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  • Office Furniture History

    Office Furniture History

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    Office Furniture History

    Furniture was grudgingly bought to support the equipment needed for workers to produce whatever their job was. Also, it show the status of managers, executives, and company presidents. Let’s walk through some office furniture design history. Some things have not changed, ego is still very big and the evolution of office furniture continues.

    Main Drivers for Purchasing

    What drove the invention of office furniture was the equipment and business machines that it supported. The study of ergonomics, body mechanics, OSHA laws, all-day computer use, and insurance claims gave the monetary justification to improve furniture for the office worker. Things have kept going up in price, the computer worker has become more valuable and so the importance of great ergonomic chairs to support them. Humanscale has a deep history in the development of ergonomic office chairs, thanks to the work of Niels Diffrient. The equipment has become more valuable, and complex and requires more power/data support. The Dot Com $$$ and the coolness of geek-dome gave rise to some high-end Silicon Valley Style furniture. Cubicle life- fat bundles of data cables, heavy power requirements sent cubicle panels from 1″ to sometimes 4″+ and taking up more real estate than ever. More coffee shop style, with collaborative areas to work on a lounge chair or sectional sofa.

    High Tech leads to Small Tech

    The tech changed work-life again with smaller lighter and lighter equipment than IBM could ever imagine. Laptops, I-phones. I-Pads and mobile mobile mobile. Many people lost their dedicated cubicles or office. Touchdown stations became available when they got to an office. Maybe not ever their office, maybe a coffee shop or co-working space. The Dot-Com bust, the bean counters were having fits, work still needed to get done and Dilbert was even out of a job.

    The DOT BOMB

    In 2000 we moved east to The Central Valley and were selling old metal desks again. In 2005, for health reasons, we moved to Salt Lake Utah, and back to selling modern office furniture again. New product prices came down and the electrical height adjustable table/desk became the “must-have” to attract new talent. The financial controllers in Silicon Valley adjusted to the new equipment needs and implemented the “open plan” workspace. The history of the desk came to an end. This drove down the size of each employee’s work space and drove even more people to work remotely. Think about the gym, how not everyone can be there at once and people figure out when it is not crowded. You may have realized that the open-plan office was like working in a cafeteria. High headcount, high distraction, low personal space, and poor air quality. The tech workers were younger, more expensive, and needed more “toys” at work and on playgrounds. Work Furniture adapted again.

    Office Furniture History marches on.

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  • On The Road

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    On The Road

    On The Road, Mobile, Work From Anywhere, Van Life, RV Office, Off-Road, and many other On The Road Work Styles. 5-2022 Air BNB allows Work From Anywhere Forever and many other companies are embracing WFA. With the continued advancement of computing power into smaller and more stable equipment, the workspace keeps getting bigger, yes GLOBAL.

    We have talked about many items to support your body, equipment, and work style and now let’s HIT THE ROAD. Much creative work can be fueled by travel and new environments for inspiration. Lots of computer work can be done with just some power and WiFi. I work in a few, very different places close to home. There are spots along Monterey Bay with shade, Wifi, and Jackery solar panels extending my battery charge. Some coastal spots have tables with shade or I can work in the vehicle to get out of the weather. Public libraries often have WiFi that reaches parking spots and I hope they will open the bathrooms again. I have a favorite brewery with everything I need to work for hours. The sun, wind, temperature, power, and WiFi often direct my workplace. I don’t have elaborate needs, as I write on my laptop and get about 3-4 hours of battery charge. Before Covid, I would work at home or in a coffee shop and now other options have opened up. I am really enjoying the change of scenery, the ability to shut the computer down to walk in nature and get inspiration for new ideas. Many people will want to get off the grid and use a WiFi hot spot or even a satellite for an internet connection.

    On The Road Equipment

    Let’s start with Class “C”, a modified truck or van front and frame. They have a built-in camper that is one continuous “room” from the driver’s seat to the back of the vehicle. They drive like a truck or large van and normally run on gas.

    The next level is Class “B+”. You can think of this as a bus, a large metro, or a school bus that is modified to feel like a home. There are simple class “B” vehicles that don’t need an endorsed driver’s license when the vehicle weighs less than 26,000 lbs, check your State DMV requirements.

    There is a larger and heavier level Class “A”, “A” is for airbrakes and these will need a class “A” driver’s license. These are like tour buses and can run on diesel or gas and there are specific laws applicable for driving them. Class “A” Diesel Rigs may need a fuel additive DEF. There are also, Class “A” Rigs that run on normal gas.

    You may already have a trailer hitch and know how much you can pull. A Travel Trailer is what you pull with your truck, van, or car. It is very important to know what your “puller” (truck, van, or car) is rated to pull, how much the trailer weighs, and how much additional weight you will add when you put your gear in it. There are very small “teardrop” trailers that can be pulled with many cars.

    The larger 5th Wheel Trailers need a truck with a bed that is modified to accept a Kingpin to attach the trailer to the truck or “puller”. These can be large, like Semi Truck trailers, or small homes. A trailer may push you down a hill or pull you by the tail around a corner. Please take some time to get familiar with driving while towing, backing and parking.

    On The Road

    Think about how much workspace you will need, battery power, solar panels, cooking fuel, or a generator to support your work equipment. Safe storage is very important while moving, shaking and unlevel roads may cause items to fall and break. Your body needs to be fed, watered, and rested. Allow for storage, consider the total amount of weight and fuel MPG you will be burning.

    Work From Anywhere, what will support your body and equipment? Plan ahead for re-fuel stops or power up as you are parked. You might need some solar panels with power storage and Jackery company is a global leader. Founded in 2012 by a group of engineers that wanted to make electricity portable, dependable and clean. With a broad offering, they can meet your power needs, and even run your C-Pap or other medical equipment while you are OTR. The dependable power storage can be part of your everyday emergency plan to keep everything running for hours.

    Your nice laptop / flat screens might need some secure and adjustable support from Stand Steady. They provide small adjustable tables and monitor mounts that can be stored safely without taking up too much space. If you want to set up outside, you might like some shade from Quctent. They have collapsible pop-up shades for many applications, even RV covers. If you have space an adjustable chair from Crandall Office Furniture is a very nice way to support your body.

    Many people use Coinbase to help manage their cryptocurrency for monetized OTR.

    On The Road

     

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  • Office Chair Parts

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    Office Chair Parts

    Office chairs can last a very long time, not forever, and not all survive an office move. A common part that breaks is the wheel or castor that supports the whole chair. When replacing all five castors you can also upgrade them with Roller Blade Style wheels, they are taller and do not work well in partial sets. Working From Home may have your chair on a hard (not carpet) surface and there are hard surface castors that keep the chairs from slipping around. Above the base that holds the castors can be a pneumatic “gas lift”. When working it gives the chair some cushion and adjusts the height by pulling a lever. Sometimes the roller bearings on the bottom of the gas lift get knocked off or just break and a new Bearing Kit will be needed. The old-style threaded type adjusts the height by turning the seat and screwing it up or down. The other most common part that takes a beating and will need to be replaced eventually is the ARM PAD. These can be a very easy 4 screw fix or more complicated. There may be a part called an “underlay” that helps hold the soft arm pad top in place, remove that, and then you can get the arm pad screws. If you have a Herman Miller Aeron chair there is a Re-Fresh kit available. It can get that chair back to useful life supporting your body and work.

    Office Chair Parts

    Herman Miller has a very long history in the ergonomic chair industry and it can be said they are The Best. Their chairs are built to last, to support your body for decades and some parts may need to be replaced. Ergon, Equa, and Aeron parts are easy to get and may be easy to replace. The Aeron introduced mesh seat and back technology and in the 1990’s we thought they would last forever. Now you can replace the Aeron mesh seat.

    The next most popular brand is Steelcase and they make many styles of chairs and it can be said they are The Best overall office furniture manufacturer. Everything they make is very high quality, can last for decades, but may need some new Steelcase parts.

    Not sure what you are sitting on? Take a look at this list and you might see what you have. Yes, there are How-To Videos, for repair and assembly.

    Office Chair Parts

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  • Privacy Screens

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    Privacy Screens

    The Privacy Screen was developed in Ancient China, possibly as far back as 771 BCE, and was thought to have 1st been used to block a draft in an indoor area. The word “ping” is used as screen, blocking, and “Feng” for the breeze, and wind; not ping pong that we know today. They were just wood panels decorated to work with the room. Eventually, around 206 BCE folding screens were developed into what we see today. Breeze Blocking became view blocking and the decorative panels became art. The use was so utilitarian, the art more beautiful, that many Chinese artists showed their work on them. The popular use of Privacy Screens spread throughout Asia and Europe.

    Privacy Screens for Royals

    The use of Privacy Screens became architectural and created an image of high status. Like gold, silver, and precious stones used to adorn Royal Throne rooms and meeting halls, Europeans began to impress with their own designs and style. Still popular for everyday use, to block the view of the kitchens, and servant areas, and for ladies to dress behind.

    Privacy Screens for work

    Work needs focus and direction. Privacy screens were upgraded for industrial commercial use, to protect from hot splashing metals, and burning embers and direct people away from hazardous areas. Also, in the medical field, to keep people from viewing patients and surgical procedures in military or emergency zones. Heat-resistant, medically sterilized materials were used to drape in a metal frame, with sections “ganged” together for easy set-up and storage.

    These became very durable and new uses were found, like temporary fences. There is a huge demand for safely keeping the public out of construction zones or personal dwellings. The metal frame can be fortified with chain links and protected view-blocking heavy outdoor mesh. The fencing mesh can keep things out, and block wind and people looking into the area. The evolution of the privacy screen continues.

    Focus

    Offices have used privacy screens for generations to get the same focused views with added sound control. In the temporary settings, wheels were used to help with setup and removal. For office space with desks that did not move, support feet or T-Bases were commonly used for simple vision and light sound control. Padding was added under a fabric covering to make the new screen panels sound absorbent. Privacy Screens became to be known as panels and became popular in the office space. The panels’ defined workspace, kept visual focus, directed traffic, and with fabric padding, sound dampening properties. The T-base feet raised the panels up off the ground and still allowed for airflow to help heat and cool the office space. They also became to be known as office partitions, not the best use of the term as we know about cubicles today.

    Privacy Screens Cubicle

    The Cubicle, we hate them and miss them again. As office equipment evolved, data/power feeds needed to grow to feed the TECH BEAST. Furniture R/D engineers figured out that panels could house the power and data cables needed to feed desktop computers. They also developed the cantilever bracket, work surface, and panel-hung storage. The desk was evolving into a workstation. Panel “screens” supported worksurfaces, storage, and cables for power and data. By the 1990s the desk was almost gone, like the dinosaurs, and “the dinosaurs” loved the big, hulking, wood drawer holders- expensive $10,000+++ The thing is, that cubicles kept people-focused, visually, audibly, and at a safe social distance.

    Privacy Screens NOT

    Once again, the finance dept. figured out a new way to save money and put more stress on the workers. The “Open Office Plan” to get rid of cubicles and make the main work floor into a cafeteria-style design. Rows of adjustable tables facing each other and power/data cables in the middle. Noisy, visually distracting, and lots of interruptions. In 2020, these other privacy screens became popular to “help stop the spread”, because “flatten the curve” was a total LIE.

    Privacy Screens

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  • Gamer Furniture

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    Gamer Furniture

    Video Games DELIVERED

    Looks So Cool, It Don’t Work

    Gamer culture is kinda different than the real world or even the workplace. For some Gamer is a job title, they compete and sell content. Gamer Saloon has a low buy-in fee and supports PS4 and X-Box. We can see this on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and other platforms. They also, sell old games and leveled-up characters that they made. Imagery has always been a big part of computer games and many just like the way a game looks. It can be a cheap hobby and for most it is. Spending money on furniture was not very popular until the Gamers got older and had $$$ to burn. The Gamer Chair trend used to be cheap, flashy, Made in China, and not very supportive. Over the past 15-20 years with professional PC games and older gamers, good quality adjustable chairs become more popular.

    Adjustable Chairs

    The Gamer Chair today takes inspiration from cool racing car seats, which are offered with graphics branded with licensed media characters and the games themselves. The adjustments have not changed very much, gas lift, adjustable arms, back angle, and rocking. Some are made in an Autonomous factory and are very serious. Upgraded upholstery, some understated branded graphics, nice 4-way adjustable arms, free-floating knee tilt recline, back angle, lumbar/ neck pillows, and personal lighted audio system. The people at Autonomous have definitely upped their game for adults that play. They do work great for consoles with handheld controllers and lap-held keyboards that allow you to lean back into the whole chair. Many PC gamers use a keyboard, mouse, and table/desk. If you have worked with a professional computer chair and are a PC Gamer you know what I mean. They do come in at a lower price and top out around $700, about the same price as an inexpensive office chair. Humanscale has some very nice passive ergonomic chairs that move with you to promote circulation.

    Gamer Chair VS Computer Chair

    As was noted above, a lot depends on the age and shape of your body. The office furniture industry has been investing in ergonomic work for over 50 years and has made some great progress. Blog post #11 discusses work chairs and post #3 talks about ergonomic adjustable chairs. Big Box stores have cheap computer chairs that can last for years, professional computer chairs will last for decades. Look at a commercial designer library for ideas and sources. Also, they can be bought at used office furniture stores. Newer Gamer chairs are very good and have not been in use for decades, but they will keep upgrading just like the games.

    What’s your Gamer Style

    Console Gamers with handheld controllers may not need any furniture or use a sofa/bed. Because they mostly use a TV screen to play on and the TV has seating to go with it. PC Gamers generally have a table/desk with a monitor holder. They will use a keyboard /mouse and need some support. Gamer table desks do not need drawers for dedicated gamers. The term Gamer Table is what is most commonly used. Gamer Tables have the same history as chairs. They do not need to be fancy, but everyone has a camera, and many care about their visual “branding”. The function is of course to support your equipment, also your arms when they operate the equipment and adjustable height is helpful. Another benefit is adjustable monitor holders and cord management. Power / Data cords can get tangled and need to have easy-to-reach connectors. The cords can be used for speakers and headsets. Some very cool tables have covered cable trays, graphic details, headset holders, and fun lights. The Gamer table evolved from some old desk with peeling laminate. POWER POWER POWER- Don’t get caught in a power outage. Jackery Company has high-capacity battery storage with optional solar panels.

    Gamer Furniture

     

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  • Outdoor Furniture

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    Outdoor Furniture

    Local 831 Life Style and we LOVE to be outdoors. There are many fun things to do in the 831 Monterey Bay coastline and surrounding mountains. Granted, the mountains are low with now snow and the water is cold all year round. There is no bad weather, just bad clothes. After the adventure, it is time to talk story, drink, and relax.

    Not ready to go inside yet?

    Outdoor Furniture is anything you might sit on, a rock, sand, log, car trunk, or tailgate. At some point, people buy a folding camp chair, table, and plastic stack chairs. As we grow older so does our taste for most things. Furniture gets handed down, sold, and upgraded. Propane patio heaters/fire pits help extend your outdoor enjoyment and won’t have burning embers flying around. Jackery Company has very good battery chargers with optional solar panels. Good quality materials will last for decades, hard surfaces don’t wear out like cushions, vinyl straps, and mesh “slings”.

    What materials?

    Old style cast/mesh iron with powder coat paint is as very durable, if care for the finish is protected. Iron will rust if the protective finish is scratched and moisture gets to the iron metal. While the powder coating process is very advanced in modern factories, iron is still iron and will rust. Higher quality aluminum with a high-tech powder coat finishing process can last for decades. We have seen lots of great frames come back from the 1970s for new powder coats and mesh slings. They look like new and Grandma is always happy. The mesh sling material is PVC coated polyester yarns and the Phifertex brand is what most high-quality companies use. If there are cushions involved Sunbrella brand fabric is made of spun acrylic that is solution-dyed, is THE BEST, and also is used by many umbrella companies. Another very good material used for the frames and table tops is Marine Grade Polymer MGP. Many times is made from recycled plastics like milk jugs. This is very dense, the color goes all the way through (non-scratch) and is heavy so, the normal wind won’t blow it away.

    Wicker Anyone?

    Looking for back home, front porch and comfy. The woven wicker style might be what you want. Old wicker used to be woven plant-based anything, from vines, bark, or strips of rattan. That of course got moldy, bug-infested, and brittle. Modern woven wicker is PVC, vinyl, plastic, and very durable. The higher quality brands use lots of Ultra Violet sun protectors and can last for years. Look for aluminum frames and Sunbrella fabric cushions for lasting durability.

    Teak Wood

    Teak Furniture has a very long history and can be sustainable with proper / documented forestry practices. All wood will change color after milling if not protected. This is natural and can be beautiful, think driftwood at the shore. Just like your hair, you can let nature take its course or do some work. There are products for protection, sealers, and when-needed cleaners. Has a very good line of products and the best “How To” video to help you care for your natural wood furniture.

    Best Practices

    When the wind gets up, put your umbrellas down and tie the straps. Use a good cover to protect from tree/bird droppings and blasting sand. If you can, it is best to bring the cushions inside to keep the critters from nesting in them, they like that, and need time to let them dry out. High-quality materials have anti-microbial properties to prevent mold/mildew, but they will grow on any dirt or organic material left on the furniture. Check the cleaning information for your furniture and a little prevention goes a long way.

    Long Time Santa Cruz Local BIZ

    In 1980 the Freidberg family started a PVC furniture company and Pipe Made Furniture West was born. Their 1st retail location was opened by The Santa Cruz Boardwalk in 1982 and then a second location in Cupertino Ca. For over 40 years the company has grown and evolved into a full-service outdoor living retailer. Building an and expanding customer base with value-added customer service and people-centered products.

    A long way from PVC furniture

    With a Local Home Town vibe, American Leisure Patio has partnered with professional designers, beach rental companies, and contractors to create outdoor living areas that rival many people’s indoor family rooms. Bring the family room and kitchen outside and enjoy Local 831 Life Style #10 Outdoor Furniture. As the Greater S.F. Bay Area has grown over the decades so have Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Refined tastes, larger incomes, and luxury homes demand higher quality furnishings. Now working with high-end designer brands, Brown Jordan, Kingsley Bate, O.W. Lee, Gensun, and Tropitone. The full offering can be seen online at https://www.americanleisurepatio.com/ and has happy customers from San Luis Obispo, Livermore and everywhere in between.

    Complete Package

    Furniture is for bodies and people are way more than that. Dining tables for meals, bar height tables for “afters”, umbrellas for shade, and fire for warmth and ambiance. Fun beachy décor, rugs, outdoor sculptures, wall art, and extra fun pillows. Everything to make your outdoor experience fun and comfy.

    Outdoor Furniture

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  • No Desk

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    No Desk

    I have spent most of my computer work time on a table, café table, or laptop stand. Desks are just tables that have drawers and Florence Knoll taught us that drawers get in the way of our knees. The table is the work surface, for paper blueprints, equipment, and face-to-face conversations. Now we use pixelated blueprints, laptops, surfaces, and iPads for face-to-face conversations. The table has “zoom meeting” to a very small size and floor space is so much more valuable. We need storage for stuff, not paper files. The desk has been dead for a very long time and most of us don’t have space at home for that big hulking drawer holder. Furniture has a long history and even longer future.

    Flexible Furniture

    Herman Miller company understood this and made this very adjustable keyboard stand, the scooter. I had one for many years and loved it. Old things are new again. With our input equipment getting smaller and mobile this concept is very helpful. The big monitors can be wall-mounted or hung on a floor stand. Your very comfy chair and adjustable small table can get you in the zone for hours of flow state.

    Small, mobile, and adjustable.

    Several companies offer modern tables like this, scaled for laptops or small monitor arms. Many have gas lift height and tilt adjustments, less expensive ones are manual with slides and hand-tightened screws. Adjustable Tables for small-scale equipment can be a great space-saving solution.

    Stand Steady is my favorite adjustable personal computer table source. They even have mobile tables that are designed so you can work in bed.

    The Work From Anywhere, RV, and Van Lifestyle has given new innovations for what Road Work is.

    No Desk

    I am an  Etsy,  Fiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.com,  ZumaOffice.com,  GameFly.com,  cambriabike.com,  Quictent.com,  Crandall Office Furniture,  Jackery,  The New Alpha,  Coinbase,  RVT  , Industry West, Eternity Modern, Walrus Oil, Antique Farm House furniture, Casa Gear promotor and have Bookshop.org/shop/Local831Furniture, and get a small commission from each sale.

     

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    Local 831 Lifestyle Relaxing Nature Videos on YouTube.

    Thank you for your support,

    Charles Bradley

  • NeoCon 2021

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    NeoCon 2021

    “NeoCon has served as the world’s leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry since 1969. A launch pad for innovation—NeoCon offers ideas and introductions that shape the built environment today and into the future.” Quote from the NeoCon website.

    History

    NeoCon is a very large international commercial construction and furniture show. It has been around for about 50 years, about 1 million sq. feet, 500 exhibitors, and 9 floors, for 3 days at The Chicago Merchandise Mart. Connecting vendors, architects, builders, designers, facility managers, and every other expert involved in a built project. In addition to product demos, there are educational presentations and panel discussions.

    Innovation

    One of the new areas of interest for 2021 is biophilic and outdoor. Biophilic Design is including nature in the built environment, small to large plant-based installations, and water features. Think about using 1970s shopping mall “nature installations” in the workplace. These strategies are used for building energy efficiency, clean air production, lower stress environment, and supporting the health of people there. When you blend the outdoors with indoor, materials need to be upgraded to deal with additional moister and specific wear. Furniture, flooring, and finishes have been developed for this less protected setting. Solar lighting and weather-resistant power distribution were a focus.

    Presentation

    The top issue was “the virus”, how to prevent it and how to survive. There were, of course, many Plexiglas screen products, others were including copper/silver in their fabrics and finishes. Most of all was sharing your stories, listening, and empathizing. Lots of “what is going to happen next” and less “this is what we are doing now”. Planning, strategizing, and building flexibility were the final result of many conversations.

    Should you go?

    Don’t spend your vacation money to go to a business trade show that is a tax deduction for a company. If a company will not pay your way, it may not be right for you at this time in your career. Many students or interns get sponsored every year. Travel, lodging, and food are covered by companies that help you learn more about their interests. The key phrase is “their company interests”, the evaluation of investing in your career has nothing to do with you. Work, study, practice, and make yourself more valuable and worth investing in.

    You should go if, you are new to the industry and the team you are working with is going. If you have a good size construction project that includes furniture. Many times vendors will invite you to presentations, product demos, and panel discussions relevant to your project.

    NeoCon 2021

    I am an  Etsy,  Fiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.com,  ZumaOffice.com,  GameFly.com,  cambriabike.com,  Quictent.com,  Crandall Office Furniture,  Jackery,  The New Alpha,  Coinbase,  RVT  , Industry West, Eternity Modern, Walrus Oil, Antique Farm House furniture, Casa Gear promotor and have Bookshop.org/shop/Local831Furniture, and get a small commission from each sale.

     

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    Mammoth Nation Patriot Store is America’s Conservative Market Place.

    Axiom Commercial Furniture , Local 831 Lifestyle , Local 831Workstyle ,

    Relax with Nature Videos with Sand 831 on Rumble.

    Local 831 Lifestyle Relaxing Nature Videos on YouTube.

    Thank you for your support,

    Charles Bradley

  • Ergonomic Adjustable Chairs

    Ergonomic Adjustable Chairs

    This post has affiliate links and we make a small commission on any order.

    Ergonomic Adjustable Chairs

    The furniture that will most affect your work is what you sit on, subtle or irritating, your chair matters. Today we will talk about what chairs do and some different ergonomic theories. Ergonomic means “designed to the task”, so a folding chair is ergonomic for that task of folding chair. What are you going to use the chair for, how long, what are your body size, work style, and any medical needs? Please seek professional help for health issues, lower back pain, or continued discomfort that may cause serious damage to your body. Listen to your body, and do not be afraid of playing with adjustments through the day and for different tacks. I found that being able to lean back while talking on the phone was helpful. Many modern chairs come with a seat slider for front-to-back depth adjustment. Also, some chairs come in small, medium, or large.

    History

    The history goes back to 1505 with wheels and height adjustment. Over time urban work changed with more people working in factories, and office equipment began to improve. Engineers began to study how health and body stress could be improved with better office chairs. Several advances were made in the 1800s, including padded upholstery, swivel castor wheels, and back adjustment.

    Herman Miller Company

    Herman Miller company designed the first modern human-centered chair for office work, the Ergon Chair in 1976 by Bill Stumpf.

    “Philosopher and writer William Gass defined comfort as the “lack of awareness,” and Stumpf latched onto this definition as a goal for what could be achieved through ergonomic design. But he extended comfort beyond the physical to the psychological and emotional. As a prelude to his first chair design for Herman Miller, Stumpf laid out the criteria for comfort, several of which have been reimagined by artist Mike Perry in the animation that accompanies this story. These ideas come from his Ergon concept book, and were key to his proposal outlining the world’s first chair designed with ergonomic performance as a criterion.” History of the Ergon chair, Herman Miller company. This became what is called today, passive ergonomics, the idea that the chair should follow the body and supportively move with it. Worker productivity has always been important, even when the whip was a main item of influence. Most of the Western Civilization has come a long way and investment in humans is getting more value.

    Ergonomic Adjustable Chair Mechanisms

    Leggett and Platt’s Northfield Metal Products popularized adjustable seats and back angles for another type of office chair. This helped fit the chair to each person and the type of work they were doing. At the time it was very complicated…seat, back, and arm height – forward / backward seat and back tilt, seat depth slider, free rocking, and tilt lock. Lots of paddles, ” do you want a 3-paddle chair or 7-paddle chair?”. Adjustable lumbar support, headrest support, and the whole spinal column from neck to tailbone. The idea is that the chair should support and hold your body in good posture. #3 ergonomic adjustable chairs. Adjustable arms have made innovative improvements as well. Height, width, forward, back, angles, tilt, and full-on fold-away arms for gun holsters. Avery good company with over a million user reviews with their employer’s names listed is Autonomous and they do a great job supporting your work.

    Made to Move

    Further research revealed that our bodies were designed to move and that movement keeps our fluids moving as well. I think the HÅG brand put it best “the most comfortable position is the next one”. They developed inBalance technology for continuous movement while sitting. Some studies suggest simple contoured wood seats and backs work best to promote a movement that allows for better blood flow. Old things are new again.

    Closed Cell Foam

    Over the years I have enjoyed firm, closed-cell molded foam chairs with contoured seat/backshells, waterfall front seat edge, and a forward tilt setting. The forward tilt allows me to shift my weight from my lower back to my legs and a knee tilt mechanism works best for me. A knee tilt mechanism has the pivot point at the front of the seat rather than the center of the seat and keeps the front edge in the same place with the back lowering. When the pivot point is in the center, the front edge raises and adds pressure behind the knees. Even with a waterfall curved front edge on the seat, there is still added pressure constricting blood flow.

    “I tried one”

    Then 1994 happened, Herman Miller released the Aeron Chair or Borg chair, because resistance is futile. It took the tech world by striking looks, environmental materials, this new keeping your body cool thing, and just a better work chair. The Herman Miller crew with Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf has set a new and lasting standard again. This was the start of recruiters talking about office furniture to potential employees. The Aeron chair became the #1 amenity that was so trendy that people did not even know why they wanted to sit on it, but they had to have it.

    Trending…

    The Mesh chair trend is well established now, with lots of cheap copycats and some good innovations. Work seating is continually developing and buyers still want something new. Treadmill walking desks, inflatable workout ball chairs, seat pad on a pole seating, urethane shop style stools and anything goes seating. #3 Ergonomic Adjustable Chairs are going to be around as long as people sit while they work or play. The “gamer chair” market keeps growing and the main value seems to be themed chairs, licensed media characters, sports teams, and video games. 

    Chairs are like shoes and need to be “tried on”, you will not get great results from YouTube reviews.

    Final Thoughts, movement is good for the body, comfort, and support.

    1. What will the seating be used for?
    2. What size person of persons will use it?
    3. Training of adjustments and best practices.
    4. Cleaning and maintenance.
    5. How long is the expected useful life of the product?
    6. Multi-worker use, shift work, and multi-purpose use.
    7. Environmental expectations and end-of-life plan.

    Ergonomic Adjustable Chairs

    I am an  Etsy,  Fiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.com,  ZumaOffice.com,  GameFly.com,  cambriabike.com,  Quictent.com,  Crandall Office Furniture,  Jackery,  The New Alpha,  Coinbase,  RVT  , Industry West, Eternity Modern, Walrus Oil, Antique Farm House furniture, Casa Gear promotor and have Bookshop.org/shop/Local831Furniture, and get a small commission from each sale.

     

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  • How to Buy Office Furniture: The Local 831 Guide.

    This post has affiliate links and we make a small commission on any order.

    How to Buy Office Furniture: The Local 831 Guide.

    Update from 5-2022. Shop online through social media, affiliate content producers, or other people that create helpful information to support your work. There are lots of resources and empty office buildings full of furniture. These same principles are a good way of planning for adding furniture to help support your body and equipment.

    Can we work together?

    Space- what is the space that we will be working in? Also, you should put a list of requirements if you do not already have the building that will be used. Office space selection is very important for many reasons and needs a separate post. This is a short list of thoughts.

    Size, will the space fit, and support the number of people? In other words, will the people and equipment have enough room to get their work done efficiently? Data entry and a production line have very different square foot requirements for employees.

    Time, how long do you plan to use that building, and what changes in growth should be expected? For example, is there planned hiring for data entry, or is that new production line scheduled for next year?

    Logistics, parking, data /power, and tuck docks with warehouse storage. Commuting for employees and traffic patterns for a new location has become very important over the years.

    On-site measure, DWG, PDF, or pencil sketch on paper. Let’s get on the same page and define the walls, columns data/power entry. At Fiverr, some people will do project work and computer drawings are easy to do as a remote task.

    Design Resources

    There are also, office furniture design specialists that can put a plan together for you to send out to bid. You should pay them a per square foot amount or a flat fee. If they ask for an hourly amount, it could be very difficult to monitor. There are many places to see furniture online. My Resource Library has become the industry standard, they also can help you organize the vendor catalogs for specific areas or the whole project. When you use fewer vendors, you can get deeper discounts. There are also Government resources that can help with seeing the bigger picture and then focus on each department. I have compiled an extensive glossary of furniture terms in Post #26.

    Go TEAM

    The main idea at this point is to put a team together, to develop a plan and budget for your project. This will give you “the big picture” early and you will use the floor plans every meeting. Many furniture dealerships offer these “add-on” services, track the value and if you don’t buy from them… you get billed. Read the fine print before you sign, it is sage advice for a reason.

    Scope of Work

    What type of work needs to be supported, company culture, café style, manufacturing shop, or cocoon coding? Most likely there will be a variety of work areas, meeting spaces, and alcoves. Also, plan for the next stages of growth, downsize, or flex work from home. Office furniture space planning and design have a long and valuable history. Good design is good value for workflow, social distance, sound management, and focused attention.

    Style

    Branding corporate culture has become ever more important through social media. Your building, furniture, and office amenities can be a very powerful set of communication tools. The back office is “seen” more than ever and can help potential partners, customers and employees build trust.

    Specifying Furniture

    The hard and soft of it – Furniture Specification? Basic follow up from the above, let’s help the people produce. At this point, we should have a pretty good idea of what and how to accomplish the project. #1 How to buy: office furniture purchasing process

    Final Selections

    The main drivers- style, time, budget? What will filter out the endless options? The lead time might cut right to the shortlist. The budget and style need to be balanced. There are endless images to look at. Take a look at office furniture shopping online and see what you like.

    Wrap up the details

    Nuts & Bolts- parts list anyone? I am still a fan of Excel and use it for job costing, purchase orders, and receiving counts. Let’s figure out power, cabling, lighting, monitor arms, adjustable work surfaces, keyboard trays, chair mats, and steel storage.

    Shelving Inc.

    Comparing Quotes

    How did your office furniture shopping go, is there anything you would like me to change? Make revisions early, Change Orders cost time and money. Savvy entrepreneurs have learned the value of clean, quality used office furniture.

    As-Is Furniture

    We have LOTS of empty office space and vacant furniture due to “Work at Home” during the start of the 2020s. Used furniture is a viable option and should not be overlooked. These items may supplement your project with meeting tables, lobby furniture, or possibly the whole project. Large inventories can be shared with multiple companies through long-term business contacts or social media groups. Skip the warehouse, buy direct, DIY project manage, and get FREE furniture.

    How to Buy Office Furniture: The Local 831 Guide.

    This can go very well or just as bad. Do you have a facilities ROCK STAR on your payroll? They are worth all the $$$ on a project. When a facility is decommissioned, everything goes- I.T. (the whole package), the phone system, copier/fax, surplus toner, and office supplies. Battery / Server backups, furniture, Post-Its, and everything. This has been a GOLDMINE for Start-Ups that have people with “the knowledge about the doing”. Note: when subcontracting knock down (K/D), and removal (palletizing and speed packing) for truck loading, it helps to have the same company deliver, unload and install the furniture. Keeping the command chain of liability is very important and you want that chain short and tight.

    Project Management

    Logistics- schedule subs? Who is going to do what and when? Plan moving, sell surplus items, or send them home for flex WFH.

    Are we still getting along? Let’s load the deposit and pull the trigger. If you are a larger organization a Purchase Order or Purchase Card will get things started.

    Please sign here, so I can start the real work of making your project a great success.

    X _______________________________

    How to Buy Office Furniture: The Local 831 Guide.

     

    I am an  Etsy,  Fiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.com,  ZumaOffice.com,  GameFly.com,  cambriabike.com,  Quictent.com,  Crandall Office Furniture,  Jackery,  The New Alpha,  Coinbase,  RVT  , Industry West, Eternity Modern, Walrus Oil, Antique Farm House furniture, Casa Gear promotor and have Bookshop.org/shop/Local831Furniture, and get a small commission from each sale.

     

    Get Cash Back with Rakuten

    Mammoth Nation Patriot Store is America’s Conservative Market Place.

    Axiom Commercial Furniture , Local 831 Lifestyle , Local 831Workstyle ,

    Relax with Nature Videos with Sand 831 on Rumble.

    Local 831 Lifestyle Relaxing Nature Videos on YouTube.

    Thank you for your support,

    Charles Bradley

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