Tag: conference chairs

  • Used Furniture

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    Used Furniture

    Surplus, Used and As-Is furniture can get you started and help support you as things grow. Our economy runs on cycles, with highs and lows. There is always a surplus that is not being used and furniture is a long-lasting durable good, that has useful life for many years.

    For Humanity …

    Most of us have had the experience of getting rid of old furniture, not being to sell it or give it away. There is a company that can help you with that and helps others as well. https://www.habitat.org/restores Habitat For Humanity does very good work to help families make a home and take care of children. Their ReStores organization takes in household goods, furniture, building supplies, and more. They, in turn, sell these items to help support their housing programs. They are a great source of used residential furniture, home goods, and surplus construction materials. Sometimes they have office furniture as well. Always call first before donating any office furniture, because they specialize in habitats for humans and not a workspace. Office furniture takes up lots of room and has low sales turnover.

    Used Furniture for work

    The used office furniture market has been growing in large cities for decades and most warehouses are full. I anticipate a major glut of electric height adjustable work tables. Because of the “Work From Home” movement away from large groups of people working the offices. The “Open Plan” for office space turned out to be a major super spreader for Covid and will not be come back for a couple of generations. Check-in with your current or previous employer for surplus items and they might give them away to you. You should be to get a table chair and small drawer set for a low price for a used furniture dealer and if a group gathers together to buy 30 sets the price should be cheap. Lots of white, with bright accents and black chairs.

    Used Furniture for Mid Size to Large Projects

    Get your team together for the Safari, hunting down big game is a group effort. Put your packers and loaders on that text list so they can get there quick. Search for empty parking lots with full dumpsters, may have free furniture and stuff in there. Read about layoffs, Working From Home, and listen for “chatter”. Their signs are there and can be tracked. Many times “empty out before the end of the month” comes down the trail fast. If your marketing team can “pull one-off” you might have an “ON-SITE-SALE” after you purchase the inventory. You get to cherry-pick what you want, sell or give the rest away to valued employees. Make arrangements with the property manager and they might have buffer time for you before the construction starts. Keep in mind, insurance, floor covering for moving carts, and whatever else the property manager might require. Most local moving companies already know what each business park wants and how they want it.

    I learned THE HARDWAY about commercial moving in Frisko Ca, Labor Unions, and elevator time. Grunts cost $250 per hour on New Year’s Eve because that was the only time the elevator was available.

    If you will be using systems furniture or cubicles, you will need someone that understands the furniture to manage the installation for planning and parts. When Systems Furniture is disassembled for packing, loading, trucking, unloading, and staging before installation… Parts are GOLD, and should be inventoried or figure about 20% usage for lost or damaged parts. It is the end of 2021, I think Herman Miller Action Office 2 or AO2 cubicles have the very best and available O.E.M. parts for the cubicles.

    Used Furniture

    I am an  EtsyFiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.comZumaOffice.comGameFly.comcambriabike.comQuictent.comCrandall Office FurnitureJackery,  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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  • 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

    I am an  EtsyFiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.comZumaOffice.comGameFly.comcambriabike.comQuictent.comCrandall Office FurnitureJackery,  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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    Charles Bradley

  • How to plan for long useful life for office furniture

    How to plan for long useful life for office furniture

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

    How to plan for long useful life for office furniture.

    Surfaces – Supports – Storage – Screens – Sharing – Solitude

    The hard surface components can have a useful life for 20+ years. We often planned for growth and who would use the parts from that wall-tracked office in the next cubicle expansion. The work surface can be used supported on a panel, adjustable height base, “T” leg, column leg, pedestal drawer, lateral file, flat brackets, or cut up to make panel legs. Moving beyond the idea of each workstation and looking at an inventory of parts for your team to use for many years.

    Refurbished and used parts

    Old fabric panels can be refurbished with new fabric/paint or use paint/laminate to replace the fabric. This will make them very cleanable and extend their useful life even longer. Purchasing used furniture or parts can be a cheap way to go for Start-Ups or an environmental company effort. Many chair parts can be replaced with new OEM parts. Parts is Parts and your facility person can orchestrate a beautiful setting.

    Update what you have

    We continue to adapt to the ever-changing work environment, new health discoveries, or trendy ideas, and the furniture we use can be updated to support our work. Take stock of what you have, how your people are working, and how can you help. If starting from scratch, plan for the next 10-20 years. Refurbished chairs can be re-worked, fabric replaced, or fixed. 

    Design for Happy Work

    Look at your space, and think about the colors and feeling as you walk through. This can be done in your mind or on sketch paper. This is the start of good design, it matters and should be done with purpose. There is an art to creating the balance between a fun and organized workspace. Considering color, the largest office furniture companies have done deep research into what color combinations work best. Trends come and go, new studies show… don’t fear change. New colors can be brought in with less durable goods, think chairs and décor. Human interaction and focused no distraction work both need to be provided for. Most people need both during their work time, social, group discussion and just get the work done. Some professionals will provide you with ideas only limited by your budget.

    Right-Sizing

    Occasionally the office gets “empty”, or downsized or workers just need to isolate in place. The furniture can still be used, should be configured for a safe distance, and may be upgraded with screens. There is a company in Grand Rapids Mi. August Berres that has no wires for their battery-powered work furniture. Freestanding tables, optional screens, and mobile everything.

    How to plan for long useful life for office furniture

    I am an  EtsyFiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.comZumaOffice.comGameFly.comcambriabike.comQuictent.comCrandall Office FurnitureJackery,  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 LifestyleLocal 831Workstyle ,

    Relax with Nature Videos with Sand 831 on Rumble.

    Local 831 Lifestyle Relaxing Nature Videos on YouTube.

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    Charles Bradley

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

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    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  EtsyFiverr Affiliate,  Shelving.com,  StandSteady.com,  SwimOutlet.comZumaOffice.comGameFly.comcambriabike.comQuictent.comCrandall Office FurnitureJackery,  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 LifestyleLocal 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