Starting a custom design furniture business is an exciting and ambitious venture, but it comes with its share of challenges. You’ll need to have a solid business plan, the right tools and equipment, a retail location and a ready and able workforce. You’ll also need to be creative, understand market trends and have solid marketing tactics to help reach your customers. Here’s a guide on how to launch your custom design furniture business and make it a success.
Know your Field
Before you jump into the world of custom furniture design, it’s important to understand the industry and what sets it apart from other furniture businesses. Custom furniture, as opposed to mass-produced furniture, is created by an individual craftsman or design company and typically requires significant investment in materials and individualized design, which makes it more expensive than mass-produced furniture. Start by familiarizing yourself with the different types of custom furniture and what makes them unique, so you’ll be better equipped to create pieces that differentiate your brand.
Research Your Customers
Knowing who you’re creating furniture for is essential to designing pieces that are marketable. Take the time to research and understand your potential customer base—their tastes, needs and preferences. Also, be sure to keep track of emerging trends in furniture design, as they’ll help shape the look of your furniture.
Create a Business Plan
A well-thought-out business plan is key to success. Make sure your business plan covers all the important areas of your business, from setting goals and outlining marketing tactics, to the types of furniture you plan to design and manufacturing costs. You’ll also want to include your pricing structure, retail and wholesale plans, and any other business goals.
Secure Funding
Launching your own business often requires external funding, and custom furniture design is no different. You’ll need capital to start up, and that may require small business loans or other external sources of financing. Even if you’re bootstrapping, you’ll still need money to purchase materials, hire staff and cover other business expenses.
Source the Right Tools and Equipment
You can’t create custom furniture without the right tools and equipment, so it’s important to consider what you need, and where you’ll find them. Common tools and equipment used in custom furniture design include woodworking tools, power saws, drills, upholstery tools, joinery tools and sanders. As you research what you’ll need, also consider specialized equipment that may set you apart, such as hand-carving tools or CNC machines.
Scout a Retail Location
Custom design furniture requires an in-person customer experience, so it’s essential to find a good retail location for your business. While retail space may be expensive, make sure you get the best deal possible and consider natural foot traffic and other factors to ensure it’s a good fit for your business. You could also consider online retailers and marketplaces as sales channels for your furniture.
Hire a Qualified Workforce
In order to make custom furniture, you’ll need skilled employees to help you cut, sand, saw and join pieces together. To ensure you get the best team possible, look for qualified people with skills in woodworking, engineering and furniture design. It’s also important to make sure your workers are knowledgeable in the use of power tools and safety protocols in the workshop.
Develop a Marketing Plan
Designing the pieces of furniture is just the start; you’ll need a solid marketing plan if you want to get the word out about your products. You’ll need to consider a variety of methods to market your custom design furniture, from email campaigns to social media posts and targeted ads. Offline marketing channels such as print advertising and trade shows can also be powerful ways to reach potential customers.
Starting a custom design furniture business is an ambitious endeavor that requires creativity, market savvy and capital. It’s important to understand the industry, become familiar with customers, create a business plan and secure funding before you begin. You’ll also need the right tools and equipment, a retail location, and a qualified workforce. Finally, develop a comprehensive marketing strategy to ensure your business succeeds. With hard work and dedication, your custom design furniture business can become the success you’ve always dreamed of.
