August 10th, 2010
Even if you are only furnishing a small office space for a dozen employees, you should avoid buying office furniture that is designed for home use. That’s because there are important differences between residential and commercial office furniture. San Diego companies that make the mistake of purchasing home office furnishings will find themselves facing issues as their business expands.
Commercial office furniture is built with maximum adjustability in mind. An individual who is shopping for his/her own desk and chair will be able to try multiple models and find just the right fit. Your employees have to make do with whatever you pick out for them. This means you need the most ergonomic options that will adjust to suit a wide range of workers. High quality business furniture does usually cost more than what you might find at the local Office Depot, but productivity and employee satisfaction may balance out this initial investment.
Workstations that are designed for a commercial environment have features not found in home office desks. For example, panel systems have cable and wire management systems that are designed to reduce costs for delivering power and data to each cubicle. They are also intended for making maximum use of office space by interlocking in various configurations. In contrast, home furnishings are often designed to function as the only workspace in a room and can sometimes be more decorative than functional. A beautiful antique desk may be suitable for an executive office, but it isn’t well suited to a busy work environment that hosts multiple employees.
Tags: commercial office furniture San Diego
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August 9th, 2010
Office furniture leasing is an option that makes a lot of sense to some business owners. The ideal candidates for this arrangement often fall into one or more of the following categories:
- They are a small business with little working capital or credit to invest in a bulk furniture purchase
- They prefer to have a fixed monthly operating cost (note: equipment leasing payments are often tax deductible).
- They are setting up a new office and need immediate setup with no wait time for furniture to be manufactured and shipped.
- They are in a temporary office space and may be moving soon so they want to avoid having to pack up and ship office furniture to their next location.
- They are unsure which type of workstations will best suit their needs and want to try one or more brands in a real life setting before making a final decision on a permanent purchase.
Should You Rent Fully Furnished Offices?
There are two ways to go about leasing office furniture. One is to lease office space that comes fully furnished. This is simple since you don’t have to specify any components or wait for delivery and installation. However, it does not allow you to select the cubicles and other items that you really want. You are pretty much stuck with whatever is in the space already. With items that have been used by multiple companies in the past, there may be dirt, wear and tear, or malfunctioning pieces to deal with.
Your other option is to rent equipment from an office furniture supply company separately from the leasing of your office space. In these cases, you can select from a broader range of office cubicles for rent that are included in the supplier’s leasing program. You can also choose between new and used furniture in many cases – giving you further control over your costs.
Having choices is always a good thing in a leasing negotiation. Look for a company that will allow you to select the term of your loan and the option of renting to own. This ensures that you can make a true comparison between the advantages of paying in full up front or using a payment plan.
Tags: office furniture leasing
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August 5th, 2010
Based in Iowa, HON is an office furniture company with several manufacturing sites throughout the U.S. The HON cubicles line includes several workstation series including Abound and Simplicity. The Initiate® collection is a higher end HON product that is designed for ease of specification and installation. Think of it as a cubicle collection for first time office furniture buyers – but with the quality an experienced buyer would expect given the price point of the product. Here are some of the features that make Initiate a choice to consider for your next office design project:
Less Assembly = Time Efficiency
Initiate office cubicles are crafted with steel frames that lock together firmly for structural stability. This metal on metal connectivity ensures there are no gaps between the panels and that components will remain in good condition through multiple reconfiguring events. The universal connector from HON permits attachment of panels in X, L, and T right angle options. So, you don’t have to purchase or stock extra connector parts if you want to eventually change the layout of your office space.
The panels arrive with integrated trim already in place and overheads are shipped pre-assembled for swift installation. You can specify as many as 3 different segment styles on each panel from the factory. This is in contrast to cubicles that have tile segments that are slotted into the cubicle panels on-site. Some users may prefer the freedom that comes with being able to switch out the tiles every couple of years; but the Initiate collection is a fine option if you plan to stick with a single color scheme and motif for the foreseeable future.
Sustainability in Material Choices
These HON cubicles offer a number of perks for companies that want “green” office furniture. Here are a few of the ways this manufacturer makes their products eco-friendly:
- Particle board worksurfaces are constructed of 100% post-consumer content
- Adhesives used are low-emitting and don’t pollute the indoor air in your office
- Cradle to Cradle Gold certified panel fabrics are available
- Initiate meets the BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard
- This cubicle collection may qualify for LEED credits
Tags: HON cubicles
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August 4th, 2010
Sometimes, a special project demands the use of custom office furniture. This is most common in public areas such as a lobby or in executive offices – both spaces that are geared toward making an impression. Is there a local option for finding such designer office furniture? San Diego is actually host to the Omni showroom. This manufacturer is a purveyor of some pretty fancy and original pieces. Check out the ultra modern items they have custom built for some of their customers. The plywood reception desk for San Diego Hardware Store is particularly clever.
Of course, if you don’t want to pay designer prices you can also compare some of their more traditional designs to what’s available in our catalogue. You may find something that has the same look/feel at a lower price point than you would pay custom office furniture suppliers.
Tags: designer office furniture San Diego
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August 3rd, 2010
Are you thinking about decorating your corner office with an upgraded suite of furnishings? Buying used executive office furniture may not seem very glamorous, but there are a couple of good reasons to go with pre-owned items instead of buying new.
Reason #1 – Status
Let’s face it – your desk, credenza, and shelving are all status symbols that let others know you are talented, experienced, and worth every penny of your salary. However, this doesn’t mean you have a lot of money to blow on expensive furnishings. Because used office furniture is deeply discounted, you can actually afford to buy something very posh for the same price as mid-level new items. As long as the pieces are refurbished nicely, no one will ever know they aren’t straight off the assembly line.
Reason #2 – Leadership
Sometimes, you want people to know that you are making sacrifices for the greater good. In a tight economy, buying used office furniture for yourself sets an excellent example for your subordinates. You are showing that reusing/recycling is something you take the personal initiative to implement. There’s no shame in being responsible with your company’s budget and kind to the planet!
Tags: used executive office furniture
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July 29th, 2010
Have you ever cut a cubicle partition in half to see what the interior looks like? OK, it would be a shame to waste a perfectly good cubicle on that experiment. Fortunately, the folks at Haworth have an image of a cutaway panel on page 12 of their UniGroup brochure. This allows customers see its internal anatomy including a description of the construction and materials used. Here’s an overview of the various features of these high-quality cubicles:
- A heavy duty steel frame and perforated side panels serves as the framework and support structure of these monocoque constructed partitions.
- A honeycomb core dissipates audible vibrations based on the Helmholtz principle of sound management. The intricate interior is engineered to provide reactive/reflective noise reduction by dissipating sound.
- Fiber batting is covered with the surface fabric of the customer’s choice. The fabric can be changed out easily at any time without deconstructing the cubicles or returning them to the manufacturer.
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July 28th, 2010
In this economy, everybody is looking for ways to save money. Are you interested in purchasing discount office furniture? San Diego has no shortage of vendors who may be looking to cut a deal. Learning how to make product selections and negotiate pricing to save money can make a big difference in staying under budget. Here are several ways you may be able to qualify for a discounted price from office furniture suppliers:
- Getting free delivery and installation as well as quantity discounts is easiest on large orders. Plan for future expansion and buy in bulk now to take advantage of this type of deal.
- Buying excess inventory, discontinued models, or orphaned showroom display items may allow you to save money when you just need a few pieces. These leftovers are often on clearance.
- Ask about discounts for repeat customers or referral programs where you get a reward for sending more business a vendor’s way. Even if this is not part of their formal policy, sales reps sometimes have the ability to give discounts at their discretion if it will help boost their overall numbers for the month.
Tags: discount office furniture San Diego
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July 27th, 2010
No matter your industry, it’s likely you use advanced technology in your office. Computer furniture that is designed to accommodate a monitor, hard drive, keyboard, and other accessories is essential for efficient space usage. Many companies that are attempting to go paperless are expressing less interest in desks with lots of storage space for files. They want ergonomic workstations for employees who work in a virtual environment. Here are some of the features that set computer-ready office furniture apart from a simple worksurface:
Dedicated Hard Drive Nook – computer desks generally have a space to store the hard drive where it will be off the floor but not taking up space on the top of the desk. This leaves room for other auxiliary devices such as a scanner.
Cable Management - cubicles have raceways to handle power and data wiring internally to keep cables protected and out of sight. This is important from a safety standpoint since stray cables create a trip and fall hazard.
Monitor Mounting Capability – Having a flat screen monitor mounted on a steel arm instead of sitting on the desk surface is a popular space-saving option and one that prevents the monitor from being accidentally knocked over. This also makes it easy to change the height of the monitor and its distance from the viewer to reduce eye strain and promote good posture.
Adjustability – the work surface height and/or the keyboard tray may be adjustable to reduce the risk of repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Shelving can be supplied that can be reconfigured to hold everything from binders to CD cases- or even a printer.
Mobility - the entire station may be set on casters so it is mobile and can be used as needed in any conference room or office. Computer furniture may also be designed for collaboration or with modular components that can be grouped together or separated.
Tags: office computer furniture
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July 22nd, 2010
Anyone who specializes in buying office furniture can tell you that there’s a big difference between an affordable cubicle and a cheap cubicle. Buying cheap can end up costing a company in a lot of different ways. The furniture will tend to succumb to wear and tear quickly. Poorly made furniture will also look and feel shabby – something that employees can definitely pick up on. Whether you are buying new or used cubicles for your office, here are some signs that a workstation is really cheap:
Particle Board – Nothing screams “cheap call center workstation” like a particle board cube covered with laminate. If you see the laminate separating from the composite underneath due to poor adhesion, don’t buy it. Also, be aware that any water or coffee spilled may seep through the seams in the laminate causing the particle board underneath it to swell.
Not Tech Ready – A high quality, modern cubicle will have one or more raceways to accommodate cabling and wiring. Buying a model that does not offer this feature means you will have to deal with unprotected cords everywhere. This is an unsightly tripping hazard. Of course, if you have gone wireless in your offices this won’t be a problem. Still, most of the better brands offer raceways as a matter of course.
Poor Acoustics – One of the top complaints employees have about cheap cubicles is the fact that they are too noisy. A well constructed panel system will offer noise reduction via various layers of material in its core. Check the noise reduction coefficient and sound transmission class ratings to see if they meet reasonable comfort standards before you buy.
Poorly made panel systems may also:
- Be lightweight and unstable, tending to shift around rather than staying in place
- Have components such as brackets and hinges missing or have plastic parts that are broken
- Lack powder coating on the metal frame – this means the paint will flake off over time
- Not have any off-module capacity, limiting the flexibility of the workspace layout
- Feature cheap fabrics that show wear and staining if used in moderate traffic areas
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July 21st, 2010
If you’re like me, you love gawking at the weird and wonderful world of unique office furniture. So, for your viewing pleasure I’ve rounded up 5 sites where you can see some wacky chairs, desks, and cubicles. Not all of these are something you’d actually want to use on a daily basis. But it might help break up the monotony of office life if you tried incorporating some of these ideas into your workspace. Who knows, you might patent a really cool idea and make a million bucks!
PC World
This about.com site showcases everything from the Steelcase walking workstation to the Porsche style seating from Vision One.
Furniture Info Blog
Check out the desk in orange plastic that comes direct from Singapore. It’s a little disturbing in a Salvador Dali kind of way, but definitely eye-catching.
Shoplet
The innovative and creative bookcases featured on this blog will make you long for the days before everything was stored on CDs and servers. Let your eyes roam over the beautiful curves of the Infinity and stretch your mind with the Platzhalter split case design.
Casa Sugar
This blogger has located an example of a mobile workstation that just might catch on worldwide. Review the Globus for a sneak peek of what a spherical cubicle might look like.
Legare
Finally, take a couple of minutes to watch this fascinating YouTube video showing the construction of a desk that fits together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
Tags: unique office furniture
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