Commercial retail furniture needs to reflect the current trends in design, color and comfort. This is why it's important for all retailers to stay up to date on the latest fads, and what traditional furniture is likely to stand the test of time against changing styles. This is the best way to provide customers with the styles they're looking for, and in turn make more sales for your furniture retail stores.

There are many things to consider when you pick out retail shop furniture. First, you must decide if you will stock only a specific type of furniture, or provide a number of styles to your customers. Other things to consider when buying furniture are:

1. Whether the majority of your customers are looking for style or comfort, as the most important aspect of a piece of furniture.

2. How many different rooms your selection of pieces can furnish.

3. Choose whether you will offer customization options through your furniture retail store.

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Choose trade publications to stay informed about furniture for a retail store

Trade publications are written by experts in the industry to inform everyone else in the furniture business what's going to be a big seller and how styles are changing to meet new customer demands. This is a great way to get ideas on what to stock in your furniture retail store.

I recommend: Furniture World is one of the top publications for information on retail store furniture, and has been for more than 100 years. Casual Living magazine offers news and trends on casual furniture for any type of room in the home or office.

Read blogs and forums to get ideas about furniture for retail stores

There are many resources online where you can access instant information about furniture news and trends. Blogs, forums and articles can all be helpful when it comes to learning about the latest furniture trends popular with customers.

I recommend: Furniture Today offers links to a host of blogs by professional designers and marketers who offer information on the latest furniture trends. The Furniture Society forum and blog will keep you updated on the latest trends in furniture making and design.

Stay up to date with furniture news and trends through trade organizations

There are many organizations dedicated to the subject of furniture and tailored to furniture retailers. Besides news and trends, a membership with many organizations can also provide additional perks such as discounts and free subscriptions to informative publications.

I recommend: The National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) provides many benefits to members, including discounts on trade show exhibits and one free listing of your company per year in the organization's magazine. The American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) is another organization that will help you stay informed about latest trends in furniture color and design.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When stocking furniture for commercial use or residential use, it is a good idea to check out the stock at competing retailers to see if they have any new items you haven't discovered yet.

Furniture for a retail store contributes to the store's image. While you don't want to exceed what you can afford to spend on commercial store furniture, you do want to take into account the appearance and durability of the furniture that you select.

Consider the following before choosing retail shop furniture:

1. Make a furniture budget and stick to it. Quality furniture for retail stores is pricey, and you don't want to get carried away with all the enticing options.

2. Determine what you need to make your retail space functional and inviting for yourself, employees and customers. If your budget allows, hire a space planner, or look for a commercial furniture retailer who offers interior-design services as a courtesy.

3. Look for furniture that can stand up to daily use.

4. Check out your competitors' stores. Take note of their stores' ambiance and furniture choices, and incorporate the aspects you like best into your store.

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Get quality retail store furniture that doesn't bust your budget

Consider saving money on the most expensive furniture for retail stores and pieces that are only used for storage by outfitting your space with used commercial retail furniture. For example, durable chairs, tables and display cases can be expensive, yet you'll want to select quality pieces to make the best possible impression on customers. You'll probably get more for your money by looking for top-of-the-line furniture at a used retail furniture store.

I recommend: BetterSourceLiquidators offers used seating, used filing and storage cabinets and more. This used office furniture store gets most of its products by purchasing office furniture from businesses that have downsized or closed.

Buy retail shop furniture that stands up to wear and tear

Retail shop furniture takes a lot of abuse. When purchasing commercial furniture for a retail store, it's important to consider whether the surfaces can be easily cleaned or wiped off if something is spilled on them. Choose pieces upholstered in fabric that resists dirt and stains, and opt for ones that have few small pieces and moving parts that can fall off and require numerous repairs.

I recommend: OfficeFurniture2go.com offers customers a lifetime warranty on all furniture as long as customers own the pieces they buy. However, warranties are limited to "single shift" office environments, and they exclude normal wear and tear.

Consider environmentally-friendly furniture

While buying used furniture is one environmentally-friendly way to outfit your space with retail shop furniture, new eco-friendly retail store furnishings are available as well. Additionally, making eco-friendly choices can be good for business, since many consumers seek to support retailers who make such efforts.

I recommend: Commercial Furniture Direct distributes environmentally-friendly products and partners with manufacturers committed to protecting the environment.

Expand your options and budget by renting retail store furniture

Renting furniture for retail stores from businesses that specialize in commercial retail furniture is another way to stretch your budget. However, reserve this option for the most expensive retail shop furniture and for pieces you may only need for a special event, as rental fees can end up costing you more than buying the furniture outright.

I recommend: Cort has rental-sales representatives who not only help you with furniture rental, but also can help you define your office furniture needs by designing functional areas that work within space constraints.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buying a retail furniture grouping or set can be less expensive than buying individual pieces over time. Discounts are often offered when sets are purchased as opposed to individual items.

Choosing the right furniture for your retail stores is vital to keeping customers buying. But along with the trends comes the bottom line. In order to stay within a budget and still make a profit from your sales, choose to stock wholesale products in your furniture retail store. And if you specialize in used furniture, check out used retail store furniture to save even more money.

Pricing and costs of furniture, especially wholesale furniture, do not vary greatly between brands or companies, but the prices do vary widely according to style and the type of furniture. Other factors to consider when buying wholesale are:

1. The price of shipping.

2. Any additional discounts that are available.

3. How many different styles of commercial retail furniture you can get from the same supplier.

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Choose small pieces to accent larger retail store furniture

Buying retail store furniture does not mean you always have to stick to the big ticket items. If you have a great setup on your showroom floor, the smaller furniture pieces and accents will make just as much of an impact on your customers who may be trying to complete a similar look. Most smaller pieces range from $45 to $150, depending on the material and the number of units ordered.

I recommend: All Wholesale Furniture.com offers great small pieces to accent any room, such as wooden benches with toy storage. Accents with hidden storage are very popular, including ottomans with hidden storage offered by Winthrop Wholesale Furniture and Mattress.

Buy furniture for retail stores by the truckload to save money

When you order by the pallet or truckload, you never know exactly what kind of inventory you'll end up with. But ordering this way can save your hundreds of dollars on your shipments. The same amount of furniture bought as individual pieces can cost significantly more with shipping, even at wholesale prices.

I recommend: CMDWholesale.com offers furniture by the truckload and even provides sample photographs of the type of products you can find in a typical truckload. This service ranges from around $5,000 to around $9,000, depending on the number of pallets you order. C2cwholesale offers wholesale lots by the truckload for as low as $3,000.

Explore special markdowns and sales when buying furniture for a retail store

Even wholesalers need to move items fast, so getting a good deal is easy if you explore special deals and sales that wholesale suppliers offer from time to time. These can save you 10 percent or more on some items.

I recommend: Wholesale Furniture Brokers has a Specials/Sales page where you can get even better discounts on its furniture. Furniture Wholesaler offers monthly specials on many of its items.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you stock used store furniture, you may be able to work with wholesalers that specialize in scratch and dent stock to get like-new furniture for a used price.

As you look for new or even used furniture, it’s helpful if you understand some of the furniture key terms used in the industry. Depending on the room you're furnishing you'll encounter different sets of furniture terms. Wooden pieces of furniture and upholstered furniture also have their own sets of terms. The terms in the following guide are basic, and apply to furnishings throughout the home or office.

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Credenza

A credenza is a low piece of furniture often used for storage. You find most credenzas in a dining room or office setting. With today's flat screen televisions, many people are using credenzas as video centers by setting the television on the top of the credenza.

I recommend: You can see different styles of credenzas used in an office setting at OfficeFurniture.com.

Hutch

A hutch is a piece of furniture that sits on top of a credenza or buffet. Its main purpose is storage, and it often has glass doors or open shelves for displaying glassware or other items. Some hutches fit over a computer desk and serve as bookcases and display areas.

I recommend: DiningRoomTableShowroom.com has several examples of dining room hutches.

Foam density

Foam density refers to the weight and mass of the polyurethane foam used in furniture cushions. The denser the foam, the better the quality of the seating. You can also expect denser foam to last longer.

I recommend: For a simple explanation of the various grades of foam density, read the information from LifeTips.

Cleanability code

The cleanability code for a piece of furniture is on the manufacturer's tag. Simply put, the cleanability code is the cleaning instructions for that piece of furniture.

I recommend: For more information about cleanability codes, read the white paper from the Colorado State University Extension.

Protective fabric finish

A protective fabric finish can either be part of the woven material used in the upholstery, or the manufacturer can apply it to the finished furniture. It is possible for the consumer to apply protective fabric finish as well. Protective fabric finish is a good way to preserve soft furniture from everyday wear and stains.

I recommend: Read the article “Prevent Wear with Fabric Protection” from Real-Estate-Agents.com to find out more about protective fabric finishes.

Wallhugger

Wallhugger furniture refers to reclining pieces with a mechanism that allows you to place them close to the wall, and yet they'll still recline. You can find wallhugger chairs, sofas and futons. These are a good solution to using reclining furniture in a tight space.

I recommend: Strata Furniture explains how a wallhugger futon works.