In NASFM's buyers' guide alone, you'll find hundreds of fixture manufacturing companies offering a variety of services and specialties. But when you need a fixture vendor, how do you decide whom to call?

Clarify Your Goals

Start by thinking through what you know and don't know, and decide what help you'll need.

• Will you need design assistance, or do you already have approved specifications?
  
• Will you need a prototype?
  
• What about quantity?
  
• Are you planning a large rollout, a moderate order, or just a few, specialized pieces?
  
• Are your stores multinational, nationwide, or localized in one region?
  
• Do you have a particular material (or color) in mind?
  
• Will you need a special type of look or treatment that may be unique to a few manufacturers,
  or a more standard request?
  
• Are you looking for a specialist accustomed to working with stores like yours?
  
• How about additional services above and beyond production-design or installation capabilities,
  regional knowledge, logistics, warehousing, perhaps even merchandising?
  
• How much lead time do you have?

Narrow the Field

Once you know what you need, you can start looking for fixture manufacturers who are the best match. This NASFM Store Fixture Buyers' Guide & Membership Directory includes detailed information for approximately 450 fixture manufacturing member companies with more than 800 plants worldwide. Or for 24-hour convenience, fixture buyers and store planners can search NASFM's online database of members at www.retailfix.com or www.nasfm.org. With NASFM members accounting for about 85% of all store fixtures in North America, the right vendor for your needs is almost certainly a NASFM member. One of the best ways to approach vendors and view a "fixture portfolio" is to attend an industry trade show like GlobalShop. Held every March in Chicago, GlobalShop's Store Fixturing Pavilion showcases the capabilities of more than 400 fixture manufacturers of all sizes in a venue where you can easily see samples of their work and meet with company representatives. Even if you miss GlobalShop, the show sponsor, NASFM, is an excellent information resource all year long. If you don't have the time or the resources to conduct a company search yourself, NASFM staff can customize a list of fixture manufacturers based on your criteria-such as location, plant size, material specialization, and retail experience. For information, call (954) 893-7300 or e-mail nasfm@nasfm.org.

Check the Track Record

Reliability is critical in the store fixturing business. If you can depend on your current fixture vendor to deliver what you need, when you need it, there is probably no need to look elsewhere. However, if you are evaluating new suppliers, ask for references and see what you can find out about other buyers' experiences with the companies on your short list. Will the company provide you with references from a similar job it has completed? Are you comfortable with the company's communication style? Ask how long the company has been in business and whether it has experience in manufacturing for the retail market. Check to see if the company is a member of a credible store fixturing organization like NASFM. If the company is a NASFM member, you'll know that it has been in business for at least two years, has agreed to adhere to a Code of Ethics, pays annual dues, and has access to NASFM educational materials including publications and seminars. By doing your research and also carefully reviewing manufacturers' proposals, you should be able to select the best company for the job.