10 Questions to Ask Your Sofa Supplier Before Placing an Order

A well-structured supplier questionnaire does two things: it surfaces risks you had not considered, and it reveals how the supplier handles scrutiny. A good manufacturer answers clearly and quickly; a mediocre one deflects or goes silent.

1. "Can you send me a video walkthrough of your production floor — filmed today?" 2. "What is your current capacity utilisation?" 3. "Who will be my day-to-day contact, and do they speak technical English?" 4. "Can you provide compression-recovery test data from your last three production batches?"

5. "What is your defect rate over the last 12 months?" 6. "Which European ports do you ship to most frequently?" 7. "What certifications do your foam and fabric suppliers hold?" 8. "What happens if a container arrives with a defect rate above the agreed threshold?" 9. "Can I visit unannounced?" 10. "Why should I choose you over three other factories?"