Home Furnishing Lead Times – Strategies for Coping with Delays

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From rugs to wallcoverings and from fabrics to furniture – especially upholstered furniture – home furnishing lead times are some of the worst we’ve seen in decades. Designers and furnishing dealers are reporting delays from mere weeks to months to, well, to “We have no idea” lead times. Coping with this upheaval has become a fundamental challenge that can make the difference in everything from keeping clients happy to staying in business.

While interest in design projects has grown nicely in the past 12-24 months, the worldwide foam shortage and shipping delays have made following through on renovation projects difficult for designers and furnishing retailers.

An interesting piece at the Business of Home blog brought this even more clearly to mind recently, as a dozen designers were asked about their strategies for dealing with delays.

Is it Possible to Keep Home Furnishing Clients Happy?

The first and most important thing to remember in times of stress is that our industry is built on relationships. Whether designer to client or designer to supplier, working with people you know and trust will always be the key to getting through tough times. The same is true for you, of course. As a designer, you too must be honest, open, and trustworthy. Otherwise, when things improve, you’ll find yourself on the outside looking in.

You must… Be open with clients. Never hide extended lead times or other availability issues. Always communicate in both directions: with clients and suppliers. Always share the results of your communication as needed – not just when it might benefit you in some way. (Getting the bad news out of the way up front will nearly always benefit you in the long run.)

According to the article, some designers have benefited from using local artisans to help fill the gaps created by delays from larger manufacturers. Says Lisa Kahn of Lisa Kahn Designs in Naples, Florida, “We are also keeping the money in our local economy and community, which feels amazing!”

Naturally, limited sources will affect a designer's creativity, “Because lead times are now part of the list of things we have to consider when making decor and furniture selections”, explained Kelly R. Collier-Clark of Plot Twist Design in Philadelphia.

The answer then may be to broaden your thinking to include solutions you may not have been inclined to consider in the past. Since some of the most expensive furnishings have been the hardest hit, perhaps it’s time to lower your client’s expectations just a bit and let them know that very good to excellent are reasonable alternatives to what some consider “only the best”.

It’s Time to Choose

Sharp designers always offer their clients choices – though it’s best not to offer too many or they may never make up their minds. In the current marketplace, however, their choices, and yours, are stark and limited.

For many, perception is reality and for too many in the industry the current list of choices includes:

  • Available immediately (if you order right now)

  • Estimated 3 months (maybe)

  • Estimated 6 months (maybe)

  • Open-ended – it gets here when it gets here (if at all)

When choices are not really choices, what’s a designer to do?

  • Continue to wait (and wait, and wait)

  • Search endlessly for in-stock items (and hope the inventory is accurate)

  • Substitute lesser items temporarily

  • Deliver available pieces, uhm, piecemeal

  • Find local artisans who might fill in temporarily

    • OR

  • Use Kravet QuickShip

  • Use Curated Kravet

  • Call TD Fall & Co

When you’ve been invited to help someone make improvements to their home, you're working with them on an intimate level unlike many others they may employ. They want their spaces more livable, as well as beautiful. Accomplishing this has always been about the relationship you build with them, yes, but – now more than ever – you must also manage expectations.

As explained by Rachel Humphreys and Katie Orr of Humphrey Orr Interiors in Summit, New Jersey “While our clients are often disappointed with these longer-than-normal lead times, we’ve found that communication is essential. Being upfront and honest with the installation schedule and potential delays has been our key to managing client expectations.”

We Can Deliver

Currently, Kravet is only running a few weeks behind its normal production. Kravet Quick Ship is now approximately 8 weeks and regular lead times are currently running 12-17 weeks, depending upon the frame.

Though these lead times relate mostly to upholstered furniture, for the time being, there has been some disruption and delays in all product categories.

The good news is… Most fabric and wallcovering orders are flowing fine, especially on domestically produced goods. In-stock rugs are also shipping quickly with any delays due solely to logistics issues. Imported products remain an issue, whether it's due to pandemic-related shutdowns, the ongoing foam shortage, or other shipping delays. (Anyone have a shipping container they’re not using at the moment?!?)

There are some caveats and disruptions but the customer is always kept informed! And, since we have the latest info on availability and home furnishing lead times, feel free to… Call us today for the latest on lead times from the Kravet Family of Brands.