The summer holidays are traditionally a very busy time for UK manufacturers of school tables, chairs, cupboards etc.  Hundreds, maybe even thousands of schools and colleges order new stock …most of which has to be manufactured and delivered in a relatively short space of time.

Sadly it’s not always recognised that this puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the factories …… the need for more raw materials, perhaps taking on extra staff to cope with increased demand and last but not least, delivering huge quantities of furniture the length and breadth of the UK to many schools, often in the space of just a couple of weeks. 

Four suggestions to improve your school’s chances of getting new stocks of tables and chairs etc in plenty of time for the new school year…….  

1.  Order early!    This is usually the key to avoiding chaos at the start of the new term. Most manufacturers will be pleased to produce your furniture early in the summer term and store it for later delivery….either in the holidays or just before the new term starts.

2.  Never throw away your old furniture until the new stock has arrived!  However tempting it may be to clear out old chairs and tables and throw them in a skip, please resist doing so.  Your new stock may be delayed until after the terms starts…if this happens then what will your students sit on or write on?

3.  Take delivery “guarantees” with a pinch of salt (sometimes even a boxful of salt). This is particularly important if you are late in ordering and are desperately searching for a supplier to deliver in just a few days. It may be tempting for a firm to quote a quick delivery date  just to get your order, knowing full well that they can’t do what they say, but hoping they can keep you hanging on week after week until you finally receive your order.

4.  If you are ordering late then try to be flexible.  Could you change the specification slightly?   Can you change the colour or style of chairs you want?  Could you perhaps accept tables with a black frame rather than a grey frame?   A good supplier should be able to give you a fairly accurate idea of lead times for different products so at least you can make an informed decision.

If you need new school furniture for August or September you might like to contact

Central Educational Supplies Ltd on 020 7515 1797 or info@centraleducational.co.uk

Ask to speak to Martin Evans who will be pleased to discuss your requirements and can make suggestions and provide prices, all without any obligation.  For examples of their range of educational furniture please see:  www.centraleducational.co.uk

Central Educational Supplies Ltd., PO Box 999 London E14 6SH