5 Things to Look for in an Office Furniture Solutions Provider

Investing in long-lasting quality

Providers of office furniture solutions are more than just vendors. Looking for an aesthetic vision for your office? Have specific, unusual needs for your space? A good provider will help with these challenges and more, setting your business up for success.

At Walmart Business, we want to help you find the right partner. This guide will help you identify providers who are ready to go the extra mile for your organization.

Features of the best office furniture solutions

1. Sterling build quality

Office furniture may seem like a straightforward purchase, but if you treat it as an investment, you can enjoy returns on that investment for years to come.

How? By choosing an office furniture solution that makes quality construction a point of pride. Look for providers that are forthcoming about the materials and techniques they use in the construction of their pieces.

For maximum durability, you’re going to want furniture made of solid wood or metals such as steel and aluminum. These materials are built to last, which means you’ll spend less on repairs and replacements over their lifetime.

Conversely, avoid flimsy materials such as particle board, laminate, composites and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

2. Commitment to sustainability

Buying durable, well-built furniture is one way to prevent broken particle board desks from piling up in landfills. Choosing business furniture solutions that champion eco-friendly operations is another.

There are a lot of third-party groups that evaluate sustainability efforts. Some are more rigorous than others. Look for office furniture services certified by one of the following:

• The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a nonprofit that promotes responsible forest management.

• The Change Climate Project (formerly known as Climate Neutral) is a nonprofit that certifies businesses that sufficiently reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

• Bluesign is a Swiss organization that monitors the resource use, occupational health and safety, water and air emissions, and consumer safety efforts of companies.

• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is an organization that applies a sustainability framework to a company’s entire manufacturing process.
  

Certified B Corporations can also be good choices when shopping sustainably, but come with more caveats. If their products are made with recycled materials such as reclaimed wood, or their shipping actively aims to cut down on packaging, there’s a good chance they’re taking their environmental commitment seriously.

3. Attractive design

Research shows that working in a pleasant, comfortable environment can improve productivity, mood and morale. But knowing the importance of an attractive work environment is just the first step. How do you come up with a visual identity for your office?

Luckily, the answer is simple: ask your furniture provider. Many will be happy to consult with you to go over your business, your branding and your space to find a look that suits your work. This service is often included with purchases.

Once you have a color palette, feeling or aesthetic in mind, your provider can help you narrow down furniture options to support that vision.

4. White-glove customization

Office furniture related services: Just as not everyone looks good in an off-the-rack suit, not every business can rely on standardized solutions. You may find your space demands unique furniture consideration.

Great office furniture solutions providers can distinguish themselves by listening to your needs and tailoring their offerings to meet them. That could mean a clever configuration of modular pieces or some creative modifications to pre-existing furniture.

Office furniture installation services: Some providers outsource the delivery and installation of their furniture. From a buyer’s perspective, that’s a red flag.

Third-party delivery services may not do the best job installing your furniture. If it arrives defective or is damaged in installation, they’ll have very little they can do to help.

Even if a third-party service does a good job of delivering and building the furniture, it’s unlikely it will provide ongoing support for your purchase. If something goes wrong later because of improper installation, you may find yourself without the support of either the delivery service or your provider.

On the flip side, if a provider delivers and installs its furniture itself, they’ll likely take proper care during service. Look for providers that maintain a service team local to you to make it easy for them to set your office up and support it in the future. Speaking of…

5. Stellar customer support

Because furniture is such a long-term investment, you need to be sure your choices will continue to serve you years down the line. If something goes wrong, readily available and effective customer support can help you resolve the issue quickly and effectively.

Whether it’s the speedy shipping of replacement parts, repair teams at the ready or a full replacement piece, excellent customer service means you can spend less time on office maintenance and more on growing your business.

Look for customer reviews that describe support interactions. Designations like the Consumer Choice Awards can also point you toward great service. The best-case scenario will often be a dedicated point of contact with wide hours of availability.

Get equipped with Walmart Business+

If you’re looking to outfit your office on a budget, Walmart Business can help. We stock thousands of desks, office chairs, couches and more. Already a member? Upgrade to a WMB+ membership to get all these items delivered from a nearby store for free.¹

Combine that with 2% cash back on orders of $250 or more,² and you can save over $500 a year.³

Click here to start your membership today.

¹Restrictions apply. Additional fee applies for Express delivery.

²Exclusions apply. See full terms for details.

³Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping (no minimum) order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).