Category: INTERIORS

Commercial Furniture is Boring

By Monte Clark

If you walked into an ice cream shop and all they served was chocolate and vanilla, you’d probably turn around and leave. That is unless the shop owner managed to convince you that chocolate and vanilla are not only the best flavors out there, but are the only flavors even worth considering.

Good luck with that, pal.

Though this example may sound far-fetched, it mirrors what’s happening in the architecture and design (A&D) industry as it relates to commercial furniture and finishings. Consider this scenario: Your business interior is badly in need of redesign and refurbishing. Your desks, seating, and cubicles have been in place 10 to 15 years, and they look it. Some long-term employees are beginning to mention worn surfaces and worn-out chairs. (“I sit on it, and it sinks and doesn’t come back up,” says John Smith. “It must date back to the Ark.”)

As an astute manager, you understand that your workplace is an important part of your brand. An attractive workplace attracts great employees—and helps you retain them—right down to the lighting in their cubes and the chairs they’re planted in. When you think about it, these hard-working folks are with you eight hours a day, which is often more than the quality time they spend with their families!

So you make an appointment with an architect and what do you get? That’s right … chocolate and vanilla. That is to say, the interior designer/space planner offers a choice of Herman Miller, HON, or Steelcase. Period.

Don’t get me wrong here: These are fine brands, tried and true. And they’re a holy trinity that many architects are reluctant to look beyond. But they’re at the upper end of the price spectrum, and they have an uncanny way of busting your budget faster than you can blink an eye. Isn’t it possible to do just as well and spend less?

The answer is yes. There is a whole world of furniture choices out there.

When you work with QGC Interiors, you have a broad range of options to choose from. You get excellent value and great design. Our commitment to helping you create a better workplace experience means that we take the time to listen to your needs and project goals. We work closely with our manufacturer-partners. We ensure timely delivery within your budget, and we make sure the end result is perfect. Why? Because it’s what we do. And because we understand that the right physical environment makes for a great workplace experience, which means happier employees and—we think—a better bottom line. After all, you want to feel good at work. Kind of like getting a double-scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough after work tonight!