As we continue exploring the free office environment resources provided by Steelcase, you won’t want to miss their white paper about the true value of space and the value of what you put in it. The cubicle manufacturer advocates installing workstations on the ceiling of your office space so that employees can hang upside down like bats as they work. Just kidding…(although it would certainly be an interesting way to leverage unused vertical space!) However, Steelcase does encourage business owners to start thinking about space in a new way – as a strategic asset rather than an unavoidable cost.
For example, looking at office real estate just based on how many employees you can fit into the space is missing the bigger picture. You should be asking how you can equip the interior to enhance the productivity of the employees who will be working there. Each item should be selected to serve a specific purpose as part of an overall plan to enhance work flow and reduce waste. Furniture purchases should be made with an eye toward future development rather than just current needs.
Office Furniture By the Numbers
But this isn’t just another paper about keeping workers happy. Facility managers and purchasing directors will appreciate all the details about the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for office furniture and office space. You might not realize that the initial price tag for a cubicle is only part of the real cash outlay over time. Management and maintenance costs can bump that price up significantly over time. For example, if you don’t have a plan in place for redeploying or selling older furniture when you buy new, you could end up spending money on storage for used furniture instead of recapturing costs. At Cubicles Office Environments, we can buy your used office furniture to help you manage your business expenses the smart way. Give us a call at (760) 536-6374 to get more details.