Month: July 2018

Are you redoing your office decor, downsizing, moving, or shutting down an office? Every office change comes with office furniture left by the wayside. Often, companies will just call a junk collector to get it out of their hair quick and easy. Unfortunately this causes more harm than good. There are a variety of ways to get old office furniture out of your work space without putting it in the trash.

Why recycle?

The United States produces around 250 million tons of waste per year. Much of what we throw away can, in fact, be reused, recycled, or disposed of in a more responsible manner. Did you know that 80% of what America puts in the trash could actually be recycled? By reusing and recycling, we can preserve the ecosystem for further generations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global warming, and save money and energy. Consider the following options before you throw all your old chairs away.

Where to recycle old office furniture

Donate to a church, school, or non-profit if the items are still usable. These organizations are often in need of new supplies and furniture but don’t have the funds. They may also serve a community that is impoverished or underserved. These organizations can help facilitate the transfer of your old office furniture to families and organizations that need it. They get what they need, you get rid of your old furniture, and nothing is thrown into landfills!

Recycling services companies can take your used furniture and reintroduce the materials into the manufacturing cycle. This is a good option for damaged goods, as they cannot be reintroduced into the consumer market.

How a commercial moving company can help

Liquidation services can help you sell your used or old office furniture. This puts the items back into the market, rather than dumping them in a landfill.

Hire logistics providers and commercial moving companies to manage your office furniture donation, liquidation, or recycling process. This ensures that the process is managed in a responsible and charitable way.

Check out Green Standards for more general education about the topic. Over the course of their company’s lifetime, they have diverted 40,000 tons of office furniture waste from landfills across both the US and Canada.

• For donation in Massachusetts, check out this list of places provided by the state government.
• To donate old office furniture in Austin and the DC area, start your search with the local Habitat for Humanity.
• In Pennsylvania, explore the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s page on the topic.

When you’re ready to get the old office furniture out of your space, give Olympia a call a  800.222.4744 or fill out our form to schedule your commercial move or hire us for logistics. 

Thinking about updating the office? Office design is essential whether you are you moving to a new space or just re-decorating the old. Whether you’re looking for a complete overhaul or small additions and touch ups, keep in mind these latest office design trends to increase productivity, retention, and efficiency.

Add Color to Your Office Design

Adding color into the office will help keep employees engaged and mentally stimulated throughout the day. As a bonus, it is an opportunity to work in some internal branding. Adding chairs, tables, or wall decor in the company colors can be a positive bump to company spirit. This will also help the space become more welcoming for client meetings.

If maintaining a gray-scale design palette is important to your brand, try to mix in different textures to achieve a similar effect to colors, such as fabric, wood, or metal. The goal is to create a visually stimulating environment for your employees and clients, and contrasting textures with similar colors will help achieve this.

All Things Green

Both bio-features and sustainability are increasingly popular trends in modern office design. Green walls or plant features brighten up rooms and make the space more welcoming to work in. Be careful when moving plants between spaces, they need special attention during a move. Using desks and tables made with natural materials like wood or bamboo, as well as incorporating recycled or recyclable materials will help the office decrease its carbon footprint. To fully embrace sustainability, avoid stocking the fridge with one-use water bottles and encourage employees to use reusable cups and bottles for coffee and water.

Another office transition can come from transportation. Providing showers and changing rooms in your office can also encourage your employees to get to work in a more sustainable manner, such as biking or running. Using the office design to accommodate fitness can encourage and help employees incorporate fitness into the workday. Lunch time walks, runs, or bike rides can improve mental well-being, and thus help with productivity. When employees are happy, work becomes more efficient. Committing to creating a more sustainable work place will help not only with global warming but with the reputation of your company.

Dynamic Spaces

When re-configuring your office, think about the type of space you need, both for your hardworking employees but also your clients. Do you hold events to inform or thank your clients? Do you throw annual parties for clients and members of your network? Creating a dynamic and convertible work space is essential for the well-connected business.

Design working spaces so they can be both independent work stations or group collaboration environments. This way people can choose their space depending on how they work best. This will lead to more success and efficiency. It will also help with retention, because allowing people to choose their own work environment helps employees feel respected and accommodated for. Make every space as productive as possible, starting with the layout of the desks. See out post for more about how to Feng Shui your space.

Convertible spaces are also very useful. Create spaces that have day to day operations, but are also convertible into an area that can hold multiple clients for a reception or luncheon. This allows for budgeting as well as allowing the clients to see the headquarters of your company.

Did you learn about office design trends that you want to implement at your company? Once you’re ready to take the next step with your office space, give Olympia a call a  800.222.4744 or fill out our form to schedule your commercial move.