Service Office Furniture

Story of Chair repair – UNBELEIVABLE SERVICE

This is a true story about how we needed our office furniture (executive high back chair) serviced one day, and how we got it done. 

First of all, I should let you know that we at COMMERCIAL DESIGN CONTROL INC purchased a high back executive chair from Tayco Panelink for our office about 7 years ago.  The chair has always worked like a charm, and we have never had any problems … until about a week ago.

The chair has always had normal office use, but secretly I think it may have been put to a more “Advanced Testing Program” … without my knowledge!

Since my daughter and her friends sometimes come into my office to play “Look at me … I am a business person” while the staff are out on the weekends, I suspect that her and her friends may be using the chair as a type of “merry-go-round”.  The chair creates great fun for her and her friends as it has a good solid back with pivoting arms and a sturdy spot on the foot base to drop their feet when they “land” or “stop” from the spin.  Do we call this normal office use?  I think not!

I figure this has been going on for about 5 years and since we never noticed any damage or mess of any kind in the office (a huge open concept area with workstations) I never really questioned what they did or played with in here as long as it was left in good shape. 

About a week ago, we noticed that the base mechanism on the high back chair was missing a screw which made the back a little wobbly.  My office assistant suggested I call Tayco Panelink and ask them to do a service call to fix the chair.

I called Tayco Panelink up on Tuesday telling them it was not a huge priority, but would be great if they could drop in to take a look at the chair in the near future.

The next day (Wednesday) we had a call from the Tayco Installations Manager (Doug Richardson) who told us to expect his service man the next day at 2:00 pm.  As promised the guys came on Thursday at 2:00 and took the chair back to the Tayco plant for repair.

Today (Friday) at 10:00 the guys were back with the chair – as good as new – fixed and ready to be put back into action!  No questions asked … just complete and total service with a smile.  I was amazed! 

Even though COMMERCIAL DESIGN CONTROL INC has been a dealer of Tayco for many years, it still amazes me that Tayco as a manufacturer still gives each and every customer the highest level of service.  It really is unbeatable!  2 days to fix the chair!  And that includes the pick up and drop off of the chair … door to door from my office. Remember, the chair is over 7 years old and has been through a lot … much of it probably on the “Advanced Testing Program”.  But it is now back to its original state and working as slick as ever!

Great job Tayco! We are so very impressed!  Only Tayco could give that kind of on-going service after 7 years from the date of purchasing the product.  COMMERCIAL DESIGN CONTROL INC, is proud to be a Tayco dealer, and I will tell this story to my customers as proof that they really do care and are there to help … no matter how it breaks.

So if you are having any service issues, please call us … we know how to get things resolved … even those questionable repair calls.  We understand strange things can happen in an office.

BTW Doug, from now on, I think I will keep the girls out of my office.

Dorothy Drobot

President and CEO

Commercial Design Control Inc.

Office Storage Solutions

An uncluttered work environment makes a huge impact on the quality of work and how you feel in an office. Tidy and organized surroundings help your employees to be more creative and productive. Storage solutions like metal or wooden cabinets, shelving, pedestals and bookcases can help in making your life easier in an office.  It aids in managing workflow, and opens up space at your desk. 

Book cases and Shelves: Shelves can be easily customized according to your need and space. They come in wood/laminate or glass. If you have books that you often use like dictionary etc. a shelf unit with glass shelves next to your desk would look attractive and useful. Glass shelves can carry more weight than the wooden shelves which can deform with the weight and time. Consider installing a row of shelving near the ceiling if you have old files and books which you want to hang on to but are not necessarily needed anytime soon. If your office has the space, a few bookshelves for extra storage space are a great investment. If you have lot of documents like invoices you should take a look at cabinets that hold suspension files. This way you can easily find the documents that you need.

Pedestals: If you have a workstation or desk without a drawer you might want to consider getting filing cabinets that can neatly fit under your surface. These are called freestanding pedestals and come as fixed, or on wheels so that they can be pushed under the desk and around the station. They are just another way to make space in your office look neat and organized especially, if you don’t have lot of room. Double pedestals are also a good choice.

Filing Cabinets: Filing cabinets come in different sizes and a choice between metal, wood and laminate. You can choose a cabinet with two, three or more drawers depending on your requirement and to match the furniture in the office. Filing comes in vertical and lateral. Metal lateral filing is more popular only because they offer a larger surface space at handy height levels which could be utilized for multitasking. Wooden or laminate filing cabinets add warmth to the office. To maximize space, consider the wall-mounted cabinet.
Lateral Filing: usually comes with lockable drawers. They come in 2, 3, 4 and 5 drawer combinations.  These drawers can be used to store private and confidential documents as well as contents. Lateral cabinets come in 30” to 42 inches wide, accommodating more for storage. Another unique characteristic of lateral filing cabinets is the fact that the files can be hung two ways. Filing usually comes with metal handles which can be used to match your overall color scheme, and are appealing to the eye.
Vertical Filing: cabinets are the more traditional cabinets that are designed to store a single letter sized file with specific measurements. These cabinets usually have two to ten drawers. They are generally taller than the lateral cabinets.  Metal filing cabinets come in many colors like silver, gray, black, brown etc. that complement the furniture in your office. Wooden filing comes in different textures and shades as well.
Fire Resistant Storage:  You can also find fire and water-resistant filing cabinets in metal that are good for storing valuable documents and other items that need to be protected against the elements. They are expensive because they are made from heavy-duty materials and have tight seals on the drawers and doors. Fire resistant metal filing cabinets have heavy-duty locks to further protect your valuables and are built to stand a one-hour fire. On the other hand, metal filing cabinets with glass doors look contemporary, sophisticated and elegant.

Electronic Locking System Cabinets: The most recent improvement in metal filing is the “Noki” locking system which is a keyless electronic locking system. This feature offers the user the keyless entry system and allows the user to set his/her own password for opening the cabinet.  This system runs on AC power supply or battery. The mechanism is guaranteed for 10 years.  It provides a code which is unique to the user or the department, or filing cabinet. A master code can be obtained from the company. After four attempts to open the cabinet with incorrect code a brief alarm is activated. The lock can be installed at a height of 36” to facilitate access.  It is for the heighted or maximum security areas.

So the choices are endless; it all depends what you need and how much space you have and the amount of stuff that needs to be organized and stored in an office.

How to choose the paint color for your office

Colors can be a very powerful part of your home or corporate office – they can inspire you, calm you or just make you feel at ease. Colors can really help motivate you and you staff to get down to business! By analyzing certain characteristics and planning, the process of choosing a color can be made easier.
Business: Consider the type of business you are in. If your business is related to something serious you might consider neutral color, or a bright scheme that will motivate you but not overwhelm the space. Consider your personality when choosing a color for your office or the environment you’re trying to create for a corporate office. If you want to convey a feeling of energy and passion, choose warm colors from the color wheel: red to yellow-green. If you prefer a calming effect, choose cool colors: green to red-violet. Which colors better suit your office would also depend on the kind of employees that are employed? If engineers are supposed to work in your office, select muted color shades like gray and tan. If your office mostly comprises creative professionals like designers or writers; bright colors shades such as orange, red, or yellow are ideal. If your office employs busy professionals like lawyers or accountants that are likely to get stressed during the work, cool colors such as blue and green are most appropriate.
Whichever colors you choose, make sure that they do have a resemblance with the office furniture and the flooring.
Space: If you intend to make the office look bigger, it is suggested that you go in for bright and light colors. A white ceiling would also contribute in making the office appear larger. If you have got a substantial amount of office space, you can choose warmer or slightly dark colors.
Lighting: Determine what type of lighting your office will or does have. Incandescent bulbs give off a warmer glow than fluorescents or natural light. If your office has an abundance of natural light, bright colors might be too blinding. How much lighting your office gets also has an impact on, which colors would be suitable for it. If it receives a significant amount of natural light, you should not choose bright colors, as they would seem too bright. If the office receives a little amount of light, only then you can choose bright color shades.
Continuity: Check if the office is visible from another room or rooms in the building. If it is, choose a color that maintains continuity with the rest of the color scheme to maintain a cohesive color theme throughout the building, floor or suite.
Paint Color: Go to your nearby paint store and obtain color swatches and palettes. Choose the color combination that you think will look good on the walls. If you are going to carry out graphic designing or advertising business from your office, the walls can be painted with different patterns and color combination.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, bring the chips into the office. You can also buy a small amount of paint (most paint stores will mix a sample) and either paint a sample board or paint a two-foot square area on one of the walls. Observe the paint samples at different times of the day, with and without lights, depending on when you’ll be using the office. Notice how the light affects the color. Hold the paint samples against furniture, drapes, and other accessories to see if you like the color combinations. If you don’t want to commit to a certain color, choose white or neutral grays and beiges for the walls and ceiling. Then, if you wish, you can introduce color into your furnishings and accessories. You can also choose among the texturing techniques and the different paint finishes like egg shell etc.
Color Schemes: Once you have narrowed down the colors that you want to use in your office you can use 3 different color schemes to enhance the look of your office.
Monochromatic: Combines varying shades of the same color. For instance, a light blue wall paints, with a slightly more saturated version of the same blue as a trim color. It’s easy to pull off and works well with neutral accessories.
Analogous: Uses colors that are next to each other on the. That could look like: light pink and dark pink with red, or blues combined with aqua or even purple. Another combination might be warm brown with a cream trim.
Complementary: This scheme is high on contrast and more dramatic than the monochromatic or analogous options. To find complementary schemes, choose colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Pink and green, or blue and yellow are examples of complementary shades. You can choose a darker or lighter version to emphasize one color more than the other – i.e., bright pink and pale green. This scheme is more for outgoing people or a bold look.
Office Furniture: Think of your office furniture and seating as accessories. Choose the fabric the wood and laminate color carefully so to give the room a coherent look. Brushed metal furniture and filing systems would give the room a modern edge. A warm brown and cream palette, on the other hand, would look great with wood furniture and neutral desk accessories in natural materials. If you choose a light green and off-white look, sea grass baskets for your files and lighter wood furniture will give your office a by-the-beach feel. Bright colors beg for pop-art accessories and mod desks and other furnishings. The options are endless. Have fun with it, and enjoy your colorful new office!

First Step

The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that we can succeed.

Why update an office? | Commercial Design Control Inc

Clients always ask me:  “Does it really pay to update my office?”

I ask them to think of the office in terms of being their home. 

Would you prefer to live in an old run down house with appliances that are outdated and barely work, a bed that is sagging and uncomfortable  causing back aches every morning, windows that are drafty and cold, facets that drip and pipes that bang, or … would you prefer to live in a newly renovated home with state of the art appliances, a bed that makes you feel like you visited heaven each and every night, a shower that feels like you visit the spa every morning before work, and floor to ceiling windows that not only let in the light, but cast a warm glow over the entire outdoors making the world an amazing place to wake up to?

Which one would you prefer to go home to at night?  I think it’s pretty safe to say that MOST people would prefer the newer updated version … for reasons of basic comfort.

So why is it just as important to have an office that gives you that comfort level?  Because you want your employees to WANT to come to work for you.

Employees are happier, more efficient and spend more time working and less time goofing off when they are in an office where they feel like a professional, are comfortable as well as have a sense of their own space. Those who work in an office that is aesthetically pleasing are more inclined to be more productive.

Yes, there are many reasons to update your office.  And the truth is that you can either do it yourself, or you can hire someone to help you.  It can be done quickly, with little chaos if done correctly.

I tell people I don’t know how to run their business, and I have a pretty good feeling that they don’t know how to run ours.  A good design company should provide you with not only with office furniture, but they should create a total environment for you and your staff that is comfortable, relaxing, safe and yet still has the ability to invoke stimulation for the brain.

Tips on how to do it yourself:

Colors for furniture, walls and floors should be neutral to give your office update longevity.  The main contents should be conservative and should have a focus on function for each of the users.  Remember it is all about providing not just the comforts, but handling function while you are creating comfort.

Adding splashes of bold color like burnt reds, deep greens or caramel browns for accents on well selected accent walls will give your office the statement it needs to stand out from the neutral base tones.  These bits of color will play a part in activating the brains creative side keeping the overall environment from going stale.  But be careful if you are attempting to do this yourself, it can go horribly wrong if you don’t know what you are doing.  I have seen some pretty interesting “home jobbies” that are what we call “failed”!

The other great thing about adding certain walls with lots of color is that if the selected walls are easy to access, they are easy and affordable to update … with just a coat of paint.  Color trends change so if you aim to maintain your updated look, keep your options for a quick change easy and fast.  You should plan on updating those walls every 5 to 7 years.  Remember, a paint job is the fastest, and most cost effective way to update … giving the biggest bang for the interior design buck!

Another thing I tell my clients is to keep the modular office walls (partitions) low.  You have to have the privacy, but at the same time, don’t create a maze!  Your staff might like to build themselves a private sanctuary, (private office from modular walls) but it is a well known fact that by keeping your walls low, you will encourage open communication between your staff.  We all know how nice it is to talk to someone at a company that actually knows who we are.  It is only through open communication that your staff talks between themselves, discussing the accounts and how they should be handled.  You would be surprised to find out how much information is passed along by keeping the “walls of communication” low!

Lastly, we don’t use the typewriter any longer, so why should we be using an old fashioned office desk?  They are outdated and not made with the computer technology that we use in the office today. Speaking of old fashioned, bad or worn out chairs can give your employees back problems, wrist problems and aid in the number of sick days that you end up paying for!  When it comes to using computer equipment, it is important that the furnishings be updated to accommodate the equipment.

So make the most of your space.  Don’t cheap out, and try to do it yourself.  Hire a professional.  A professional will talk to your staff about their needs (tactfully) and make them feel like you care.  A professional will give you an office that you can be proud of as well as an office that makes your staff happy to come to work.  Soon you will notice that the dress code amoung your staff goes up a notch and the attitude starts to change to reflect a more professional environment.

Also most importantly, as the Boss, change YOUR outlook (no … not your email system) and how you view your office environment and the staff that works in it.  The office staff follows your example on how you generally feel about the place.  If you are proud of your office, chances are very good that your employees will be as well.  That pride is what shines through from the top … right down to the bottom … and out the door to your clients.

Yes, it’s worth it to update your office … for many reasons! 

Successful People

Most of the successful people I've known are the ones who do more listening than talking.

Office furniture that works for your office

In the office workplace, your surroundings, your equipment and your style of working can all be modernized. Sometimes, people are afraid to make these changes because they are used to a certain color on the wall, or having their desk face a certain way. They think that to change the office will take their focus off what’s important … making money.
The truth is, you will increase productivity, sales and morale by updating your office. You will find that you and your staff will be more efficient in an office that has been updated. This in turn will increase productivity. Also, when customers visit your office, they will find that the updated décor creates a lasting impression long after they leave. Here are some basic suggestions to help make your office a more modern place to work.
Think about color. Colors are powerful and the trend right now is towards colors that are bold and basic. Deep reds, dark blues, whites and rich chocolate browns are being used in many modern offices today. Keep your furnishings simple, but use lots of bold color on your walls and floors.
Commercial Design Control Inc. is an office furniture company that believes color plays an important roll in how we feel at work.  They tend to use contrasting colors on the walls and furniture to give the space a feeling of dimension.
Think about your office equipment. Wireless printers are useful and help to keep the office from being “all tangled up”.  It is the way to go for keeping the wires and cables under control. Also, find a unit that has a scanner, copier, fax and printer all in one machine. The amount of energy and space that you save will amaze you.


Appealing Office Ideas

 Think about your chair. Ergonomics can make your life in the office much more comfortable.  Sleek high back mesh chairs are the way to go for added support and panache as well as adding to the modern look of your office. The height adjustments and extra support for the arms and back make these chairs a great investment. These chairs are made to protect your body from injury and stress and help you maintain correct posture through out the working hours.  Your body will thank you for providing it with a well supported office chair.  For ideas on ergonomic seating as well as lounge and executive styles see these YouTube videos.
Think about your computer.  A flat screen monitor will save space, and they are lighter if you have to move, save energy, improve the resolution of your computer and are easier on your eyes. The touch screens are the next wave of the future, and may be something for you to consider as the technology improves. A keyboard and mouse that matches your décor also provides the necessary support to your hands, wrists and arms and is important for the ergonomics in your workspace. Off site back up for all data is a space saver, as well as ensuring that all data is safe.
Think about your workstation. Using the vertical space in your station will allow for more surface working space.  Lighting is a great tool to use for focusing in a busy environment.  Sound masking is also very important when trying to block out those unwanted noises.  Most workstations are custom designed to fit your space, your job function, and the amount of privacy you may need.  For modern trends in office furnishings and workstations visit www.comm-design.com
While modernizing your office may seem like a big task, it is easy if you have experienced help. As times and trends change, we usually find ourselves becoming more interested in newer items and more efficient ways of doing things. By making office changes, you show your staff that you care about the time they spend working for you.  You also show your customers that want to keep up to date with what is happening in the world of business in as many ways as you can.
In time the results will be so positive, you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner!

Why is a back tilt important on your chair?

Good posture while in your chair promotes good circulation and a healthy spine. The tension of the chair should be adjusted frequently to suit your body weight so your body moves freely and harmoniously with the chair rather than having to fight against it.

Even a minor change in the back tension control will affect your comfort level during those long working hours.