Over the past two years, we’ve seen prices on nearly everything we rely on go up in a big way: food, gas, homes. We’re paying more to eat, to drive to work, and to keep a roof over our heads. You name it, and it costs much more than it did just a few months ago. As inflation continues to hit our wallets more than we’d like, we thought this would be a good time to explain why the price of patio furniture has also risen.
Great Patio Furniture is Made to Last
Quality is what you should expect when you buy patio furniture. Because each piece is exposed to the elements on a constant basis, patio furniture has to be made to last. In Florida, it needs to withstand the constant rays of the sun, the salt air, and torrential storms that bring damaging wind and rain.
There are many different kinds of furniture that will work in your back yard (outdoor sofa, dining set, chaise lounge chair, to name just a few). All of them have to be built to endure harsh weather conditions and continuous use. While furniture may seem expensive, keep in mind that you’re going to get many years of use of out each piece. Going cheap is not the way to go when it comes to daily-use items like furniture.
Makers of outdoor furniture understand that their reputations are only as good as their products, so they often make guarantees on their products (e.g. a piece of furniture is stain resistant or fade resistant; if that item is affected by the outdoor elements, then it may come with a lifetime replacement guarantee). We can offer our insight into the best furniture to buy for your patio and type of use.
Shipping is More Expensive
It takes trucks and cargo ships to move furniture from the domestic and overseas warehouses to retailers and the homes of customers like you. As with all of us, the transportation industry has been hit hard by rising gas prices, which are well over five dollars a gallon for mid-grade fuel. Necessarily, those costs are passed along through each step in the sales process, and it’s reflected in the prices of everything we buy, including furniture (indoor and outdoor alike).
Materials are in Short Supply
The shortage of materials has also affected furniture production. During the pandemic, many of us started spending more time working from home. That gave us plenty of time to focus on our home furnishings, including the outdoor area. As more people bought patio furniture, the increased consumer demand added strain to the supply chain issues facing manufacturers worldwide. With retailers having to wait months for another shipment of goods, they were forced to raise the prices of their existing stock.
Create a Patio You’ll Love for Many Years
When it comes to buying patio furniture, keep in mind that you’re making a long-term investment. As long as you remember this, you’ll find that the extra expense is worth it. At Park Furnishings, we’ll help you find the patio furniture that you’ll love and will last year season after season. Talk to us today about creating an outdoor area that is worth the effort.