Industries all over the world are learning how to deal with the impact of the novel Coronavirus as it continues to negatively affect manufacturers’ ability to keep up with unprecedented demand for certain products. Furniture retailers are no different. 

Many of our Canadian-made furniture items rely on the raw materials that are seeing an increase in demand. However, we work with amazing manufacturers in Ontario and Quebec that continue to make shipments to us daily and maintain consistent communication with our team so we can keep our customers up to date.

If you’re looking for new furniture, the way you shop may be a bit different than in the past. Here are some tips to ensure you get the Canadian-made furniture you really want.

1. Shop In Advance

Don’t wait until the last minute. Inventory supplies may be limited and delivery times may take longer. So if you will be starting renovations on your home or moving soon, it’s a good idea to shop in advance. Another reason to shop for furniture early is custom orders. Customisations naturally take longer than regular orders, but having that perfect cover, arm or other detail on your new sofa is worth the wait. Ultimately, the more you plan ahead, the more likely you are to get your dream sectional, sofa or bed frame in time.

2. Changing Expectations

Many things have changed since the start of the pandemic and one of them is production lead times. Smitty’s sales consultants are here to help you navigate shifting timelines and expectations. While we keep a certain amount of inventory in our warehouses and some in-stock specials, producing specialty orders may be delayed for longer than usual. A custom piece is often worth the wait, but if you want to avoid a long wait, we suggest browsing our in-stock specials. We do our best to keep something for everyone in store. 

3. Research The Retailer

As you shop in advance, make sure that you’re researching the retailer you’re planning on buying from. Since retail started opening back up in June, nearly every store has a COVID-19 notice regarding their new regulations, what they’re doing to keep everyone safe, and what you can expect from them. We’re no different. Smitty’s has protocols in place to keep our customers safe while they shop in store and we’re keeping a close eye on changing public health guidance. We will also provide you with carefully estimated lead times and if anything changes, we’ll let you know right away. If you have a tight schedule, we’ll do our best to work with our manufacturers to get popular items in stock and shipped in a timely manner. 

We pride ourselves on providing our customers with variety and great service, and now more than ever we look forward to helping you find the right furniture for your home. 

Want To Shop By Appointment? 

We are open to the public, and appointments are not required -  but if you'd like to make an appointment to shop with us we are more than happy to arrange a time with a  dedicated sales consultant. 

If you have any questions or comments about custom furniture orders or our Covid-19 protocols, please contact us via our online chat service or by emailing info@smittysfurniture.com