How to Master Long-Distance FF&E Shipping
Does distance matter? A question we frequently receive when referring to the distance between a warehouse location and a hotel site. The short answer is no, within reason. The better question is "What is more important, service or distance?"
Too many times owners, developers, and purchasing agents get caught up in proximity. They think about situations, like, “If things are close, they surely will cost a lot less, right?” or “If the warehouse misses an item, it can be easily brought to the site.”
The reality is, distance doesn't really drive costs. Service does. And if items are missed, they are simply delivered the next day, as in the case for both scenarios. In this blog, we’re delver further into the challenges that come with mastering long-distance hospitality FF&E shipping and how Beltmann Logistics can help with expert shipping and delivery solutions.
What is FF&E Hospitality Shipping?
In the world of hospitality, the term "FF&E" stands for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment. These elements play a crucial role in creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for guests in hotels and restaurants. Whether it’s for a restaurant, a hotel, or a warehouse, design and customer/employee comfort play a huge role in FF&E, ensuring the space is functional and aesthetically pleasing.
To guarantee a seamless shipment and delivery every time, we always recommend utilizing a full-service logistics provider that can connect and integrate each component of an FF&E, making the process easy and stress free.
6 Ways to Master Long-Distance FF&E Hospitality Shipping
Now, when it comes to long-distance FF&E hospitality shipping, there are several challenges to overcome to ensure that your hospitality project is executed seamlessly.
Here are six ways to master long-distance FF&E hospitality shipping.
Start with Planning & Coordination
To achieve success with any long-distance FF&E shipment, you’ll need to first begin with proper planning and coordination. To accomplish this, we recommend creating a list of your entire inventory: every item of furniture, the fixtures, and the equipment that is being relocated.
It’s also additional valuable to mark down the dimensions and specifications of each item in order to plan for the next space. Once you find a shipping company to work with, make sure to collaborate on schedules and routes to ensure everyone is aligned and expectations are being met.
Partner with a Trusted Shipping Company
While this is our second tip, we always recommend finding a trusted shipping company first as they can help you create a schedule, plan for any issues, and set out specifications you may not have initially thought of.
When choosing an FF&E hospitality shipping partner, make sure they have experience in FF&E and can provide you with key logistics solutions that will make the process that much easier.
Focus on Packing
Once you’ve chosen your shipping partner, it’s time to focus on packing. With hospitality FF&E, items such as furniture and fixtures can often be fragile and sensitive to breakage, which is why investing in high-quality packaging materials is incredibly important.
Collaborate with your FF&E shipping company to detail a thorough packing process that will ensure each item is individually wrapped to prevent damage during transport.
Delivery Scheduling & Planning
The next and most important step is to establish a delivering schedule for your long-distance FF&E shipment. Renovations and openings are a huge part of the hospitality industry, which is why making sure that your furniture, fixtures, and equipment arrives on time is crucial.
We always recommend working closely with your chosen shipping company to establish a well-defined schedule that includes pickup, transit, and delivery times. Doing this will ensure that their schedule aligns with your project timeline and coordinates with any construction or renovation work in progress.
Identify Potential Issues
A professional FF&E shipping and logistics company will be able to identify any potential issues that can arise from long-distance shipping, including weather-related delays, road conditions, and customs clearance. To combat this, we recommend building a contingency plan and adding flexibility into your schedule to accommodate unexpected delays.
It’s also important to work with your shipping and logistics partner to develop strategies for overcoming common long-distance shipping challenges, such as coordinating customs paperwork for international projects.
Perform a Post-Delivery Inspection
Finally, after the FF&E shipment is complete and at your desired location, it’s vital that quality control is done to identify any potential issues that arose from delivery.
When your FF&E shipment arrives, take time to go through each of the items, ensuring that all items are in perfect condition. Be sure to check for any signs of damage that may have appeared during relocation and let your FF&E shipping company know right away.
Trust the Long-Haul Trucking Experts at Beltmann Logistics with Your FF&E Shipment
When it comes to FF&E hospitality shipping, no other company handles your items with more care and consideration than Beltmann. Our hospitality FF&E logistics provide solutions for the core components of hospitality FF&E, including project management, transportation management, liquidation, lifecycle management, and more!
Our team is here to make sure that each and every hospitality FF&E shipment goes to plan for a process from start to finish. To get started, request a quote or contact us today!
