10 Steps to Buying School Furniture
Furniture Buying
with Smith System.
If your school just received funding to build a new school or purchase new furnishings, it’s an exciting time. But getting from green light to grand unveil will involve a heap of decisions, including how to buy new school furniture. Here’s a handy 10-step plan to help get your head around this 9-month process. You got this!
Step 1 Establish Your Team
Step 2 Team Visioning
Create a vision together based on a few simple questions around size, technology, budget and teaching strategies.
Step 3 Vendor Selection
If you don’t already have a vendor, this step could include input from local furniture dealers and/or your interior designer.
Step 4 Begin Implementation
Work with your vendor representative to discuss vision, budget and a few basic specs for your space.
Step 5 School Tours
Take advantage of learning from other schools that have already been through this process with your vendor.
Step 6 Sit, Touch & Try
As a team, this is your chance to experience furniture up close to see what styles and functions may be right for your needs.
Step 7 Plan & Prepare
Begin culling down selections to what you’d like to see in a trial classroom or two. Try different shapes of desks or seating styles and see what works.
Step 8 The Trial Classroom
Work with the vendor to test out different configurations and review how each piece functions.
Step 9 Design, Budget & Lead-Time Planning
Work with your team to compile all furniture specs, quantities and budgets for each room.
Step 10 Finalize P.O.
Work with your team and school board (if necessary) to finalize your budget before placing your purchase order.
