FF&E Procurement Services: What they can do for you
What does FF&E mean?
FF&E is an acronym for the term ‘furniture, fixtures and equipment’ which is usually associated with the construction and interior design industry. It refers to the standalone furniture and fixtures that has no permanent connection to a buildings structure. Another way to think about what FF&E is, if you turn a house upside down, anything that would fall out is classed as FF&E.
What is FF&E Procurement?
FF&E procurement (furniture, fixture and equipment procurement) is a service provided by a specialist to deliver end to end management solutions covering FF&E specification, procurement and installation. An FF&E specialist has the experience, expertise and knowledge to source the FF&E you require. In working with you, you will benefit from their extensive connections across manufacturers, suppliers and contractors to ensure they can deliver exactly the items you’re looking for. An end to end furniture, fixtures and equipment procurement service ensures:
The items you require are sourced based on your specification
They are produced even if that means being custom created
They are delivered and installed by the professional suppliers or contractors themselves
It’s important to understand that not all FF&E procurement services offer end to end management solutions. There are businesses that will simply facilitate the delivery of the product or item and install it for you. This leaves you with having to source the item yourself. So, it’s important you specify exactly the services you require from your FF&E specialist.
What is an FF&E Interior Designer?
An FF&E interior designer is an interior designer that specialises in the furnishings. An interior designers’ role is to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional. In our case we focus on the interior design of luxury homes. Interior designers focus on the internal aspects of a property such as wall finishings, colour schemes, flooring, layouts and more. Where their original roles and responsibility sees them focus on the internal factors of a property, some interior designers specialise and focus on the furniture, fixtures and fittings only. They will take responsibility for your interior design as well as FF&E ensuring, they source, deliver and install products based on your requirements and specification.
Examples of FF&E
FF&E includes standalone furniture, fixtures or other equipment that has no permanent connection to a buildings structure. Remember if you turn a house upside down, anything that would fall out is classed as FF&E.
Common examples of FF&E are:
Chairs
Furniture
Lamps
Artwork
Blinds or drapery
Rugs
Decorative items
What is an FF&E Project Manager?
An FF&E project manager is responsible for the coordination and completion of a client’s FF&E requirements across a project. The responsibility sits with them to ensure the procurement process is overseen accurately and successfully.
Your project will likely require an FF&E project manager if your project falls under any of the following:
A large project
Complicated project with many suppliers
Seeking niche or bespoke items
Positively, this means across your project you will have an experienced individual who can manage the delivery of items for your project. They’ll be able to deliver your FF&E requirements from inception through to completion.
Their key responsibilities include:
Access requirements
Cost and Programme forecasting
Maintaining quality and standards
Negotiating prices with suppliers and contractors
Ensuring goods arrive in perfect condition
Ensuring on site delivery and installation
If you’re a large commercial business or organisation, then it is important to have an understanding of the team that will be delivering your project to ensure the resources being offered fit the project you need delivered.
Who benefits from FF&E Procurement Services?
FF&E procurement services were created and offered to support those who don’t have the speciality or resources to deliver these processes themselves. When you think about what needs to be done in terms of procuring your furniture, fixtures and equipment, it can be a rather extensive process. You need to think about:
The item or product that needs to be sourced
Where do you find the item?
Is it the right size?
Does it fit in the space where it’s going to go?
Final finishes and materials
How many units you will need?
Does it need custom fitting?
Do you know the measurements?
How is it going to be installed?
How long does it take to install?
FF&E can be a time-consuming process, this is why a specialist is necessary and beneficial. There are many beneficiaries of FF&E procurement services with the main sectors being:
Residential
Commercial
Hospitality
Let’s look at each group and see how FF&E procurement supports them:
Residential
Residential property renovations and refurbishments is one of the UK’s staples to the construction industry. Residents benefit hugely from FF&E procurement services when they’re overhauling their property as they get an overall end to end solution. When they engage with an experienced interior designer who specialises in FF&E procurement, not only will they be able to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional for their purposes, but they can also provide additional services. They can include the application of furniture to suit the renovation and the clients desired overall vision. They deliver the full end to end package managing your entire renovation or refurbishment. When they’re complete you simply move back in and enjoy your lovely new living space.
Commercial & Hospitality
Commercial services that engage with customers within the sale of goods or services find FF&E services highly beneficial. Commercial services prefer to focus on their key objectives which is to run their business. Instructing an FF&E specialist to carry out specific requirements ensures they can do just that, they will undertake the complex process for you.
Types of examples where commercial services should utilise FF&E services:
Office renovations looking for new furniture such as; tables, chairs, decorations
Hotels requiring procurement for suites, business conference areas, restaurants, bedrooms and spas
Leisure facilities looking for the highest quality renovations
Hospitals requiring the right environment for their patients.
Schools, colleges or universities needing a renovation of upgrading of furniture
What is included within FF&E Procurement Services?
FF&E procurement services are unique to each business and often can be very different from one business to another. What this means is that it is so important to discuss your exact requirements to ensure you get the specifications you desire. A full end to end management solution of FF&E covers:
Specification – This is the requirements you want for the items sourced. When working with an FF&E procurement specialist, they want to get into the detail of what it is you want. For example, do you want to the specialist to source a luxury high end sofa in a specific colour? Or do you want the specialist to fully furnish your property based on a modern contemporary English design? These specifications are completely different, with some more precise then others. A specialist will ensure they have everything they need before sourcing.
Procurement – Is the service to source and obtain the items you want. Your FF&E specialist will be able to purchase the items you required on your behalf at a discounted price. Ensuring they work with the supplier or contractor to ensure the item is built to specification and can be installed appropriately.
Installation – The final piece to the procurement process! The specialist will ensure the item specifically sourced can be installed by the specialist contractor or supplier or the expertise across the project.
Your FF&E specialist will be able to facilitate each of these areas for you.
what is commercial interior FF&E procurement?
FF&E as a service can be very broad benefiting many industries. Having already covered that FF&E procurement is a service provided by specialists to deliver end to end management solutions covering specification, procurement and installation. It’s only benefiting that there are commercial interior FF&E procurement services to benefit businesses needing such a service for example, hotels, health clubs, offices and more. Commercial interior FF&E procurement is an extremely popular service for businesses to be able to outsource their requirements of new items, spaces needing to be upgraded for their business, for example hotels. The success of their business relies on customers coming to stay in their property and the more customers there are staying the more wear and tear they will endure. So, the time will come when upgrades will be required in large quantities, new beds, new lamps, new desks etc. Finding a business that specialises in commercial interior FF&E procurement will be extremely beneficial to ensuring you can work with a specialist who has the knowledge, experience and know-how to deliver your requirements for your projects.
Working with an FF&E specialist who specialises in commercial interior procurement means you don’t need a full-time employee for the role and you can outsource the work as and when it is needed.
What is OS&E procurement services?
OS&E procurement stands for Operating Supplies and Equipment which is the terminology given to products that are required for a business to run. For example, a hotel requires bed linens, personal care amenities and cleaning supplies to accommodate their guests and run an effective business. Positively most FF&E procurement services or specialists also include operating supplies and equipment procurement. However, it’s important you ask the question and don’t presume.
What is the difference between FF&E and OS&E?
FF&E and OS&E are very similar services with slight nuances and the way to tell them apart is FF&E requires installing and OS&E are generally items that do not require installing.
These terms tend to be mentioned more so together when dealing with commercial businesses as they do need differentiating. To add a little detail, if the client is a hotel and they’re looking to source more bed frames and new mattresses, these would fall under FF&E. They are products that need to be in the hotel room that both staff and guests will interact with. The staff will ensure it is prepared and ready for guests and guests will utilise it for the comfort of their stay. However, the OS&E products for the beds would be bed linens and pillowcases. They don’t need to be installed and are actually items required in quantity to allow the hotel to run.
So, the differences can be quite clear as to which is which and when working with an experienced FF&E professional, they’ll be able to identify these for you at the briefing stages of your project.
Why do commercial businesses require FF&E services?
Commercial businesses require FF&E services as they require the expertise and experience to deliver exactly what they need. Usually when commercial businesses require FF&E services, they do not have the time and resources in a specialist to deliver such a project, especially when they have a business to run. So, FF&E services can be outsourced as and when it is needed.
There are many benefits for commercial businesses using FF&E specialists which include:
Specialism – Outsourcing the task/project to a specialist allows the business focus on what they do best with running their business.
Creativity – FF&E still requires creativity in design and working with a specialist will ensure the space being designed is fit for purpose and delivers the style and atmosphere required for its purpose.
Time – FF&E services can be time consuming, so outsourcing the project saves time that could be used on running the business.
One-off additional resources – You don’t require a full-time employee to carry out the project for you. Save money and source the specialism as and when it is needed.
Why do clients in the hospitality industry require FF&E services?
The hospitality industry is a service industry that caters to the needs of customers at scale. This leads to FF&E being very important in the industry. Customers’ needs and wants need to match up with exactly what they’re paying for and it’s down to the organisation or business to deliver that requirement. With this happening on a large scale, it is common that wear and tear will happen eventually. At times, hospitality businesses will have their own full-time dedicated employees for FF&E services however if not, these requirements can be outsourced to an FF&E specialist to help deliver the requirements and project for you.
What consideration factors are there when looking to hire an FF&E specialist?
When starting your FF&E journey there are many factors to consider to ensure your project is delivered successfully and these include:
Budget – Likely, the most important factor of any project. The budget is what is used as a guide to deliver the project successfully making all the right decisions. It’s also very common to always choose the cheapest items however depending on the use this can be the wrong decision and you can find yourself paying out way more as products may not last. Budget is extremely important, and your FF&E specialist will be able to set your expectations very early on with the budget you give them. When working with a specialist you also benefit from their network of connections and relationships as they can get your projects items purchased at trade costs which will ultimately save you money. Your FF&E specialist has more buying power which can benefit you. Not only can you potentially save money on the costs of the items being purchased for your project, you also don’t have to deal with the hassle of the ordering and installation as this will all be taken care of.
Design – When the budget is decided for a project that will dictate the design and the quality of the design. Positively, there are 2D and 3D visualisation tools that can be used to bring concepts to life before they are approved and materialised. So, your FF&E specialist will be able to support the design and concept to ensure the project can be a real success before anything is fully committed.
Space – The space that requires designing is extremely important. What is it used for? Who is it for? How often is it used? There are several questions to think about when it comes to space. So, it’s important to think about the spacing whether it’s residential, commercial or hospitality.
Speed – The project deadline is extremely important. When does it need to be completed by? A very important factor that can affect the budget of the project is it not being planned precisely. However, accurate planning with realistic expectations results in projects being delivered successfully and on time.
Logistics – A very common area to miss are the logistics. The main area missed is usually access checks. What are the access points to the property for the items coming in or through? Is the space large enough to bring through such an item? Your hired specialist will ensure your chosen items fit the specification to be able to ensure they can get installed and that it fits into the building. Alongside this, they’ll also ensure deliveries arrive on time and exactly when needed and they have no issues or defects on arrival.
Why you should hire an FF&E Procurement Specialist?
If you have got this far, you will have a much more better understanding as to why you should hire an FF&E specialist. Even better yet, you may find you benefit from an FF&E Interior Designer, someone who is dual skilled to carry out your full project that needs undertaking.
The benefits far outweigh the negatives of hiring a specialist. You would be able to simply relay your vision to an expert who can manage the entire process for you and ensure good pricing while you finalise the major decisions and wait to the completion.
If you’re interested in finding out more about how FF&E Procurement services can support you, contact us here.
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