How to Give FF&E Consolidation a Try Without Upending Your Current Operations

Many retailers already know that FF&E consolidation could dramatically improve their FF&E efficiency. Unfortunately, the daunting prospect of changing well-established operations makes them hesitant to try it.

If you’re one of those retailers, Store Opening Solutions has good news. In the following, we’ll explain how you can test the waters of FF&E consolidation—without diving in head first.  

Need a reminder of the advantages to FF&E consolidation? Then be sure to check out this brief video.

Easing into consolidation with a smaller project

Old habits can be hard to break, and likewise, so are the processes you use to handle your FF&E needs. But according to Phil Vines, Director of Business Development for Store Opening Solutions, there’s a smart way to give FF&E consolidation a trial run and experience its advantages firsthand.

“If you have a smaller FF&E project with a finite delivery timeline and a smaller number of SKUs, like a reset or light refresh, you can plan to have items shipped to a consolidator’s warehouse,” says Vines.

Moreover, a move like this doesn’t have to disrupt your current budget. If you already have CapEx approved for upcoming store projects, you can allocate a portion of your budget to consolidation. And that means you can avoid the hassle of building it into next year’s budget.

What to expect with your trial run

So what does a trial run of FF&E consolidation look like? Here’s a basic breakdown:

1. You’ll meet with your consolidator, and they’ll familiarize themselves with your inventory requirements. They’ll also map out how your FF&E will flow through their warehouse system.

2. For your designated trial run project, you’ll have FF&E shipped to your consolidator instead of scheduling direct shipments to store sites.

3. Your consolidator will receive and inspect your FF&E orders, and then inventory items. 

4. Based on your store project schedule, the consolidator will pick and kit your store orders as needed so that FF&E arrives at each site precisely when needed. 

5. Your consolidator will also schedule all the transportation required, including offloading at each site and documenting inventory arrival.

This trial run approach allows for a more controlled scenario involving fewer vendors and stores. You’ll now have a low-risk way to evaluate how consolidation fits within your company’s existing operations.

You’ll also see what it’s like to work with your own dedicated warehouse team, a group of pros who do this every day. They’ll know how to quickly get up to speed on your FF&E SKUs, your shipping preferences, and even how you want pallets sequenced on a trailer.

Sample a new normal: The benefits you should expect

FF&E consolidation can fundamentally change how your teams function. More specifically, Vines says retailers often discover that tasks they once considered unavoidable are now no longer necessary.

“For example, you’ll probably notice the reduced time spent on chasing vendors and orders,” he says. “There can be a new normal in how you manage your projects, and consolidation can play a key component in that.”

In fact, the reduced complexity of managing vendor relationships, combined with a streamlined delivery process, frees up valuable energy that your team can devote to other strategic initiatives.

Starting small to try out other consolidators

While starting small is an excellent way to test the benefits of FF&E consolidation, this strategy also works well for retailers who already consolidate their FF&E. 

Maybe you want to supplement your current services with a different consolidator. Or, you might want to see whether you could be better served by a different consolidator. Again, Vines suggests running something like a smaller-scale refresh project independently, using a separate consolidator. 

“With this lower-stakes approach, you can evaluate how a consolidator handles a limited set of projects,” he says. “You’re now in a position to determine whether you want to expand your relationship to larger, more complex rollouts and remodels.”

Seize the opportunity to give FF&E consolidation a try

Don’t let business as usual stop you from improving your operations. FF&E consolidation can solve numerous inefficiencies and logistical headaches. 

But it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing leap. By starting small with a controlled project, you can understand the advantages of FF&E consolidation firsthand. In the process, you can also build a case for incorporating this strategy into more and more of your store projects. 

To discuss how you can give FF&E consolidation a try with Store Opening Solutions, be sure to contact us today!