The results?  Only a couple of manufacturers reported their prices would increase mid-year, and then only on select items.  The rest indicated they were prepared to carry their 2010 cost structure through the remainder of the calendar year.  Some shared they do believe there’s a genuine need for increases, but recognize that doing so during these tough economic times would be difficult and even self-defeating.   So the Church Furniture Guy believes pricing for the remainder of 2010 will be static for church furniture.  That’s good news for churches!

What do I mean by a “Hybrid Approach”? As you might suspect, this is a strategy where the manufacturer both sells direct and markets their products through a dealer network.  But how are they able to motivate dealers to distribute their products when they’re in a sense competing with these dealers by selling direct?  It would seem that no dealer would advance the products of a manufacturer doing so.

Well, the reason dealers are willing to do so is summed up in one phrase, “two-tiered pricing”.  Suppose our manufacturer makes church seating that they sell for $75 a chair to churches direct.  The church believes they’re getting the best price possible on their worship seating because they’re purchasing direct from the manufacturer.  But what the church does not realize is dealers for our manufacturer can purchase the same chair for $65 a chair which leaves room for the dealer to mark the chairs up a few dollars and still save churches some money.  The idea that a third party (our dealer) could be added to the sale of the chairs from the manufacturer to the church and still produce savings defies logic, yet it happens every day.

I encourage you to always check with low overhead dealers such as Save Your Church Money before purchasing.  You may be surprised at the savings your church may realize!

Our church furnishing manufacturer can decide they’re going to utilize a “Dealer Network”.  In other words, churches across the country can still call the manufacturer and even learn about their products, but when it comes time to purchase those products, the church will be referred to a “dealer” who distributes that manufacturer’s products.  How does this approach impact churches?  Here are some thoughts:

• Dealers will represent several or even dozens of manufacturers.  The ability to be as well-informed about each manufacturer’s products as a manufacturer is about their own, is certainly more difficult.  Some dealers do this well, many do not, but most of the time can obtain the information the church needs.  However, remember that you can still call the manufacturer for specific information.
• Most dealers do not “stock” many products.  When an order is placed with a dealer, the dealer in turn places an order with the manufacturer and the items are shipped from the manufacturer to the end church user.   The dealer becomes the portal for the products, even though they may have never seen them first-hand.
• The above reasons may sound like “negatives” for the dealer approach, and they are in some cases.  But the great advantage that a dealer network offers churches across the country is the possibility of substantial dollar savings!  Manufacturers with dealer networks do not invest great dollars into the marketing of their products.  They count on their dealer network to market their products.  So if the manufacturer operates with lower overhead costs, and they have dealers who stress low overhead and efficient operations, the savings for churches can be substantial.  The key is to determine which dealers can really Save Your Church Money!  Some will, and some will not.  I encourage you to be sure and check out Save Your Church Money as they’re a dealer who will definitely do just that, save your church money.

Magnuson Group has introduced the Valuta Series of “Green” Waste Receptacles.  Designed by Q Design, Valuta is a versatile family of modular waste and recycling receptacles.  Constructed of steel, Valuta offers 20, 40 & 35-gallon body units, each with three pivoting top options and six customer selectable icon/references for easy sorting of waste, paper, cans and bottles.  Valuta comes in a variety of powder coat colors, and all models include an internal rigid liner.   Best of all, the price points for Valuta seem to be very reasonable compared to other similar lines we’re aware of.

If your interested in using any of the Valuta line in your church to enhance environmental awareness, please be sure and contact Save Your Church Money as their pricing will inevitably be the lowest in the country.  I’m sure Valuta will serve your church well.