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Buying
office workstations isn't like buying furniture at an office
supply store. For one thing, cubicles from leading
manufacturers are built to last for decades. Dealers will work
with you to design a system that's right for your needs and
will stand behind their work.
Before you start talking to cubicle suppliers, you'll need to
prepare some basic information about your office and your
employees.
First,
you'll need to know the floor plan of the space you're looking
to furnish. If you can get a scale drawing of your office,
great; if not, Ducky’s Office Furniture has a team of
trained consultants who will take more detailed measurements,
but knowing the general dimensions will greatly improve your
initial planning.
Next,
consider your employees. Obviously you need to know how many
employees need office workstations. But go one step further:
what do those employees do? Cubicles for a department of
telemarketers are quite different from the right cubicles for
a group of programmers. Talk to your employees about their
needs: do they spend more time on the computer, on the phone,
or doing paperwork? How important is it that they be able to
easily converse with co-workers? Do they have small meetings
in their cubes? These factors will influence the size, wall
height, and surfaces of the workstations you choose.
Click
here for Ducky's current cubicle inventory...
Shopping for systems furniture isn't a quick process: if
you're buying new or remanufactured systems, you can expect an
average of three to six weeks between placing the order and
delivery. Often, Ducky’s Office Furniture has a selection in
stock, so check our website for new purchases.
Systems furniture is available in two main designs:
panel-mounted and freestanding. Most systems furniture today
is panel-mounted: the wall panels are the basis of the system,
and components such as desks and file cabinets are mounted
directly onto the panels. Freestanding components use separate
panels that are placed around furniture. (for more on
definitions, see our furniture
speak article)
Each
design has its advantages. Panel-based systems offer greater
design flexibility, can be equipped with internal power
options, and can be a bit taller to provide greater privacy
and noise reduction.
The
main advantage of freestanding systems is that they can be
easily installed and reconfigured. This makes them more
convenient for firms that will often rearrange or move office
space.
Look into the flexibility a given system offers. If you move
your office two years down the road, will the systems be
reconfigurable to fit a different type of space? Can you
arrange cubes in traditional rows, "bullpen" style
where several co-workers share a larger enclosed space, or in
staggered or diagonal layouts?
The most common cubicle sizes are 6' x 6', 6' x 8', and 8' x
8'. These provide enough room for a computer or two, desk
space for paperwork, and perhaps a single chair for visitors.
They can be as small as a 2' x 4' call center workstation or
as large as a 12' x 12' manager's cube that includes space for
several people to meet.
In
addition to the size, you'll need to decide on a height for
the walls. Heights range from 34" to 85" - the
choice depends quite a bit on how your employees like to work.
Many people like being able to stand up and talk to
co-workers, but have privacy when they're seated. 54"
walls are a good height for that type of interaction. 67"
or 72" walls create more privacy at all times, but can
reduce light and make collaboration more difficult; 42"
walls make it easier for employees to work together and give
the area a ‘lighter’ feel.
A common reason
companies opt for cubicle furniture is to reduce noise, and
the right type of system can do exactly that. It's important
to remember, though, that no system will eliminate noise
completely - and that some design choices will make your
system even less efficient at blocking sound. Lower panels and
glass surfaces can make for a more stylish look - but they
both reduce noise absorption.
Aesthetics are
also important. Leading cubicle furniture manufacturers
provide a range of colors and patterns for fabrics and
worksurfaces, allowing you to choose a look that's right for
you. Plain can be ok - and can save you some money - but nicer
fabrics can benefit your business image. On the other hand, if
looks really aren't that important to you, you may be able to
save money by choosing less popular colors or overstocked
fabrics.
In most cases,
you'll need electric power and data network connections run
through a row of cubes. You'll be able to choose "base
feed" - power that comes from a wall outlet - or
"top feed", where wires are dropped down from the
ceiling. However, electrifying a set of cubes makes a big
difference on the cost. If your cubes are next to walls or
existing overhead power sources, you may be able to save some
money by simply adding wall outlets or "utility
poles" - non-structural columns that conceal wiring.
Various storage
options are available with cubicle furniture, including filing
drawers, wheeled pedestals, wall shelving or cabinets, and
free-standing bookshelves, many of which have the option to
include locks. Sometimes these are configurable by your
employees, allowing each person to set up their cube the way
they see fit.
Other common
add-ons include whiteboards, windows, built-in task lighting,
coat hangers, and tack boards. Your vendor can give you more
details on what extras are available, and in most cases you'll
be able to add them later with little or no extra expense.
A trained Ducky’s Office Furniture consultant can provide
help with all of these decisions. We will create a computer
layout of your office, allowing you to see what various
cubicle furniture setups would look like and make necessary
changes.
Generally
speaking, the systems furniture food chain starts with very
large companies buying systems directly from manufacturers. As
they go through layoffs or office moves, they sell the used
office furniture back to the manufacturer or to dealers. The
dealers turn around and sell the remanufactured cubicles to
small and mid-sized companies for as little as half their
original cost.
Buying
used office furniture isn't like buying a used car - you don't
have to choose from what's on the lot. Just like buying new,
you'll be able to pick a brand and model of cube and select
the fabrics and colors you like. Ducky’s Office
Furniture’s Upholstery division can allow you to refurbish
older fabrics with newer, more modern styles and colours.
Custom
remanufacturing jobs like this can often be turned around more
quickly than new orders, and cost on average 30% to 50% less
than similar new systems. Remanufactured cubes offer the best
combination of quality and price.
On
the other end of the scale, more budget-minded businesses can
opt for "as-is" cubes from used office furniture
dealers. You'll save money this way, and in most cases, the
cubicles function as perfectly as new, with a little less for
wear and tear.
The
sticker price for a quality new office furniture system can be
surprisingly high, at first. It's important to remember that
it will last for decades, and that your employees will be
using it all day, every day. Saving a hundred dollars per cube
will have minimal impact on your business in the long run -
but getting quality equipment that will keep your employees
happy and efficient will make a big difference.
For average sized used cubicles, you can expect to pay around
$750 -$2,000 per cube, depending on size, brand, and
condition. Prices for new systems start at $2,500 and can
range up to $5,000 or more.
You
may be able to find cubes for $500 in classified ads or
auctions, but keep in mind that you'll have to pick them up
and install them yourself. You'll have no guarantees
whatsoever and you won't be able to integrate them with cubes
you add later. For a long-lasting solution, it's worth
spending a little extra to purchase from a reputable dealer.
There
are significant economies of scale involved: as soon as you
put two cubes back-to-back, you've already saved one wall, and
every additional cube means extra cost savings. Also, whether
you're ordering new or remanufactured cubicles, the factory
saves money producing multiple identical components. Buying
ten cubes will provide some discount, while buying over 100 or
so can reduce your cost by 20% or more.
Delivery
and installation can add significantly to the total costs. On
average, you can expect to pay $100 - $150 per station. Be
sure you know the delivery rules in your building: some buildings may have strict rules about when
you can unload, or the availability and size of elevators
need to be addressed. Both of these situations can dramatically
increase delivery costs.
Due to the expense of buying an office furniture system; you
may want to consider leasing instead of buying. You may also
be able to take advantage of the fact that lease payments are
business expenses, taken from pre-tax income instead of
after-tax profits. Ducky’s Office Furniture can refer you to
a number of reputable and experienced lease companies.
Some
businesses still treat cubes as a capital expense. The
financial advantage is that you'll own the cubes - when you're
done with them, you can usually sell them back to the same
company that you bought them from and recoup at least part of
your costs.
Whether
you decide to buy new or used cubicles, the staff at Ducky’s
Office Furniture will strive to make your furniture
installation as smooth and painless as possible.
Our team is very experienced and brings that experience
to the table.
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