Local 831 Furniture

Tag: Santa Cruz lifestyle

  • 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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  • 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

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  • Surfaces and Supports

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    Surfaces and Supports

    Surfaces

    Surfaces, desks, tables, or benches are what support your equipment and arms while working on it. Some people in the last 10-15 years, work with small data entry devices that don’t need large surfaces to support them. Think about a laptop computer on a cafe table or a tablet held in your hand. But, most long-term work is done with something holding up your device. There are some basics, wood, laminate, metal, poly-fiber-something, or a door. It should be flat, able to insulate you from heat-producing electronics, and be adjustable enough to help your body to be comfortable. This is also part of ergonomics, the mechanics of what your body does while doing your work. The depth of the surface will allow you to be closer or further back from your computer, think about a movie theater and how close you like to be to the screen. Power and Data cables can be routed and organized with grommet holes in the work surface.

    Supports

    The next idea is what is holding up your surface. Traditionally there were tables (without drawers) and desks (with drawers) and machine stands. The bases and legs sat at a fixed height, moved on wheels, and may or may not have been attached to the top. The purpose is to support your work in the best way, to position your body and equipment. It may have been machine stands were the first to be adjustable, to position the item to be worked on correctly near the tools. Further progress keeps replacing human hands with machine supports and keeps human body parts safe. Robotics can be seen in major manufacturing all over the globe.

    Set the furniture and focus on the production

    Back to people and our creative work. Ultimately, the furniture you use should fade out of our conscience as we look through our equipment and into our work, what we are building. Use what you have, innovate/gather what works better later and focus on your work. Much of the technology we use today was created on folding tables, cheap little chairs, pizza delivery, and small cartons of pricy ice cream. Real products may require some heavy-duty bench work, heavy-gauge base supports, 120v electrical built-in, lights, and ESD rated for electronic work.

    Time Marches On

    As time passes and bodies change… hopefully, our brains figure out how to help. The height-adjustable table has become a standard item in many tech workplaces today and many times can be purchased separately. Table bases can be used with almost any surface, screwed, double-stick foam taped, or clamped to keep them together. Drawer units can be used for supports, like a desk or post legs with a drawer set on the other end. Listen to your body and support it how you can. If you have been doing lots of computer work, you may have noticed the surface edge and how to avoid it. My personal preference is to rest my forearms on the surface to get the pressure off my wrists and elbows. Gone are the days of the box monitor on the desktop, because… flat screens RULE. Robotics has given us the ability to use mechanical arms to hold stuff, to bring the screen to “just the right spot”.

    Surfaces and Supports

    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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  • 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

     

    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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  • Real Storage

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    Real Storage

    Got Stuff?

    We have seen RTA furniture In-A-Box and maybe you have built some. It is getting better every year but, particle board, cam locks, and paper don’t hold up to real work. Steel or high-quality plastics work great and are easy to get.

    Save on Real Storage with Shelving Inc.

    Basics

    Shelves, pull-out drawers, swing/flipper doors, and small part bins. Most storage sits on the floor but, can be wall-mounted and stacked on other furniture. What will support your work the best and make it more efficient? Storage is about safety, protecting items, and ease of use. What is your stuff, who needs to get it and where is it needed?

    Working from Home

    Working from home or WFH is A-Thing and we will naturally have work stuff at home. This is an opportunity to organize and make your workspace your work STAGE. This is your chance to create your best place to do your best work. A small set of drawers on wheels, a bookcase, or a hutch with décor. Plants need to sit on something and are very nice. Work may require a monitor that can be wall-mounted, table supported, or have a floor-standing rack. Computer screens can be as small as a handheld device or 3′ wide, you know how BIG tech can get. A chair is also stuff, chair mats can protect your floor covering and smooth out the surface under the castors that your chair rides on. Getting up and out of your chair to get something can be a strategic part of your day. Security is still important to keep things safe, most swing door storage cabinets have locks. A 42″H empty cabinet top makes a nice shelf for items that can be left out. Electrical battery backups with optional solar panels by Jackery Company can help you keep working in a building or On The Road.

    Boxes and Books

    We still use boxes and books. The books are getting less use, but they are still around- Book Case. Shelves for easy access, 12″ – 20″ deep put in a case, mounted on a wall or pallet racked for forklifts. Larger companies will use all and have rollers to help move heavy items, Shelves on wheels, and Gravity Racks. When moving heavy items gravity can mean extra work or items can roll down in a controlled/directed way to the next destination.

    Real Storage

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  • Home Office Ideas

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    Home Office Ideas

    What Type of Work are you doing?

    Furniture is for supporting your body, equipment, and storage. Let’s start with the easy stuff 1st and what things you need to have “at hand” for your work. In the olden days, I had 18′ for furniture binders and 2 bins for finish/fabric samples. Now some companies do this online. My Resource Library is a professional resource for designers, facility managers, and contract dealerships. It has loads of commercial furniture layouts and images. This is what replaced my wall-mounted A02- 18′ shelves and 2 bins of color samples. I still have 1 small bag of color samples. Also, for residential home ideas, Houzz is a very good website.

    Work From Home

    Many working at home are doing creative, data-driven work and your storage needs are very small. Maybe a mobile set of drawers or a decorative bookcase. Others need printer supplies, paper, or old-school binders. Unless you have a dedicated office with a door, I suggest mobile storage that can be moved out of the way and an adjustable table sized to fit your needs. There are nice moving pads that will slide over low pile carpet and many lightweight storage units with wheels. Zuma Office Supplies started in 2009 and has your everyday products to help your work. https://www.zumaoffice.com/charities They have done lots of work to help those in need.

    Pads, Phones, and P.C.’s

    Data input computers for real work may need a table and monitor support. Stand Steady in Fairfax Virginia, does a great job at helping people be comfortable at work. In 2012, Day Martin was having some back pain, and sitting all day at work was very uncomfortable. She built her 1st standing desk out of some cardboard boxes and later that year Stand Steady was born. They have a complete offering of products to support your body, equipment, and focus.

    Chairs? See post #11 What is THE BEST chair for work

    Home Office Ideas

    You want to be able to focus, with no sound or visual distractions. Window Coverings are very helpful and Budget Blinds in Santa Cruz has automated solutions, so you don’t have to break your attention. Headphones are great for sound. Foldable 5’H screens help too, they usually fold into 3 sections with a wood frame covered in imaged fabric and feel like painting canvas. Adjustable blinds to control sunlight are very important for screen glare. Power and Date feed your machines, plan for power charging, and maybe a WiFi booster. An adjustable monitor supports will make your work time more comfortable, surface mount or wall mount. There are some floor mount stands available that work great with small scooter tables.

    Video Meeting?

    Video team meetings have become a workplace tool that I do not use. Some important things in media production (that is what you are doing now) are lighting, sound, and background staging. Most upgraded phones on a stand can get you by and may be fine. I know YouTube has some very professional media producers that will share their tips, tricks, and product reviews. Happy Zooming.

    SHUT-R-DOWN

    It is still important to be able to close the office for the day, mobile, foldable items, and 5’H screens can get that job done. YES, shut it down and put the office away, your home is more important than work. If you are feeling that work is more important than the home that may be the right order of priorities for that stage in your life. “Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” Some old Jewish guy wrote that and it is still true today. If you cannot support yourself, your family, and your home… get a better work plan.

    Working From Home

    This can be very different for everyone, the basics are…

    1. Support Your Body
    2. Move to keep engaged and your fluids flowing.
    3. WATER
    4. comfortably support your equipment.
    5. Choose to store your stuff strategically, it may be an opportunity to stand up and move.

          6. Control your environment to help you succeed.

    Step up your home’s storage and save with TheShelvingStore.com.

    Home Office Ideas, even if your home is On The Road.

    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 choose THE BEST work chair.

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    How to choose THE BEST work chair.

    Previously we discussed ergonomics. By definition, all chairs are designed for different activities and therefore they are all ergonomic. Talking about ergonomic chairs may be common, but most times the word is not used very well.

    Let’s talk about work

    When people are performing the work, they use various activities to accomplish their goals. Most of us do a variety of things during our work day and that is one reason adjustable chairs work so well. Also, in a group setting the same chair can be adjusted for each work activity and size of the person. With some study and practice, they can perform very well for almost everyone. Some important features are…

    Seat height

    A simple gas lift gives a quick adjustment and some softness to the chair. As we sit down the gas is compressed and we float on a gas-filled post.

    Arm pad positions

    Arm pads, height, angle, tilt, slide front to back, or fold back out of the way. Many of us use both hands for data input with our elbows out and hands close together.

    Back angle and height

    While doing data entry, many people lean forward and on their arms and wrists. Adjusting their upper body weight to those areas that can be compressed and cause real medical problems. Properly setting up the back of the chair and training yourself to lean back will transfer some of the upper body weight to the chair and off sensitive hands/wrists. Console gamers figured this out pretty early.

    Lumbar support

    Your lower back is referred to as your lumbar region and has a natural curve. An adjustable lumbar pillow or support can help you dial your chair and when it is good, it is very good.

    Free float tilt tension

    When you answer the phone for a voice call is a great time to lean back and relax. Many chairs can be released to free float tilt with quick activation. If the call will last sometimes a nice walk might be used, movement helps the whole body.

    There are many many options and you will spend some time over the years focusing on what you like. Also, your body will change, and job roles and types of activities will change too.

    Shop Chairs

    Shop furniture needs to hold up to the environment, your tools, and hazards. I specified 400+ chairs for a large Airforce Base that supported A-10 Warthogs and other equipment. Cramer makes 100% Rhino Tough chairs. There was a detailed RFP spec sheet and the Cramer Triton R+ chair met them all. The final on-site test was a “solder test”, they melted real solder and poured on onto different parts of the chair. At that point, it was Rhino+ tough and they got the job.

    How to choose THE BEST work chair.

    Some work is done in a Hospitality setting. We did a corporate project in Pebble Beach by 17 Mile Drive during the Covid. No Rhino Tuff chairs are needed at this worksite. America’s Leading Teak Furniture Manufacturer was the right vendor. They had the best chairs and tables for that type of “work” to help their people relax, recover, and connect with their team, and 100% ergonomic for that application.

    What type of work needs to be supported?

    Bodies, tasks, and equipment all work together to get the job done right. I can’t say with honest integrity “This is THE BEST CHAIR work chair”. Both of the above examples took time, questions, research, and effort to get great results. Helpful questions, distilling down to the nuts and bolts of what needs to be supported. Planning, forecasting the final solutions, and executing realistic logistics take work.

    Real Logistical Customer Service

    The corporate project in Pebble Beach during The Covid? The delivery was split into 4 separate installations and ran 6 months over schedule. It took real logistical customer service WORK to help them with all the summer events they had planned. We provided loaner furniture, multiple on-site staging, and weekly updates. This is the work that needs to be done and the furniture dealer always needs the furniture to make those installations successful.

    Just make it cheap, easy, and fast.

    Essendant may be the best logistic office support vendor around and work with coast-to-re-sellers like https://www.zumaoffice.com/ Large contract pricing, global delivery network, and “if we got it – you get it”. Even during The Covid work still needs to get done and they specialize in that. Just to be clear, fast is not cheap and you can get deep discounts on “made to order” projects. Easy does not = good results and cheap is just cheap. Business is dynamic, many times “the plan” changes and we need stuff RIGHT NOW. Sometimes the very best chairs are 12 blue task chairs with 4 folding tables for training in Elko Nevada delivered in 2-3 days. Not cheap, not easy, yes it was fast and in 2008 not much was out there.

    How to choose THE BEST work chair. For your body and your type of work.

    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.

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    Relax with Nature Videos with Sand 831 on Rumble.

    Local 831 Lifestyle Relaxing Nature Videos on YouTube.

    Thank you for your support,

    Charles Bradley

  • 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  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