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Used Office Furniture And The Environment

February 10th, 2010 No comments

Buying used office furniture or refurbishing existing furniture is a good strategy for companies that are looking to cut down on operational costs without sacrificing the aesthetics or functionality of their furnishings. Helping the environment may not be on the agenda, but nevertheless this is another advantage of this practice. Waste is minimized through the three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Companies can do their share in reducing the overall waste being deposited to landfills just by buying used office furniture or refurbishing their existing furniture. Just think: 40 workstations are already one tractor-trailer load of waste that can be saved from the landfill through recycling. Five to nine pounds of virgin material are also saved for every pound of natural resources used to repair or improve old office furniture.

Recycling or reusing furniture is practical, given that many office tables, chairs, sofas, bookshelves and desks taken to landfills are still structurally sound. They are not really damaged or broken, just outdated or slightly worn perhaps. A common reason why companies discard these pieces is that they no longer fit the color scheme or layout of a new or renovated office space.

There is a saying that goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Recycled office furniture generally refers to pieces that have been diverted out of the solid waste stream and back into the market with or without repairs. Specifically, it can refer to remanufactured, refurbished or reused office furniture and office cubicles.

Sometimes, suppliers get items that are still structurally sound and do not need any repair or improvement to its appearance. Resold and used as is, these pieces are referred to as reused office furniture. This type is probably the least expensive of the three kinds of recycled furniture, because the supplier does not need to do anything to make the items saleable.

Some pieces require little cosmetic changes or minor repairs before they become marketable. Repairing the broken arm of a chair, reupholstering panels of office cubicles or adding new laminate surfaces for tables or desks – these are some of the things done when furniture is refurbished. Companies can take recycling further by having their existing furniture refurbished instead of replacing them.

Remanufactured office furniture also has value added to it, but includes structural level changes. This involves complete disassembly of the furniture, after which parts are inspected, cleaned then repaired or replaced. The entire thing is put back together and refinished. For example, refurbishing old office cubicles includes repainting, application of new fabric on the panels, stripping and replacing of laminate, edge banding and molding.

Recycling is good, not just for buyers of used office furniture and office cubicles and the environment, but for suppliers as well. This results in a business that is not only environment-friendly but easily sustainable, as well.

Company’s can save quite a bit of money if they purchase office furniture because it can be half the price of new furniture. Not only is it cost effective but the quality can be the same. Craig Mather works to help companies find money saving used cubicle furniture by consulting with companies about it.

Configuring Cubicle Furniture To Match Your Needs

November 27th, 2009 No comments

Most offices don’t want to be looked into a single configuration. Needs constantly change, and people need to move around, and that is why cubicle offices are so common. Cubicles are an affordable way for business owners to make the changes they need and quickly install any necessary cubicle furniture. There are a lot of options available to fill almost any business needs.

Cubicles were first conceptualized in the’60′s and have since become the most common design for the modern office. Not many changes have been introduced with cubes, yet year after year more new cubicles are put into the market. Whether you are searching for used cubicles or new ones, it’s always good to research before you purchase.

The main feature of the cubicle design is the movable walls or separators. These walls are made of different materials according to the needs of the office and the budget. The main wall is made of wood, aluminum or steel and covered to achieve the final look. Some walls are fabric covered, while others feature a finish of steel or cork board.

Another benefit of cubicle furniture is that the walls are available in various designs and thicknesses. You can choose from two inches to four inches thick, each size having its benefits and disadvantages. While a thicker wall would deliver more space for wiring, also, these thicker walls look more professional and permanent. On the negative side however, these thicker walls are harder to move than the thinner ones. That is why many offices choose thinner walls for their configuration needs. If you have something like an executive space or conference room, then you could probably get away with thicker cubicle furniture walls.

Walls can also be purchased that will adjust in height. Some spaces may only need minimal privacy and a shorter wall is preferable. If the needs of the occupant change, it’s easy to add another panel to increase the height. A call center, for example may need a shorter walled cubicle, whereas a web development company may prefer higher walls for more of an office feel.

After you have selected the style of walls you can start to work on what will fill them. There are a wide range of options here because cubicle furniture is very modular and can be customized to meet individual needs. You can get desks and shelving that will attach straight to the walls with brackets, or you can use more traditional furniture. Either way you can easily adjust the workspace to fit your needs and enhance your productivity.

There are a number of regulations covering people with disabilities in the workplace. Cubicle furniture is a great way to meet those requirements. Since all the furniture is customizable, you can easily set up an office that will work for anyone without driving up your costs. You won’t have to make any special orders or spend days getting everything set up. A few simple adjustments and you will be ready to go.

Cubicle furniture has been in use for decades because of the flexibility and unique designs in configuration that these setups allow. Another benefit is that you reduce the overhead cost because you do not need to replace your furniture every time you want a new set up. Cubicle furniture is easy to install and maintain, and it is cheaper in the end for a portable and comfortable design. This design would allow employees the flexibility to change things for their own purposes, which keeps your workplace productive and comfortable.

Roger Powell helps small and medium companies purchase used office furniture in order to save money as they aim to expand. He also supplies information about office cubicles and other restored furniture.

Used Office Cubicles With Used Office Furniture With Purchase Power

November 24th, 2009 No comments

You can save money when you are first starting out in a business by using used office cubicles and used office furniture to decorate and create functional work space. They look great and many times do not even look used. It will keep your margin down in cost and look good without the big price tag.

Unfortunately there are business owners out there that are not so smart and they have decided to close. In doing so the company needs to liquidate their inventory, which includes office furniture, and at times cubicles. You can find these deals and get some very good pieces for a low price.

When business returned leased furniture to the stores they rented them from the furniture stores sell them at considerable discounts. These stores need to get rid of this furniture and make room for new items they can sell at a better price.

Looking in local ads online or in your paper is another way to get a good price on used furniture. It can be a real deal and the furniture is large and people do not have a place to put it and definitely do not want to store it. Graig’s list is a popular sight to check but you can do an internet search in your area too.

A fun way to decorate your office with furniture is to have fun with the cubicles. Many times you hear cubicles and you think boring gray, but you can get them in many colors and mix them up. Make a gradient of gray from one room to the other or get a bold color for a bold company.

You can also get refurbished furniture that looks brand new. They have excellent surfaces and are enjoyable to work on. Other used options are antique stores. I have seen a lot of really cool looking desks that people have gotten for a local shop, some even at a yard sale. Antiques have history and it is cool to think about the people who used the desk before you. Some dealers even know the history of the desk.

You can even mix and match cubicles to create patterns in your office. It can be subtle by sections of office departments or you can get crazy any purposely mix them up. Create a walkway of color or use black and white to make a statement. If you work in a creative atmosphere get creative with your space.

Stores that sell used furniture have delivery options for you. They either have it in house or are set up with a company. See if you can haggle in price if you are making a large purchase. They want to get rid of their stock so they will work with you, even if it looks like they won’t you can play hard ball. Start the negotiations when you are still considering the piece and keep your poker face on.

You can furnish an office with used office cubicles and used office furniture and keep your start up margin down. Even an established business can funk up and office with eclectic furniture of antiques. By saving money on furniture you can use it to invest in other aspects of your company.

If you are looking to start your new office, you will want to start looking for Used Office Furniture in Phoenix, Arizona. Using used office tools and furniture, is in a way creating a green office furniture enviroment and saving money.