BUYER NOTES · 17 OCTOBER 2026
Furniture care information: prepare the retail handover
Ask for the guidance that belongs to the exact model and finish, rather than filling gaps with assumptions.
Furniture sourcing does not end with choosing a design. A retailer, importer or interior project team also needs to know what information will accompany the piece when it reaches its next owner or user. Care guidance deserves its own place in that conversation, separate from styling copy and sales descriptions.
This checklist helps buyers identify the questions to ask. It is not a cleaning guide for a specific Ratna Exports product, and it does not establish any finish, care method or performance rating. Those details need confirmation against the selected model.
Connect the guidance to the product reference
Start with the exact product and finish reference under discussion. Ask whether written care information is available for that combination. A general collection name or a photograph may not identify every material or surface treatment used in a piece.
Where a product has several components, ask which instructions apply to each one. A visible tabletop, supporting base, handle or upholstered element may need to be addressed separately. Do not describe a photographed surface as a particular wood, coating or fabric unless that specification has been confirmed.
Ask clear questions about routine care
Request the manufacturer's guidance for routine cleaning, including any approved method and any substances or practices to avoid. If the answer uses a broad term such as “mild cleaner”, ask what that means for the selected surface rather than choosing a chemical or dilution yourself.
Discuss how the guidance addresses spills, marks and everyday use. Keep unanswered points visible in the buying record. A retailer should not turn a missing answer into a claim that a product is waterproof, stain-resistant, heat-resistant or suitable for an unconfirmed cleaning method.
Keep intended use separate from appearance
A piece styled in a café scene is not automatically confirmed for every hospitality setting. Likewise, a photograph taken outdoors does not establish outdoor suitability. Explain the proposed setting, expected use and the care routine the buyer or project team expects to follow.
Ask the manufacturer to identify any limitations relevant to that brief and what supporting information is available. Where a project has technical or operational requirements, let the responsible project team review them. Do not substitute an attractive image for model-specific evidence.
Prepare information the receiving team can use
Consider who will read the guidance: a retail customer, store colleague, housekeeping team or facilities contact. Ask what format can be provided and agree how the confirmed instructions will be associated with the correct product. Keep the wording clear without adding unsupported promises while simplifying or translating it.
For a mixed order, a single generic care card may leave important questions unanswered. A simple reference list can show each model, its confirmed material and finish details, the relevant instruction document and any open question. If information is not yet available, record that status rather than creating an unofficial care method.
Plan the route for later questions
Before a retail launch or project handover, agree which contact will handle questions about the supplied information. Keep the selected product reference and supporting photographs available so a later enquiry can be assessed against the right piece. Ask before recommending a repair, refinishing treatment or replacement component.
Use the cabinet and sideboard collection, console collection and coffee and side tables to build your reference list. Then request the material, finish and care information for the exact models you select. Availability of documents and any product-specific guidance remain subject to confirmation.