Desks

Boardroom table

Furniture wholesalers and warehouses

A wholesaler is a distributor who sells for the purpose of reselling, or in other words they sell mainly to retailers rather than direct to consumers. A wholesaler may also sell to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users. A furniture wholesaler receives the products from the manufacturers, then generally sells in bulk. As a result of selling it in large quantities, the furniture is generally cheaper. The wholesaler may buy the furniture locally, or perhaps has it imported. The wholesaler may also export the furniture to retailers. However, wholesalers may also sell the furniture to consumers but probably in large quantities. Other functions of wholesalers include physical assembly of goods, sorting goods, breaking bulk and repacking to redistribute into smaller lots.

A wholesaler is only one part of the supply chain. Each stage of the supply chain adds value to the product, starting at the raw material, to the finished product, the distribution, sale and consumption of the goods by the consumer (whether individuals, businesses, governments, or organisations).

Modern and Contemporary furniture styles

The influence of modernism on furniture design can be seen from the 19th century. Dark or gilded carved wood and richly patterned fabrics gave way to the glittering simplicity and geometry of polished metal. The forms of furniture evolved from visually heavy to visually light. There was a shift from ornamental value to a focus on function and technical innovation. New materials were used, such as steel, molded plywood and plastics. Designing furniture now blended technology, art and engineering. African and Asian cultures had increasing influence, replacing the preference for baroque embellishments. Today, contemporary furniture designs seek to maintain simplicity and new visual experiences, as well as experimenting with new materials and combinations of materials.