Monthly Archives: April 2012

Atmosphere And Office Furniture

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Refinished desk for sale at Office Furniture Outlet

Refinished Desk

Relating the environment back into your office design proves to benefit productivity.  The article below suggests that nature themed office furniture can improve office atmosphere and enhance employee engagement.

Could this be why we are drawn to high quality wood furnishings?  At Office Furniture Outlet we refinish most used wood products we liquidate.  We see time and time again customers eyeing and even touching the refinished wood inventory.

Wood feels luxurious and expensive.  Office Furniture Outlet sells refurbished used office furniture. We are the place where you can have champagne taste on a beer budget.  Used office furniture is generally 40% – 60% cheaper than new — even once it has been refinished.

Office Furniture Outlet offers custom-built office furniture.  When considering your surfaces you could use Corian.  Corian is composed of 70% natural minerals and is good ecologically sustainable product.

When you are looking to furnish your office consider incorporating some natural elements into the design to boost employee moral. Give Office Furniture Outlet a call and we can help you design your office. (757) 855-2800

Nature Themed Office Furniture Can Boost Employee Motivation
April 21, 2012

A number of Britons never take a lunch break away from their office and lack a connection with the environment impacting their well-being and in turn their efficiency, according to a recent survey.

Findings by Ambius, a firm that specialises in developing buildings through planting, reveal that many workers could improve their health and productivity simply through their surroundings. Previous studies concur this by suggesting that quality interior design can lead to health benefits and further results indicate that just five minutes exposure to nature is enough to have a beneficial effect.

Nature themed office furniture can enhance employee engagement. Drab walls and plain furnishings can have negative effects by bringing down the atmosphere and surveys have shown that high-end furnishings reduce stress….Read More

via Nature Themed Office Furniture Can Boost Employee Motivation.

How Green is Your Office Furniture? – Greener Ideal

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Used Office Desk

Used Office Desk

Greener Ideas posts an article on greening your office.  The article notes using used office furniture to reduce your environmental impact.  When buying used office furniture you are keeping product out the landfills.  Also noting when updating your office furniture to donate existing furniture or selling furniture back to dealer.  This will also keep furniture out of the landfills.  The article’s suggestions are simple and easy to incorporate into any work space.

At Office Furniture Outlet while we sell new office furniture our focus is on used office furniture.  We buy and sell used office furniture – keeping it out of landfills.  Used office furniture is great quality furniture and usually 40%-80% off retail list prices.  Give us a call if you are in the market to sell or buy used office furniture.  (757) 855-2800

Greener Ideas article below.

How Green is Your Office Furniture? – Greener Ideal
by Samantha Peters – April 2012

While many offices have been striving to be more green by using CFLs instead of regular lightbulbs, ditching their printers for the cloud, and putting recycling stations in the breakroom, few consider the environmental impact of their office furniture when they are looking for desks or comfortable office chairs for sale.

However, the type and amount of furniture can heavily increase an office’s carbon footprint. Repeatedly buying furniture updates has a huge impact on the environment, and can essentially negate all other efforts made to be green by an office. To increase the environmental awareness of your office, consider incorporating the following 3 traditional sustainability practices when getting new furniture:

Reduce

While every employee made need a desk and a chair in order to work, there is a good chance that their desk doesn’t need to be a giant L-shaped desk with a dozen drawers and shelving. When you go to purchase furniture, try to keep it to a minimum by embracing minimalist aesthetics. This will reduce the amount of materials that your company uses, and will overall reduce your waste should you upgrade later.

Reuse

Instead of buying all new office furniture, consider purchasing second-hand furniture. Several companies specialize in selling pre-used furniture, and to make sure you receive a quality product, make sure that the items sold make it through specific inspections and tests. You will hardly notice a difference with the exception of price. Not only does pre-used furniture sell for less, but it also reduces your environmental impact.

Recycle

If you are unable to resell your previous office furniture, be sure to properly recycle it or even donate it. Local non-profits are always happy to get donations and may find your office furniture to be the upgrade they need. Also by recycling the furniture, you ensure Continue reading →

Emerging Trends in Office Spaces

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Smaller Office Building

Natural Light

The ideal office space is changing. Per Lee Harkness’ article below companies are opting for more commercial areas.  The shift comes from a general downsizing of employee desk or office space and the desire to be where the action is.

At Office Furniture Outlet we see a trend in smaller work spaces.  Customers are seeking out multiple use furniture, for example, a conference table that breaks down into training tables.  The second trend Harkness mentions is wide open space for better interaction between employees.  Doing away with the closed door office layout.   The third and fourth trend is all about environment making sure offices have natural light and in a walking neighborhood.  The article below suggests that employees who have access to local shopping spend more time in the office. The commercial office space is going to become a part of the revitalization and rehabilitation of downtown’s and neighborhoods.

This means that businesses can be creative in selecting a new office space and landlords need to be prepared for a new kind of tenant.

At Office Furniture Outlet we have the largest used office furniture inventory in Hampton Roads with hundreds of pieces to choose from and an array of services from space planning to delivery and installation. Besides our 50,000 square feet of used office furniture inventory we offer remanufactured office furniture and new office furniture.  Our wide selection means a one-stop location for all of your office furniture needs. Give Office Furniture Outlet a call today and let us know how we can help you with your office furniture needs.  (757) 855-2800

April 16, 2012

By Lee Harkness – DJDC executive director , The Post-JournalSave

Recently I was reading an article in Main Street Now with regard to trends in commercial office space.

Actually after reading the article it may also pertain to retail business space. Advanced technology has made huge changes in today’s workforce as well as locations for today’s workforce.

Smaller, older buildings have become much more attractive for conversion into office space – and we have seen this trend right here in Jamestown. Today’s workforce also requires less space, so many of our commercial district locations are now becoming much more attractive.

What exactly are trends in todays commercial office and business space?

The first trend indicates tenants are reducing their office space needs by using less space per each employee. The need to cut expenses has led tenants and potential tenants to look for flexible office space with overall goals of decreasing costs per employee.

The second trend indicates it has become very obvious that commercial space and layouts are shifting. There is a shift to remove barriers in offices to increase interaction among employees. Office space is becoming more open. As stated, a recent Wall Street Journal article reported how “creative” office space with open floor plans had a 2.54 percent vacancy rate compared with 10.55 percent vacancy rate for more traditional spaces – this included the typical closed door office layouts.

The third trend shows landlords and tenants are more sophisticated about sustainability and the bottom line. Building owners, and tenants, are becoming much more aware of office costs while taking into mind employee satisfaction. Company absenteeism and employee health costs can be reduced by providing employees with more attractive offices that have better access to natural light and ventilation – this is particularly so when compared to the older types of office setups. Buildings located in walkable neighborhoods that offer basic services and retail opportunities provide much more flexibility for building owners and tenants alike. Managers are learning that employees who have ready access to local shopping spend more time in the office being productive.

The fourth trend says that, “The redevelopment cycle of some neighborhoods has now reached the commercial office space stage.” It has been discovered that downtowns undergoing revitalization and rehabilitation are now becoming attractive location for commercial office space development. If enough of this development occurs you will see more restaurants and retail growth starting to appear.

The emerging trend in office space design of smaller, open work stations with more collaborative shared spaces allows formerly obsolete buildings to be redesigned into more contemporary office space. In addition, the positive environmental attributes of older buildings are appealing to both tenants and landlords. As reported in the article regarding these trends, Main Street building owners should be prepared to tell potential tenants, along with commercial real estate brokers how their buildings and real estate can meet these trends. A real proactive approach is critical in appealing to new types of tenants and owners who are looking at new building options that they might not have a few years ago.

via Main Street Now Report Highlights Trending Office Space Changes – post-journal.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information – Jamestown | Post-Journal.

Don’t Spend a Fortune on Brand New Office Furniture

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Used Office Desk For SaleMango Grove Money Management is reporting 8 things not to buy new.  Buying used office furniture makes the list of eight.  We all know buying used will always save one money but we always wonder if it is the right thing to do. The reason used office furniture is such a good deal is that it is commercial grade furniture.  Commercial grade furniture is built to last.  You will not find the same quality when buying new non-commercial grade furniture from a furniture retail store.  Retail furniture usually has a 1-5 year life span and commercial grade furniture is much higher with a 5-15 (or more) heavy use life span. Not only do you get a discount for buying used but also your furniture will last a long time.

At Office Furniture Outlet we realize how daunting furnishing your office can be. We have the largest used office furniture inventory in Hampton Roads with hundreds of pieces to choose from and an array of services from space planning to delivery and installation. Besides our 50,000 square feet of used office furniture inventory we offer remanufactured office furniture and new office furniture.  Our wide selection means a one-stop location for all of your office furniture needs. Give Office Furniture Outlet a call today and let us know how we can help you with your office furniture needs.  (757) 855-2800

Read the Mango Grove Money Management article on buying used below.

Things you Should Buy Used | Mango Blog

In today’s world of rapidly advancing technology, it seems as though there is always a new something on the market. If I had a quarter for every time I heard someone say, “Have you heard about the new (Fill in the blank),” well, I’d have enough money to be able to afford all of those new things. But the truth is, with so many new things on the market, most of us can’t afford the latest and greatest versions. But don’t worry, there are tons of things that you not only don’t need to buy new; but that you also probably shouldn’t buy new.

Check out this list of eight things out there that you should buy used.

1)   Cars: Most of us have heard that a car depreciates in value the second you take it home, and unfortunately, this is kind of true. According to Edmunds.com, a new car loses about 12% the second you drive it off the lot. So take a look at a gently used car—if it is relatively new it will probably still have a 3-5 year warranty—and it could save you thousands of dollars.

2)   Jewelry: Many fine jewelry stores mark up their merchandise by almost 100%. Instead of paying almost double what a ring, necklace, bracelet, etc. are actually worth, take a look at your local pawn or antique shop. Just make sure to do a little bit of research on the store’s reputation before you buy!

3)   Books: Sadly, most books don’t get read more than once and in this day and age, some not even at all. They just sit collecting dust while videogames get all of the action (which you’ll see down the list as well!) So why spend $15-$20 on a brand new book when there are so many other options? Check out your local Half Price Books or simply join your local library. There, you can pick up books, audio books, and even movies for free.

4)   DVDs and Blu-Ray: Just like books, you don’t need to spend $20 on a new DVD when today there are so many other options. Not only can you get gently used DVDs for a fraction of the price (again, Half Price Books or sites like Half.com and Amazon.com) but these days you can simply streams or download them. Click here for more on options that will help you do just that.

5)   Videogames: Just like a car, once a videogame has been used (played) it drastically drops in price. But simply playing a game doesn’t damage it! Check out Gamestop.com or find your local Gamestop store to shop their huge selection of gently used games, great for any console. You can even sell your own games here when you’re done for some extra cash.

6)   Office Furniture: Office furniture is usually built pretty sturdily. You can set your heavy computer on top of it, you can use it to store all of your files, and you can even give it a swift kick when work is driving you crazy (though we don’t recommend these, nor do your toes.) So there is no need to spend a fortune on brand new office furniture when something gently used will hold up just as well. Check out the consignment stores in your area or Craigslist.com.

via Things you Should Buy Used | Mango Blog.

For Furniture Designer Richard Schultz, It’s Back To Knoll – Forbes

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Richard Schultz is back at Knoll as he sold his brand to Knoll in March, 2012. Schultz began his career at Knoll in the 60′s.  His petal table pictured above can be seen in the Museum of Modern Art in New York city. With the rise of mid-century trends in the marketplace Knoll and Schultz will make a great team once again. It will be a while before Office Furniture Outlet will see Schultz’s designs on our showroom of used office furniture but we always keep up to date on what is trending in new office furniture. Read more on Richard Schultz below.

For Furniture Designer Richard Schultz, It’s Back To Knoll – Forbes

For outdoor furniture designer Richard Schultz, last month’s sale of his brand to Knoll, Inc., the purveyor of modern office furniture by the likes of  Eero Saarinen, Warren Platner and Harry Bertoia, completes a full circle. Schultz’s classic designs such as the Petal Table, and his contemporary pieces like the Topiary Collection, are now under Knoll’s umbrella. Here’s the back story.

When Schultz started his design career at Knoll in 1960, the company was so close knit that when he and co-worker Trudy Busch got married, owner Florence Knoll lent out her Paris apartment to them for their honeymoon. Schultz’s first breakthrough design was the Petal Table, inspired by a weed, Queen Anne’s Lace, on the Schultzes’ Pennsylvania farmhouse property. It was designed to accompany Bertoia’s iconic wire chairs for Knoll, and was made part of the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Next up in 1966: a collection of sleek chaise lounges billed as the Leisure Collection, designed at the request of Florence Knoll for her Florida home. “My editor was Mrs. Knoll,” Schultz says. He stayed on at Knoll until 1973, when he left to be a freelance designer. Knoll itself was bought and sold many times, and Schultz’s furniture went out of production.

Fast forward to 1990. Schultz had prototypes of a visionary line called the Topiary Collection made out of perforated sheet aluminum. He now calls it “the funny one with the holes in it,” or to quote him in the current catalogue:  “I wanted to design a chair that looks like a shrub pruned to look like a chair.” He tried to peddle it to various manufacturers, including the staid Brown Jordan, but the reaction he got was that it was “too weird.” Undeterred, he and son Peter, an architect in New York, took that rejection as the impetus to start Richard Schultz Design in 1992. There would be two missions: to reintroduce the classics with some reengineering (the Leisure Collection was renamed the 1966 Collection), and to have an outlet for Schultz’s newest designs.

New designs came easily: The Café Collection of stackable chairs with funky triangular folds in the seat and the back; the Swell Collection of outsized pieces for customers who found the 1966 Collection “too puny” (Richard Schultz doesn’t sugar coat things). He stayed in the design room for the most part; Peter managed the business side of things; and Trudy kept a notebook of all the disasters, including failing thread. “It was rather sinister of her,” Schultz quips.

The craze for mid-century furnishings heated up, and consumers started splurging on outdoor living rooms. When Knoll made its first call on the Schultzes to ask whether they would entertain a sale five years ago, the Schultzes said no. Each year they came out with new product lines, building the value of the brand, riding out the recession. This year, with high-end buyers back, the Schultzes felt the timing was right when Knoll knocked again, and the sale went through in March. (Richard had gifted his shares to Peter for estate planning purposes, so Peter was 100% owner at the time of the sale).

Richard and Trudy are now retired in Vermont, where Richard is trying to focus on his small scale metal sculpture work. Peter signed up for three years as a consultant to Knoll to help with the transition. “We are a Knoll product, hence Peter is a Knoll product,” Richard says, smiling at Trudy and then at Peter.

via For Furniture Designer Richard Schultz, It’s Back To Knoll – Forbes.