8 Tips for Maximizing Your Office Furniture Budget from our friends at HON

Small- and medium-sized businesses with more than 10 employees spend over $130K per year on equipment and office supplies expenses, which is nearly 11% of their total expenses.  Getting the most out of your office furniture budget can make a huge difference in the health of your business.
 
For office furniture, the credo of creating one standard for everyone in order to save costs can actually result in higher costs. Since everyone is different, and people work in different ways, you have to make sure that the furniture fits the individual and their task. However, there are some other buying practices that will save you money. Many of these practices involve doing the upfront legwork to make the right buying choice the first time.

1. Have a plan.

Consult with your employees to understand their needs for individual and collaborative workspaces. Survey your physical space to understand the dimensions, power options, and planned uses. 

     2.  Focus on quality.
Less expensive furniture may work better for your budget today, but the quality may be poor and end up costing you more in the long run. For example, while two chairs may look similar, the more expensive one may last two to three times longer.
Investing upfront in higher quality can save you time and money overall.

     3.  Try furniture before you buy.
Go to the dealership and sit in different chairs, and look at different desks.  Try out different chairs to make In addition to providing another quality check, you’ll sure you’ll be get to try out how chairs feel after sitting in them comfortable. for a while. Testing out office furniture doesn’t take a lot of time, and it can save you a lot of wasted money in buying the wrong products. 

    4.  Think long term.   
Make sure the manufacturer you choose has a track record of maintaining product lines over time, or at least having migration options. Also be sure to allow for expansion options and use among multiple employees if future growth occurs. Invest in chairs that have adjustments for a wide range of employees, including seat height, seat depth, seat and seat back, tilt, arm rest placement, and lumbar adjustment. Consider height-adjustable tables and desks to accommodate various work styles. 

    5.  Check the warranty.
The length and terms of office furniture warranties vary greatly in length and coverage. Make sure the warranty lines up with your intended period of use. Also know who you go to if a warranty problem arises – are you working with the dealer or the manufacturer?

    6.  Purchase from a dealer who provides installation.
It’s fairly simple to assemble a single desk or chair. But putting together an entire office, including office workstations, is an entirely different story. Buying from a dealer who assembles and installs furniture can save you time and money

Twist OP has an experienced team of furniture specialists to work with you from start to finish to understand your