Hi everyone! I came across this forum looking for business ideas and I have an immense interest in designing furniture and upscale lighting applications. This seems like a friendly place to ask for advice. I`m not sure at this stage whether my hobby will develop into a business, but let`s say if I wanted to take it to the next step, where do I go? Specifically, how do I get a hold of a company that manufactures stainless steel or aluminum extrusions (e.g. the body of a lamp, or a steel rack)? I`m not even sure what the technically correct term for this type of manufacturing is, which makes it hard to look for information online. Also, does anybody know what kind of volume these places usually deal in? I`m not sure I`m willing to invest a lot into an untested idea. All this is assuming I already have a prototype design in CAD, or something similar (I don`t, but I like to plan 2 steps ahead). Does anyone have experience in this field?

Let`s assume you have a product, design, and the money. One place that seems to be pretty comprehensive would be Thomas.net.

Another option you might consider would be to start as a craftsman, where you create one-of-a-kind pieces, using steel you buy via retail. It might not be a great way to have a "big" business, but I`d argue that it would help you with market research.

If you were to make 1 single item, regardless of costs, then go about selling it, you`d get a strong sense of what`s involved. That would help you understand each of the other steps you`d need to understand. Sort of "intelligence bootstrapping." :-)

Hi guys..! we are also a furniture manufacturer. we are specialise in manufacturing furniture for hotels and restaurants. Our range includes hotel chairs, bedroom chairs, sofas, sofabeds, armchairs and many more contract furnishings.

 

Tel: 0161 737 6918
Fax: 0161 745 7830
Email: info@forestcontract.com

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commercial hotel furniture

Furniture has been made from many different kinds of material: stone, concrete, iron, steel, aluminum, copper, brass, glass, plastic, bamboo, grass and of course wood. Each material requires adaptations in the manufacturing process.

 

Stack Chairs

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