Furniture Retailer vs. Furniture Manufacturer: Who Is Better to Buy From?

June 13, 2023  ·  5 min read  ·  Reviewed by Sarah Zubowski

Do you know the difference between a furniture retailer and a furniture manufacturer? To put it simply, a furniture manufacturer is a company that makes furniture and a furniture retailer is a company that sells furniture.

If you’re debating whether to purchase your furniture from a furniture retailer or a furniture manufacturer, we hope our expert guidance can point you in the right direction. Although it may sound like a tough decision, the answer is quite simple: if you want unique and affordable furniture of the highest quality, put your trust in a local furniture manufacturer like Living Designs Furniture. 

Living Designs Furniture is the best furniture manufacturer, as well as the best place to buy furniture in Houston. As both a retailer and a manufacturer, we can provide a more tailored and simpler shopping experience.

There are so many benefits to giving your business to local furniture manufacturers over big-brand furniture stores. As furniture experts, we’re going to break down those benefits for you.

1. Better quality for a better price

We understand that when buying furniture, consumers want two things: good quality pieces for lower prices. And guess what? We want that for you, too — but not every retailer does.

If you shop at any store that sells well-known or high-end furniture brands, chances are that you’re paying extra for the brand name. Furniture retailers often make you settle for lower quality items for a low price (as these items are mass-produced), or ask you to cough up more cash for a fancy brand’s promise of “quality.” 

Shopping at a furniture manufacturer allows you to get high-quality pieces for fair prices. As the manufacturer, our in-house expert craftsmen are the ones handmaking the furniture we sell, meaning that we oversee every step of the production process for quality assurance. 

Additionally, we cut out the middleman by doing everything in-house, so we don’t have to charge you unnecessary third-party fees. This ensures that we can give you, the customer, the best product possible for the best price. And it just keeps getting better.

2. Customization capabilities 

When you step into a furniture retail store, what you see is what you get. And sometimes, you won’t love what they have in-store or online. Many customers will settle for furniture that doesn’t fit their home, needs, or personal style because the retailer didn’t have exactly what they were looking for.

Well, that wouldn’t be a problem with a furniture manufacturer! As we mentioned earlier, because we craft the furniture that we sell, we have the power to customize any piece in our showroom or create something completely unique to fit your needs. A furniture retailer might let you change at least the color of the fabric, but here at Living Designs Furniture, you can customize:

  • Fabric type
  • Fabric color
  • Shape and size 
  • Upholstery details 
  • Cushion comfort level
  • And more! 

If you’re interested in custom furniture in Houston, get in touch with our experts about your next project. With us, you’ll never have to settle for “almost perfect” ever again. 

3. Stress-free furniture shopping experience

Two things that make furniture shopping stressful are pushy salespeople and the inevitable decision fatigue. Luckily, Living Designs Furniture takes care of both of these problems for a breezy and fun shopping experience.

Helpful experts 

First, we employ furniture experts who are there to be a guiding light through the entire process. Furniture is a personal purchase, so we don’t pressure or push anyone to make a sale they are not 100% comfortable with. 

Because our experts work closely with our furniture craftsmen, they are well-educated on how our products are made and can help you to make an informed decision based on your individual needs and tastes. We’re not interested in making a quick buck — we’re interested in helping you find your dream furniture that you can love for years to come.

Streamlined shopping

Lastly, we find shopping at a typical furniture retailer to be an exhausting experience! Whether you’re walking through countless furniture displays or scrolling through an endless amount of products online, the weight of the never-ending options can feel overwhelming. 

As a manufacturer and a retailer, the Living Designs Furniture showroom is a much more relaxed environment that showcases our work without overwhelming the customer. You can browse our in-stock inventory that can be brought home as-is or customized to fit your needs. 

If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for on our showroom floor, speak with a designer about bringing your vision to life. 

Living Designs Furniture is a Houston furniture manufacturer and furniture retailer all-in-one

We are so much more than a furniture retailer that simply sells furniture — we are a furniture manufacturer whose mission is to provide customers with high-quality pieces that are built to last. We encourage everyone to shop factory-direct furniture to get the most unique and quality handcrafted furniture for the best prices possible.

If you’re curious about how to buy furniture direct from the manufacturer, all you have to do is come to our Downtown Houston furniture store and experience the magic in person. 

If you’re headed to our showroom, here’s what to bring with you to make your appointment a breeze with our experts and designers:

  • Dimensions of the room you’re working in
  • Pictures of your space
  • Color inspiration: paint swatches, mood boards, or artwork
  • Exact dimensions if you’re replicating a piece of furniture

We hope to see you soon!

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