The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing outdoor furniture factory

An industry-specific guide for purchasing outdoor furniture for your commercial space

Many of our clients are business owners, and as you know, maximizing every inch of your commercial space is essential to your operation&#;s bottom line. With the coronavirus, outdoor space has become a premium commodity for restaurants and other customer-facing businesses. Putting your outdoor space to practical use is no longer a luxury you can afford to ignore. 

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While fighting the spread of COVID-19, numerous restaurants have transitioned sections of their entrance, sidewalk, waiting areas and parking lots into dining areas for guests. Considering the circumstances, businesses that invest in upgrading their outdoor patio furniture will see higher customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. 

Having a warm and inviting exterior atmosphere is also vital for businesses that are not merely responding to the pandemic&#;s constraints. Lovely decorated and furnished outdoor spaces can bring people together for business, socialization, dining, and more. This article will give you a brief guide on what to look for when buying outdoor furniture for your commercial spaces. 

What Makes a Good Piece of Outdoor Furniture?

You will, in practical terms, consider several factors when deciding on the right outdoor furniture and decor for your business. If this is your first time purchasing outdoor furniture for commercial use, you&#;ll want to start slow and add on as you go. The goal at this stage will be to install the essentials and then see how your customers respond. Based on their feedback, you&#;ll then be able to add more decor, extra non-essential furniture, and other finishing touches.

The most important thing is NOT to use your indoor furniture outside. The majority of indoor furniture is not weatherproofed and will fall apart quickly with outdoor use, adding unnecessary additional costs. If you are converting your business operations in the face of the pandemic, don&#;t make this easily avoidable mistake. 

Here are few things to consider as you browse the online furniture catalogs.

Climate: Factoring in your local weather conditions is incredibly important to conducting business outdoors. Suppose you live in an area with consistent rainfall. In that case, you&#;ll want to play accordingly with overhead awnings, umbrellas, heaters, etc. Look for furniture that is made of weather-resistant materials, such as wood, plastic, or resin. Avoid metal furniture unless you live in a predominantly sunny and dry climate. 

Portability: Even if you purchase weatherproof furniture, you&#;ll likely be bringing some or all of it indoors at the end of your operational hours. Consider this when making your selections, as heavy furniture could be a hassle to move back and forth daily. You may also want to consider purchasing chairs that can be stacked to save space. 

Size of Your Outdoor Space: How big is the outdoor space you are trying to furnish? It&#;s a simple question, but that answer will guide a lot of your final decisions. In practical terms, you should measure the space for actual square footage to know how much you can fit in your area. It would help if you also tried to visualize your area with specific and enough free space for everyone to walk through easily. 

Operation and Use: What does your business do? Your furniture needs will be based around tables, chairs, and comfortable seating if you are a restaurant. If your company operates in large open spaces, maybe you are in the market for benches or community picnic tables. Take into account your business&#;s specific operations and how you can factor outdoor customer comfort into them. 

Choose the Right Materials

As we touched on lightly above, the material you choose for your outdoor furniture is critical. Investing in the right material will give your furniture longevity. Weather is an essential consideration as it determines how durable your furniture needs to be. Lightweight metal furniture will serve customers much better in hotter climates rather than it will customers in a snowbelt. 

Another consideration for furniture material is the ease with which it can be cleaned. Some ultra-luxurious furniture will demand more time and attention to clean than some simpler designs. If you are not keen on constant cleaning, lean toward furniture that is a single piece and does not have cushions. 

Lastly, you&#;ll want to consider design preferences and your budget. Outdoor furniture can be quite expensive, especially if you have extravagant tastes. Your business will dictate what is right for you in this area, but a budget-conscious business can do a lot with minimalistic furniture and decor. Let&#;s take a look at some of the most common materials and their pros and cons. First up, the metals:

Steel: Steel furniture and tables are a popular choice for outdoor establishments that don&#;t plan to move their furniture inside regularly. It&#;s heavy, making it a great choice if you don&#;t want your furniture to get up and walk away on you overnight. Powder-coated steel is a smart option that comes in several colors and pattern styles. Just stay on top of your regular maintenance, especially after inclement weather, and your steel furniture will last for years to come.

Iron: Similar to steel, iron is a durable and heavy material. It is an excellent investment for furniture that will have a long life. Iron is weighty and hard to steel, and contrary to popular belief, it is not that difficult to maintain to avoid rust and corrosion.

Aluminum: Lightweight, durable, and affordable. Aluminum is an excellent option for budget-conscious buyers and is widely used by manufacturers. It is resistant to corrosion and rust and is one of the few metals used in rainy or humid climates. Cleaning aluminum furniture is very quick and easy. Aluminum also won&#;t corrode and is often offered in several styles and finishes. 

If metal options are undesirable for your climate or operation, consider one of the following:

Resin and Plastic: Resin is the modern choice and a great one. Durable, long-lasting, resistant to staining, fading, and scratching, this material is an all-star. Usually made of plastic, resin furniture is attractive to the eye and the wallet. If you live in a wet climate or near a body of water, resin furniture is your best bet.

Fake Wood: You&#;ll notice that real wood did not make it onto our recommended materials list. While wood is affordable, abundant, and fits many business aesthetics, we consider it a poor investment in the long run. Wood has the tendency to warp, rot, and splinter if exposed to the weather for too long. Wood is also heavy and not easy to move quickly. Therefore, if you are going for a wood-look, consider faux-wood. 

Fake wood options offer the elegant look for a wooden piece of furniture, with none of the upkeep&#;s stress. These materials are very professional-looking and can be cleaned or sanitized quickly, making them an excellent option for restaurants with high customer turnover. Fake wood furniture can easily be spruced up with cushions to make them more attractive and comfortable.

Selecting Your Style

Your furniture&#;s material is essential, but the design and style will speak volumes about your business. If you are a local bar, your outdoor furniture can be less expensive and kitschy. If you are an upscale restaurant, you might want to consider something with a bit more pomp. Select the right style of furniture for your business by focusing on the following advice:

Camouflage: If you are unsure how to style your outdoor space, let nature be your guide. Customers enjoy the feeling of nature, even if it isn&#;t a natural setting, when outside. If you add an element such as a space heater, see if it can be placed somewhere discreetly or incorporated into the design of the space. Lean toward furniture that fits around your natural environment and tone. 

Branding: Just because you are outside do not mean you should abandon your regular branding efforts. If you can customize the color of your tabletops or chair cushions, do it. Customers appreciate knowing they are still getting the same quality experience even though they are outside. You may also consider investing in some outdoor branded materials, such as signage, hanging decor, etc.

Decor: Lean into the fact that you are outside by adding elements of nature. Bring in plants, flowers, or even allow animals on-site if possible. Some businesses may even be able to accommodate people&#;s pets in ways they were not previously able to. Consider setting up a water bowl or keep doggy treats on hand for customers. Little things like this will make the customer feel that you&#;ve gone above and beyond.

Consistency: Stay consistent with your outdoor furniture purchases. If you start in one material and color, stay in the realm of that original choice. Treat your decor choices outside the same as if you were decorating the inside.

In summary, look for furniture that is durable to the weather, easy to clean, lightweight to be moved, matches your branding, and elegant wherever possible. Follow this guide, and you will find the perfect commercial outdoor furniture for your business.

For more information on commercial patio furniture, please contact us or visit our showroom.

 

Investing in sprucing up your outdoor spaces with outdoor furniture and other amenities can go a long way to impact your bottom line.

 

How Outdoor Spaces Improve Business

 

 The idea that spending time outdoors can have a positive impact on health and wellness isn&#;t new. Researchers have found that spending time outdoors helps improve happiness and decrease stress, and improves energy and memory while reducing inflammation markers. In , longtime outdoor enthusiast brand LL Bean looked into how to make these benefits more easily accessible, launching its &#;Be an Outsider at Work&#; program and reducing the barriers between indoor and outdoor spaces in the workplace.

 

More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic shone a light on the concept in a new way. As requirements for social distancing increased, many retailers, restaurants, and other commercial venues looked for ways to leverage their outdoor spaces, and with positive results. In many cases, this effort allowed businesses to continue operating safely and successfully. The City of San Diego saw so much success that its new Spaces as Places program is looking into making temporary outdoor pandemic-response areas a permanent option for businesses. This is all in addition to work-from-home policies that have added more flexibility into the workday, allowing some team members to work from home &#; or work from nature &#; without interrupting their productivity.

 

With all of that in mind, it&#;s time to give more thought to making sure your facility&#;s outdoor spaces can work better for you, your employees, and your guests. In this guide, we&#;ll share how to make the right selections for outdoor furniture and fixtures to help you get more from your outdoor areas.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit outdoor furniture factory.

 

Choose the Right Outdoor Furniture Seating Options

 

The most obvious way to gain more usefulness from your outdoor spaces is to add the right types of furniture. Providing your employees and guests a place to sit doesn&#;t just add comfort to outdoor spaces &#; it creates the beginnings of a useful outdoor work area where teams can have al fresco meetings, enjoy lunch in the fresh air, or take an occasional call. Different types of seating are available to make outdoor areas suitable for both groups and individuals.

 

Picnic Tables. Adding picnic tables to your outdoor area is an instant opportunity to increase its usability. Traditional wood picnic tables with benches on either side are an easy option to start with, while round or square tables can help make outdoor meetings easier for small groups. ADA-style tables are also available, with thoughtful designs that accommodate wheelchair users and other needs.

 

Long-lasting recycled plastic, and steel picnic tables are available in numerous colors that can be tailored to your brand or your facility&#;s color scheme, and stay cool to the touch even in sunny areas. Robust concrete picnic tables are also available for durability in high-use areas. Depending on the style and the permanent nature of your design, you may opt for your picnic tables to be secured to the ground with appropriate mounts and anchors.

 

Benches. Benches are available with the same material selection as picnic tables, allowing you to mix-and-match designs throughout your outdoor spaces. Outdoor benches can be fastened to the ground as needed, which can be useful for stability in high-use areas. Ranging from ultra-modern steel benches to park-style wood designs, benches are available with ergonomically designed backs and armrests for comfort, or in backless designs for more informal settings.

 

Global Industrial offers all of these seating configurations, as well as any accessories you might need. For example, placing picnic tables and benches in areas that are naturally shady is ideal, but not always possible. In those instances, consider adding complementary umbrellas, awnings, and screens in your seating areas for more comfort and usability.

 

Accent Outdoor Furniture with Planters

 

Being outdoors in the fresh air is a step in the right direction for health and wellness in the workplace, and this benefit only increases with the addition of plants. Adding greenery, shrubs, and flowers into your outdoor space can increase the curb appeal of retail, hospitality, and corporate areas, while also giving your team a pleasant environment for quick breaks or short meetings.

 

Using outdoor planters is an easy way to add this type of landscaping. Above-ground planters eliminate the need to dig new planting beds around the property and help corral plant life into specific areas that reduce your overall landscaping needs. Global Industrial offers numerous styles of decorative planters to complement your building&#;s exterior design. Consider using them as accessories for outdoor gathering spaces, boundaries between neighboring properties, or as wayfinding tools to guide visitors to your main entrance.

 

Keep Outdoor Seating Clean with Waste Management Solutions

 

Anywhere people gather, expect there to be a need to manage litter. Adding attractive trash and recycling receptacles makes waste management easier on your facility&#;s cleaning crew, and prevents your outdoor space from becoming an eyesore. There are three key features to consider when selecting trash cans for your property&#;s outdoor space:

 

Material and construction. Plastic, steel, and concrete trash receptacles are all designed to be durable and withstand the elements when used outside. Because of their weight, steel and concrete options are ideal for set-it-and-forget-it installations that won&#;t require regular relocation. Plastic models are easier to move around as needed but come in fewer design styles. Stylish stainless steel cans are also available, but tend to show wear-and-tear quicker, and may not be suitable for outdoor applications.

 

Lid options. Depending on the base material and style of trash can you choose, different types of lids are also available. Lidded receptacles help keep odors in and pests out. Domes, rain caps, and flat lids also help keep the rain out of trash receptacles located outdoors. Options for recycling bin lids can allow for multiple openings to divide recyclables.Ashtray and sand tray lids are also available for trash cans that will be used in smoking areas.

 

Can liners and signage. When selecting trash receptacles for your outdoor spaces, be sure to also add trash can liners to your facility maintenance checklist. Doing so will help ensure that emptying the cans is as easy and clean as possible. Global Industrial offers a variety of trash receptacles and liners, as well as trash and recycling signage. The right combination of waste management accessories will make it easier for visitors to your outdoor areas to locate and use the receptacles appropriately.

 

Think Outside the Patio with Outdoor Campus Amenities

 

When your facility is large, such as an educational campus or multi-building corporate complex, your outdoor accessories need to extend beyond entry areas and patios. Drinking fountains and bike racks are great ways to encourage team members, students, and visitors to make the most of your property&#;s outdoor spaces.

 

Drinking fountains. Drinking fountains and water bottle fillers are great accessories to have in outdoor lounges or workspaces. They encourage hydration for team members, students, and visitors who spend their time moving from one building to another. Designed for heavy use, outdoor drinking fountains and bottle-filling stations feature durable construction and finishes. Wall-mounted units are available in stainless steel and concrete. Or, choose from a variety of standalone stations that come in a wide range of colors and finishes, from modern geometric designs to antique-style pedestals.

 

Bike racks. Your drinking fountains will get a lot of use from folks who are biking from one building to another. Your urban or suburban facility can encourage employees and guests to reduce their carbon footprints and increase exercise by biking to and from work &#; but accommodating their bikes is essential. Make sure employees have a safe and secure place to store their bikes by including bike racks near your entrances.

 

Single- and double-sided bike racks are available in powder-coated steel for durability against the elements and frequent use. Unique shapes like U&#;s, waves, and other geometric designs are available and add an artistic element through both their design and color options. To keep up the sustainable theme of biking to work, choose recycled plastic bike racks in a variety of colors. Mountable bike racks can be secured to the ground for safety and stability.

 

From employee break areas to paths between buildings, ensure your property&#;s outdoor space is an asset to your organization. Outfitting your property with fixtures and finishes that employees can &#; and want &#; to use is easy, with a variety of accessories and options from Global Industrial. Contact Global Industrial today to learn more about the outdoor furniture options available to your facility.

 

The information contained in this article is for informational, educational, and promotional purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. It is the reader&#;s responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, rules, codes and regulations. If there is any question or doubt in regard to any element contained in this article, please consult a licensed professional.  Under no circumstances will Global Industrial® be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on this article.

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