sjennings You, too, can bask in the the glory that is Herman Miller office furniture and you won't regret the investment.
When you first started your business, chances are your furniture left a lot to be desired. Sure, you had visions of an uber-contemporary office with a strong design aesthetic, but what you ended up with was a few pieces of mismatched, hand-me-down office furniture and a sad-looking fern.
After toiling away in knock-off furniture obscurity, it's finally time for you to make a serious investment in your office infrastructure, and the first place you're looking for inspiration is the drool-worthy Herman Miller site with its back-cuddling Aeron chairs and its sophisticated, but understated, workstations.
The price tag is a little steep, but there are plenty of reasons you can feel good about investing in Herman Miller.
"The underpinning of almost everything Herman Miller thinks about is stewardship; stewardship of the environment, of people, of communities, and stewardship in the broader society. We believe if we stay on that course, ultimately we will find great things and be a good business," CEO Brian Walker recently told FastCompany.com.
If supporting a company that believes in people as much (if not more) than making a profit, isn't enough for you to splurge, here are 5 more reasons to consider Herman Miller:
1. Innovation: It used to be that designers needed to anticipate in what direction technology was going and plan for it, but today, technology isn't an afterthought; it's top of mind. Two years ago Herman Miller hired Ryan Anderson for a newly created position, director of future technology, according to a story in the New York Times. His job is to oversee a team of designers who try to come up with solutions to internet-age questions like how an office should look when mobile devices have given workers to freedom to work anywhere. The result for the customer is confidence that the the pieces you buy were created with modern function and gadgetry in mind.
2. Environment: In 1995, ahead of all the trendy go-green movements, Herman Miller opened the Greenhouse: an environmentally friendly office facility in Holland, Mich. The company is a founding member of the Green Building Council and the only office furniture manufacturer on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. It's working toward a zero footprint goal by 2020 and has enlisted suppliers in their quest to reduce air emissions, landfill, process water use, energy and hazardous waste. When you buy a Herman Miller product, you're giving business to a company that has made a commitment to good stewardship. Herman Miller workstations are often made with recycled content and have recyclable components; they are Greenguard certified, meaning they are a low-emitting product that meet indoor air quality standards; they're manufactured with renewable energy; and the wood is purchased from suppliers who use responsible forestry techniques.
3. Timeless Style: Since the middle of the 20th century, Herman Miller has been synonymous with modern design. The company works with outstanding designers from around the world to create pieces that are not only functional, but also stylish and forward-looking. Want more proof that the company's design vision transcends just creating a place for an employee to work for eight hours a day, five days a week? Its Aeron chair is in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection. Bringing such high-quality design to your office will demonstrate to both your employees and your customers that you are serious about what you do and committed to building a strong and healthy business.
4. Transformable: More than just looking good, Herman Miller office systems can accommodate a number of different office styles (from closed to open office and anything in between) and they pay special attention to the health and well-being of each employee. Businesses are constantly changing so it only makes sense that office furniture is easy to transform along with your company. Herman Miller has several office systems that are not only durable, but also easy to reconfigure whenever you expand, move or re-imagine your office space.
4. Warranty: While Herman Miller furniture is built to last, it doesn't hurt to know that once you invest in a piece, you have good backup to keep it in good working order. Furniture comes with a 12-year warranty that covers everything including electrical components, casters, pneumatic cylinders, tilts and all moving mechanisms. In addition, there's a three-shift warranty that recognizes the changing nature of work and the need for products that can stand up to continuous you as well as a labor-included warranty. Herman Miller will foot the bill for all warranty worked performed in the U.S. and Canada.
