Securing a great supplier for cafe tables isn't an easy job nowadays because of all the commercial options and possible quality traps. Where can you find a great supplier to count on every time? That's a question many have asked and there are five possible ways you can start with to find your new favorite supplier.

1. Research

Researching is the one thing we hear about a lot, but not many actually do. Proper research takes from months to years, but in this case, it could take up to 3 months. What should you do during research? For starters, you must think of what you're looking for. Try this simple exercise by grabbing a pen and pencil and answer the following questions:

a) What kind of tables do I want?
b) What color am I looking for?
c) What's the height I want?
d) What's the size the table should be?
e) Do I want it ready or custom made?

Those questions are only a start. You can brainstorm further, and by answering these questions, you'll be starting your research by narrowing down what you want. Finding a great supplier is like finding a needle in a haystack, by not narrowing down your requirements, you'll be looking for that needle in the Atlantic Ocean! The next step in researching is to start matching which suppliers actually fit your set description.

2. Ask Friends

Friends are the most valuable asset, right? At least when it comes to recommending they are. People by nature are delighted to give advice or recommendation even if they make up stuff - we hope not in this case. Try inviting your friends for a cup of coffee and tell them that you're planning to get new tables, and hear what they have to say. Not only will this help you re-consider your criteria - if they have any valid arguments - but also they'll be recommending suppliers if they know any.

The tough step is actually asking your friends to give you their account in dealing this supplier. Most people tend to be vague by using words such as "good" or "bad" or "nice". Ask your friends to be specific, here are a couple of points you should ask them about:
a) Response time
b) Quality
c) Delivery time
d) Payment

Again, you can brainstorm and write down an extensive list that might help your friends convey their experience. Don't corner your friends, try to make it as normal as possible, otherwise they might feel pressured.

3. Check the Internet

The internet is an amazing source for anyone looking for great suppliers. You might wonder why that is. There are two main reasons: the abundance of directories and the ability to assess.

The first point is quite self explanatory. The internet is packed with directories for different industries; you can easily find companies by using a search engine like: Google, Yahoo, or MSN. Other useful sources include: blogs, forums, and review sites. Perhaps most useful are blogs, since bloggers are quite opinionated and give you detailed accounts of their experience with the supplier.

The second point why you should check the internet is your ability to assess a given supplier by his given website. Websites tell a lot about how professional a supplier is. If the website looks amateurish, don't expect to find professional support in the real world since most reputable suppliers earn enough money to get their websites professionally designed.

4. Check Specialized Directories