Ever wonder what really happens after you leave the recycling center?  Your old milk jugs, water bottles, detergent bottles, and other post-consumer waste can be cleaned and decontaminated, and saved from spending an eternity in your local landfill.  These items then go through a compounding process to produce a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) rigid board stock material, that can be used like lumber!  The plastic is then crafted to actually look like wood, giving it an aesthetic appeal for many outdoor furniture purposes.  You may be wondering if this recycled plastic forms a weak or flimsy final product, but the truth is, polywood is a preferred alternative to traditional wood for commercial uses.  With an expected lifespan of 50 years, polywood products are strong and durable.

Here are some of the major benefits of poly lumber:

• 100% recycled materials
• U.V. Stabilized Against Fading
• Resists fuels, insects, fungi and salt spray
• Holds up to extremes in heat and cold
• Maintenance free
• Termite resistant
• Will not promote bacterial growth or mildew
• Will not crack, split, warp, rot or splinter
• Will not fade

Compared to treated lumber, polywood is free from toxins and chemicals, which is safe to use and will not harm the soil surrounding the outdoor polywood furniture. Because it is a non-porous material, it will not harbor insects, mold, or fungi, and it is safe to use in beach-side areas near the saltwater of the ocean.  You won’t need to waterproof the furniture, yet, it won’t warp or rot, because polywood will not absorb moisture.

Your outdoor chairs and tables are also not limited to stains, as poly lumber is available in many exciting colors.  The color is throughout (not just on the surface), so you will never need to repaint your polywood products.  Nicks in the surface from everyday wear and tear will not be as easy to notice, since the color is throughout.   This means the appearance of your outdoor furniture will stay beautiful for years to come!  Want to add a bit of flair to your outdoor decor?  Poly lumber comes in bright colors, such as lime or mango, but it is also available in more traditional colors, like black or brushed silver.

Your polywood furniture can easily be cleaned with soap and water.  It’s also tough enough to withstand a power washing.  Besides an occasional cleaning, your poly lumber is practically maintenance free.

Economically speaking, polywood is a great choice.  Low prices, long lifetime, little upkeep – it makes dollar sense for you in every aspect.

Polywood is a great choice for outdoor commercial properties, whether you are shopping for an outside dining area, hotel, resort, boardwalk vendor, or public beach. Built commercial grade strong, polywood furniture is also very attractive and will add a great look to your outdoor place!

Because poly lumber is constructed with environmentally friendly materials without consuming natural resources, choosing polywood will help your “green” rating with a low eco-footprint.  When the outdoor furniture has run its course, the items will be easy to recycle since they are constructed of recyclable materials.

OutdoorRestaurantFurniture4Sale.com offers a wide variety of polywood products, from table tops to outdoor dining chairs.  We also give our customers the choice of quality imported products, or outdoor furniture that is locally made in the U.S.A. by authentic Amish craftsmen.

Any polywood product you choose will offer style, as well as sense-ability, to your outdoor commercial space!

Love is in the air! Is your banquet center, outdoor garden, or party rental supply company feeling the pressure with a calendar full of springtime weddings? Couples read magazine articles and online reviews, talk to friends and family, and research numerous possible wedding and reception venues before selecting the location that they will say “I do.” When they choose your location, you want to make sure to say thanks by giving them a day to remember for all the right reasons! As we move into the official wedding season of 2012, make sure you are prepared to make every bride you work for 100% satisfied!

1. Know your facility and its stats. How many people does your venue comfortably fit?  Is your staff trained and fully capable of serving the meal in the style the couple wants?  Do you have a prepared menu, list of rental items or A/V equipment, and a seating chart diagram to hand out?  What services are your staff truly prepared to offer, e.g., valet, delivery and set-up, or a coat check?  If your customer is counting on an outdoor wedding, but the weather forecast suggests otherwise, do you have a backup plan?  You don’t want to over-promise and under-deliver, so know who you are and exactly what you can offer.
2. Open dates matter. While booking up quickly means a guaranteed revenue stream for you, try to arrange your venue to accommodate as many events as possible.  Can you offer Friday night specials, or promote an evening wedding on dates that have an afternoon affair?  Are there two separate spaces that can be used as different venues to host simultaneous events?  If you are a party rental company, do you have enough staff to do deliveries and pick-ups of multiple events in the same day, and do you have someone in logistics to coordinate the delivery routes/trucks?  Be open and flexible, and creatively come up with solutions to serve as many customers as possible without turning down too many customers due to date restrictions.
3. Attract brides with extraordinary measures. If you have a lot of local competition, you have to know what your brides want, so you exceed their expectations and have a one up over your competitors.  For example, offering Chiavari chairs as a preferred seating will eliminate the hassle for brides who were going to rent their wedding chairs from a third party and will be an advantage in your venue’s favor while brides narrow down their search.  Set up relationships with a DJ, photographer, videographer, florist and bakery, so the bride feels like she is getting a complete wedding planner one-stop-shop when she chooses you.  Keep some above average decor items, such as centerpieces, swags, or aisle runners on hand, which will help set your venue apart from the rest.  Embrace your own unique character and fill a niche that works best for you; don’t be afraid to be a little out of the ordinary.  In other words, give them something to talk about – and be that one venue or party rental company that has that something special they are looking for!
4. Train your staff to smile. The term ‘bridezilla’ wasn’t created just for fun. Brides are going through one of the most stressful times of their life, planning the biggest party they will probably ever throw, and committing to share their entire future with one partner.  They are hosting their friends and their most critical family members, plus their brand new in-laws.  They expect everything to be perfect, and they can be very demanding.  By showing them exceptional customer service, you keep them happy – which in turns, keeps your staff happy, too.
5. Stock up on essentials. Check your folding chairs, food service and banquet tables, and your linen supply.  Is everything in top notch shape?  Do you need any replacements or repairs?  Would you like to add cocktail tables or Chiavari chairs to your inventory?  What about any A/V equipment – new microphones, speakers, or screens?  Do a checklist and supply count, and make sure you have everything on hand that you will need to survive the wedding season.
6. Be social. Ask your satisfied customers to post recommendations on your Facebook page or to give testimony to share on your Web site.  Provide a photo gallery online with a “pin it” button that makes it easy for prospective brides to save and share your company’s URL.  Ask permission to tweet about the great events you helped coordinate, and wish your customers a life full of happy via their social networks, too.  Don’t forget a hand written thank you note to your customers thanking them for choosing your location.  Being social will make you look like the friendly place in town to go for business, and it will help you form relationships with your customers which will garner repeat or referred business.

With wedding season in full bloom, you want to make sure you are fully prepared to cater to all your customers’ needs.  Follow these six steps for ensured success, and have a blissful summer full of love…and first dances!

For more visual inspiration, visit our ‘Wedding & Event Decor‘ board on our new Pinterest page!

Wait! Are they commercial grade?

V.

There really is a difference between the quality of furniture designed for residential use and the tables, chairs, and bar stools used in commercial settings.  Commercial restaurant and hospitality industry furniture must undergo stability, durability, and weight testing to meet the commercial grade standards.  These standards are designed to ensure the repetitive usage of the product by people of all shapes and sizes.  Much like you would expect your restaurant’s ovens, mixers, and freezers to be of a different grade than your house’s kitchen appliances, the furniture should also stand up to the commercial grade tests.  Designed for heavy everyday use, commercial furniture can withstand the rigors of the hospitality industry and typically outlast their consumer grade counterparts.  The same is true for office chairs; commercial office chairs are designed to be sat in for ten hours a day, seven days a week, while your home office chair is made for more light duty work.

For example, metal chairs and bar stools designed for home use usually are constructed of 20-22 gauge steel frames.  Commercial metal chairs and commercial metal bar stools tend to feature frames of 16-18 gauge steel.  The lower the gauge number, the better the quality when it comes to strength and durability.  Another example is the type of wood wooden chairs and bar stools are made from.  Many consumer products made for the home are built with rubberwood.  However, commercial grade wooden chairs and commercial wooden bar stools usually are constructed of beechwood, a better quality wood.

Why is this important to you?  For one, even though the upfront cost of a commercial grade chair may be more than a consumer grade chair, you want to avoid the costs (and hassle) of fixing or replacing your restaurant chairs in the future.  Also, local retail stores change out their inventory frequently, and if you want to replace a chair for a matching one, you take the risk of not finding the same chair again if you rely on your local store.  Secondly, you want to prevent as many accidents as possible, and by using the right commercial grade furniture, you reduce the risk of injury.  Residential-designed chairs or bar stools could break and send a customer tumbling to the floor.  In addition to someone getting hurt, the costs of settling accident reports and incidents can be great for a business.

That’s why we caution you to buy commercial grade for your business. Look for high quality furniture with added braces and supports, and prevent the hassle you could face if you don’t buy commercial restaurant furniture.

Churches, especially start-ups, must decide between using church chairs or pews in their sanctuaries. But what’s the difference? What are the pros and cons of each choice?  Here are some thoughts that I hope will help make your choice easier.

SPACE/LAYOUT     How your sanctuary or meeting room is laid out and how much space you have is an obvious consideration.  Would long pews fit and give the attendees in every pew/seat a good view of the pulpit?  Is there space for an aisle and walkways if you use pews?  If you are using the space for multiple functions, would the flexibility and mobility of church chairs be a better fit for the space? If your location is not a permanent location, then adding pews could be high risk if you move into a new facility that doesn’t support a similar layout or functionality.  Church chairs can be moved out of the way, stacked for storage, and easily set up in different configurations or ganged together (with the included ganging brackets) for the ultimate in convenience and choice when it comes to space and layout.  Pews, on the other hand, cannot.

COST     The upfront cost between church chairs and pews differs greatly.  Church chairs are much less expensive for the initial purchase than pews, which are often hand-crafted from wood.  However, church chairs often need repaired or replaced before a long-lasting pew, so there could be additional costs after the initial purchase.  For a start-up church though, the initial budget is probably a little tighter and cost could be a deciding factor.

COMFORT     If you have a lot of young families in your church, pews make it easy for the kids to sprawl out (or squish together) and offer a surface to color in their coloring books or play on while keeping occupied so as not to disturb the rest of the congregation.  If you have a lot of older members in your church, a soft, padded church chair is going to be very comfortable during the hour -long sermon.  Where pews can have a hard back and sometimes a hard seat, chairs are much softer.  Church chairs give each person a pre-defined amount of space and wiggle room.  For adults, this might feel more comfortable, because we tend to want a set amount of personal space.

BOOKS & BULLETINS     Pews and church chairs are tied neck-to-neck on this consideration, because there are typically book racks attached to the back of pews, and church chairs offer a book rack beneath the seat and a pocket in the back, as well.  Both options offer the convenience of holding your Bible, hymnal, and program/bulletin during each service.

STYLE/AESTHETICS     When it comes to style, it is usually left to personal opinion.  There’s no denying the old world style and ultimate beauty of rows of wooden pews in a traditional style church.  However, church chairs offer a more modern and contemporary feel to a church’s setting.  Aesthetically speaking, both can be arranged in a neat and orderly manner, making either choice a beautiful edition to your sanctuary.

For churches looking to purchase church chairs or pews, please feel free to post your additional questions or comments below to help add to this debate.

That’s why we are happy to join the fight for a cure.  We have donated an auction package for the upcoming 15th Annual Beach Ball Gala hosted by the Northwest Pennsylvania branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  The event takes place on Saturday, March 24, at the Ambassador Center in Erie, Pa., and it will feature a “Pirates of the Cure-ibbean” theme.  One of our staff will be volunteering at this event, and we are all excited to help raise funds for the national research that is being done to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Our commitment to giving back extends further than participating in local events.  We know that as a national company, our corporate giving must impact neighborhoods across the U.S., where all our customers live and work.

You are probably familiar with the ABC hit TV show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  We had the privilege to help furnish Logan’s Locker Room when the Hall family had their house made over in an episode last spring.   We were very thrilled to be a small part of the project that transformed the Hall family’s lives!

ESPN also broadcast an extreme makeover of their own in a show called Rise Up.  To give the Athletics Department a hand, ESPN organized for Chicago’s William H. Dyett High School to be made over.  When they called us looking for some seating solutions, we were excited to make the donation to help this school and their students out.  You can watch the big reveal and see just how excited the students are to have a new place for sports and recreation.

What’s more, after their school was given a fresh new look this fall, a team of faculty and students went into the community to help build a playground as a way to pay it forward.  Now, that warms our hearts and gives us more reason to keep giving in the future.

While we cannot support every cause, we do like to take advantage of the giving opportunities that arise that meet our own company’s vision for a brighter world.  Good fortune has blessed us in many ways, and we are eager to pay that good fortune forward – just as those high school students in Chicago.  Donating to local youth organizations and allowing our staff to sell their children’s school or sports team fundraisers to their coworkers helps create a charitable work environment.  We hope you’ll join us in giving back to your community.

Here are a few online resources that may inspire you to get involved:
www.volunteermatch.org
www.charitynavigator.org
www.serve.gov

Building community and attracting new audiences are two very important objectives for many churches, regardless of denomination.  Many churches across the U. S. (and globally) have acted on a growing trend to help address these goals:  open a cafe or coffee house inside the church.  Depending on your church community’s own goals, a coffee house could also be a much-needed revenue stream for a declining membership or growing capital needs.

We live in a Starbucks world

Chances are, when your congregation walks out your chapel doors on Sunday morning, they are heading to the nearest Starbucks or local coffee house to get their fix before the rest of the day.  Or perhaps, they came to church holding their white to-go cup adorned with that famous green mermaid.  Younger generations, especially, feel comfortable in a cafe atmosphere and often include a weekly, if not daily, visit to a cafe or coffee house.  Bringing this atmosphere to a church can make the Sunday ritual a little less intimidating or threatening to some, and can offer a convenience factor to those coffee connoisseurs in your congregation.  If you’re reading this, you are probably already tasting your drink of choice – whether it’s a chilled frappuccino, a frothy cappuccino with your favorite flavor shot, or a bold cup of espresso.  Even tea drinkers find comfort at a cafe, and many serve up smoothies for those looking for a fruity taste instead (which is also a great kids’ choice for younger families).

Coffee hour can build community

Imagine your sermon ends, and people don’t rush out the door.  Instead, they chat with their neighbors over coffee in your narthex, or a church-run separate cafe.  Imagine Bible Study ends, but the conversation continues over a cappuccino or hot tea.  Imagine a pastor reaching out to get to know someone in his fellowship, and being able to offer a cup of joe in a relaxed atmosphere while trying to do so.  Having a resource of this kind inside your chapel’s walls can be a great boost to your own congregation and provide ample opportunities to bring people together and inspire people to truly connect.  Cut out the small talk about the weather and the “I’m good” automatic responses, and really get to know your church-goers a little better.

Integrating technology will modernize your church

Coffee houses don’t just sell coffee.  They have Wi-fi, promote new music, and keep people connected – in a more global way than previously mentioned.  To do a cafe right, you need to offer free Wi-fi to your customers, so they can bring in their laptops and surf the ‘net or do other work in the peacefulness a church cafe can inhabit.  You can also stream contemporary Christian hits and perhaps offer free downloads of your own choir’s musical performances.  At times, bring in local musicians to host live events and draw more customers.  If your church’s bookstore is flailing, consider linking up with an online book retailer to bring the great written copy onto someone’s Kindle or Nook.  (Coffee houses can also inspire people to sit down and actually open up that book they’ve been meaning to read, and could work well in conjunction with a church bookstore or lending library.)  If your church is too conservative to try to bring in modern elements to its sermon, a cafe can be a great extension of your services and attract a less-conservative crowd.  If you’re already breaking down barriers with A/V additions to your Sunday mornings, then a cafe will fit into your personality and be a smooth transition for your audience.

Sundays aren’t the only days people can come to church

Does your church have activities throughout the week?  Do you want to be more visible all week long?  Having open cafe hours can not only just attract outsiders for some coffee (and money for your church’s revenue stream), but it can be a great perk to your staff, volunteers, and people coming to church throughout the week for activities or private confessionals/prayers.  Many churches recommend hiring a few key staff who are responsible for the cafe, but others can operate it solely through the hands of volunteers.  Finding what works for you, your church, your goals, and your budget will be beneficial.

If you can envision a cafe in your church, already enjoy the aroma of the beans wafting through your chapel, hear the clink of coffee mugs and friendly conversation, and begin to see the benefits of how a church cafe could promote a happier congregation, attract new/younger church-goers, and boost your fundraising efforts, then we hope this article was helpful and wish you success in your exciting new venture!

These are all questions that are running through your mind as you design the layout of your restaurant or banquet center.  Your space planning is a very important step in creating a restaurant or banquet center that operates efficiently, not to mention gives your guests or patrons an enjoyable atmosphere they will want to come back to!  Here is a checklist of considerations you will need to address during your restaurant and banquet space planning.

Space Planning, Part One:

Laying the groundwork before mapping out your space diagram will save a lot of headaches in the end.  Be sure to do these initial steps in your restaurant and banquet space planning.

1. Check the local codes and be sure you always comply with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).  (As a rule, 5% of the total space should be accessible to people in wheelchairs.  Wheelchairs typically require a 36″ clearance for aisle space in dining areas.  Be sure the section of your establishment which is ADA-compliant is accessible to the entrance/exit and also to any public areas, such as the bathroom or cashier’s counter.)
2. Determine the square footage of your area, and make a list of all the functions the space will provide (e.g., restaurant dining, banquet style seating, classroom/seminar seating, with or without dance floor, bar and cocktail areas, buffet or stage areas, etc.)
3. Know what your customers expect from the space and what brand image/atmosphere you want the space to project.

Go the Distance:

When doing your measurements for your dining space, be sure to keep these rules of thumb distances in mind:

• Allow 18″ from the edge of the table to the back of each seat
• Allow at least 12″ between chairs that are back-to-back
• Allow a minimum of 24″ of aisle or service space (please note, the ADA requires greater room in at least 5% of the dining area for wheelchairs)
• Allow 54″ between round tables and 60″ between rectangular tables to create the needed service space
• Allow 24″ – 30″ between table corners when placed diagonally

Choose Your Table Shape(s) and Size(s):

Square tables offer the most flexibility and are easiest to move around or rearrange.
Round tables are often considered the most elegant and are the most popular for banquet seating, as they optimize space per person the best and allow for centerpieces to be displayed prominently.  Drop leaf round tables also offer some added flexibility in case you need to push tables together to accommodate a large party.
Rectangular tables are most popular for the every day dining experience and can be pushed together to create larger seating capacities per party when needed.

Follow our recommended table seating capacity chart, and think about how and what you serve to your customers.  Are you just a coffee and dessert establishment, or are you a fine dining restaurant that offers 8-course meals?  Envision everything that will be taking up space on your table tops.  Will you have candles, salt and pepper shakers, water pitchers, wine cantors, etc?  Do you serve full-course breakfasts that come on three plates per person?  Or do you serve bar food that takes up less space?  Keep all these things in mind when you choose your table size and how many chairs you put around each one. While it is recommended that each person have 2 feet of the table’s circumference or perimeter, or an estimated 300 square inches of table top space, your patrons may require more space depending on what you are serving.  On the same token, elementary school cafeterias would not need to offer as much space per person as a college or corporate cafeteria.

Many restaurants incorporate varying sizes of tables to allow for maximum seating capacity, the flexibility to serve differing sizes of parties at the same time, and to create a more aesthetically appealing restaurant space.  Mixing booth or “anchored” tables (edge of table against wall) with floating tables is also a great way to maximize space, and most guests probably prefer to be near a wall/window than “in the middle” of the room.  Placing square tables diagonally also saves floor space and can restrict views from one table to another to create a more private dining experience for your guests.

Some helpful tips:

• Do you foresee rearranging tables frequently for different events?  Be sure to purchase lightweight tables and chairs that will be easy to haul around, and choose ones that will not mar your floors.  You may also be interested in purchasing a chair and table dolly to lighten you staff’s load.
• Want to be prepared for extra customers?  Why not keep a few lightweight stacking chairs in storage in case you need to pull them out to accommodate larger parties?
• Not expecting a lot of movement?  If you are a finer dining establishment, you may want to choose the larger table per recommended number of guests and purchase heavier chairs that create an illusion of being more prestigious and luxurious.

While these guidelines and recommendations are helpful starting points, laying out a unique restaurant or banquet space for your particular establishment and utilizing the space you have for your specific goals will take a lot of thought.  Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and design a great looking restaurant or banquet space that effectively meets your and your guests’ expectations!

Was this helpful?  Let us know!

Resource: Seating Chart

Because it’s a 15-day celebration, you still have time to plan something big for the Lantern Festival on the 15th day, or you could introduce a dragon-themed menu item(s) for the duration of 2012!  Get creative, as the possibilities are endless!





Here are a few links to help get you thinking:

1. Nation’s Restaurant News posted a blog detailing how some national chains are celebrating the new year with specials (Read it here!)
2. SmartBlog on Restaurants posted similar information and detailed what types of foods will be celebrated (Read it here!)
3. The Daily Meal shares a recipe for Peking Duck in honor of the celebration  (Read it here!)
4. The Daily Meal also shares 4 spirits you should offer in honor of the holiday (Read it here!)

Happy Chinese New Year to you, and best wishes for a festive Year of the Dragon!

Swivel bar stools tend to be easier to get in and out of. This is one huge benefit if choosing the swivel bar stool style.  Being able to pivot away from the bar or extra tall table and also out of the way of fellow patrons on either side, the swivel makes it easy to sit down and stand up from the bar. That’s not to say that a standard bar stool should always be avoided, especially if they are placed at high tables where you want your guests to stay seated for longer periods of time.  Keep the drinks coming!

Swivel bar stools work better in more social flowing atmospheres. It’s all about your brand and the atmosphere you way your bar or restaurant to portray.  If you are a social bar where singles are mingling, then a swivel bar stool is your best choice.  Movement allows patrons to scan the room, get in and out easily, turn to talk to different groups of people, etc.  However, if you are a restaurant trying to create intimate dining experiences or more private spaces for your guests, then a standard or non-swivel bar stool is the one you want.  Your patron parties will appreciate the stationary seat when leaning in to talk to one another at their same table or next to them at the bar.

Swivel bar stools may feature a taller seat height. It’s true: size matters.  When choosing your bar stool, make sure you get one with the right seat height.  Most bar stools are about 30″ tall at the seat, but a swivel may or may not add an inch or two to that height.  Always check the dimensions and give your guests enough room beneath the bar/table and above their knees. Comfort is always key in choosing the right bar stool.

Choosing a swivel bar stool means choosing metal. If you are trying to create a more traditional, warm, classic feel in your restaurant, a wooden bar stool may be your best bet.  Unfortunately for wood-lovers, most swivel bar stools come in metal.  So if you’re looking for wood, you will probably have to choose a standard or non-swivel bar stool.  That’s not a bad thing!  Solid wood bar stools offer a timeless elegance to your bar or restaurant.  Once you have a clear brand image, choosing the right bar stool will make total sense!  Perhaps, it will be love at first sight – and you will just know when you see that bar stool that is calling your name.

Whether you choose to swivel or not, selecting the right bar stools for your bar or restaurant will be a great achievement.

Cheers!

Do you have other tips to offer to this conversation?  Share them with us and our readers by commenting below!