance of your space but also provides comfort to both customers and employees. However, with time, the upholstery of furniture may get damaged or stained, or become outdated, and replacing the entire furniture set may not be the most cost-effective option. In such cases, it is better to hire a contract furniture upholsterer who can repair, reupholster, and customize your furniture exactly to your desires.
Choosing the right contract furniture upholsterer can be overwhelming, especially if you are doing it for the first time. However, by keeping certain factors in mind, you can make a well-informed decision. This article will highlight important factors to consider when choosing a contract furniture upholsterer.
Experience and Expertise
The first important factor to consider is experience. Make sure you choose an upholsterer who has had a decent amount of time working in the industry. It is best to find someone who often completes commercial projects, instead of one who specializes in domestic furniture, as the projects can be quite different. You must find out what types of furniture you will need working on and check if the upholsterer has experience doing this. They might have lots of experience upholstering sofas in family homes, but no experience fitting benches in restaurants. Ask them questions about your furniture to gauge if they have an understanding of this specific type. It is great to also have a look at their previous work.
Pricing
Pricing is another extremely important factor which must be considered. You will need to do your research on this to understand what is a normal price for the service you require, and what the high and low ends will be. It is better to find an upholsterer who can provide a detailed breakdown of the costs involved, so you can understand where exactly your money will be going. You might pay a lot for the service and assume this means the materials used will be of high quality, but that is not always the case. Getting a breakdown of the costs involved will help you better understand the true value of this service. Find out if it is possible there could be extra charges involved, or if the quote they have given you is accurate. Research will help you understand if the pricing is competitive within your area.
Materials and Fabrics
You must also find out what types of material and fabrics they offer. You want them to provide a wide range and variety of colours and patterns and different fabric types. Certain types of fabric are more long lasting than others and different fabrics will be better suited for different environments. This is another reason it would be preferable to choose an upholsterer who often completes commercial upholstery projects, as they are then more likely to have appropriate fabrics for your needs. You can often request to see their fabric samples and even take them into your space to work out what kind of textures and colours best match the interior.
Quality of Work
Another important factor to consider is if the quality of their work meets your expectations and standards. You can also get an idea of this from looking at their portfolio of work. Make sure they use high quality materials and fabrics and put a lot of care into their work. Looking at reviews and testimonials from their previous clients can also give you a good indication of the quality of their work.
Turnaround Time
You must find out the estimated turnaround time the upholsterer can offer. If you need a lot of work done and have to wait a while, you could risk missing out on potential customers and losing a lot of money. The turnaround time depends on the size of the job, the requirements of it and the size and skill level of the company. It can vary a lot so it is important to get an estimation so you can compare the timeframe against others. If you are likely to need urgent work doing, then you must make sure to choose an upholsterer who can accommodate this. This will generally be bigger companies, but that is not always the case. It is helpful to also understand their process for completing work on time. Do they provide regular updates on the progress of the work? It is all very well a company telling you the work will take 2 weeks, but will they actually follow through and complete it within this timeframe? Reading reviews and client testimonials can again provide further insight on this..
Warranty and After-Sales Service
The final factor worth consideration is if a warranty or after-sales service is included. If the service includes a warranty, it might be worth even more. The offer of a warranty is another signal towards the quality of the materials used and work completed. If a company offers a warranty it shows they back their work and expect their customers to be happy and for the furniture to last. Find out if they offer one, how long it lasts and what it includes. Do they provide any after-sales service?
As we have mentioned, you must bear in mind many factors when choosing an upholsterer. When looking for one for commercial work, it is generally better to go for a higher quality and higher priced service. It will mean your furniture stays looking great and damage free for longer, and will usually mean you save money in the long run. If you frequently require work done, you can often get contracts with upholsterers which can also save you money and time. You must make sure you do your research when choosing one and read the reviews and client testimonials.
