When the COVID-19 pandemic began, nobody knew what to expect. It didn’t matter what industry experts were watching, the coronavirus affected it. They just weren’t sure how things would change — least of all the for people in the furniture industry.
The most immediate effects were the impacts of a falling stock market. Retail stocks dropped, which affected the value of the furniture industry. However, that was just the first effect that the pandemic had.
Afterwards, the supply chain began to wither. People scrambled to adapt to a new world of masks, social distancing, and shutdowns. Since the furniture industry depends on so many raw materials, businesses had to get creative — but they managed to survive.
And businesses are continuing to survive in a brave, new world — despite the effects of COVID-19. All they had to do was adapt. And to learn about how the furniture industry adapted to the pandemic.
The Furniture Industry is Searching for Supplies
The supply chain for the furniture industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. People need raw materials to make furniture, and the coronavirus affected shipping. Many of the connections companies had to source raw materials from disappeared.
However, some raw material shippers remained because they were able to adapt.
Now, furniture makers are finding materials from companies who put safety first. It’s made the supply chain more ethical and easier to manage, despite the impact of COVID-19.
Custom Designs Focus on Social Distancing
When people buy furniture, they sometimes want custom designs. This helps accentuate workspaces and establish a much-needed sense of comfort to help people get through the workday. However, most custom designs also focused on encouraging collaboration and togetherness.
Those aren’t things companies should strive for during an age of social distancing. Instead, furniture needs to encourage virtual collaboration and give people a sense that their space is their own. Custom furniture needs to encourage collaboration from a distance and should work with devices.
Home Office Furniture is Unlike Traditional Office Furniture
Many people also began working from during the COVID-19 pandemic, as businesses started closing offices. For many people across the world, working from home was already a reality. However, the pandemic made the trend more mainstream and proved that people could still be productive from home.
It also meant different kinds of demands for office furniture. Instead of furniture that focused on business in board rooms, people need furniture that worked both in offices and at home. Instead of the sleek, rigid, and understated designs of traditional office furniture, it’s now taking on a more homely aesthetic.
The COVID-19 Pandemic is Unprecedented
Nobody knew what to expect when the COVID-19 pandemic started, least of all the people in the furniture industry. While most people worried about the stock market, the furniture industry was adapting. And now, it’s successfully acclimated to an environment still trying to manage COVID-19.
As demands and designs changed, so did the furniture industry. And to learn more about the changes the industry has made, and to see some new designs up for sale, just reach out to us here!