Give each approval a named owner
Identify who approves quantities, final dimensions, materials, appearance and expenditure. One person may coordinate the process, but different specialists may need to review different details. For example, a designer can approve appearance while the site team confirms access and placement dimensions. Record the decision in the same project register so approval of colour is not mistaken for approval of every technical detail.
Distinguish coordination from execution
A team that coordinates a freight quotation is not automatically the party transporting the goods, importing them or installing them. List factory follow-up, inspections, shipment booking, destination receiving and assembly as separate activities. State which are included in your package and which require another provider. Obtain practical contact details before dispatch rather than discovering the receiving arrangement when the truck arrives.
Plan the response to a problem before it happens
For an illustrative scratched tabletop, identify who records the issue, who checks it against the approved condition, who discusses a remedy with the factory and who approves the proposed solution. Keep photographs, item codes and dates together. A clear escalation route does not guarantee that a dispute disappears, but it prevents several participants from assuming someone else is already addressing it.
Choose a package that the team can support
A defined room package or commercial area can be a better starting point than an open-ended programme. Our FF&E department reviews the scope and available capacity before accepting work; we currently do not undertake huge programmes. We agree the level of coordination and follow-up rather than offering an unsustainably low fee that leaves essential work unassigned.
Project checklist
Before you approve
- Name the approver for each decision type.
- Separate coordination, transport and installation.
- Assign the receiving and issue-reporting contacts.
- Document the agreed service boundaries.
A useful question
Does a complete furniture package automatically include installation?
No. Complete can describe the item list, while installation remains a separate service. Ask for the precise delivery, unpacking, assembly, placement and waste-removal scope. Confirm which provider performs each activity and what access or equipment the site must supply.