Furniture impacts employee productivity, office culture and satisfaction in the workplace. And when it comes to furnishing an office, the uninformed business manager is in danger of making errors that could impact their organizations in the long run. Rightsize is here to help make sure that you don’t make those mistakes. Here are some of the biggest things to remember when it comes to office furniture:
Tip #1 – Negotiate furniture into the cost of the lease
When it comes time to negotiate a new lease, it’s important to be ahead of the game and get quotes for new and used office furniture to incorporate into the negotiation strategy. If you know that new furniture is going to cost $20/sf, the landlord could potentially help offset some of the expenses as part of the lease concession package.
Tip #2 – Allocate proper lead time
When the time comes to negotiate an office lease renewal or relocation, make sure to allocate enough time to plan for furniture. Time will give your organization the ability to space plan, consider branding and style and to compare prices among competitors. Remember, once the furniture is ordered, it could take 6 - 8 weeks for it to arrive. Be prepared so you don’t end up in a bind.
Tip #3 – Establish partnerships
Your business may only relocate or remodel once every 5 – 10 years. By building relationships with designers, furniture vendors and real estate professionals, it makes it much more likely that your organization will apply best design practices to your office space. This includes getting the best value for your furniture purchase, negotiating concessions in a lease agreement to help offset the costs and receiving updated information on workplace strategies.
Tip #4 – Comfort is King
A comfortable workspace is a critical aspect of employee productivity. Businesses should have proper office lighting, ergonomically sound chairs and sound-masking equipment to maintain a productive work environment for employees. Sitting in an uncomfortable chair, while not being able to see and only being able to hear your coworkers could have a negative impact on your company’s bottom line – so that cheap chair could cost you in the long run.
Tip #5 – Think Big Picture
When space planning and purchasing furniture, make sure to consider the long-term growth strategies of your business. If you furnish an office for 25 people and expect to have 50 people in one year, it makes sense to account for the additional staff members up front. Also, consider all aspects of design and layout during this process. The layout of your office space can impact hiring, employee retention and workplace satisfaction.
