Tag: commercial

What Are the Benefits of Outdoor Business Events?

Posted on by rhunt

What Are the Benefits of Outdoor Business Events?

Weddings, baby showers, and barbecues all bring people together outside—why not a business event? Charity bike rides and 5K’s, employee parties, volunteering events, and networking are outdoor business events that offer unique experiences.

Activities Create Connection

Instead of sitting for an evening, outdoor business events give attendees the opportunity to engage with their peers in a variety of activities.

A charity 5K or a lawn networking event with cornhole and giant Jenga involve participants in memorable ways, all while building your own brand. Additional ideas include:

  • Lawn Bowling
  • Build-A-Plant
  • Charity Softball Game
  • Charity Kickball Game
  • Office Olympics
  • Bocce Tournament
  • Team Clean-Up Your Neighborhood
  • Concerts and Musical Acts

For more event ideas, read 20 Creative Corporate Event Ideas That Feel Anything But Corporate from Peerspace.

Grillmaster

Shake things up with a serve-yourself spread. Break away from the traditional ‘steak, chicken, and vegetarian’ menu with grilled fish tacos, grilled broccoli, and summer salads. Popular food trucks can also be hired to cater to larger events like 5K’s and bike races.

Food can make or break an event. Ensure that whatever your choice for catering is has the capacity to meet demand.

Making #Memories

Attendees are much more likely to share content about your outdoor business event in a more relaxed setting. Drive social media engagement with an event hashtag or geotag to increase awareness of your event and brand. Investing in a photobooth or photo props to increase the shareability of your event.

Necessities of Successful Outdoor Business Events

Regardless of the type of event you’re hosting, there are several basics you’ll need:

  • Tables
  • Chairs
  • Coolers
  • Trash Cans
  • Storage
  • Tents
  • Food Serving Equipment (grills, buffet containers, etc.)
  • Stereo Systems/Speakers
  • Port-a-Potties (if there are no bathrooms available)

These simple factors are key to hosting a successful event, especially when food is involved. Missing one can be an inconvenience for your attendees and a headache for you. Don’t let poor logistics keep you from capitalizing on day of fun and business development.

When Should You Call a Professional Moving Company?

Only you know your own capacity. Much like how caterers are called when you need large quantities of food, professional movers can assist you with the set up and break-down of an event.

Olympia can help by providing transport for event equipment or simply by providing labor. Even for a relatively small event, hiring a team of professional movers can take pressure off of you and your event organizers so that everyone can enjoy your event alongside your attendees. We can set up and break down equipment and supplies while you focus on what really matters: making good memories!

For all your event logistics needs, contact Olympia Moving at 800.222.4744 or get a free quote.

Downsizing Your Office

Posted on by rhunt

Downsizing Your Office for Increased Efficiency

Downsizing is a major reason companies move offices. When it comes to office space, less is sometimes more. With rent on the rise, downsizing your office can be an effective way to reduce fixed costs. If downsizing and relocating offices is a possible fit for your company, consider these reasons companies are making this move:

Photo by Alesia Kazantceva on Unsplash

Eco-Minded

Downsizing your office space means that less energy is needed to heat, cool, and keep the lights on in your office space. Not only does this save your company money, but it also reduces overall energy consumption.

Remote Work, Rotating Desks

A changing technological landscape allows many people to work from the comfort of their home. If your employees spend half of their days working out of the office, a permanent desk can be more of a placeholder than a necessity. One solution is to designate a certain number of desks as ‘free to use’ for a rotating crew of remote employees. This allows you to remove extraneous seating space without removing in-office work space entirely.

Downsizing Your Office with Open Space

Open concept offices can give the feel of more space without the extra expense. A balance between open collaboration and private work space can increase efficiency. Consider what would work for your company. For a deeper look into open concept office space, see our blog post Open Concept Office Positives and Negatives.

An Opportunity for Simpler Design

Photo by Dylan Gillis on Unsplash

Feeling cluttered? Changing the layout and design of your office can get employees out of a rut. Downsizing your office can provide the impetus to ditch the old, out-of-date furniture and decorations for something fresher. Don’t send those items to landfill, though—let Olympia Moving and Storage take them off your hands and Recycle Old Furniture Instead of Trashing It.

Choosing a new office can be daunting. If you’re not sure what is best for you, check out our post How Much Office Space Does Your Company Need?

If you are ready to downsize your office space, contact Olympia Moving and Storage at 800.222.4744 or fill out our form to schedule a free quote for your 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

Announcing New Philadelphia Commercial Moving Company Location!

Posted on by olympiamoving
Philadelphia PA Moving Company
Olympia Moving & Storage is now open in Philadelphia, PA

Olympia Moving & Storage, a leading moving company in Boston and Washington DC, announced the opening of their newest Philadelphia moving company location.

“We chose Philadelphia as our newest location in response to the demand from area relocation and real estate professionals. Philadelphia’s historic homes, universities, and industry are a perfect fit for Olympia’s 25 years of experience.” said Michael Gilmartin, President and Founder of the Boston-based moving company.

Olympia Moving & Storage uses highly-trained moving experts, technology, and an extensive a-la-carte menu of services to provide companies with a move that goes far beyond lifting boxes.

In addition to local, interstate, and international moving and storage, the new Philadelphia moving company offers relocation concierge services, designed to assist companies with every aspect of their move. Olympia’s moving consultants recommend services to make the process smoother. Olympia’s concierge services include, office moving, workstation installation, electronics disconnection/re-connection, crate delivery, storage and recycling & disposal.

Olympia uses a combination of personalized customer service and technology to ease pre-move stress and ensure a seamless move. Each client is assigned both a dedicated move consultant and coordinator to plan the move, guide the whole office through the process, and be responsive to client needs. Olympia Moving customers can also track and manage their move online via the Olympia Move Portal, where they can sign and download documents, review details, access moving resources, and more.

Most importantly, Olympia Moving & Storage employs the best full-time moving professionals in
the industry. Olympia’s movers practice their skills in the fully furnished Olympia Training House before stepping foot onto a move site for the first time. The crews’ extensive training includes packing, furniture protection, moving, furniture assembly, and customer service.

“Our goal is to redefine the moving industry. We work with our customers to eliminate the stress and intimidation from the move so they can concentrate on enjoying their new home,” says Michael Gilmartin. “We’re excited to show Philadelphia that there’s a better way to move.”

If you’re in need of a move in Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, or Northern Delaware, request a free, no obligation moving estimate online or by calling 610-951-6090

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

You might also be interested in:

What is a Shared Workspace?

Posted on by olympiamoving

Bright colors, inviting design, and cold brew coffee in the kitchen, this is what comes to mind when we think of a shared workspace.

It’s no surprise that the concept of shared workspaces is becoming increasingly popular. High rents and a changing economy make running a business expensive. With the rise of the boutique business, people are finding new and creative ways to save on cost. But, is a shared workspace right for your company? What does it entail? Olympia Office Movers spoke with Dave McLaughlin, WeWork‘s East Coast General Manager, to get the real deal on using a shared workspace. shared workspaces

I must admit, based on how nice the offices are, we figured a shared workspace at a place like WeWork would be a bit pricey.

The truth? A shared workspace in the WeWork common area can range from $45 to $350 per person per month, based on your needs. Sounds good, right? It gets better.

All Commons packages include amenities such as high speed internet, discounts and benefits from over 250 partner companies such as AT&T, Hubspot and Uber, access to an online professional network of over 40k members worldwide, guest reception & community managers, and not least of all, kitchens with free coffee. When asked whether they had collaborated with another WeWork member on something, 70% of members said yes.

“I would say my favorite thing is the opportunity to network regularly with people within the community and other event goers. I meet at least 1 new person every event who I can connect with a friend in need of their service or collaborate with myself,” says Nike John, of Vibe Residential, on her company’s shared workspace at WeWork

shared workspaceWeWork builds their spaces around their shared kitchens, creating a place where people can interact and share ideas. Their mission is to build communities, not offices, and with locations worldwide they show no sign of slowing down. Focused on building a larger community, WeWork has created a place where members can connect with potential clients and business partners from around the world to build better businesses. With the use of a digital app to address frictions, WeWork seems to have found a way to make business solutions easier for the community as a whole, mapping what members need and delivering accordingly.

Shared workspace communities often offer events benefiting personal and business development, from exercise boot camp to business advice forums, the events offered are bound to catch your interest. WeWork’s members are even welcomed and encouraged to host events in their spaces.

It’s a common misconception that shared workspaces only work for small startups. WeWork’s Boston location is home to a financial company of 100 employees, which is by no means a small start-up! Rest assured that whether you’re a company of 1 or 100, they can make it work.

Inc.com reported in 2014 that according to a report from the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, the number of shared workspaces in America had gone from one to 781 since 2005. The shared workspace trend is only growing more popular as that number increased 83 percent from 2012 to 2013, while and memberships at facilities increased by 117 percent in that time.  With over 50 shared workspace options in the Boston and D.C. areas with attractive amenity offerings, month to month leasing, and a visually appealing space outside of the 9-5 cubicle norm, it’s easy to see why companies are drawn towards using a less traditional workspace to build their teams and attract young talent.

If an open office concept isn’t right for your office you can still take advantage of collaborative office shares with private office options. It’s important to keep in mind that the space you’re inviting employees into directly affects their mindset and productivity.

Interested in a shared workspace? Check out WeWork and request an estimate to move into your new workspace!

You might also be interested in:

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.

You might also be interested in:

 

Olympia at the Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Conference

Posted on by olympiamoving

NEBFM ConferenceOlympia Office Movers is a member of the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), so we were a proud exhibitor at least week’s Northeast Buildings & Facilities Management Show & Conference. This two day event was an educational conference and exhibition for buildings and facilities managers in the greater New England region.

Sales manager Mike Smith and business developer Despina Sidiropoulos represented Olympia at the conference, and had a great time networking and giving away some nifty Olympia Office Movers drawstring bags.

Congrats to Ellen Fee who won our gift card raffle! She will be enjoying dinner at Legal Seafood on us!

Are you interested in networking with Olympia Office Movers? Feel free to contact us at [email protected] to inquire about joining our Boston, MA and Washington, DC area networking groups! Also be sure to connect with us on LinkedIn!

Welcome to the New OlympiaOfficeMovers.com!

Posted on by olympiamoving

Olympia Moving & Storage has been performing office, commercial, and industrial moves for over 20 years, but there’s no doubt that this division of our business has experienced significant growth. We have proven ourselves to be not just a residential mover that does commercial work, but a commercial moving company capable of providing services to a wide range of industries and projects. Our growth is not just evident in our long list of satisfied clients, but in the additional talented staff we have added to this division.

Today we are proud to officially launch Olympia Office Movers as a separate brand in the Olympia family. Clients of the new Olympia Office Movers can expect the same exceptional office, commercial, and industrial relocation services held to our high Olympia Standard. They can also look forward to the benefits of the additional resources we have allocated to this growing business.

Olympia Office Movers Website

This launch is marked by the release of olympiaofficemovers.com. This website, exclusively dedicated to our office, commercial and industrial services, is full of relevant information and resources for potential and current clients, including:

The launch of website is just the beginning, as we plan to continue to build the site over the next few months with information, videos, articles, free downloads, and more.

We’re looking forward to what’s in store for Olympia Office Movers, and we hope you find the new features useful in planning your upcoming project or relocation.