How to Reduce Procurement Costs When Furnishing Accommodation
Whether you’re furnishing a new development, refurbishing an existing property or replacing items across multiple rooms, procurement costs can quickly add up.
For hotels, PBSA, Build to Rent, serviced apartments, holiday parks, care accommodation and other accommodation providers, reducing costs isn’t simply about finding the cheapest product.
Delivery, logistics, waste removal, product lifespan and the time spent managing multiple suppliers all contribute to the true cost of procurement.
So, where can savings be made?
Buy in Bulk and Access Wholesale Pricing
If you’re purchasing significant quantities of mattresses, TVs, kettles, fridges, desk chairs or other items, buying individually at standard retail prices may not offer the best value.
By combining requirements across a property, development or multiple locations, you may be able to access more competitive bulk and wholesale prices.
Rather than simply comparing online retail prices, ask for a tailored quote based on the quantities you actually need – whether that’s 50 TVs, 200 kettles, 500 mattresses or furniture for an entire development.
At TSS, we can provide competitive wholesale pricing across furniture, mattresses, electrical appliances and other accommodation essentials, with quotes tailored to your quantities and requirements.
Choose One Supplier
One supplier for mattresses, another for TVs, another for furniture and another for kitchen appliances can quickly mean multiple purchase orders, deliveries and contacts to manage.
Where possible, consolidating more of your requirements through one procurement supplier can simplify the process and potentially reduce costs.
Products that can be sourced in bulk include:
TVs | Kettles | Toasters | Microwaves | Fridges | Fridge Freezers | Washing Machines | Mattresses | Beds | Desks | Chairs | Furniture
This can be particularly useful when furnishing or refurbishing a large number of rooms, or when managing requirements across multiple properties.
Look Beyond the Cheapest Product
The lowest unit price isn’t always the lowest overall cost.
In high-occupancy accommodation, furniture, mattresses and electrical appliances can experience considerably more use than they would in a typical home.
Consider durability, warranty, expected lifespan, energy efficiency and replacement availability alongside the initial purchase price.
Paying slightly more for an item that lasts longer could ultimately offer much better value.
Plan Your Replacements
Planned replacement programmes can help avoid expensive last-minute purchasing.
Mattresses are a good example. Rather than replacing them individually when problems arise, reviewing their condition across a property can help you forecast how many may need replacing over the next six or twelve months.
The same applies to TVs, kettles, fridges, desk chairs and other frequently replaced items.
Planning ahead gives you more time to compare options, consolidate quantities and explore bulk pricing.
Don’t Forget Delivery and Waste Removal
The price of the product itself is only part of the overall procurement cost.
When comparing quotes, consider how much it will cost to get everything to site - and what happens to the products you’re replacing.
Depending on the project, additional costs could include:
Delivery and unloading
Multiple or phased deliveries
Moving products around the building
Removal of old mattresses and furniture
Recycling or disposal of old electrical appliances
Packaging removal
Assembly or installation
A mattress, TV or fridge might initially appear cheaper from one supplier, but once separate delivery, logistics and disposal costs are added, the overall cost could look very different.
Considering procurement, delivery and waste removal together can give you a much clearer picture of the true cost.
Bulk Procurement for Accommodation Providers
If you’re already replacing 100 mattresses, could it be worth reviewing your TVs, desk chairs or other bedroom items at the same time?
If you’re furnishing a new hotel, PBSA or Build to Rent development, could furniture, mattresses and electrical appliances form part of one larger procurement exercise?
Looking at requirements across the whole property can reduce the number of individual orders and deliveries while creating opportunities to buy more efficiently.
Buying at scale can make sense across a wide range of accommodation settings, including hotels, aparthotels, Build to Rent, PBSA, serviced apartments, holiday parks and care accommodation.
From bulk electrical appliances such as TVs, kettles, toasters, fridges and washing machines to wholesale mattresses, beds, desks, chairs and other furniture, bringing more of your requirements together can help simplify procurement and control costs.
Whether you’re furnishing a new development, planning a refurbishment or replacing products across an existing property, looking at your requirements as a whole can make the procurement process simpler and more cost-effective.
Buying in Bulk? Get a Quote
Whether you need 20 replacement TVs, 100 mattresses, 200 kettles or furniture and electrical appliances for an entire development, TSS can help source what you need.
Send us your product requirements, quantities, delivery location and timescale and we’ll help source suitable options and provide a competitive quote.
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