Why Creating Your Dream Executive Suite is Good for Business

August 13, 2018 By Better Office Furniture

“Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds. This means stay humble, but always be brave enough to dream big. I’ve often repeated it to other entrepreneurs – that, and to think like a toddler.”

~ Carl Reader, Business Advisor and Author of “The Startup Coach”

Executive Suite as a small business or solopreneur?

Close your eyes.

Think about your current work space. Is it a home office, a subleased space, or a standard office space for your small business? Or are you an an individual entrepreneur or freelancer? Does your location provide you with the ample space and resources needed for everyday operations? Do you feel it is beginning to, or has been, holding your company back from greater client and financial growth? Are you prepared to take your organization to the next level?

Now, think about your dream office space.

Picture the level of success you hope for and what it means in relation to your company’s mission and industry objectives. What do you see?

For many large companies, small business leaders, sole proprietors, and freelancers one of the biggest challenges is creating a business space that represents the company brand with both space flexibility and cost effectiveness. More so, many small business owners believe that they don’t have access to the resources or funding to expand, or to move their business to a growth-driven location.

At Better Office Furniture, we aren’t simply about providing you with the highest-quality and affordable office furniture that improves productivity and streamlines common, long-term office problems, or top-notch customer service. It is also our mission to ensure that we are helping you create your dream space, large or small.

That is why we believe that if you are searching for a more professional presence for your home-based or small business, an Executive Suite may be a perfect fit.

What is an Executive Suite?

An Executive Suite is a temporary or short-term office that provides a C-level, private workplace equipped with shared amenities. This includes conference and break rooms, with other businesses throughout the facility. Not only do they provide rapidly growing SMBs (small to mediums sized businesses) with flexible leasing agreements for small to large office spaces (usually ranging from 100 to 1,500 square feet), they also provide businesses with value-added services, such as low monthly rent for leases as short as 90 days. Some places even allow month-to-month leases.

Why an Executive Suite is Good for Business?

Obtaining an Executive Suite centralizes everyday business needs and streamlines operations.

Imagine walking through the front door, greeting your Executive Assistant and your fellow colleagues, collecting your morning mail and messages, and then walking into your personal office to start the day’s melody of tasks and meetings.

Tasks and responsibilities become easily delegated throughout the organization. While low-level tasks, such as taking phone calls, scheduling meetings, filing, and organizing mail are passed onto the suite’s administrative assistant. In other words, a single short-term space provides better flexibility, general office flow, and coordination of daily activities and provides you with more time to manage current projects and prospective client networking.

Small to large conference rooms and communication technologies are readily available.

No need to worry about where to meet clients, because there are conveniently located conference rooms in the same space as your office location. Collaborate easily with other businesses at the same office location to schedule on-going or new client meetings, weekly team meetings, presentations, brainstorming sessions, staff lunches, team building exercises, and everything in-between. Set-up new or reschedule meetings with the help of the suite’s Executive Assistant.

Plus, have quick and easy access to more current, innovative technologies that you might not currently have available to you as a small business owner or sole proprietor. Whether it is to effectively manage outbound calls, Skype business sessions, presentations, team and client brainstorming sessions, and team or executive meetings, you can ensure that you will always have what you need right at your fingertips.

Renting an Executive Suite is cheaper than working in a standard office space.

Whether you are looking to obtain an Executive Suite for your small business, a simple co-working space for you and other freelancers, a virtual office space, or a shared office space, such can be far cheaper to rent compared to purchasing or subleasing a location. Along with not having to purchase major amenities, rent is typically low and can be leased for short-term (as little as 90 days) or long-term (up to three-years). You will also save on shared utility costs like high-speed Wi-Fi, water, electricity, and trash pickup.

Executive Suites are perfect spaces for business networking and collaboration.

Take your time when you are searching for the perfect new location for your business. Don’t just look at the space itself, be sure to research other companies in the building and meet and greet with other executives and managers. Having a strong variety of companies and industries in the same complex allows you to have a unique networking world right at your fingertips, adding significant value to your business.

An Executive Suite provides a more polished, professional feel without sacrificing small business values and services.

Having a single-space for your organization’s daily work cultures new opportunities for innovation, ensures employee accountability, and allows managers and staff to easily collaborate on client projects as needed. It allows you to rethink your own role as an executive-leader, transform the company’s internal culture across multiple departments, and push more boundaries aiming to help you and your team achieve your company’s mission. It also provides additional space for your employees to step away from the daily grind and projects; which in turn improves employee satisfaction and long-term retention.

Better Office Furniture Can Help You Create Your Dream Executive Suite

Not sure what type of office layout you should be looking for when looking for an optimal Executive Suite location? Better Office Furniture has the expertise to help you find a location that balances privacy and accessibility, is spacious and noise-friendly, and provides both comfort and increased productivity. Check out our online resources for details about our commitment-free Space Planning Analysis to capture what type of office space fits your exact needs and wants.

Searching for the perfect new or used furniture to fill your new Executive Suite? Better Office Furniture of St. Charles, Missouri has a great selection of beautiful desks, executive chairs, bookcases and shelves, file cabinets, storage cabinets, and an array of other office furniture that you can select from to design the perfect space to fit your needs.

Lastly, worried about the expense of finding the best office furniture? Ask about our great selection of used office furniture and Free Estimates to create a beautiful, long-lasting, high-quality look for less.

Start reaching for your big, small business and start-up business dreams today by contacting Better Office Furniture at 314-266-9083, or visiting our St. Charles, MO location by appointment. Plus, check-out our Facebook or Twitter pages to find inspiration of how to design your business’ Executive Suite and start creating more high-growth opportunities for your business.

10 Ways to Create a Blissful and Productive Office Space

May 22, 2018 By Better Office Furniture

According to a recent article by The Balance, the average American worker between the ages of 25 and 54 years old works at least 42.8 hours per week. While this changes among other age ranges, gender, marital status, race, and level of education, most researchers conclude that American workers are the most overworked among developed nations. Therefore, we struggle with finding a work-life balance.

While Better Office Furniture of St. Louis, Missouri can’t help you find that needed balance overnight, we can give you some inspiration for making your office space work more for you. Countless successful business gurus, researchers, writers, and other pencil-pushers have proven that having an office space that is designed simplistically, kept well-organized, and remains uniquely personal to you can help to improve your productivity, mood, and overall health.

Here are our top 10 ways to create an office space that will help you be more productive, happier, and begin your journey on finding that needed work-life balance.

1-Think about the overall workspace for the ideal feng shui.

The layout of an office space can make a world of difference when it comes to your ability to focus, be productive, and be flexible throughout the day. Utilizing the art of feng shui can help bring a vibrant and positive energy to any space; which can also lead to more successful and efficient work hours within any business.

If you work in a cubicle type office setting, it is important that you use the space given to you to the highest advantage, even if you can’t move your desk or objects in the most effective positions according to feng shui philosophy. Likewise, while the principles of feng shui are far more flexible in an open or private office setting, it is still important that they are used in a way that helps you maintain a comfortable and organized work lifestyle.

2-Choose ergonomic office furniture to improve well-being and productivity.

It is difficult to feel like you are almost at home if you are uncomfortable and stressed. The use of ergonomic office chairs, desks, and technology has been shown to: reduce muscle tension, improve posture, allow all day comfort, reduce neck and shoulder stiffness, decrease back pain by supporting the natural curve of your spine, reduce extra pressure on your hips, and ensure the accommodation of different work activities. In other words, less daily pain means more work productivity, fewer medical problems, and a heightened mood.

Want to learn more? Check out our previous articles on ergonomic chairs and adjustable height workstations.

3-Include a personal touch, but don’t let it run wild.

While you want to make your office space feel like it is yours, don’t forget to create a balance between personal memorabilia and what is appropriate for your company’s culture. According to Dr. Lois Frankel, author of Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, “If you work at Martha Stewart, your office is going to look more like your living room than if you work at BP,” so see how the most powerful woman in the company arranges her office to understand were that balance is for the business you are in. No matter what, be sure that all photos, artwork, souvenirs, collectables, and other family memorabilia is kept to a minimum and is there for a purpose. That means, each piece should bring a touch of happiness, pleasant memories, and motivation to work hard so you can return home at an ideal time.

4-Include a touch of nature to help you feel at ease.

No one likes to be cooped up inside all day doing the 8 to 5 work-grind, especially when it is a beautiful day outside. If you aren’t one of the lucky few that has the option to work outside your office space, adding a bit of nature to your desk or whole office can be a great alternative.

Adding some living plants and flowers has been shown to increase workplace productivity and creativity, reduce stress, and improve overall life satisfaction. Don’t have a green thumb? Choose plants that need little to no care – like spider plants, philodendron, Boston ferns, bromeliad, sweetheart hoya, aloe, and other succulents or low maintenance plants – or even have some simple photos of plants on the walls.

5-Utilize different types of lighting to your advantage.

Proper lighting is ideal when working for any length of time in your workspace, including at the computer. In general stay away from harsh fluorescent or bright white lights; instead opt for natural light if you have windows, blue lights that simulate the sun, and salt lamps that promote clean and positive energy. Even a low-watt fluorescent desk lamp can help you be less prone to stress and increase your mood, energy, and productivity

6-Maintain an organizational routine that works for you.

In any office setting, organization is key to ensuring optimal productivity, reliability, and a low-stress environment. While you could Google ‘how to stay organized in the workplace,’ you are more likely to be productive in the long-run if you find what organizational routine works best for you.

For some this could mean answering all emails and returning phone calls first thing when you enter the office, only scheduling meetings during a certain time frame, labeling file folders by color or alphabetically, utilizing the “touch it once” system for paperwork, or having a specific computer layout on your computer. Whatever works best for your work day routine and office setting, be consistent and stick to it daily whenever possible for optimal results.

Also see our article on why organization is important for professionalism and productivity!

7-Keep your space clean and clutter-free to prepare for the next workday.

If you walk into the office in the morning and the space is filled with clutter from the previous day, you will either be spending your initial time cleaning or distracted and interrupted by the things in your way. To ensure you begin each day with a clear mind and with the utmost productivity, make it a habit to clean up your work space – including dishes, trash, and conference rooms – at the end of each work day. You will notice a tremendous difference immediately.

Also read “Building Office Morale by Improving Workspace.”

8-Customize and minimize the technology you use.

technology in the workspace

While technology has become a major and usually essential aspect of our daily lives, particularly at work, that doesn’t mean that it should make your job more difficult. This can include only having necessary computer items on your computer desk, while keeping your mouse and keyboard in a keyboard tray and the computer underneath the desk. Also try turning off your phone while at work or silencing certain incoming messages and calls to prevent distraction. You can also utilize certain apps, like StayFocused or FocusMe, that prevent the use of specified websites during certain time frames.

The main idea: each piece of technology should have a specific purpose during your workday and a specific space for it to sit.

9-Leave space for inspiration and humor.

Much like any objects that remind you of friends or family, it is important to leave room for inspirational and humorous pieces that can help you get through the day. The key, once again, is moderation. This could mean keeping a photo frame with an inspiration message, a wall calendar or desktop photo that gives you a daily glimpse of humor, or a dream board that reminds you what you are working towards.

10-Remember to care for yourself throughout the workday.

A productive and harmonious office space is of no use if you don’t care for your mind and body throughout the day. So be sure to do little things throughout the day that keep your energy levels balanced and your mind focused; such as keeping high-protein snacks and fruit in the office, drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, staying concentrated with tea or coffee (if you choose), listening to music, and taking at least a 10 minute walk during a break or after lunch. Just be sure to listen to your body and recognize when you need some self-love.

While these ideas are just the beginning to helping you create a more balanced, productive, and enjoyable work-life, they are sure to change the way you feel about the daily grind. Do you have other ideas of how to create a happier and more effective office space? Share your thoughts on the Better Office Furniture Facebook or Twitter pages!

Vecta Training Tables

January 10, 2018 By Better Office Furniture

These tables are super sturdy and solid.

Some of them do have missing corner plastic pieces but tables are still completely functional.

The legs swivel and in and out for stacking storage.

Call for store hours or an appointment.

Used Office Chair SALE!

October 31, 2017 By Better Office Furniture

High backed, used purple office chair on sale right now. Total of 4 available, in excellent condition. Super comfy!

Used Office Chairs – ON SALE!

October 27, 2017 By Better Office Furniture

Used, blue, mid back office chairs. In good condition, there is some minor scuffing on the arm fabric but other than that; they are good and comfy.

Total of 5 available – ON SALE for $10.00 each.

Chair Sale!

October 25, 2017 By Better Office Furniture

We are having an office chair sale!

These used blue high back office chairs are currently $25.00 each. They are in good condition (may need a little cleaning.)

Call for an appointment!

New Versus Used Office Furniture: Which is Better for Your Office Needs?

May 19, 2017 By Better Office Furniture

Steelcase 9000 PANELS

So, you want to find some office furniture to update your office or a single piece that will better fit your needs, but should you purchase something used or new? Which is better? While Better Office Furniture of Saint Charles, Missouri sells both pre-owned and brand new office chairs, office cubicles, office desks, cabinets and storage, and other quality office furniture; we believe that you should choose items that both fit your ideal needs and your budget. Check out the pros and cons of both used and new office furniture below, to see which is the better investment for you.

Why used office furniture is better?

While Better Office Furniture believes that buying cheap furniture (in both quality and price) is never the way to go, because we believe in investing your money, energy, and time into something that will last longer than a year, we also believe that reasonably priced, used office furniture can be just as good as new. The key is quality, since you will be using your office desk and office chair every day and for many hours, indefinitely. This is especially true if you are purchasing office furniture for a larger business or multiple employees, where the cost of new furniture – even at moderate prices – can break the bank or hit your maximum spending limit. That is why buying quality, used office furniture can be a life-saver, because you can spend half as much and not sacrifice quality for savings.

Take the Steelcase 9000 panels we currently have in stock, for instance. Not only does the Steelcase 9000 series work fluently with hundreds of other Steelcase products, Steelcase panels allow you to easily adjust your office space for both team usage and private space needs. While Steelcase 9000 products are a great investment for your office needs, purchasing used Steelcase 9000 panels can be a better investment for you. Why? Steelcase 9000 panels, like other Steelcase products, have a long life-span and can withstand consistent use within an average office setting, with little maintenance required to keep them working like new. So why not spend less on a quality, used product that provides you with the same comfort, efficiency, and productivity as the same item right off the manufacturing floor?

In addition, not only will you or your business save money and not sacrifice quality, buying used furniture can help you be environmentally friendly by reducing the number of resources and embodied energy used, eliminate additional pollutants (i.e. toxic chemicals, carbon emissions and pesticides) being added to the environment, reduce the costs of additional labor and shipping from overseas, and eliminate the need for packaging materials. Purchasing used office furniture also helps the local economy, by ensuring that small businesses – like Better Office Furniture – can provide consumers with high-quality products at a fraction of the cost. It also allows you to utilize funds that would otherwise go towards new products into other business needs and resources. This includes small businesses having the means to place some of their resources towards local causes they support, and maintain environmental integrity knowing that they are not supporting materials being sent to landfills.

Why new office furniture is better?

At Better Office Furniture of St. Charles, we only sell high-quality, pre-owned office furniture, but sometimes new is simply better. Is it just that glossy shine and new furniture smell? Maybe. It could also be that you know that buying new items won’t affect your bottom line and you want to provide yourself or your employees with the best workstations possible.

Whether price is not an issue for you or you have spoken with our owner and founder, Salena Mikos, about working on the price so you can still enjoy the pleasures of having furniture that is truly best for you, having new office furniture can provide your office setting with some great benefits. For instance, one of the downsides of used furniture is that you cannot guarantee that it will fit all your needs. Having new office furniture available to you allows you to choose from a larger selection of items, along with catering the finishes and colors to perfectly fit your office setting. Having these options allows you to freshen up an otherwise outdated office to have a more contemporary feel; which will also leave your employees feeling more energized and enthusiastic about coming to work. Your business will also work more effectively with growing technological needs, such as charging stations or cabling that is built-in, while also allowing for more effective organizational space.

On a broader scale, having new office furniture ensures that you have better office furniture for your employees, which has been proven to increase overall productivity. This is in part because new office furniture tends to be more ergonomically friendly, which not only boosts office morale but also can prevent the “Sitting Disease.” Not only will your employees not have to worry about over-used office furniture that is squeaky, unsteady, or doesn’t provide the correct support; they will be thankful that you are thinking about their short-term comfort and long-term health by investing in high-quality office furniture.

It also can provide some reassurance for your clients and staff that you are envisioning future growth, and have enough confidence in your business to lay down such an investment. An additional plus-side is that new office items have the advantage of a warranty that will allow you to have broken parts and pieces easily repaired by the manufacturer for free, while also being tax deductible with other office expenses in the first year or depreciated.

Still unsure about whether new or used office furniture is a better investment for you? Better Office Furniture of St. Charles not only offers furniture that will last, we are also here to provide amazing customer service by providing free space planning and direct consultation with every client to ensure that you will find precisely what you need for your office. You can also fill out our Free Space Planning online form to help you find exactly what you are looking for.