Archive for March, 2010

Office Furniture – Sort Out Your Storage

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

We may be living in a paperless age, but there’s still plenty of need for office furniture that offers great storage.

For all offices, storage is an issue. Whether its finance paperwork or spare parts for products; stationery items or IT supplies, there’s always something that needs putting away safely. Managing your business’s storage requirements takes a bit of planning and the right office furniture.

Storage Office Furniture

Every office has its own system when it comes to storing items. Whether your company is heavily paper based and needs a lot of filing space, or you just need accessible cupboards so that staff can keep their personal items out of sight, there’s an office furniture solution for you. Obviously, a manufacturing stores area needs dedicated shelving so that stock can be monitored and re-ordered in time, but for general office needs, there’s a range of good quality office furniture available:

Cupboards – depending on what you need to store, a cupboard system can be a great choice. Matching your desks and other office furniture, they help to give a great impression to staff and customers alike and allow you to store things out of sight. Many companies will use the top of these office furniture to house printers or fax machines, whilst in board and meeting rooms, they are often at the perfect height to hold drinks and food.

Post Room and Bookshelves – for periodicals and magazines, reference books that are frequently referred to by staff or to hold a personal collection of management books or journals that are specific to your business, a good bookcase is essential .Don’t buy cheaply here, because shelves can be loose and weak and the frame of the bookcase needs to be able to withstand the weight put onto it.

Metal Storage and Filing – even in today’s modern offices, filing is inescapable. Many companies are required to keep paper copies of transactions or communications and others are happier when there is a paper trail for customers or clients. Filing drawers can be integrated into other storage areas or bought in a style and colour that matches other office furniture to make them less obvious.

In addition to these standard storage items, you can also get office furniture that provides on-desk storage or under-desk storage which helps to save space. Whatever you need, assess your office before you buy, because a general storage and cupboard system might be better for you than buying several separate items.

Storage Deals at Hunts Office Furniture

If you’re looking for quality office furniture that gives you the storage options you need, shop at Hunts. We specialise in furniture that looks great and works well, giving you the best of both worlds. Take a look at our online showroom and buy today, or call us on 0845 4000 333 to find out more.

Posted in Office Furniture | Comments Off

Office Chairs for Comfortable Working

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

All employers should be aware of the importance of providing staff with supportive office chairs.

As an employer, you have many legal duties, but you also have general responsibilities when it comes to looking after your staff. One of those is to provide them with a safe and comfortable working environment. Failure to invest in good quality office chairs could lead to staff being off sick with muscle or join problems caused by inadequate seating, which will cost you money in the long term. Far better to invest in the best office chairs in the first place.

Well-designed Office Chairs

So what do you need to look for when you’re choosing office chairs? Firstly, it depends on the function of the chairs you’re buying. You’ll be looking for different things from a chair for your reception area, for example, than from a chair your desk-based staff will be using. Assuming that you want office chairs for people who are using computers or phones for much of their day, there are several factors to consider:

Adjustable chairs – no office has a workforce where everyone is the same height and shape. You need to provide adjustable office chairs so that everyone can get their chair into a comfortable working position. Ideally, feet should be flat on the floor when sitting at a computer so height adjustable chairs are essential for good working posture.

Supportive chairs – good back support is crucial for people who are sitting in roughly the same position for seven or eight hours every day. Many office chairs come with adjustable back supports or are ergonomically designed to give users as much support as possible. Poor support leads to back and neck problems, which you will want to avoid.

Moveable chairs – the more flexible your office chairs, the easier your staff will find it to work efficiently. That’s why most standard office chairs now feature both seat swivel movements and wheels. This enables workers to reach areas of the desk without straining their backs and to get in and out of their chairs easily.

When you consider how much time your employees spend in their office chairs during the course of a working year, you can see how vital it is that they have support and comfort whilst they work, which in the long term contributes to productivity and staff satisfaction.

Office Chairs at Hunts Office Furniture

We can offer you a range of operator and task office chairs that will give your employees the comfort and support they need whilst also giving your office a modern and co-ordinated look. Take a look at our online shop and buy today or call us on 0845 4000 333 to find out more.

Posted in Office Chairs, Office Seating & Chairs | Comments Off

Office Desk Plans – A Productive Workforce

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Get your office desk configurations right to create a productive and positive working environment.

If your office desk arrangement isn’t working for you, or if you’re anticipating hiring new staff or re-arranging your offices, it might be time to take a look at how you can improve your working space. It’s amazing what a difference a new office layout can make and the arrangement of teams, managers and support staff is an important consideration for any business.

Choosing the Best Office Desk Plan

How do you decide which layout of office desks and chairs will work best for your business? Ultimately, it comes down to how your business currently operates and what its future needs might be. If you have teams that collaborate closely, it makes sense to have their office desks arranged so that they can communicate. If an employee needs peace and quiet to work, situate an office desk behind a partition or in a separate office to create the right conditions. Choosing an office desk system that gives each employee the working and personal space they need to be effective can help you to engage with your staff and give you a more productive workforce:

Planning – as in all things, planning your office space is an essential part of the purchasing process. Whether you’re re-organising the way your teams work, or just trying to find a better way to use the space you have, you need to take the time to analyse how the various parts of your office work together so that you enable your staff to work effectively rather than preventing them from doing so. Choosing the right office desk configuration can help to make your staff feel part of the team and understanding how your office works is vital.

Selection – there are so many office desk styles, shapes and sizes to choose from that it can be difficult to make the perfect selection. Knowing what you want will help you to narrow the choice, but you should also consider how much you can afford to spend. Look at office desk systems that are affordable and flexible, giving you the opportunity to move desks around as your business grows.

Office Desk Choices at Hunts Office Furniture

At Hunts, we do more than just supply furniture. We have a range of great quality, modern office desks, chairs, reception area furniture and more so that you can plan the best office space for your needs. We can help you refurbish your entire office, or we can just deliver a few key pieces of furniture that will help to freshen your building and make life easier for your staff. Take a look at our site and buy your next office desk online today or call us on 0845 4000 333 to find out more.

Posted in Office Desks, Office Seating & Chairs, Reception Counters | Comments Off

Office Furniture to Boost Your Business

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Our environments can impact on our moods, outlook and attitude – which is why it’s so important to get your office furniture right.

Think about it: office workers spend the majority of their day sat around office desks on the same office chairs for the majority of their working life. If you’re going to spend a large amount of your life in an office environment, then you’re going to want to work in one you actually feel happy in. Our surroundings should be uplifting, comfortable and productive. But all too often office environments can dampen the spirits and crush the soul. The right office furniture could transform your office environment.

Office Furniture – Positive Vibes

The Brits may not traditionally have put much thought and effort into the interior design or layout of their offices. In China however, the fastest growing economy in the world, how office furniture is organised is considered by many to be a priority. Feng shui is all about living in harmony with your environment allowing energy to flow. It’s serious business in China where disasters or bad luck are often attributed to bad feng shui. In the UK, offices may not take such beliefs as seriously, but there’s no doubt that an office environment can impact on behaviour, interaction, anxiety, isolation and performance. Investing in quality office furniture says to staff that they are valued. And by organising it in a way to promote communication and accessibility you can transform the energy in an office.

The Right Environment

If you work in an office where management are boxed off in their own offices with superior office furniture and executive chairs, and the rest of the staff have poor chairs or inadequate desks, it can generate resentment towards management. More offices are opting for an open plan approach ensuring managers are accessible and hands-on, with a more people-focused approach. Of course, it depends on the kind of business you operate but it’s important to put some thought into the kind of office furniture you invest in and how you organise it.

Office furniture may seem a simple and straightforward thing, but it can impact on the moods and attitudes of your staff. Creating a harmonious environment could enhance your workplace’s productivity and positivity helping you boost your profit margins by creating a healthier working environment.

Hunts Office Furniture – For all Your Office Furniture Needs

Operating from state-of-the-art 22,000 sq ft showroom in High Wycombe, in the Thames Valley, to the West of London, Hunts have worked with some of the largest blue-chip companies in the country, as well as home-based and small to medium sized businesses. Wherever you are in the UK we are your one-stop solution for all your workspace requirements. Have a question or need advice? Call us on: 0845 4000 333 or email: sales@huntsoffice.co.uk

Posted in Office Furniture | Comments Off

Office Chairs – The Right Combination

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

When you’re choosing new office chairs, make sure you get chairs that meet different needs.

For the people in your office, whether they work there every day or they’re visiting for a meeting, comfort is essential. That means having the right office chairs for a variety of purposes. Choosing just one type of chair might be the most economical option, but it gives the wrong impression and will ultimately cost money in replacement chairs and even replacement staff.

The Right Office Chairs for You

Your office needs a combination of types and styles of chairs in order to function properly, and the first thing you need to do is assess what sort of seating you require. Employees who spend their time working at a computer or on the phone need supportive seating that allows them to sit in the same position for several hours without feeling tired.. Boardroom seating might need to be more formal, whilst coffee area or reception seating will be used less and can be more stylish and domestic in design. Knowing the types of office chairs needed in your workplace can help you to buy exactly the right thing, making the best use of your budget:

General office chairs – the design of office chairs has changed over the years as we have become more aware of the physical requirements of seating and as the way we work has developed. No matter what business you’re in, a reasonable percentage of your staff will spend their time in front of a computer screen, so they’ll need height-adjustable, supportive seating that lets them work at the correct height for optimum PC used and that supports their back, as they won’t need to get up and move around as much.

Meeting room chairs – meetings need to be productive and to get things done. Whilst you want attendees to be comfortable, you don’t necessarily want them to be too relaxed and you may want to keep a reasonably formal style. There are many ranges of office chairs for meetings that can reflect the style and attitude of your business.

Break out and reception chairs – the impression that your visitors have of your company when they arrive is important. That’s why many companies invest time, energy and money into their reception areas. Modern but comfortable seating helps your visitors to feel relaxed and welcome when they come into your business. In the same way, break-out areas are informal, home-like spaces where your employees and clients can bounce ideas around, catch up on projects and develop new product. Office chairs for this type of area are relaxed, creating the right environment for creativity.

Office Chairs Online

It’s all too easy to go out and buy cheap office chairs without really thinking about the overall look and feel you want to create in your workspace. It’s really worth taking the time to assess your needs and what you want to achieve before you invest in office seating. At Hunts Office Furniture, we have a wide range of task, operator, meeting room, break-out and reception chairs that will help you to create an environment you and your staff want to work in. Take a look at our site and buy online today or call us on 0845 4000 333 to find out more.

Posted in Office Chairs, Office Seating & Chairs | Comments Off

Office Chairs and Desks for the Home – Keep it Professional

Monday, March 8th, 2010

More of us are increasingly working from home, but when it comes to setting up a home office don’t make do with the kitchen table or a laptop on the coffee table.

According to the Trades Union Congress almost one in eight UK people now works from home. And the culture around home work is changing too with National Work from Home Day. Several million people now work from home. Mobile technology has changed how we work and some analysts have predicted that a billion people will be working on the go thanks to advancements in communications and technology.

No Place like Home

But although working from home may sound like a dream – being surrounded by home comforts – it can in fact be something of a pain. Too many home workers simply don’t pay the right attention to setting up a proper home office with professional office chairs and desks. It can be tempting to skimp on home office furniture, especially if the cost is coming from your own personal bank balance and not your employer’s. To do so however can impact on your productivity and your health.

Draw the Boundaries

Of course there are many benefits to home work. As Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK commented: “Not only does it reduce the amount of commuting people have to do, enhancing their work-life balance, but many are actually more productive.” But the boundaries between home and work are not always healthy. With 3.1 million regular home-based workers in the UK, they may have the benefit of avoiding a dull commute or sidestepping unpleasant office politics, but without the right office furniture they could find themselves wishing for the comforts of a professional office.

Be a Pro, Invest in the Right Office Furniture

It can be off putting having office furniture in a domestic setting. But by not investing in professional office furniture, home workers could end up with aches, pains and discomfort that impact on productivity. One survey found that home workers are not just distracted by the hovering, but many of them don’t have a dedicated office with 30% not having bespoke office furniture. Home is a haven from the daily grind and invading your domestic space with office furniture can be off putting – which is why it’s important you have a dedicated office that you can shut the door to. Investing in professional office furniture won’t just save your back and your posture; it will help you act professionally in the home.

Speak to Hunts Office Furniture for all your Home Office needs

With Hunts create the perfect home office. With our extensive online product catalogue, fast delivery and installation times and exclusive executive designer ranges, we can help. Have a question or need advice? Call us on: 0845 4000 333 or email: sales@huntsoffice.co.uk

Posted in Home Office Furniture | Comments Off

The Best Office Furniture Works Hard for its Living

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Office furniture is more than just functional – it can be ergonomic, aesthetic and hard working.

If you’re thinking of investing in office furniture, you don’t have to compromise. Office furniture should work hard for its living, helping your business reach optimum performance.

Office Furniture – Go Ergonomic

Ergonomic office furniture is increasingly important in the modern office. Ergonomics looks at the science of how employees fit with furniture, computer alignment and other office environmental factors, helping workers fit more comfortably and safely in their office surroundings. By investing in ergonomic furniture, you’re investing in the most important thing in your business: the people who make it work.

Improve Performance, Boost Productivity

Office furniture is designed to provide adequate height for computer use; poorly sized or shaped office desks and unsupportive chairs that don’t help posture can all lead to joint, muscle and nerve problems such as repetitive strain injury. Ergonomic office furniture will reduce this risk as well as increase comfort improving performance and productivity. If you don’t have the appropriate office furniture it can impact not just on individuals but on your business as a whole.
Office furniture can impact on the quality of staff you attract as well as make an impression on clients. Your staff should love coming to work because it’s a comfortable place to be.

Office Furniture – Transform Morale

If the office is too hot, too cold or too uninviting, the negative environment will impact on morale. A survey by a major recruitment firm found that the majority of employees felt pets in the office would create a more congenial environment. Although for most offices the idea of a pet simply isn’t practical, the other major item on employees’ tick list included office furniture that doesn’t make your back ache. Good office furniture can make the difference between crippling discomfort and productivity. And research has shown discomfort in an office can lead to resentment amongst staff. Other things that employees said would make up their dream office include game consoles, big screen TVs and ‘beer on tap’. Although these things may be considered to be nothing more than the stuff of dreams, good office furniture should be every office reality. Refurbishing with comfortable and attractive office furniture can boost spirits and improve atmosphere. Offices should be conducive to work and productivity, the right office furniture could make all the difference.

Hunts Office Furniture – The One-Stop Solution for Workspace Requirements

Established in 1990, Hunts Office Furniture has expanded over the last 20 years to become an unrivalled, one-stop solution for office workspace requirements. Have a question or need advice? Call us on: 0845 4000 333 or email: sales@huntsoffice.co.uk

Posted in Office Furniture | Comments Off

Office Desks Could Boost Teamwork

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Office desks are more than functional furniture for computers – the way you plan your office space could impact on how staff interact.

Office desks need to be ergonomic for staff to work in comfort, but it isn’t just the height and space a desk provides that you need to consider. Of course the kind of communication flow you want in your office depends on the kind of work you do. If your office could give a battery-farm a run for its money, it could be time to invest in office desks that inspire individuality. Or if everyone is boxed off even though they should be working together, office desks that allow staff to sit in the right proximity in an open-plan style could be the solution.

Office Desks Create the Right Vibe

The respected office architect Ralph Buschow believes that successful offices work like cities – with different quarters and hotspots to accommodate the differing needs. For most offices, open communication is crucial to encourage open communication, an exchange of ideas and collaborative teamwork. How the office desks are laid out can impact on how staff can work. If they feel cornered off by their office desks it could in fact promote conspiratorial dens and cliques rather than open, healthy collaboration. As well as putting strategic thought into where to place office desks, it’s important to have areas in the office that allow staff to mingle and relax or feel professional and focused such as a dedicated staff room or conference room.

Getting the Layout Right

If you’re in the creative industries, a relaxed but professional image is important. You don’t want to look scruffy or incompetent but you do want to look open minded and flexible. The right office furniture can help you achieve the right effect on staff and clients alike. The success of an office can depend on its office furniture and design – image does count. And it’s also important to make office environments human as well as professional. Humanising an office will help create positive energy and reduce the risk of tension. Colours can inform a space; opting for office chairs and desks that aren’t cold and grey is one way of adding ambience.

Enhance Employees’ Creativity

The right office furniture can have a transformative effect on a workplace. Many experts in business such as author Charles Handy believe battery-farm style lay-outs can dull the human spirit. If you want to create a more creative, free-flowing, healthier and happier office it might be time to take a good look at your office furniture and how your desks are laid out.

Find a Fantastic Range of Office Desks from Hunts Office Furniture

At Hunts Office Furniture, we have the experience and expertise to help you find the right office desks. With our extensive online product catalogue, fast delivery and installation times and exclusive executive designer ranges, we can transform your office space! Have a question or need advice? Call us on: 0845 4000 333 or email: sales@huntsoffice.co.uk

Posted in Office Desks, Office Furniture | Comments Off

Office Chairs – The Secret to a Harmonious Office

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Could office chairs be the answer to a happy office?

Office politics are hard to avoid. In fact, offices can be rich sources of material for psychologists and sociologists. It’s in this place of promotions and demotions that people’s egos can go haywire or unravel. Anybody who has read Joshua Ferris’s novel, And Then We Came to an End, knows the delicate balance the role of office chairs plays for a productive office.

Office Chairs – Shakespearean Heights

The drama office chairs can inspire could match the emotional whirlwind of a Shakespearean tragedy. In Ferris’s book about an ad agency facing redundancies at the end of the ‘90s boom, indignation over the rightful owner of a particularly coveted chair causes huge problems. The office chair became symbolic of the office workers’ status and self esteem. The solution may be obvious – ensuring all your staff has equally comfortable and coveted office chairs is one way of creating a sense of equality. It may seem like a trivial point but small things can trigger big resentments.

Don’t Resent Better Office Chairs!

The environment we work in can dramatically impact on motivation, positivity and team work. A lumpy, uncomfortable chair can really impact on an employee’s well being over time and even contribute to back ache or repetitive strain injuries. New office furniture, especially comfortable office chairs, can help boost office morale. How you furnish and seat your staff can make the world of difference. If you put someone directly under the air conditioning unit and give a coveted window seat to another person, it can be the start of a bubbling resentment. Work and offices can be stressful places. On top of that the current climate where jobs are no longer secure or safe can trigger insecurities and anxiety. Investing in quality office chairs tells your staff that they are valued, helping create a happy, harmonious environment.

Negotiating Hierarchies and Office Politics

If you get the worst chair in the office, it can be hard not to take it personally. In fact it could even impact negatively on self esteem and how you believe you are valued in your office. All offices struggle with hierarchies, status envy and pecking orders – but ordering ergonomic, comfortable office chairs for all your staff is a simple step that could save you unnecessary complications!

Hunts Office Furniture – For all Your Office Furniture Needs

With 20 years’ experience Hunts Office Furniture is your one-stop solution for all your office workspace requirements. Have a question or need advice? Call us on: 0845 4000 333 or email: sales@huntsoffice.co.uk

Posted in Office Chairs, Office Seating & Chairs | Comments Off