Go to any new dental office and you may be surprised by what you find in the waiting room. More and more dentists are swapping their outdated vinyl seating and recycled magazines for upscale, modern furniture and video game areas equipped with wall mounted televisions. Why all this attention to the waiting area?
Waiting areas of the past were often clinical, sparse and cold. To avoid this in your facility, opt for warm colors, comfortable furniture and textures, and rich wood accents. Consult with a workspace design professional to discuss ways to improve your waiting area.
2) Provide Entertainment
No one really likes waiting, but you can improve the experience by providing access to entertainment. This might be televisions, video games, up to date magazines or a toddler play area.
3) Personalize
The most beautiful waiting area can still feel cold without a bit of personalization. You can add home décor elements such as lamps, rugs and throw pillows to achieve a more personal touch. Posting photos of staff events or volunteer activities can further customize your space.
4) Offer Refreshments
With an emphasis on convenience, customers shouldn’t have to ask you for anything. Refreshments, such as water, coffee and tea should be provided on a counter in the waiting area. Ideally, they are out of reach of little ones, but accessible to anyone else.
5) Go High-Tech
Free WiFi is no longer considered a luxury. It’s expected nowadays, especially by younger people, a crucial generation of customers for any business to consider. Providing WiFi is another means of facilitating entertainment for your customers, making their wait more enjoyable.
A Better Experience
The goal of improving your waiting area is to provide your customers or patients with a better experience. A comfortable, inviting waiting area and consistent service is often what keeps customers coming back.
Contact Us to learn more about transforming your waiting area into a modern, welcoming space.
Moving your office may seem completely foreign, but is absolutely do-able. Most people are simply not familiar with how to prepare for a corporate move, which can cause frustration and delay. That’s why it’s so important to follow a cohesive and comprehensive office-moving guide. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Determine a Budget
Your move budget will dictate every aspect of the process, so it’s important to identify costs before you hire movers, or even pack the first box. If you’re downsizing, it may be time to swap out big, bulky furniture for versatile workstations. If you’re upgrading, you may have a larger budget for office design and furniture services. Once you’ve established your budget, stick to it by prioritizing your needs and identifying any potential surprise expenses.
Make a Plan
While there are sure to be hiccups or detours, it’s important to create a plan and timeline for your upcoming move. This can also allow you to provide an overlap between the closing of your old office and opening of your new facility so that business will not be interrupted. You’ll need to develop and discuss the plan with the rest of your moving committee and with upper management to ensure it’s feasible. For small offices, it’s best to plan at least 3 months out, while larger offices may need as many as 6 to 8 months. The sooner you start, the better!
Communicate
Communication is king when it comes to successfully executing an office move. Employees should all understand the timeline, expectations, and pre-move tasks. It’s important not to lean too heavily on emails or group texts, but have regular meetings to discuss and clarify the process to avoid any potential misunderstandings. As the manager of a move, you shouldn’t be expected to do everything, but you should know who’s doing what and when it should be done. That’s where delegation comes into play.
Delegate
Trying to juggle a move alone is a recipe for disaster. Create a moving committee and arm them with a list of tasks that need to be added to the timeline and completed. A move usually requires scheduling and coordinating with various service providers, such as furniture delivery teams or computer network specialists. Delegate other managers to keep track of specific services and make sure they are transferred or installed correctly. Upon completion, have them report the results back to you.
The Right Team
Having the right people on your team can be the difference between a successful move and a huge headache. Opting for a turnkey design and furniture service takes the guesswork out of furnishing your new office. With experienced professionals guiding you through the process you’ll be enjoying your beautiful new office in no time.
Contact Us to learn more about finding the perfect furnishings for your workplace.
Every June for 50 years, The Mart in Chicago has played host to NeoCon, the commercial design industry’s showcase of innovation. The WorkSpace Resource team attended NeoCon last month, getting inspiration and ideas from the showrooms presented. These included interiors for the workplace, healthcare, hospitality, retail, education, public space and government commercial spaces. The 3-day event revolves around innovative commercial interiors, finishes & materials for a variety of different industries.
Spotting Ingenuity at NeoCon
NeoCon is more than simply a display of commercial furniture design trends. It’s an opportunity to spot the latest and best ideas that will shape the modern workplace. The products showcased are both aesthetically pleasing and practical, integrating technological advancements with unique design. Here were some of our favorite highlights from the event:
Resi-mercial
A mix of residential and commercial elements, “resi-mercial” combines the comfort of home with the functionality and professionalism of the workplace. The trend makes office spaces more comfortable and casual. Several of the manufacturers made workstations with sofas and small laptop tables instead of large desks and chairs. There were also several types of quiet spaces where you could either work or nap.
Natural Elements
Another notable trend was the presence of natural elements. Succulents, hanging pots and an emphasis on natural wood tones was prominent, adding interest and beauty. A lot of furniture, including desks, grouped seating and workstations incorporated built-in planters in the desks. This trend was especially evident in the AIS Showroom (shown below), which featured hanging walls of electric green moss, eggplant-colored accents, and crisp, modern office furniture.
Technology Integration
You can now integrate wireless charging stations into your work surface, so if you set your phone on any area of the desk, it will automatically charge. There are also several low profile and pop up USB ports for charging devices. This streamlined integration of technology makes for a more functional and aesthetically pleasing workspace.
Modern, Artful Design
Diana Burgess, WorkSpace Resource Designer, summed it up best when she said, “Seeing all the newest trends and where the market is headed is really valuable to us as a business because it allows us to make sure our customer’s offices will be up to date for years to come.”
Contact Us to find out how you can keep your office modern, welcoming and functional.
WorkSpace Resource invites you to join our extended community. This is your opportunity to connect with us as we offer you insight into our company culture, industry knowledge, helpful tips and much more! WorkSpace Resource not only supplies modern office furnishings but helps you through every step of the process, from space planning to installation. Our blog will highlight exciting projects, offer tips and share company news.
Bringing You Value with Every Post
We spend most of our time taking care of our valued clients or attending industry events, so we don’t have many chances to share our expertise with you. Our blog will be that chance! Enjoy original content covering a range of topics and information we hope will be useful and interesting for you. Our blog posts will fall into one of the following categories:
Helpful Tips
We strive to provide you with information that’s useful to you about commercial interiors and workplace furnishings. We will cover a broad range of topics, giving you the benefit of lessons we’ve learned over many years in the industry. Articles in this category are designed to address topics you may have questions about or help guide you through a design decision or office relocation.
Industry Updates
Every once in awhile there may be changes, advancements, or other updates specific to our industry that you’ll want to know about. These articles will be designed to give you a breakdown of what’s happening and what it means for you.
Company News
Sometimes we may have company changes, improvements, and events that you need to know about. These blog posts are intended to make you aware of our growth and progress and how it will benefit you. They’ll also give you an inside look at our company values and culture.
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