Advice from Suburban's Salespeople

by Nick, Digital Specialist | January 29, 2021

Suburban's salespeople are a great resource for advice and knowledge. Here are some tips they wanted to pass along to our Learning Center readers for how to make your furniture shopping trip as smooth as possible.

One of our great sources of information are our fantastic salespeople. Between them all, they have over 300 years of combined experience in our industry, so they’ve seen a thing or two along the way. They’ve witnessed huge changes in buying habits, seen different trends and styles coming and going, and helped furnish hundreds and thousands of households. We went straight to the source and asked them for some advice that they wanted to pass onto their clients- things they wished the customer knew before they came in the door. Use these awesome tips to help your shopping experience be as easy as possible!

-It’s Okay to Browse: Really, we don’t mind when you browse! Furniture stores are big, so we ask you what you’re looking for when you come in so we can point you in the right direction. We also hang out nearby in case you have any questions about what you’ve seen- we aren’t stalking you!

-Bring dimensions: At the bare minimum, take measurements of the room you want to work on, and bring them with you. Sure, you may know that you want to replace a sofa and loveseat with another sofa and loveseat, but your salesperson may present an idea that you haven’t considered. Having the dimensions with you saves lots of back-and-forth, and can help you wrap things up a lot quicker!

-Take pictures: Stand in the doorway(s) and take some pictures of the room you’re working on. This is so helpful for a salesperson or designer to “get into” your space without actually traveling to your home. They can get a sense of your style and be able to see any obstacles that you might not have considered. It makes picking colors so much easier, too!

-Note your obstacles: Your room is not just a rectangle. Every room has a door (or multiple doors) that needs to be considered when laying out the room. Make a note of which way the doors swing, too- whether they go into your room or out into the next room. In addition, make notes of any windows in the room- not just how wide they are, but how high they are off the ground! This is important to know especially if you’re planning to put something in front of the window. Finally, does your room have any other obstacles, like a fireplace, heating vent, column, or stairs?

-It’s Your House and Your Money: Most times, salespeople are trying their best to steer you in the right direction based on their expertise and the options available. They are doing their best to be friendly and to help you find the right solution for your home- but if you feel they’re being pushy or they’re not listening, it’s okay to make your own decisions about what you want. It’s your house, not theirs!

-What You’re Keeping: Unless you’re starting with an empty space, there are likely pieces of furniture that you’re going to keep in the room. Is that vanity desk staying in your bedroom? What about that coffee table in your living room? Take a picture and make note of its measurements so nobody loses track of it.

-Colors: If you can find it, make a note of the paint color that’s in the room you’re working on. Many times, you can find this info on the paint can (if there’s any left over- there usually is). It’s helpful to bring the name of your paint (most stores will have paint chips) or even a swatch of the paint. This makes picking colors and fabrics for your new sofa a breeze.

-Don’t Be Afraid to Ask: If you’ve been working with a particular salesperson and you are satisfied with their level of knowledge and service, ask to work with them again! As you can imagine, salespeople greatly appreciate loyalty if you’ve felt they did a good job for you. That being said, don’t feel obligated. There’s no rule that says you have to work with the person who helped you the last time.

Our salespeople hope that these great tips will make your shopping experience go as smoothly as possible. People don’t usually go furniture shopping all the time, so we want to do what we can to help make it easier!