One of the first things customers ask about when specifying furniture for commercial and hospitality projects is lead times. With furniture being just one part of the process, delivery needs to fit in with design schedules and wider timelines. A supplier who can turn projects around quickly can make a huge difference. But speed alone isn’t enough, it’s just as important that accurate lead time information is given right at the start. Over-promising and under-delivering erodes trust and causes knock-on effects that take longer to fix than if suppliers had been honest with a slightly longer lead time from the outset.
If lead times are too slow in general, products risk being excluded from a project altogether. Design teams don’t want to wait months for delivery when other suppliers can offer similar products faster. We also often see urgent requests from clients who have already been let down mid-project and no longer have the luxury of time. They need furniture delivered quickly and reliably.
Reliability is just as important as speed. Fast is good, but fast and predictable is better. Sales teams need to know their suppliers will deliver on time so they can commit confidently to clients. Procurement teams need to manage budgets and schedules without surprises.
At ØRN, we approach lead times with clarity and transparency. From the very first quote, we aim to give the most accurate information possible, making realistic promises instead of best-case guesses. We can do this because we have a range of products available on faster lead times than the industry standard, supported by flexible production and stocked items that allow us to respond quickly. And if something outside our control does change, we keep customers informed as early as possible.
This approach allows customers to specify from a wide selection of beautiful, impactful furniture on shorter lead times, while giving them the confidence to plan ahead. With so many moving parts in a project, having reliable lead time information reduces headaches for procurement teams and project managers, and helps sales teams build stronger relationships with their clients.
Lead times should never be used as a sales gimmick. They are a foundation of trust. We have confidence in our ability to deliver faster than the industry standard, which gives us the confidence to be honest and transparent with our lead time commitments right from the beginning.
If you have a project on your desk and need accurate lead time information along with a wide selection of products available quickly, contact ØRN Furniture at sales@ornfurniture.com or call 01295 221353.