Chapter 19: Sourcing and Researching Manufacturer's Information for FF&E Flashcards
what is the goal when researching items
to get the correct info in the most efficient way possible
name the 5 steps used in researching
- define the problem and determine the purpose of the research, how much money and time is available for the research
- establish a strategy and schedule
- Determine the appropriate sources- the most difficult part
- Determine the sequence of source contact- like longest lead time first or most general to most specific
- contact sources and record information- keep in mind lead times for responses from reps and samples
how can you evaluate the quality and reliability of a source when researching
consider the source’s motivation for providing the info, how the info was gathered, how much the info costs
what is a designer’s best source of info
their own library and experience
lists common places you can research and source FF&E
- journals and newsetters- good for currect designs- usualy in the forms of ads- good way to find new products
- Merchandise Marts, Shows & Showrooms- you can see the item on display
- Manufacturers, dealers and reps- primary source of info about specific furniture and accessories. most reliable source for current info and product availability, prices, physical characteristics and technical info
what is the Sweets Catalog and what is it used for
manufacturer’s publish all or part of their product info on Sweets- can get it online now. based on Masterformat division.
what are the pros and cons of internet research for FF&E
pro- convenient, lots of stuff on the internet, blogs for experiences.
con- websites are biased
what is the best source of info for a designer besides themselves and why
a trade association
produce accurate and lots of info about a product type and make it available at no cost or cheaply. Sometimes these guidelines are adopted as industry standards.
only promoting one type of product so they are an authoritative info source with out being biased towards one manufacturer or personal opinion
why is an FF&E contract separate from the construction budget- be specific
because the items in an FF&E contract are purchased or handled by the designer, not the contractor
who is purchasing I the items will determine the budget- the contractor will usually charge retail price plus coordination fee for a fridge where you might only charge wholesale plus a bit or if the client purchased it separately they wouldn’t have to pay overhead for the contractor
are appliances in the FF&E spec
sometimes yes- sometimes no. might be purchased by the contractor so then it’s not part of the FF&E.
who is responsible for inspecting furniture on site on delivery and look for deficiencies
the OWNER
