It seems the panel system arena has its own language……stackable?  segmented, monolithic, linear, radius, “sitting privacy”, “standing privacy”, 4 circuit electrical system, quad electrical tiles, acoustical performance, embossed tiles, integrated pulls vs. extruded pulls, binder bins, pedestals (whats that…I am often asked)….panel glides,   electrical plenum, 120 degree connections, task lights, understorage, cubicles, grommets, monitor holders, data jacks, “snaking electrical”, duplexes, top caps, powerpoles,  jack housings….where does it end?

This is the language of the office furniture sales professional, sputtering incoherency into the face of an unknown recipient (customer)…without periods, commas or stop signs!  Yes, a machinegun of words, a new language, technical jargon of a ‘systems furniture jockey’ riding his horse to the finish line blowing past the intimidated, unassuming “newbee”  into the world and language of the systems furniture junky…speaking in a different and thus unintentionally loosing a potentially interested customer.

Oh how I wish I could get them back!  For those of us who have experienced the above scenario, take heart, wisdom  and common sense is but a step away….. Let’s allow our experiences to shape us into smart and tenured sales executives, always learning, always willing to be taught, always reaching to a higher level of the furniture expert and space planning arena!

Using Imported Casegoods or not?  June 17, 2010

In the quickly changing economy, the use/specifying of foreign casegoods or ’imports’ has become an interesting focus for the office furniture dealers and sales forces.  Several years back, the thought of using products from ‘China’ or ‘Taiwan’ had a connotation of  cheap or flimsy but that has changed dramatically. Space planning with  casegoods  (imports) that have come to our shores in a boat is now seen in a very different way.  Why?

1)     The cost is much less  that the American made product,

2)      the quality has risen substantially to create value,

3)     The dilemma of not being able to replace broken components or being able to  add to a previous order because of lead time from the foreign countries has now been substituted by large inventories of components in the US., staged @ large distributors strategically placed across the US. and

4)      The product comes in “KD”ed or unbuilt so the user can lower the cost of the purchase if they want to do the labor involved in putting the casegoods together. The furniture vendors in the US have had to take a hard look at their manufacturing costs, i.e labor union expense to produce a product comparable in selling price of the ‘Import’. 

This is another indicator that we are living in a ‘Global Market place’

Designing with openness and more light enhances our possibilities!

Using glass as an additional tool to create interiors provides and plans space with much more intensity…Almost like using a microscope to accent something that is natural on our earth.  A quote by architect Bruno Taut says “If we want our culture to rise to a higher level, we are obligated for better or worse, to change our architecture. And this only becomes possible if we take away the closed character from the rooms in which we live.   We can only do that by introducing glass architecture, which lets in the light of the sun, moon and the stars.” That was written

in an article that can be ‘googled’. 

From the most basic of conceiving and planning space, using an open allowance of windows both interior and exterior, creating an entrance and path for the most powerfully impacting force of nature….light, puts into our visual and emotional sense…” optimism”, a stronger sense of what we can accomplish, a super charged and maximized sense of purpose and thus impacting our work ethic!  Those elements released in the confines of an office setting can dramatically affect how we work with other people and synergistically team with others in our own vocational paths.  So, as we develop space and all of its dynamics, don’t forget and leave behind one of the most incredible, magnificent and truly natural elements of the buildings of today…glass that invites light, work and abundant energy! Other articles relative to glass and architecture are:  

“Architectural glass industry on the verge of a revolution”, February 18, 2007 by : Momoy Category: Home & Decoration. Landscaping

also, Glass at the cutting edge- Glass used in Building design: Architectural Review, The, August, 2001 by  Susan Dawson )

commercial real estate companies (extremely competitive in today’s business market climate) and the office furniture companies.  Where do they compliment each other? How do they function and benefit each other? Lets look at it! 

  When a commercial real estate broker is showing a space to a prospective client, if that space (much like anything that is marketed) is embellished or enhanced in some way, its potential to be sold rises substantially!  The commercial real estate companies that are serious players in the marketplace uses all its tools to move their products…which are ”spaces”.  How can a real estate broker enhance its products? How does a space planner (office furniture dealer) fit into this equation? How do these two different vocational paths come together for common good? One way that is a common practice is to populate the ‘2 dimensional floor plan from the broker with a hypothetical layout incorporating as much (number of employees, reception area, conference rooms, private offices, break rooms, etc.) of what the potential company could desire in the new space thus giving the new client, not an empty and open space visual but an ‘envisioned space’ that the customer can now see how this potential space be utilized/function if he were to purchase that space.  Most people cannot envision space, so a little creative energy can become a tool for both the customer and real estate broker in merchandising his products.

The concept of enhancing whqt the broker is marketing, is very similar to merchandising a product in a store using bright colors instead of black and white…color sells product, eye catching point of sale marketing is effective and profitable!

   How does the office furniture dealer/space planner benefit for this commercial real estate company? Many times the new customer of the real estate broker will need input relative to new furniture or at lease the reconfiguration/ reapplication in the transferring the existing furniture from the old location to the new.

   In our very competitive business climate, we need to use every tool…build every ally, synergize with each business component in the vast world of marketing,  if we are to thrive and profit in today’s business climate!

As our workplace has evolved, not only is the employee more technically qualified, but the workspace itself has moved in a different direction. This direction is not "cubie oriented" but technically savy. More than that, it has moved toward "a  more inspiring, versatile and functional environment" as Charlie Kane has presented in his article written in the Office Furniture and Design magazine...the April/May issue of '08.  Today's employee wants an open and free space to work in....not the narrow aisles and people close to people but a 'team' atmosphere.  A representation of that can be found in Inscape's  'Freeform"  System on this   

 page. (See above)  Note the open and very spacey application of this beautiful systems furniture line.  The economy and frugality of "putting more people in a tighter space" has been thrown out the window in lieu of several of the above advantages of the new office and new more technically advanced employee.  The case can be made that if you provide a better environment for the more technical employee, in the economics of keeping employee's longer, with a sense of loyalty and associated perks, you will enhance what you offer your customers.

Our office industry today looks tremendously different as it did even 5 years ago...ties, no ties, corner offices gone...blended, open team areas, starched shirts or crew necks, open collars, punctuality gone, company hopping (less than 2 years)....working remote sites (Global applications)...the laptop...on and on!  What hasn't changed is a smart and educated "space planner".... an expert, whether the new "Freeform system furniture from Inscape or the home office...To take advantage of the experience of a veteran and seasoned professional, don't try it yourself.....but, if you want to maximize your office furniture investment, contact someone tested and proven in this ever changing business.www.officefurnitureinspaces.com

While the management of the Space planning process along the lines of efficiency, good use of vertical space, strategic placement of the right furniture in the right places and other elements including current technology.... we must include a furniture manufacturer that is equally efficient in their approach to affordable manufacturing....is their such a company? Oh, but their is such a company that stands out in the market place. This company not only represents the concept of efficient manufacturing but has been recognized with a prestigious award by the Shingo folks as one of very few that have been evaluated and celebrated to hold this very special award. The company that I am referring to is Affordable Interior Systems, from the Boston area. This company has charged into the Systems furniture arena and has seized a good market share not the least of which has to do with their style and commitment to 'lean manufacturing'. As the process of Space Planning a company begins to evolve into an end product, an affordable product, and an efficient use of space....the flavor of a high tech looking systems furniture like AIS leaves its mark as a great choice amongst some very successful and famous systems manufacturers.  Cost of the product itself alongside creative applications in the laying out of the floorplan are a powerful combination when customers look back @ the finished product.

What's happened in the workplace ? Where are the monsters of chaois...called the typewriter or intercom or wires hanging off the front of the desks called "spaghetti"....those are quickly fading into the background of naustalia office past...we are developing a taste for the new guys on the block...waves of technology screaming down the old panelled hallways full of high tech speed and misunderstanding...( how does this thing work?) 5 cat-6 cat...?? What is all this doing to and for the workplace? Here are some of the new tools we are challenged to use in our workstations.l

The flat screen and flat screen monitor holders are some of the most creative, space saving devices showing up in the wprkplace...not the old 'picture tube'..12" deep a 21" wide computer monitors but flat screen monitors that are not only amazingly clear and more colorful but can be mounted into the wire grommet or "C" clamped to the back of the worksurface using an arm holding the Monitor over our worksurface, not on our worksurface...opening up all of our worksurface to use.....not only that but it gives way to maximizing our floor space using 24"d worksurfaces instead of 30"d or 36"d worksurfaces. We can translate that into raising our productivity because of more employees in the same sq footage. One way to prove that idea is to look at the front 6" of a person's desk and notice the collection of unused dinosaurs lingering on that leading edge of their desks...along with several 'wooly balls'. Several companies that have pioneered this technology bonanza and invested millions of dollars in its research and are experts in the Ergonomic science, they are: Humanscale, ISE, Intellespace, Neutral Posture...to name a few.

So when you are lagging behind in your office as technology is racing ahead contact your local ergonomics expert and seek his/her advice concerning Monitor holders and flat screens.

Many successful employers today are realizing that an investment in their office space today means increased bottom line tomorrow. Why is that? Why not an austere, 'plain jane', ordinary office space with the conventional desks and chairs seen for 20 years? Its certainly fiscally important...is it not? Several reasons for concern in using dated furniture includes the changing marketplace..perspective of the new employee...minimal loyalty, company hopping, looking for perks, their handshakes don't mean committment, the ties are gone as does much of the work ethic...especially on Fridays! In addition to those important elements (the employee is the largest part of our overhead), fad and fashion have entered the workplace along with the distinct colors that mark the chronology of the office. I also believe that what we put forth in the reception area...style, colors, shapes...gives impressions that can help land or loose a contract. Creative spaces imply.... creative minds inhabit this company..thus saying "we are very capable to managing your order or contract, mr. customer". Not finally, but in addition to those elements mentioned above...the attitude of our employees as our customers come and go from our businesses really dramatically impact for good or not so good , the return of those customers back into our doors with more company sustaining dollars..sweetening our bottom line! So our employees must be very positive/creative and thus reflect our investment in our physical assets.......current and creative office furniture! take a look at what Jason Hughes talks about in his article entitled Office Design is key to employee productivity from the San Diego Source......

Dave Ballard-Indoff-Omaha

Taking a common sense but creative approach to your business space and its positioning will pay off dividends. Here are the questions we need to ask relative to a successful visual.

1) What do I want my customer to see when he grabs the handle of my front door and pulls on it?

2) What will the first impression be once he looks past the front door into the space?

3) Does he have the definitive sense of activity, energy, glad to see you?

4) Did you know that for 7 out of 10 customers, the first steps to the reception or receptionist will define the bulk of the impressions they have about your company......A warm smile, engaging handshake, direct eye contact, an attitude of "can do" in a response.

5) If the reception area is small, it needs to be bright, very clean and new looking with some representation of what your company does or is either on the wall or expressed in some format. I have seen actual gears from a large motor mounted creatively into the wall with pictures of projects strategically placed...hard to miss.

6) Having living things in the reception area is always good but be careful not to over do. Having electronics mounted higher into the soffit with something the company believes in or stands for is a good idea since we are a very electronic society.

Always give great consideration to what you invest in when it comes to the most representative area of your company...."The Reception Area" . Use quality professionals to assist you in this very significant and influential place of your business.