Whether you’re looking to furnish an entire resort or a just need to fill a patio, we’ve added a quite a few new products to our outdoor furniture lines. Our goal is to educate you as a customer as much as possible so you can make the best informed decision. You’re also getting an exclusive sneak peek of a brand new collection that’s coming soon to our sites, so you will be ahead of the game with new trends. As establishments grow and want to offer more space and different atmospheres, outdoor areas are becoming increasingly popular. As a business owner, it’s important to know the options available to you and get inspired.

Isotop Laminated Table Tops- A Versatile Option That Lasts All Year Long

In the commercial industry, it’s important that you can trust your table tops to endure heavy wear and tear. Introducing the Isotop Collection that’s perfect for a traffic-laden restaurant or bar. Our Isotop table tops combine aesthetics and science to create a durable, strong piece that is a great asset for your restaurant or bar. These tops are precision molded from a blend of resin, wax, and wood pulp to create a high density laminate. Depending on how you want your edges to look, the Isotops come in the Plus style, a 1 ¼” edge, and Sliq Compact style, a ½” edge. These tops are made to be strong with burn and scratch resistant surfaces. With the option of indoor or outdoor and a wide variety of colors, the Isotop table tops can be customized for your need as a restaurant.

The Athena Collection- Classic Silhouettes with Modern Accents

Float on up to Mount Olympus with the Athena Collection this summer. A textured black powder coat offers a durable yet modern look, making the Athena great for a casual sidewalk café or a dining patio. To give this collection an ethereal, airy feel, slot detailing is used for a lightweight appearance. But these chairs are as sturdy as the goddess herself, each Athena chair, bar stool, and table is heavy gauge aluminum and rust-resistant. Even your staff will love the stackable features of the chairs for simple storage. Table tops are available in round for a more intimate experience or square that can easily be pushed together. To truly create a heavenly experience for your guests, umbrella hole grommets are included for straightforward umbrella installation. Let the Athena Collection bring a neoclassic atmosphere to your patio and increase your curb appeal.

The Atlantic Collection- Poly Slats for Easy Maintenance

Bring this collection back to your coastal paradise for a unique look Appearing more modern and streamlined than its sister collection, the New England, the Atlantic Collection offers a stark contrast between the teak coloring and aluminum frame. Don’t let the teak-inspired poly slats look like maintenance mayhem; this collection is easy to clean and simple to store. You get all of the advantages of this outdoor furniture look like real wood without the nightmare of trying to take care of it. To keep your pieces looking happy as a clam on your patio all year long, the aluminum frame is powder coated in deep black to prevent rust and resist the harsh outdoor elements of seascapes. Whatever kind of furniture (bar stools, chairs, and tables), the Atlantic Collection has it all. With the range of bar stools, chairs, and tables that are low maintenance, the Atlantic Collection offers a seating solution that’s just as perfect by the sea as it is in the city.

The New England Collection- Bring the Rustic Trend to Your Patio

A new collection is coming to port soon. The New England Collection plays on the rustic trend that’s been popping up all over patios this past year. Perfect for a seafood restaurant or cocktail hour on a terrace overlooking the bay, this trend is easy to integrate with your establishment. Poly lumber slats, inspired by the northeastern United States and reclaimed wood, used in conjunction with a powder coated aluminum frame to give off an urban edge. The poly slats of this collection make for easy cleaning and are reminiscent of coastal reclaimed wood, without the hassle of caring for them. The New England Collection is ideal for outdoor spaces with its durability and strength. With an array of bar stools, chairs, and tables, you’re sure to find what you need to bring the rustic with an edge theme to your restaurant or bar. This collection will be here soon, so stay on the lookout for this trendy set!

Now that you know a little bit more about the new outdoor collections, feel free to start your journey by going here.  If you have any questions at all about the collections, feel free to give us a call at 1-800-986-5352. What are outdoor furniture must-haves for your business? Which one of these collections speak to you and your restaurant’s theme? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Save

A few days ago, we watched the ball drop.  Toasts were shared.  Resolutions were set into place.  And 2012 is now officially upon us.  Is your restaurant ready for what the new year will bring?  I’ve put together a list of restaurant trends for 2012 that I hope will get you thinking and help you reach all your new year hopes and dreams.

1. When it comes to design, less is more. We are just a bunch of minimalists.  Don’t let the few pat racks in the world that they make TV shows about influence the way you design your restaurant.  If you have shelves of dusty knick-knacks, it’s time to reinvent your image.  Anything you put into your restaurant design needs to celebrate your theme and brand; if it doesn’t, it should go.  Be picky when you choose your color scheme, artwork, lighting, and overall look of your restaurant.  If you are sports bar, then sports memorabilia is OK.  But if you are a modern, American family dining establishment, retro Hummels on a shelf probably aren’t doing anything for you.  Today’s consumers want to see shiny, germ-free, clean, and clutter-free surfaces.  The good news is that it doesn’t take a lot of money or a complete overhaul to accomplish this design task.  Not sure what to do with empty shelves?  Why not turn them into functional space by storing wine bottles, dessert glasses, or pretty pieces of fruit or veggies?
–>We also recommend some contemporary tables, chairs, or barstools!  In keeping with the less is more idea, how about an aluminum table and base set, our simple cross back metal restaurant chair, and/or the new Z stainless steel bar stool.

2. Nutrition is important. While not everyone who goes out to eat cares about the number of calories they are over-indulging in, the fact remains – some people do care.  And that number is growing.  Balance your menu with the “I’ve been good all week, so I deserve to stuff my face” items with the “I want to keep my jeans buttoned on the ride home” items.  Make it easy for smart eaters to find your healthy menu items, and be sure to make all the label-readers happy by listing out nutrition/caloric information by those menu items.  It’s good practice to be transparent, and your health-conscience consumers will feel at ease knowing exactly what they are putting in their mouths.  A growing trend is also creating more healthy side options for children.  Don’t just give them chips or fries; offer their choice of a salad, vegetable, or fruit.  Don’t forget to list the kind of milk you serve (is it skim or whole?), and be sure to choose juices with low sugar content.  If your kids’ menu is filled with fried finger foods, consider adding some healthier options or creating smaller portions of your regular, adult menu items, like many restaurants do for senior citizens. As long as you don’t expect the children dining at your restaurant to eat liver and onions, you should be able to make both child and parent happy by finding that intersection of nutritious and delicious.

3. Minimize your desserts.  Think about the dessert shooters at Applebee’s or the collection of mini desserts at PF Chang’s.  Everyone loves a burst of sweetness at the end of the meal, but if you’ve already served them an appetizer, salad, and main course, they are probably close to skipping dessert.  If you can offer them a small but satisfying treat, you are more likely to make that up-sale, and they are less likely to feel guilty about ordering dessert.  It might not be so much about nutrition for your “I’m so full, I don’t know if I can walk to the car” guests, but creating a few mini-sized desserts on your menu will pay off for you in the long run.

4. Buy local. When possible, buy local produce, fresh ingredients, and otherwise support local business by using local vendors for your purchases.  Then, don’t forget to tell your customers that the tomato on their sandwich was grown at Farmer Bob’s down the street, that the buffalo-turned-bison-burger was raised on the outskirts of town, and that you support the local fishing industry.  Consumers love to feel good about frequenting a business that cares about the same things (and people) that they do.  So if you are supporting other local commerce, they feel as if everyone is doing their part to boost the local economy and help their neighbors out.  You many consider adding a local or regional section to your menu, as well, and feature foods that are staples in your neck of the woods.  For example, where I come from, it’s not uncommon to see ox roast, pepperoni balls, Lake Erie perch, or Pittsburgh-style slaw sandwiches on a restaurant’s menu.

5. But when it comes to menu, don’t be afraid to go global. While consumers, who are still shell-shocked from the recession, are not going to want to take a lot of risks in 2012, offering some exotic-but-not-too-exotic menu choices to show off your global culinary expertise will help you compete with your fellow restauranteurs.  But don’t go too daring.  Just add a little Asian or Indian influence in your cooking, or try some borderline unique ingredients, such as coconut, pistachio, or mango.

6. Cook, don’t just heat. Chain restaurants, especially, are notorious for ‘heating’, ‘unfreezing’, and ‘scooping’ their pre-packaged meals (sent from a faraway headquarters) onto their guests’ plates.  Adding just a few homemade items, made-to-order menu choices, or house favorites can go a long way with meeting consumer expectations.  As cooks and foodies alike get more savvy, bringing more of the prep and cooking in-house will prove to be a wise choice this coming year and into the future. Empowering your kitchen staff and training them to make some of your signature dishes can prove to be a successful HR strategy, too.

7. Promote sustainability. Have you gone green?  Do you use recycled paper for your menus?  Can you grow your own herbs for cooking at your establishment?  Are your light bulbs and appliances all energy-saving products?   This is a trend that we will continue to see grow in 2012, so being able to not only market your restaurant as such but to reap the economic advantages of being sustainable will be beneficial for your own business’s growth and prospering.
–>Looking for some furniture that shows off your sustainable values?  I recommend our poly lumber tables, made 100% of recycled materials, which are good for indoor or outdoor use!

8. Listen to your customers more/better. In the age of social media, customer reviews, online surveys, and let’s face it – a lot of chatter about where people go, how they spend their money, and what they expect, it’s crucial that every business owner or marketer listen and respond in the form of improvement and action.  You may even want to jump on the bandwagon of giving discounts to customers who complete surveys, start your own restaurant Facebook page, offer a social deal of the day, or start tweeting your restaurant news and events.  Whether you want to join the online conversation or not, you should at least listen in when people are talking about you.  Be prepared; you may hear some complaints.  Don’t let that discourage you, anger you, or turn you away from those conversations.  Instead, use your customers’ advice to create a better product, atmosphere, and well-liked restaurant.  More than ever, it’s easy to collect customer feedback, so take advantage of those channels and listen closely!  Savvy marketers, like mega pizza makers at Domino’s, can take hard-heard truths and turn them around into positive marketing…and better pizza!

Facing 2012 head on by making a few adjustments to keep up with these restaurant trends is a great new year’s resolution for any restaurant, whether you are a casual family diner, formal fine dining restaurant, or small cafe.

Your friends at East Coast Chair & Barstool wish you a very happy new year!

Who is East Coast Chair & Barstool? We are a dynamic group of people with our own hobbies and interests, but when we’re not hunting, fly fishing, scrapbooking, running our kids to and from after-school activities, playing Bunco, walking our doggies, or hanging out with friends and family, we are working together in our office/warehouse. Here, we help bars, restaurants, resorts, hotels, conference/banquet centers, social clubs, and churches find the tables, chairs, and barstools to fill their businesses – and fit their brands. To us, furniture is exciting. Along with a lot of other things.

East Coast Chair & Barstool, an authorized dealer of many manufacturers, started in the basement of our owners’ home in 2002. We’ve grown a lot since then. Today, we have multi-million dollars in annual sales, have accounts that range from small corner bars to huge theme park resorts, and employ a team of talented and passionate staff. In addition to being an authorized dealer of many national, made-in-the-USA vendors, we also import from manufacturers in China, with whom we directly collaborate with on design and quality standards, making sure we can pass along the best products at low prices.

Our products are available on our three Web sites: www.TablesChairsBarstools.com, www.RestaurantFurniture4Sale.com, and www.OutdoorRestaurantFurniture4Sale.com.

As I type, there is snow falling outside our Grove City, Pennsylvania, headquarters, but we deliver to all 48 continental states. So if you are opening a restaurant in Pittsburgh, ordering chairs for your temple in Boise, or remodeling a spa and resort in Phoenix, we can help you find the indoor and/or outdoor commercial furniture your business needs! With an array of products in various sizes, shapes, colors, and styles, we are confident we can help you find what you’re looking for.

We know purchasing furniture for your business isn’t always easy. There are a lot of questions. What is the benefit to offering church chairs instead of pew seating? Should I choose a swivel barstool or a stationary one? Would tables and chairs fit better in my restaurant than booth seating? How many banquet chairs will fit comfortably around this size of table? What base goes best with my commercial cafe table umbrellas? We know tables, chairs, and barstools. That’s why we are starting this blog! Because you know what you do best – whether it’s preparing the tastiest, juiciest, and most delicious filet mignon in your restaurant, bringing together a community of ministry in your church or temple, or accommodating your guests in your resort/hotel – we can help make your commercial furniture purchases a little easier. (We know how busy you are!)

Plus, you might hear some humorous, cute, heartwarming, or just plain quirky anecdotes about the people behind the tables, chairs, and barstools! While most of the blogging will be written by Emily, the web coordinator (that’s me!), the content will be borrowed from the collective knowledge, experience, and imaginations of our entire team of East Coasters. I hope this compilation of articles will be interesting, resourceful, helpful, and even a little fun – for both of us!

I invite you to follow me on this journey into all things chair and barstool. Learn with me. Learn from me. And learn to love reading me (so I hope)!

If you ever want to read an article about a certain topic, please just ask! I’ll see what I can do for you. Because any of my friends will tell you, I aim to please!

Until the next entry, welcome and happy furniture pondering.