Category: Move Planning

Office Design Trends To Keep In Mind

Posted on by cclark

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

colorful office design is stimulatingAdding 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.

a plant can help the office design feel inviting

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.

bikes for the office - office design can support fitness

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.

Open office designDesign 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.

How Much Office Space Does Your Company Need?

Posted on by cclark

Whether you’re opening your first business or you are expanding, you need to figure out where you’re going to work. When thinking about a new office space, it is important to think about a few essential questions.

Forecast Growth

First, do you have a plan for how quickly you want your company to grow? Depending on how many new employees you are planning on hiring each year, you might have to sign a lease on an office that is larger than what you currently need. The extra space will give you the flexibility to grow, but could also be a budget killer if you don’t expand as you planned.

Open Concept vs. Cubicles

Another important question is considering any industry specific needs. What type of space does your company need? While a sales based company might want individual spaces for each of its agents to conduct their own business, a marketing or social media agency might want an open style office to encourage collaboration.

Depending on what type of company you are, consider what type of space you need. An open office space averages less square footage per employee (125-150 sq ft. per person), while cubicle style requires more (150-175 sq ft. per person). Once you know your projected number of employees, you will be able to come up with a rough estimate of how much space you need.

Needs for Other Spaces

Next, consider other needs for your space. Will you be holding office-wide meetings or client meetings in this space? Consider whether or not you need a conference room, what size you might need, or how many. Check out this Conference Room Rundown for more.

Do you need storage? A kitchen? A lounge or lobby? Deciding on what additional features you need can help you narrow down locations that would work and help you itemize the additional square footage you may need.

Talk to your employees and see what their ideas are, then work from that.

The key to finding a new space is to have a plan outlining what you need now as well as what you will potentially need in the future.

Once you’re ready to take the next step with your business, give Olympia a call a  800.222.4744 or fill out our form to schedule your commercial move.

Moving Office? Feng Shui Your New Space

Posted on by olympiamoving

When moving into a new office space it’s the perfect time to reorganize and decorate. These are some tips to help your transition and plan an office that will generate positive energy and inspiration.

Trash the clutter.

Businesswoman watering plant at desk

Go through all of the loose paper and random sticky notes and trash anything that isn’t relevant! The tricky part about this is keeping it de-cluttered; try to get into a habit of leaving your desk clean at the end of the day and don’t over crowd items . If it’s still feeling cramped, possibly invest in a mirror to open up the space.

Get some plants.

Encourage your coworkers to give the office some green and fresh air by adding plants to the office. This will spruce up your desk space and improve what you are feeding your brain while at work.

Give your desk a “commanding position.”

Office6Tips3

Orient yourself so that you can see out the window and people in front of you; this creates a safe space. People working behind you can often be distracting and you may get the feeling that someone is always looking over your shoulder.

Harmonize the layout of your desk.

The left side of your desk has to do with wisdom, relationships and wealth. You should decorate this area with cooler colors, family photos and plants. The center of your desk should be clutter free and clear, this area aligns with your career, health and reputation. You can fill this space with motivational quotes, business cards and colors like yellow, black and red. The right side of your desk promotes creativity, love and compassion. Bring in the colors gold, white and silver, a mantra or flowers for inspiration in these aspects of your life.

Bagua-horz-pageOnce you have established a work environment that allows you to be productive, reach goals and enjoy every minute of it, you can then begin expanding Feng Shui techniques into other areas of your life.

Before you can Feng Shui your office space, you need to move there! Request a free office moving estimate online or by calling us at 800.222.4744

3 Tips For Preparing Employees For A Relocation

Posted on by olympiamoving

Deciding to relocate your business is a big deal. There are a ton of aspects to consider, so how much should you include your employees in the decision-making and how should you be preparing them for a move?

Your employees are a huge part of your business, so it’s important to ask yourself if you know what’s important to them. You may want to create a communication plan ensure you’re in touch with their needs and get organized for the relocation.

While there are countless things you need to convey while preparing your employees for a relocation, we understand that you’ve got plenty on your plate.  We’ll keep it short with these 3 tips:

  1. The size of the new space and what they can bring

    Whether an employee has worked at a company for 6 months or 6 years it’s more than likely that their desk has accumulated more junk than they realistically need or want. You’ll want to keep this in mind when planning a relocation due to the change in space. Let your employees know if their new work spaces will be larger or smaller than the area they’re currently occupying so that they prepare for their own relocation accordingly and they aren’t over-packing.

  2. Commute Logisticspreparing your employees

    Another commonly overlooked, but important, aspect to take into account is the geography of your new office. Preparing your employees for a change is important because you run the risk of losing employees based on commute time and accessibility. Once you have a space in mind it’s important to factor in how your employees will be getting there. Have an open conversation about how commutes will change and let your employees know the best routes, transit lines, and parking options so that they feel comfortable and valued during the upcoming change.

  3. Area Amenities

    Whether or not we like to admit it, food is a huge culture builder in and out of the office. One of the main complaints from employees is lack of accessible food or coffee options in the areas surrounding their offices. Do a little bit of research on the food, drink, and fitness options new area. Let your employees know that you care by sharing a list of top spots in close proximity to your new space. They’ll appreciate your attention to detail and their caffeine needs and they’ll feel better about preparing themselves for their first day in your new office.

No matter what your reason may be for relocation, the best course of action is to keep everyone involved well informed and preparing employees is a huge part of that.

Looking to move your office or have more questions about preparing for an office move? Give us a call today at 800.222.4744 to discuss your options or request an estimate.

You might also be interested in:

  1. Countdown to a successful move
  2. Open Concept Office Positives and Negatives
  3. Employee Relocation Instructions 

 

Office Moving Mistakes

Posted on by olympiamoving

moving mistakes

Moving is never easy, but when other people come into the equation your responsibilities to the move change drastically. It’s important to know what you should be doing when planning an office move, but what about the common moving mistakes to avert?

5 office moving mistakes to avoid:

  1. Don’t wait to finalize your moving plans

    When you’re planning a move for your office you have more than just employees to worry about. Whether you’re moving internally or to a new building, you’ll want to have all of the details planned out ahead of time to minimize stress and room for error. Commercial moves require different types of people with specific attention to detail, and the building you’re relocating to might have special requirements from the crew you’ll be working with.

    It’s no surprise that procrastination is moving’s worst enemy, so don’t add to your workload by doing so.

  2. Don’t keep your employees out of the loop

    Employee happiness is directly related to their work environment. If you’re planning a move you should inform your employees as soon as plans are set and give your employees enough time to plan for their new office. When you keep information from your employees you run the risk of disrupting productivity and happiness.

  3. Don’t forget to do your research

    Are you really willing to risk damaging your company’s belongings or new work space after all of that effort you put into planning your relocation? Not all moving companies are the same, so don’t make the common moving mistake in thinking so.

    You’ll want to do more than just compare prices when it comes to choosing your mover. We suggest reading reviews and speaking with a representative of the company in order to make a better informed decision about who to work with. While price is always a factor you’ll want to be sure that the company you choose can handle your type of move and specific needs. Make sure you know about the quality of work and accountability your mover is putting into your relocation. At the end of the day you’ll be paying for quality and experience.

  4. Don’t forget to ask questions

    All moves are different, and that includes yours! Communicate with your movers and vendors and make sure you’re all on the same page. This will help you avoid any moving mistakes and confusion during or after your move, when it’s time to pay for services rendered.

  5. Don’t forget to budget the actual move portion into your plans

    If you’re planning an office move, you might also be involved in some other planning activities. Finding a space, renovating, or upgrading your furniture and equipment are all tasks associated with office moves, but while you’re choosing your favorite chair you’ll want to remember to leave room in your budget for the actual move.

    Many people make this moving mistake and underestimate the time and costs associated with the physical portion of their relocation causing them to be forced to settle for cheaper moving companies who are ill-equipped to deal with their needs. Keeping relocation costs in mind throughout your planning process will save you unexpected costs on what matters most, the integrity of the new items and space you’ve put time and money into.

    Here’s a tip: many vendors work together so if you’re at a loss for who to contact, ask someone you already trust.

Planning an office move or considering a relocation?
Avoid these moving mistakes and call us today at 800.222.4744 to discuss your options or request an estimate

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Office Moving & Employee Relocation

Posted on by olympiamoving

Office moving can be a daunting task. Finding a new space, choosing vendors who can facilitate your needs and choosing an office layout are just a few of the things to think about during office moving.

But what about relocating your employees? Anticipating employee needs in order to keep them comfortable and productive is an important part of the process in office moving.

Not only can Olympia Moving & Storage help you plan the details of office moving, from the pack to the installation of new office furniture, we’re here to be a resource for the things that may get overlooked during your company’s move. We came up with a list of to-do’s, essential for a positive and fresh start in your new office!

office moving

Things to consider during office moving include:

1. Keep your employees informed

Once you have made the decision to move into a new space, let your employees know about the specifics.

Timelines of the pack and deliver will be of utmost importance to your employees and the work that they are doing. Minimizing hiccups with proper planning and communication between you and your moving company is key.  Ask your moving company if they will come to your office to present a short pre-move seminar to fill your employees in on necessary move preparations.

2. Share your plans

Keep in mind that we spend half of our lives at work so it’s important to create an environment your employees will feel good about working in.

Whether you’re taking your employees suggestions into consideration or making the decisions without them, it’s a good idea to share your new office’s floor plan so people can easily locate their new work space. Send out instructions, including information about changes in your employees’ transportation and parking options at your new office, so that there is no confusion when they arrive on their first day.

Office moving also includes relocating your employees personal work spaces,  and you’ll want to decide whether or not your employees will be packing themselves. This may be a good way to give people a sense of ownership over their own space or take a little stress off by letting the movers do it for them.  Olympia Moving & Storage can offer your company full or partial packing services based on your needs.

3. Give them a guide!

A change in routine is never easy so give your employees a head start with a handy list of nearby places in your new area where they can grab coffee or lunch. Be sure to include some after work spots so they can explore and grab dinner or drinks together, too!

4. Start fresh

You’re in a new office, so you may as well revamp and start fresh with new resource materials. Take the time to go through your employee contact list and give your employees up to date directory information. Lord knows Linda hasn’t been at 152 for quite some time!

Moving is also the perfect opportunity to get rid of old files and declutter the supply closet. Olympia Moving & Storage also offers document destruction & purging services, so those out of date files can be disposed of without worry.

5. Welcome them

Everybody loves a bagel; treat your employees to a breakfast and a short tour on the first day in your new office.

Many of your employees will be trying to downsize their desks when packing or prepping for a pack and will need some necessities for the new office. Keep them stocked by providing office essentials like post-its and notepads or even a gift card to your nearby office supply store on the first day so they’ll be ready to dive into their new work space right away.  For some office fun, have co-workers vote on who best-decorated their new space.

Need more information about employee relocation and office moving? We have you covered. Download our PDF for everything you need to know, from prep to unpack.

Whether you’re moving an office of 40 or 400, we’re here to help during every step of office moving. Check out the services we can offer to help you plan your office move and request your free estimate today.

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