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NeoCon 2012 Highlights: Part Four

NeoConography Shots from NeoCon12

 

If you missed NeoCon 2012, where the contract industry kicks off its year showcasing the newest in office products and resources, not to worry.

You can practically relive the experience through the attendees’ perspectives thanks to KI’s #NeoConography photo contest. KI awarded $100 each to the top shots submitted. The five winners are shown below, but be sure to check out KI’s #NeoConography Pinterest Board to see the hundreds of shots taken. From the people and food, to the parties and views, to new products galore, it’s almost like being there. And, hey, if it makes you think about going next year, you can check out the dates here.

KI’s #NeoConography = NeoCon + Photography

Congrats to @KItweets for such a great idea and to the Top 5 Winners, @designelixir, @jensingson,  @hotlead, @mndyvn and @TBInteriors_Inc

 


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6 Things To Look For When Choosing A Contract Furniture Dealer

 

The outcome of whether your office furniture purchase is successful or not will come down to your contract furniture dealer. Although it’s difficult to know exactly how effective your dealer relationship will be until you actually work with them, there are some things you can look for to keep from making the wrong decision.

1. Capabilities
Check their websites and brochures. Look for the number of employees, size of their delivery fleet and warehouse space. See how many manufacturers they represent. The more real numbers they give you, the more you can judge the attention and support they will be able to provide.

2. Procedures
Ask questions about policies and procedures the dealership has in place to protect their clients. The best dealers implement safeguards that help prevent problems such as damaged products, account mishandling or errors in the supply chain.

3. Reputation
Always ask for references to find out others experiences with a particular dealership.

4. Experience
When it comes down to executing your project, experience matters. You need to look for:

• involvement with similar sized projects

• familiarity with your industry

• length of time in business

• project team with capable qualifications

• product knowledge

5. Product Selection
There are hundreds of contract furniture manufacturers, [link] but not all dealerships carry all lines. The main manufacturers are territorial and team up with specific dealers. In addition to representing one or more of these main manufacturers, dealers round out their selections with smaller or specialty lines. Make sure your dealer represents the type or style you are looking for.

6. Personal Tours
Visit the dealer’s nearest office or showroom to get a feel for product selection as well as how the staff interacts with potential clients. Communication and transparency are critical to a successful dealer relationship.

Knowing what to look for on the front end could save you a great deal of time and money in the long run.

What do you look for when choosing a furniture dealership?