‘Cut out the middleman’ sounds great in theory, but in practice, in this world… not so much!
As the specifications for FF&E are so wide and finding the best cost and quality can run to hundreds of different suppliers, having a specialist or consultant research, source and negotiate for you is by far the easier, more logical, and in the long-run, less expensive option.
Dealing directly with furniture suppliers and manufacturers can also mean being subject to their vested interest in supplying you with as many of their own products as possible. Some of which may not suit the vision, price point or aesthetic you’re looking for.
By working with an independent FF&E procurement consultant or specialist, you will save both time and money while gaining the invaluable experience, supply chain and project management skills that a professional consultant will bring to your project. An FF&E specialist will help you quickly identify your brief and budget, they will then bring their trained and experienced eye to your scheme, and zone into your requirements. Leveraging all their network, contacts and industry knowledge they will ensure that your project is completed without abortive costs, on time and on budget, leaving you to get on with your day job.
Ironically, whilst it may seem better to access suppliers and dealers directly and bypass an FF&E procurement consultant, many of these suppliers offer their products exclusively via a dealer, who will then add a sizeable margin to the product. An experienced FF&E firm can cut through those layers and costs. By leveraging our purchasing power across multiple projects and sectors, we achieve economies of scale with suppliers that deliver much better pricing and enhanced services for our individual clients. The combination of this and our turnkey service deliver significant value to the project.
So, in terms of FF&E, it’s fair to say that the middleman is more like the conductor leveraging knowledge & experience to drive cost savings & value for your project.