The Benefits of Sunbrella Upholstery Fabric and How To Care For It

Choosing Sunbrella fabrics for your commercial outdoor furniture is a decision you will never regret.

 

The benefits of Sunbrella upholstery fabric are many, but here are the main highlights:

9 Food and Beverage Trends For Spring 2013 - #trendalert

Spring is a time of new beginnings and rebirth - not just in nature, but for businesses as well. Read on to learn about nine food and beverage trends that are hot this spring!

1) Mediterranean Food Gets Its Time to Shine - it's long been hypothesized that this region's diet is good for a person's heart, but recently the New England Journal of Medicine released an official stance on this topic in their article entitled "Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet". So now that the green light has been given, restaurants are eager to add Mediterranean offerings to their menus. Foods like tabbouleh, orzo, and hummus will be seen in on-trend seasonal menus this spring.

2) Young Garlic - as reported by nrn.com, "Whether they meant the green shoots that are suitable for stir-frying or the young bulbs that are sweeter and lighter but more aromatic than garlic during the rest of the year, chefs seem particularly excited about this particular spring specialty."

3) Beverage Tastings Are All the Rage - more restaurants and fast-casual chains are offering taster-sized portions of drinks. For example, California Pizza Kitchen has added three wine tasting packages to its menu, consisting of three 3-ounce pours for $12.00. Restaurants can view these beverage tastings as a way to introduce patrons to a variety of drinks, while at the same time boosting sales and allowing customers some semblance of choice.

4) Certification Is Where It's At - savvy consumers want to be reassured that they're making good choices when they dine out, and restaurants of all types are taking notice. A case in point is The Daily Dish restaurant in Maryland. This spring they will serve jumbo lump crabmeat that boasts "True Blue" certification, meaning that it's verified to have come from that state's waters. Another example is McDonald's recent addition to their Fillet-O-Fish sandwich - a seal affixed to the packaging showing that the chain is using certified sustainable Alaskan pollock fish. Try to be as transparent as possible regarding foods that are local, sustainable, organic, GMO-free, etc. Your customers - and likely your profit margins - will thank you for it.

5) Drinks Function As More Than Mere Thirst-Quenchers - beverage makers are combining ingredients to create multi-function, two-for-one drinks to promote things such as brain and bone health, energy, greater hydration through electrolytes, omega-3s in one's daily diet, as well as drinks that simply pair unusual flavor combinations.

6) Keepin' It Real - natural sweeteners are poised to edge out some of the high-fructose corn syrup and refined sugar action.With recent consumer trends toward decreasing sugar consumption, sweeteners like agave, honey, sucanat, and date sugar will be used with even greater frequency in both food and beverages. And if you do make the switch to more natural sweeteners, be sure to tout it! (See point 4, Certification Is Where It's At)

7) Alcohol-Based Beverages That Are Good for You - the organizers of the Healthy Beverage Expo in Las Vegas, NV provide this forecast: there will soon be an addition of vitamins and other all-natural ingredients to wine and cocktails. Look for options that also include fewer calories, organic ingredients, and non-GMO certification.

8) Culinary Seasonings Pair Up With Beverages - ingredients like sea salt, turmeric, ginger, and pine are going to be paired more frequently with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Seasonings will play an integral part in the creation of drinks with bold flavors, which consumers will be seeking out this spring season.

9) When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade - though it's long been a staple on restaurant menus, you will begin to see businesses reminding consumers of the health benefits of lemons - they contain antioxidants, act as a digestive aid, and are rich in dietary fiber. Try sweetening lemonades with a variety of natural sweeteners (see Keepin' It Real, above) to give customers even more reason to order an old favorite.

The Beverly Hills Hotel: A Restrospective

"A company with no history may be one with no future."

In this age of recession, where an estimated 660,900 businesses closed their doors in 2009 alone, we at Contract Furniture Company are humbled by and proud of our continued success. 

This year as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we decided to take a look back at one of our most notable clients - The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. In December of 1992 the landmark hotel closed for a complete renovation. The project lasted two and a half years, with the hotel reopening in June of 1995. We were a part of these site improvements, providing arm chairs, chaise lounge cushions, umbrellas, and umbrella bases.

The following is excerpted from a Los Angeles Times Magazine article entitled The Cabana King, by Martin Booe. We hope you enjoy the blast from the past.

7 Things You Might Not Know About Assisted Living Facilities

You may not yet be familiar with what assisted living is, or how it differs from other forms of senior communities. Read on to learn.

5 Reasons Why Hotels Are Embracing Mobile Technology

The hotel mobile solutions company, GuestCentric, recently noticed an increasingly large number of hotels interested in their product. So they set out to examine why interest in mobile functionality is increasing. Here's what they found.

12 Hottest Dining Trends For Restaurants and Hotels in 2013 - #trendalert

Here's another installation of hot trends for 2013:

5 Best Practices For Training Your Kitchen Staff To Go Green

Remodeling your commercial kitchen to become eco-friendly involves a number of changes - from installing more energy-efficient appliances to using greener cleaning products to explaining to your staff why being green is important.

 

Below are 5 best practices to implement when training your kitchen staff how to be green.

What's Edging In On Restaurant Market Share?

According to the NRN, "experts participating in the MUFSO panel Stealth Competition: Who's After Your Share of the Market? cautioned attendees...that this new wave of competition is employing lessons learned from restaurant operators themselves and using them to lure away potential customers." So who are these nontraditional competitors, and what are their strategies?

Business Social Media Trend For 2013 - Creating a Mobile Device-Compatible Website

We've all been there - trying to use a smart phone or tablet to browse a website, only to find that the site is not user-friendly at all. If you're anything like me, you simply leave the site. Bam. Their loss.

 
Don't let that scenario happen to you. Your business may be terrific, your website top-notch, but if you haven't optimized your site for mobile devices yet, you may be losing valuable interactions with potential customers.

Searching for information and shopping by mobile device is not a passing fancy. In fact, it's the hottest thing since (insert generational euphemism - Example, sliced bread)! As Tech Republic reported in June of 2012, "Since 2010, mobile searches have seen a 400% increase and it is estimated that by 2013, there will be more mobile internet users than desktop users." Certainly our most recent Holiday season saw a rise in mobile shoppers.

So what's a busy business owner to do? Well, you can start by using a free tool such as Google's "Test Your Site" feature to see how your site looks when viewed on a mobile device. Doing this will let you know how potential clientele are viewing your website.

Then, when you're ready to take the plunge into mobile optimization, consider a company like bMobilized, where for $9.00/month you can get the following:

Point is, there's no reason not to embrace mobile marketing. It's here to stay, it's an expected service to customers, and it's relatively simple to get started. Good luck to you!

7 Ways Booth Seating Can Make Your Restaurant More Inviting

Booth seating can boost your profit margin, and make your restaurant a more inviting place for all types of customers. 

Read on to discover seven ways that restaurant booths and banquettes may entice your clientele:

1. Flexible seating capacity - booths typically allow four people to sit comfortably. However, groups of five or six can easily be accommodated in a pinch, either by adding chairs to the booth end or by getting cozy with one another on the provided benches.

2. An intimate dining experience - booth seating creates the effect of a barrier between guests in your restaurant, allowing them to carry on private conversations and enjoy each other's company, even with a full house.

3. Greater payoff per table - studies have shown that patrons who sit in booths tend to spend more per visit. Take, for example, this study finding published 3 January 2012: "Customer checks revealed that patrons in booth seating spent an average of $56.67, while customers who sat at freestanding tables spent an average of $38.92." That difference can really add up at day's end.

4. More patrons per square foot of space - due to their ability to go back-to-back, restaurant booths actually have an overall smaller footprint than a table-and-chairs configuration. Also, there's no need to take into account the additional space needed to pull out chairs or walk between them. Customers with disabilities will find that they can easily be seated at the booth's end, ensuring that your business is taking steps toward ADA compliance.

5. Kid-friendly dining experience - booths give parents the ability to confine children between adults, as well as provide the extra space needed for kids to wiggle, squirm, and expend excess energy. Kids are often more comfortable sitting on the padded benches as opposed to on chairs that are adult-sized, and high chairs can easily be added to the end of a booth.

6. Creative layouts - booths and banquettes can be arranged in a variety of ways, such as:

• perpendicular to a wall, with tables and chairs in the center of the room
• floating in the center of the room, with open ends on both sides
• lining the backs of the banquettes along a wall, which creates an open seating style
• use the finished backs of the banquettes to make a room divider or an isle within your floor space

7. Custom designs - restaurant booths are often custom made to your specifications. Booth seating can be basic, high-end, or somewhere in the middle. Variations include upholstery, wood stains, trim options, and style of the booth itself. Contract Furniture  Company offers fully customizable, made-to-order, affordable booth seating that's made in the USA - check us out!

Style CH6

Style BTB

Style HR3

The New Year Brings New Commercial Restaurant Furniture To Our Site

Contract Furniture Company is pleased to announce some new additions to our website.

 

Aluminum Patio - Restaurant Furniture

Jupiter Arm Chair

Jupiter Side Chair

Jupiter II Arm Chair

Lauderdale Arm Chair

Lauderdale Side Chair

Miami Arm Chair

Miami Bar Stool

Miami Table

Outdoor Wicker Restaurant Furniture

Savannah Arm Chair

Seattle Arm Chair

Seattle Side Chair

Seattle Bar Stool

It's Easy Being Green: Strategies For Making Your Business Eco-Friendly

"The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved. "
~ Richard Rogers

Now, more than ever, customers are likely to seek out businesses that care about their impact on the environment. "Consumers want to know that businesses they patronize are not operating purely for profit, but are also taking care of their community." (Restaurant Hospitality, 26 December 2012) Discussed below are some simple changes that will not only "green" your business, but may also garner you additional customers. 

Creative Ways To Become More Eco-Friendly:

• Use bamboo plywood, poles, paneling, etc. As restaurant owner Phil Sciortino says, "Chop down a tree and it takes 50 years to regenerate. Bamboo grows back in six months."
• Be done with paper - programs such as the web-based Schedulefly allow you to schedule and communicate with staff electronically.
• Use compostable, sustainable, and biodegradable packaging. Companies like Bio-Pak, Be Green Packaging, ECOTAINERs, and Fabri-Kal Greenware offer products for just about every business.
• Forgo plastic cutlery. WNA Comet's EcoSense line of flatware offers biodegradeable and recyclable forks, knives, and spoons.
• Use reclaimed furniture from churches, schools, and other businesses instead of buying new. In many cases you can get a great deal on items that others no longer have need for.
• Invest in solar-power, low-flow toilets, on-demand (tankless) water heaters, and energy-saving lighting.

and last, but not least ...

• Purchase commercial grade furniture that is made from recycled plastic that would otherwise end up as landfill waste. Here are some of the top in the industry:

Resin Wood Composite Outdoor Furniture

Polywood Resin Outdoor Furniture

Emeco High End Recycled Furniture

Emeco Recycled Outdoor Furniture

With all of these tips and product suggestions, your business should find it easy to be "green".

Q: Do you have any environmentally friendly products or practices to recommend? 

     We'd love to hear from you.

City Center on 6th - Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA.

Just a quick note of thanks to the people over at City Center on 6th in Los Angeles, for sharing their installation photos with us.

Shown: Maya side chair and 200 Series table base

 

Shown: Aluminum market umbrella and Cambi table

 

You can view additional photos on our Pinterest page:

10 Emerging Food Trends For 2013 - #trendalert

Each year, a company called Publicis is called upon to forecast upcoming trends. In their own words, "The one constant in this world is change. You can either adapt to change, ignore it or lead it."

With that motto in mind, let's take a look at their Top 10 food predictions for 2013:

1. Coffee demand will increase - there has been quite a bit of research on the health benefits of coffee in the news recently, and a 100%+ growth in the single-serve coffee category.
2. Preserved foods revival - fermented, cured, pickled, and brined foods are increasingly showing up on menus and on grocery store shelves. 
3. Healthy alternatives for old favorites - salt alternatives, natural no-calorie sweeteners (monk fruit, anyone?), and healthier types of fats are being used by chefs nationwide.
4. Boxed wine is on the rise - because it offers savings in shipping costs and packaging, and eliminates the risk of oxidation that corked wine carries, high-quality wine producers are likely to jump on the boxed wine bandwagon.
5. Virtual food sharing will continue to grow - with social media sites like Pinterest (where food pins outweigh all other categories of pins), Taste Spotting, and Food Gawker, foodies can share their recipes, favorite dishes, and food fantasies.
6. Food facts on labels - consumer demand for transparency in food labeling is higher than ever. People will continue to push for full ingredient disclosure and GMO information.
7. Protein-enriched snack foods - the way people eat has changed through the years. Says Technomic, "Americans are now more inclined to ‘graze’ throughout the day, seeking snacks that provide fuel between traditional meal parts.” Look for an influx of protein-fortified bars, drinks, and snack foods.
8. Bitter is better - often a hallmark of foods containing antioxidants, bitterness adds a level of complexity to foods and beverages. Found naturally in plant-based, whole foods, bitter is a flavor that consumers will seek as they move toward healthier eating in general.
9. Casual dining is preferred - with the popularity of food trucks and gourmet street food, formal sit-down dining is on the decline. A casual dining atmosphere - even if it comes at a higher price point - is what customers will seek in 2013.
10. Crazy for coconut - everyone from health food proponents to workout-aholics are in the know about the beneficial properties of coconut. It contains natural electrolytes to replenish the body, and has a wealth of beneficial properties (as any Google search will tell you).

Go Bravely Forth Into 2013!

Is Your Business ADA Compliant?

In business, it's simply good practice not to make people feel excluded from your establishment. But are you unknowingly turning customers away?

 

54 million - This is the number of Americans who have a disability, according to the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Government Census.

By age, this breaks down to:

• 5 % of children 5 to 17 have disabilities (or, 1 in 20)
• 10 % of people 18 to 64 have disabilities. (or, 1 in 10)
• 38 % of adults 65 and older have disabilities. (or, roughly 2 in 5)

The best way to ensure that you are meeting the needs of every customer is to familiarize yourself with the ADA guidelines for your type of business:

ADA Requirements Checklist - Restaurants
ADA Requirements Checklist - Hotels
ADA Requirements Checklist - Retail Stores
ADA Requirements Checklist - Existing Facilities
ADA Requirements Checklist - New Lodging Facilities

And don't forget, some of your employees may need special accommodations, too:

ADA Requirements Checklist - Employees 


Some people find it difficult to anticipate what a disabled person might need, or even how to properly interact with a disabled personm which is why you might find this helpful:

7 Steps For Making Your Customers With Disabilities 

Feel Welcome     

With a little research and possibly some modifications, your business can become a place where each customer feels valued, respected, and welcome. And isn't that how we'd all like to feel?

 

 

Caribe Resort - Orange Beach, Alabama

When your thoughts turn to getting away from it all, a place to consider is the Caribe Resort in Orange Beach, AL.

The blue waters of the Caribe resort pool, and our Bahia chaise lounge.

The resort is family-friendly!

We appreciate the opportunity to provide the resort with our commercial chaise lounges - and we're pleased that they chose to add the chaise lounge cushions with hood to ensure their guests' maximum comfort.

5 Ways Business As Usual Might Change in 2013

Want to remain competitive in 2013? Read these predictions for the coming year that could make or break your business if you don't plan accordingly.

1) Reverse outsourcing will increase
A key issue in the recent presidential elections was the unemployment rate. Well, businesses are taking notice as well as taking steps to alleviate this condition - jobs are coming back to the U.S. Even major companies such as Apple and SeaMicro have announced plans to manufacture at least some of their goods in America.

2) You need to take reputation management seriously
Social networks are a double-edged sword - they provide a wide network of communication that may be used to the advantage or the disadvantage of a business. One way to keep on top of your company's online reputation is to set up Google Alerts. These alerts are viewable via Google Reader, which is an organized feed reader of every alert you’re subscribed to. You can click between different alerts and star certain ones for bookmarking, as well as share specific alerts via Google+ or email.

 3) Adobe Flash will go the way of the Dodo bird
Flash content can bog down your site, making it difficult for those with a slow internet connection or who are using a mobile device. However, HTML5 can transmit rich content to devices without the compatibility issues that arise with Flash, which is why it will soon begin to replace Adobe Flash for animations, movies, and numerous other applications. Get in the know about HTML5, now!

4) Email is becoming obsolete
As businesses make the switch to more instantaneous communication methods with their customers - like LiveChat, which we've raved about in the past - email is slowly becoming too, well ... slow. And business-to-business dealings are more frequently being conducted through Instant Messaging, Skype calls, and Google hangouts. Adios, email!

5) R.I.P. fax machines, it's been a good run
The main reason that fax machines are still with us? We haven't figured out how to make digital signatures legit in legal and real estate transactions. That's where a brilliant solution like DocuSign comes into play - you can send, sign and save documents anywhere, on any device,  and DocuSigned documents are legally binding. Sorry fax machines, your day of reckoning has arrived.