How to Start Up a Fitted Furniture Company
Unlike ordinary furniture, fitted furniture is tailor-made to the client's specifications. To venture into this business you should have a keen eye for interior designing and client responsiveness. The specificity of designs and materials to be used for fitted furniture also means that you will have to invest more in the venture than you would do in a normal furniture business. The pieces of furniture are designed to fit permanently into indoor areas such as kitchens, bedrooms, sitting rooms and bathrooms or relatively outdoor areas like hotel lobbies, cinemas, galleries and reception areas where movement of furniture is considered unnecessary.
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Instructions
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Carry out your market research. Figure out a niche market for fitted furniture in the state in which the business is to be located. Get acquainted with the modern ways of making fitted furniture as this will guide your choice of equipment and personnel. Establish a connection to a reliable source of raw materials like wood, metal and fabrics. You can source them all from China, for instance.
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Arrange for the required capital. A low interest loan is more advisable for credit financing. The mode of doing business will dictate the initial capital outlay. More orders are expected to come on an ask-to-be-made basis, therefore the cash flow may pick up gradually at first.
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Register the company. Get a license from your state's Secretary of State office to operate the business after paying a registration fee that may vary depending on your state.
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Purchase equipment. Basic equipment like hammers, sanders, drills, planes, polishers and even ladders will come in handy when you start serving clients. Invest in a transport van to deliver materials for fitting to the clients' homes or offices.
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Set up a workshop cum office. Furnish the workshop with the purchased equipment and have a resource person responding to queries and paperwork, preferably in an office. Locate the office in an accessible area so as to enhance visibility and draw in potential clients.
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Hire competent workers. Skilled interior designers and expert carpenters are ideal for this business as it thrives on quality, innovation and expertise.
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Advertise the company. Market the company in furniture magazines like "Home Furnishing News," "Home Decorators" and "Modern Furniture Magazine" among others. Market the company in newspapers, on billboards, the Internet, in the yellow pages and on TV. Respond to client inquiries and begin offering furniture fitting to the new clients.
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