Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

How To Choose A School Furniture Supplier

  • By Angela Webb
  • 07/01/18

Buying school furniture is no longer as simple as opening a catalog and making a phone call. There are ever-evolving product options, co-ops and contracts to shop through, bids to offer, and an Internet full of suppliers to choose from. This is why it’s worth the time to choose the best supplier for your needs. Here are some pointers to help you get started.

Establish a vision for your space, and make sure your supplier understands it. This will make the process easier for both of you, and you are more likely to be satisfied with the result. Your company should be able to help you plan your space. Can they help you design a layout, choose products that work, and offer CAD drawings to show you what it will look like? It’s also crucial that your supplier be able to offer multiple quotes throughout the process for different tiers of layouts.

For you to make the best choices for your furniture, your supplier will need to have plenty of options—products that meet standards, a wide range of price points, and reliable inventory. Do they offer purchasing programs like co-ops and contracts? This will save you time and money.

Your supplier’s job is not finished when the purchase has been made. The company you choose should see the project through to completion. This includes delivery and installation. Their work is not over until your space is usable.

A good supplier will not just sell you furniture—they will guide you through the entire purchasing process, from research and pricing to delivery and installation. In some ways, choosing a supplier can be the most important part of your purchase; find a good one, and it can feel like they are doing the work for you, culminating in a learning environment you love.

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management July/August 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Angela Webb is director of Sales at School Outfitters. She can be reached at 866/619-5311 or [email protected].

Featured

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.