sjennings
There’s no need to buy brand new office furniture for your small business when there are so many low-cost, high-end used pieces in need of a new home.
Unlike home furniture, most likely your office furniture hasn’t been slept on by a 200-pound St. Bernard, stained with grape juice by a careless kid or scratched and dinged from being moved frequently. It’s built to last with high-quality materials and doesn’t endure the same wear and tear that your living room sectional does.
Pieces can be freshened up with new finish and upholstery to suit your office’s style without having to break the bank. Here are a few reasons for you to think twice about buying new:
Cost
Brand new office furniture is expensive, upwards of $3,000 to $11,000 and even higher for a single workstation. Let’s say you’re running a small business with 30 employees, which means you’ll need to budget anywhere from $90,000 to $330,000 just to make sure everyone has a place to sit. We don’t know about you, but in this economy those dollar almost give us a coronary.
Used furniture is 25 to 35 percent cheaper than new. Arnolds has a huge selection of cubicles and open-plan workstations by well-known manufacturers starting at under $700 a workstation. We’re guessing that $21,000 to furnish your office in style is a bit more manageable.
Health
Not only is it expensive, but new furniture is also not always very easy on your health because it contains high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are slowly released into the air over time. That new furniture smell that makes you feel a little woozy is probably the chemicals used in the manufacturing process off-gassing.
What’s in the gas? Many different types of furniture are made using pressed-wood, which contains adhesives made with formaldehyde, a potential carcinogen that also causes eye, nose and throat irritation, wheezing and coughing, fatigue, skin rash and severe allergic reactions, according to the EPA. There are several other chemicals, like butyle acetate and methylene chloride, that can also be irritating to employees.
Most new furniture finishes off-gassing within three to 12 months of when it was manufactured, so you won’t be risking your employees’ health if you buy used.
Environment
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 3 million tons of office furniture ends up in the landfill every year. Don’t contribute to the trash heap buying new when there are tons of perfectly good cubicles, desks, chairs and conference tables in need of a new forever home.
In addition to helping reduce waste, by buying used you’re also helping improve air quality (just think of how many pollutants are released in the air to manufacture one workstation) and saving trees.
What’s in Stock:
From whiteboards to conference tables and everything in between, Arnolds has plenty in stock to furnish your office on a budget. Here are some highlights of what’s in stock right now:
Herman Miller Resolve Workstations
Perfect for your open-plan office, these stylish workstations feature the signature boomerang-shaped work surface, custom bubble privacy screens and three-drawer filing cabinets. They’re available for just $795.
Steelcase Answer
These 6×6 workstations feature 53″ walls, custom fabric, speckled corner work work surfaces and two drawer pedestals. Available for $749 (list price is $4,200).
Kittinger Partners Desk
This gorgeous desk with burled-wood drawer fronts and brass handles defines luxury. It’s no wonder that everyone from CEOs to presidents have chosen to work behind Kittinger. Available for $18,500 (list price is $37,500).
Geiger Office Suite
This office suite, which includes a U-shaped work surface and bullet top with overhead storage, has been professionally refinished to perfection. Available for $2,768.50 (list price is $18,500).
Black Leather Chair
This fabulously comfortable black leather chair will be right at home in an executive office or conference room. Constructed with care by our design team, these chairs feature thicker, more comfortable cushions to help you soldier through the longest of meetings. Available for $195 (list price is $329).
Custom Reception Station
More of a sculpture then a desk, this one-of-a-kind reception station makes a bold statement for a company looking to showcase that it’s modern and forward-looking. Available for $7,500.
Fireproof Filing Cabinets
Available in an array of colors and in three basic sizes (vertical, legal and letter) these fireproof filing cabinets are in good working order and competitively priced at $650 a piece.
No matter what your style of budget, Arnolds has something for everyone.
