If you’re looking for contract office furniture, you’ve probably wondered who the largest purchasers are. These companies buy the majority of their furniture from dealers who are “aligned” with the manufacturer. These dealers have an arrangement with the manufacturer to sell a minimum number of products from them, so they may not offer the best solution for your specific needs. Another problem with dealers who align with a manufacturer is that they may hard sell the brand, rather than offering the best possible solution.
The biggest purchasers of contract office furniture are big organizations. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon rely on them to keep their offices looking modern and comfortable. These companies need durable and attractive furniture, so they often go through multiple suppliers. In addition to furniture dealers, they also buy furniture from interior design firms and fitout contractors. John’s report also breaks down the purchasing process by type of organization. While End-Users are large organizations, Specifiers are generally interior designers and fitout contractors.
Despite the recent downturn, office furniture manufacturers like Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Capital Choice are continuing to expand their market, mainly due to the popularity of Herman Miller Aeron chairs. While individual consumer sales for Herman Miller have decreased by 7%, the company’s online consumer sales have soared by 219%. As workers start to return to their offices and delayed projects pick up, the industry will pick up again, says Sharfin.
