Buying banquet venue furniture like tables, chairs, and lounge furniture is unlike just about any other type of corporate furniture buying. Because you are buying furniture to fill an entire banquet hall, convention center, or hotel event space, you are buying for thousands of pieces instead of, at most, several dozen pieces. You need to consider how the furniture will fit into the space with the other pieces and what the furniture will look like and how it will function after thousands of uses and many events. You also need to think about how the tables and chairs will stack and how you’ll store them.
This guide considers what needs to be thought of when purchasing premium quality banquet chair & table so that furniture will be used for many years and will not need to be replaced after just a single busy season.
Why a Different Strategy Is Needed for Bulk Purchases
When making a purchase of several chairs, issues that would be small or not noticeable become much bigger and noticeable. For example, if a dozen chairs are purchased and one has a small finish issue, it may be overlooked. However, if that same issue is present with every chair purchased and they are being used in a large banquet hall, it will be very noticeable after the first use. The same goes for any other durability issue.
That’s why, when sourcing banquet furniture wholesale, price is not the only important factor. A good price on a product is worthless if the product has lots of defects. A good wholesale banquet furniture supplier is one that has consistent, dependable, and durable products. Appropriate wholesale banquet furniture sourcing should cost less than paying for repeat orders due to bad sourcing and poor furniture quality.
Chairs: The Most Important Part of Banquet Furniture Stock
Chairs usually take the most abuse and are the costliest. When sourcing banquet chairs for hotels or event venues, certain features must be evaluated. Particularly for hotel groups sourcing chairs for multiple hotels, these features should be evaluated for all potential suppliers:
- Stackability and storage: It’s important to efficiently store a large quantity of banquet chairs. Chairs should be designed so that they stack neatly. Stacking caps on chairs should protect the frames from getting damaged and scuffed.
- Frame durability: Usually, steel and aluminium frames are the most durable for the constant setup, breakdown and transport of banquet chairs. This is especially true in the case of banquet chairs for hotels, which are often moved from ballrooms to storage rooms to outdoor event spaces several times a week.
- Comfort for Long Events: Weddings and galas can have guests seated for hours at a stretch. The padded seats and backs with a gentle ergonomic curve design will be appreciated by attendees, a great comfort and satisfaction feature during long events.
Consistent Finish Across Bulk Orders
When placing bulk orders, make sure the company can guarantee a consistent finish (color, fabric, etc.) across the order. A common problem with bulk orders is an inconsistency with dye lot color. Find a supplier that specializes in bulk orders.
Tables: Matching Function to Event Type
Banquet tables serve many formats of events, ranging from formal plated dinners to trade shows. Round tables work best for Wedding and Gala events; rectangular and folding tables work best for Conference, Trade Show and Multi-Purpose venues.
Tables that make it quicker and easier for staff to set up and take down include:
- Tables with a water-resistant top
- Strong but lightweight frame
- Sturdy, locking tabletop
For a venue that frequently changes tables, a table with a quick fold design will help decrease the time between events.
Lounge Seating: Rounding out the Guest Experience
For a rounded guest experience, event venues are shifting to lounge seating for the pre-function area, cocktail hour, and networking. Flexible modular lounge pieces can easily adapt to various event and seating layouts without requiring a major overhaul to the furniture on hand.
Upholstery and frames for lounge seating should be durable and commercial grade since they see the same amount of traffic as banquet chairs during peak event seasons, and upholstery should also be stain-resistant. Adding lounge seating to your banquet furniture line should be paired with upholstery and frames rated for commercial use.
Assessing Vendors for Bulk Purchases
It pays to assess vendors for more than just price when planning your first large-scale wholesale banquet furniture purchase:
- Will they be able to maintain the same order quality and finish for the complete order quantity?
- What are their normal lead times for orders of this size?
- Do they have quantity price breaks, and how do prices change with different order sizes?
- What warranties are available for the frames, upholstery, and hardware?
- If we need to add more inventory, can they provide future orders with the same finishes?
Good wholesale banquet furniture vendors should be able to answer these questions and provide contacts to similar venue/hotel group clients.
Long Term Cost Considerations
It can be tempting to focus on the lowest per-unit cost when placing bulk orders, but furniture designed to withstand heavy use will cost less to maintain over time. Choosing the right commercial-grade construction will protect your cost of ownership over a five- to ten-year period, and will be especially beneficial for venues that host multiple events weekly.
Final Thoughts
Wholesale banquet and event furniture orders require more logistics than typical furniture orders. However, the value derived from placing furniture orders across all your event venues and banquet halls is significant. For each type of furniture (banquet hall chairs, tables, and lounge seating), working with a supplier who is knowledgeable and experienced in the wholesale banquet furniture business will ensure your venue is ready for all the events on your calendar. For hotel groups specifically, sourcing banquet chairs for hotels from a proven supplier makes future reorders and property expansions far easier to manage.
Here at Aura Seating, we are your go-to supplier for wholesale banquet furniture and banquet chairs for hotels. We serve high-volume event venues and hotel groups and guarantee a high standard of quality on every order we supply.
