While the quality of your food and menu is undoubtedly important, your furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) are also essential for creating an exceptional experience for your patrons. Since sourcing and installing these items yourself can be challenging, relying on professionals is an excellent strategy.
The Role of FF&E in Restaurant Success
FF&E are movable components that are not permanently attached to your building. You might use the following FF&E products in your restaurant:
- Furniture: Booths, tables, chairs and barstools.
- Fixtures: Chandeliers, lamps, wall sconces, artwork and other decor.
- Equipment: Refrigerators, freezers, commercial ovens, pots and pans, and food storage containers.
The right FF&E components emphasize and enhance your restaurant’s architecture and improve the customer experience. For example, comfortable booths spaced a good distance apart encourage guests to relax after a stressful day without worrying that they’ll bump into other patrons or overhear conversations. Artwork that incorporates your brand colors and relevant images — basketball teams for a sports bar, for example — keeps your brand consistent. Functional refrigerators, freezers and ovens help you provide excellent food.
Why Should You Hire Professionals for Restaurant FF&E Installation?
FF&E professionals assist with transporting, storing and installing your elements on time and within budget. Here are seven benefits of hiring professionals for restaurant FF&E installation.
1. Expertise in FF&E Assembly and Placement
Reliable FF&E professionals set up the front and back of house areas with tables, chairs, booths, light fixtures, decor and equipment. They have the know-how and tools to complete installations quickly, safely and according to your specs. They can create enough room between tables, chairs and booths for easy navigation, and they are trained to correctly lift and handle heavy and delicate equipment.
2. Compliance With the ADA
Adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) makes your establishment accessible to all patrons. In addition to making doorways wide enough for wheelchairs and handling other aspects during construction, it’s important to ensure your FF&E adheres to regulations. For example:
- Bathroom fixtures like hand dryers, sinks, faucets and soap dispensers should be mounted at an accessible height.
- Decor like plants should not block doorways and entrances.
- Stairs require handrails on either side.
- The tops of accessible tables or counters should be 28-34 inches above the finished floor or ground.
- There should be 36 inches of space between the parallel edges of tables or between the table edge and the wall.
Dependable FF&E professionals are familiar with these regulations and can make your establishment accessible and inclusive of all patrons. These guidelines also enhance safety for visitors and staff.
3. Managing Multiple Vendors
Sourcing lighting fixtures from one company, booths from another, and pots and pans from another can complicate an already intricate process. FF&E professionals can leverage their vendor relationships to source high-quality products at manageable prices. That way, you get the items you want without the stress of managing those vendor relationships yourself.
4. Keeping Your Restaurant Build or Renovation on Track
FF&E pros’ network of industry connections also means they can source new products to keep projects on track. With their assistance, you can open or reopen fast and start making a profit. Their expertise also ensures installations are done right the first time — no incorrect oven setups or artwork installs that do not meet your specifications. This is especially helpful with heavy or complex items like commercial refrigerators and luxurious chandeliers.
5. Budget Adherence
FF&E, especially large items like booths and commercial ovens, require a large upfront investment. Credible FF&E professionals will adhere to your restaurant’s budget by:
- Establishing realistic estimates.
- Tracking spending throughout the project.
- Providing alternative products if necessary.
- Streamlining the supply chain to avoid costly delivery delays.
- Negotiating prices with vendors.
6. Handling Damage, Loss and Unexpected Challenges
While FF&E professionals are trained to minimize damage and loss, these concerns may occasionally occur. If they do, your team will document the problem and communicate with vendors to resolve it. They may be able to repair damage, or they might source a new product from another vendor.
7. Liability Protection
Many companies offer warranties that cover materials and work, should products experience damage or get lost during transit. The most reliable companies stand behind their work and will take responsibility for any issues.
What Are the Risks of Handling FF&E Installation In-House?
While you can source, transport and install restaurant FF&E yourself, doing so might lead to:
- Extended timelines: Taking everything on yourself might mean your build or renovation takes much longer than planned.
- Damaged products: Heavy and delicate equipment is especially prone to damage.
- Budget overruns: Without a network of vendors, it’s easy to go over budget.
- Compliance issues: Without support from an FF&E professional, you might overlook some ADA requirements.
- Nonfunctional layouts: Placing furniture in the right spots better ensures comfort for customers and eases navigation for staff. Professionals know how to avoid confusing layouts.
How to Choose a Restaurant FF&E Logistics Company
When assessing FF&E logistics companies, consider their level of experience, services offered and professionalism. You can also look for online reviews and testimonials from previous clients.
Corrigan Logistics has more than 100 years of experience handling logistics projects across the country and around the world. If you’re sourcing FF&E for your restaurant, you can rely on us for:
- Project management: Our team will receive products, store them and deliver them as needed. Our solutions can be tailored to work for restaurants of all sizes.
- Warehousing: We own 600,000 square feet of warehouse space in the United States and more than 50 million square feet of space globally. Our team inspects products as they arrive, and our warehouses are equipped with 24/7 surveillance.
- High-quality installations: We will deliver and install your products according to your needs. We can dispatch our crews anywhere nationwide to receive products, unpack them, install them and remove debris.
- Sensitive item handling: We also know how to handle delicate pieces, such as high-value artwork. We use custom-designed crates and cushioning materials during storage and transportation, and we offer climate-controlled warehousing to protect temperature-sensitive items like wood.
In addition to FF&E services, we offer freight brokerage and inventory management services. You can trust our team to get your products where they need to go and treat your highest-value items with the care they deserve.
Contact Corrigan Logistics for a Restaurant FF&E Installation Consultation
Corrigan Logistics understands that logistics involves more than driving products from one place to another, and we work hard to simplify your business logistics needs. When you’re outfitting your restaurant with new furniture, fixtures and equipment, let us be your one-stop shop for transportation, warehousing and installation. Learn more about our FF&E solutions, or contact us for a consultation today!
