There are so many steps that go into opening a restaurant, it’s hard to make sure you plan for all of them.  First time restaurant owners can become overwhelmed easily with all that goes into the process.  Many restaurants can take a year or longer to work through the process of opening.  Creating a great restaurant opening plan from the very beginning can be very beneficial and cost saving in the long run.

Here’s a short list of the steps involved, in generally the order they should be completed.

Decide on the concept.
Select the location.
Choose a name.
Write a restaurant business plan.
Find financing.
Apply for license and permits.
Design the restaurant.
Create the restaurant menu.
Buy the kitchen equipment and furniture for front of house.
Hire staff.
Advertise restaurant.

As you can see, purchasing restaurant furniture is towards the very end of the restaurant opening process.  While that may seem reasonable, this can cause problems if furniture isn’t at least considered earlier in the process.  Below is some basic information about buying furniture for your restaurant and some topics to consider that should make the process smoother for you.

Budget

How will you pay for your furniture?  Do you have an estimate of the total amount your restaurant tables and chairs will cost?  Are you going to buy new furniture or used?  Are you aware there is a difference between commercial furniture and residential furniture options?

Of course, the first consideration in purchasing tables, bases and seating is the total amount you can afford to spend.  This is why furniture should be considered when you are writing your business plan and finding financing.  If you can get a commercial furniture vendor involved at this stage of the process, you can achieve a very good estimate of the total amount you will need to spend for furniture to include in the amount of financing necessary.

Considering whether to buy new or used furniture at this point is also valuable.  Used furniture can seem like a great cost savings, and sometimes it is a substantial savings.  An example would be at an auction a high quality chair may be purchased for $15 each.  If buying used commercial furniture, you will need to carefully inspect it and ensure it is in very good condition.  You may not be able to find the quantity you want of certain tables or chairs if buying used nor the exact color.  Used furniture normally does not come with a warranty like new commercial furniture does.  New commercial furniture from a reputable vendor comes with a warranty.  There are new table, chair and bar stool options in almost every price range.  Restaurant furniture suppliers can provide options that fit within your budget even though they may not be your first choice.  Functionality of the furniture and fitting within the type of restaurant you have may be more important than getting the exact restaurant chair or table you initially selected.

Lead time

Considering furniture early enough in the process can allow you to get certain products you desire that may have a longer lead time.  Just as an example, many customers aren’t aware that the awesome butcher block restaurant tables are custom made.  Some customers think these tables are available for immediate shipment.  There are many in-stock selections in every category, but they may not be your number one choices.  Talk with a commercial furniture vendor early in the process so you’ll have a great idea what the lead time is for your selected products and ensure their delivery before your restaurant opens.

Storage and labor

Storage and labor are a few other topics to consider when purchasing restaurant furniture.  When your furniture arrives, it will need to be properly stored in a climate controlled space.  There is normally a lot of activity going on in a restaurant before it opens, and it can be tough to store boxes and pallets of furniture.  Planning where you will store your furniture, and how much space this requires, will relieve a lot of stress.  As for labor, consider whether you will have employees or some type of assistance when your furniture arrives.  Many restaurant owners don’t have assistance at this point, as the restaurant is not yet open.  You will need someone available to unload the furniture from the freight carrier when it arrives.  You may also need labor available to assist in setting up the furniture, and attaching table tops to bases, among other items.

Considering your restaurant furniture budget, its lead time, and storage can save you time, money, and stress in the long run.  Good luck on opening your new restaurant!

There’s no doubt that great food, excellent service and even a bit of entertainment are all highly important factors in hospitality. However, it’s also important to establish the right atmosphere through the use of colors and décor.

Why a Focal Point Sets the Perfect Picture

A focal point draws someone’s eye almost immediately, and generally helps set the dominant theme inside a dining or entertainment business. This focal point can be something as simple as a texture, color or piece of furniture, but it’s often possible to combine these concepts into one set design feature.

For example, hospitality chairs with a distinctive color located along the bar, large communal restaurant tables, or even a fireplace with rich red brick can help serve as a focal point that wows guests.

Go Beyond Black

There are endless color customization options, and hospitality seating is available in much more than simple black vinyl. That’s why hospitality businesses should think about a color scheme with a few primary colors that fits the atmosphere they’re trying to build. For a fresh but bold look, think about classic colors like sorbet orange, lilac and chili pepper red. Some businesses also opt for an airy, modern look using a light color palette that features splashes of vivid accents.

Essentially, restaurants want to get creative but ensure a color scheme that remains timeless and focused. When a customer feels good about the atmosphere they’re dining in, they’re more likely to become repeat visitors.

Use LED Lighting to Add Color Highlights

Consider placing LED lighting, strip lighting, track lights or spot lights in key locations around the room. These lights are great for helping draw a guest’s eye, and can create a cozy and relaxed atmosphere where guests become immersed in the dining experience.

LED track lighting is also a great way to adjust the direction of light depending on the design that needs to be showcased, allowing for an advanced degree of customization. To create soft and muted colors as the evening goes on, LED lighting also allows for plenty of dimming options to create the right mood.

Ultimately, paying attention to color schemes and the way lighting impacts colors is important for every hospitality business.

Once the decision to open a restaurant is made, there are multiple tasks to accomplish, from signing a lease to hiring staff to purchasing the equipment needed.  One of the tasks is to purchase restaurant furniture, which is critical because the furniture is going to be a major contributor to the customer’s impression of the restaurant.  All restaurant owners want repeat business, and one way is to purchase just what the customer wants for a particular restaurant.  Below are some great tips to assist anyone responsible for the task of purchasing restaurant furniture.

Where do you start your search?

There are many sources of restaurant equipment, from suppliers in local communities to the Internet.  The secret is to contact many sources of restaurant furniture.  For example, contact a local restaurant supplier and ask where to purchase butcher block table tops.  Then ask other restaurants in a new restaurant area where they purchased their wood table tops.  Ask a designer, an architect or even an office supply store for a source for table tops.  The information being sought here is the names of table and chair supplier that come up the most.  This should provide at least two valued suppliers from which to select.

Once a few vendors are found then what?

Now it is time to look at the vendors’ websites to see if they sell the style of tables and/or chairs that match the restaurant.  It is also important to find out what their lead time is and the cost of the furniture.  If there are two potential vendors involved, prepare a side by side comparison of your specific product needs and options.  Next on your comparison should be the lead time, which is important to the opening of the new restaurant.  Freight cost, sales taxes, how long the company has been in business, and whether they offer a commercial furniture warranty are also important comparisons.  Contact vendors by phone to see how knowledgeable their representatives are, and if they are easy to reach, especially when problems arise.  Do the personalities of the vendor match in an acceptable way?

Ask the vendor questions about specific pictures.

Once a picture is found of the desired restaurant furniture, some very specific questions need to be asked.  Knowing the price is helpful when asking questions, because then a judgment can be made as the specifics are discussed.  With restaurant chairs, ask how the joints are made and what the dimensions are, since it is difficult to tell if a chair is 15” wide or 18” wide from a picture.  The difference between these two size chairs will make a huge difference for customers.  These same questions apply to barstools as well as chairs.  One key question with barstools is about the bottom rungs.   Ask about the durability of the rungs, as customers will step on them, and climb them like a ladder to get into the barstool.  Ask the vendor about joint construction in wood chairs, and welded joints with metal chairs, as these are important factors in durability.

For wood table tops, question the vendor about the table top finish, as that is the first thing to wear out and cause a repair or replacement expense.  If discussing an outdoor table, ask if the finish will fade, or get excessively hot.  A picture does not indicate if a table top can be used outdoors or not, so be sure to let the vendor know where table tops will be located.  As a general rule wood does not do well outside, except for species like teak.  Wood works very well inside, but knowing about the finish is critical.  There are many types of finishes, from lacquers to epoxy, so it is valuable to have an expert other than the vendor verify the durability of the finish.

The important questions to ask on bases are about the thickness of the metal base columns.  The column thickness indicates how stable the table top will be for customers.  For example, an 18 gauge column will be studier than a 22 gauge column, but it is impossible to tell this from a picture.  The 18 gauge column will be more expensive, but the extra expense will be commensurate with the durability.

Searching for restaurant furniture is not easy especially with all the similar pictured items available from various vendors.  Follow these guidelines to get the best results possible when purchasing restaurant furniture.