Product and application
State the product type and where it will be used. A bathroom cabinet, retail display shelf and cat activity tower do not share the same structural priorities.
Buyer guide
Custom Furniture RFQ Checklist
A clear RFQ gets a useful quotation. Confirm these details before asking several suppliers to price the same furniture programme.
Procurement checklist
Confirm the commercial details before quotation
Use these points as a working brief. The list is deliberately practical: it separates buyer decisions from facts that must be confirmed on drawing, sample or market documentation.
Dimensions or a reference
Send target width, depth and height, an existing drawing, a sketch or a reference image. Mark which dimensions can change and which must stay fixed.
Materials and finish
Identify the metal parts, wood-based components, visible surfaces, edge treatment and required colour or finish. A reference such as RAL can be used where the supplier can confirm it against a physical standard.
Quantity and range plan
Give the first-order quantity, expected repeat volume and how many sizes, colours or SKUs share the range. Range size affects tooling, hardware and packing decisions.
Destination and sales channel
Name the destination country, port or delivery region and whether goods sell through stores, e-commerce, contract projects or distribution.
Packing requirement
Say whether the product should ship flat-packed or assembled, whether retail packaging is required and what information must appear on the carton.
Compliance and evidence
List the documents or product requirements that apply in the destination market. Ask the supplier to confirm what it can actually provide before paying for samples.
Sample and launch date
Separate the sample date from the production date. The production clock should start only after the approved sample, artwork and purchase terms are clear.
Common questions
What buyers usually ask
If the answer depends on your product, destination or sales channel, include that context in the enquiry.
Can we send an image instead of a technical drawing?
Yes. An image can start the review, but commercial dimensions, materials, construction and finish still need to be agreed on a drawing or approved sample.
Should we send a target price to every supplier?
Yes, if you want comparable proposals. State whether the target is FOB, landed cost or retail price so each supplier understands the same basis.
What information should not be left as TBC?
Critical dimensions, intended use, target market and the party responsible for compliance documents should be clear before production planning.
Continue reviewing
Use the guide with your actual specification
Send the product category, target size, material preference, expected quantity and destination. If a drawing is not ready, send the application and a reference image so the missing decisions can be identified before sampling.
Start with a specification
Turn the checklist into an enquiry
Send what you know today. We will identify the missing dimensions, material decisions and packing questions before the quotation review.