| There is so much to consider. | | | | sellers like DELL, because the likes of you and me |
| Cost, space, quality, warranty and delivery to | | | | are feeling ever more confident these days about |
| name but a few. They are all very important in | | | | buying a PC that we personally have specified. So |
| the general assessment procedure, but the most | | | | with lower overheads the online computer retailer |
| important criteria is often overlooked until it is too | | | | is winning the battle over its high street |
| late. | | | | adversaries and prices are at their lowest ever. |
| There are so many online office furniture | | | | Good news for the consumer then. Well it would |
| companies with tabloid-like websites offering this | | | | be if the build quality wasn't indelibly linked to the |
| office chair and that office desk for an amazing | | | | price. The fact remains that you get what you |
| price or super quick delivery. It is sometimes very | | | | pay for. In general the more expensive |
| difficult to see the wood for the trees. | | | | computers have better build quality and more |
| Cheapest v Cost Effective | | | | robust peripherals. Need a laptop to use on a |
| It is very easy to fall into the cheapest is the | | | | chemical plant? Then a ruggedised model could |
| most cost effective trap. Of course sometimes | | | | cost you back upwards of £2000. |
| you can get very good quality office furniture at | | | | Where is all of this leading to you may ask? |
| rock bottom prices, but ordinarily the cheap | | | | Well... Ergonomics my friend. Yes indeed, |
| Chinese imports prove to be less than reliable and | | | | ergonomics is the new black magic in the office |
| the one year guarantee is an air raid siren hint | | | | furniture environment. I won't try and explain |
| that you ignore at your peril. | | | | what ergonomics is here. That is worth one or |
| The better quality office chairs are offered with 5 | | | | two articles on its own. Although, here is a very |
| year warranties or 2 years for heavy duty 24 | | | | good description of ergonomics if you want to |
| hour control room chairs. | | | | read further. Selecting office furniture is a far |
| Lead times can pre-determine which supplier you | | | | more difficult and trap laden task these days. |
| opt for but more importantly it can drive the | | | | Posture and office seating go hand in hand. Space |
| buyer down a precarious office furniture selection | | | | age technologies developed for car seats are |
| route, where availability outweighs all other | | | | being applied to office chairs and the natural 'S' |
| factors. | | | | shape of the spine is being replicated in all manner |
| You have a new employee starting on Monday | | | | of ergonomic office chairs. Modern ergonomic |
| and you need an office chair, a desk and a | | | | office chairs can be manipulated to suit any body |
| computer. | | | | shape and size, but that still does not mean that |
| Think about this for just a moment. Which of | | | | they are overly expensive. One customer said to |
| those three items will the buyer spend most time | | | | me recently: "Ergonomic chairs are okay but I've |
| over selecting? | | | | been quoted £1200!" That may be the case. You |
| Which of the three items will the buyer be given | | | | can pay well over £1000 for an ergonomic |
| specifically more advice on which model to | | | | office chair - but you don't have to. There are |
| purchase? | | | | more economically viable options out there, with |
| Which item is more important to suit the tasks | | | | very good build quality. |
| that the new employee will have to undertake? | | | | What is you priority? |
| Okay, we all know the answer; the computer. But | | | | The new employee should be considered first and |
| which of the three original items will still be in that | | | | foremost when specifying new office furniture. |
| office in 5 years time? Now that is an entirely | | | | Their size and physical capabilities will determine |
| different matter. | | | | not only the type of office chair you select but |
| We all know that selecting the right computer and | | | | also the desk height, the hand of the desk (is the |
| software and to give your employee the right | | | | person left handed?) and the height of the |
| tools for the job is paramount for your business | | | | monitor. Something which is over looked more |
| plan. A corporate buyer wouldn't bat an eyelid at | | | | often than not is the lighting. Space can often be |
| buying a desktop PC, with software and network | | | | at a premium in modern office environments and |
| installed by a professional IT engineer for around | | | | will often dictate the only place a new workstation |
| £1000-£1500. Now in most corporate offices, | | | | can be located. Glare from lights can be a major |
| computers are regularly upgraded and/or replaced | | | | factor in producing headaches and eye strain in |
| say every two years as a matter of course. But | | | | computer users. |
| how many buyers would consider upgrading their | | | | Ideally you should choose the best office furniture |
| office furniture every two years. If the same | | | | you can afford. This will give you the best long |
| care and selection thought processes are not | | | | term investment in your employee and office |
| applied to buying an office chair and a computer | | | | furniture in terms of your budget. And don't |
| desk - to suit the new employee, then the | | | | forget there are deals to be had out there so |
| company could well end up with an office chair | | | | don't be afraid to ask for a discount. It is a very |
| that lasts barely a year and an office desk that is | | | | competitive market, but be sure you are |
| unsuitable and the employee can't even get his or | | | | comparing like for like with regards to quality. |
| her legs under because the drawer pedestal is on | | | | DSE |
| the wrong side. | | | | A professional DSE (Display Screen Equipment) |
| It's that Old Black Magic | | | | assessor will be able to assist in selecting the |
| The upshot is that the computer is by far the | | | | correct ergonomic office chair and office desk, |
| easiest item to buy. The majority of office | | | | and advise on equipment placement, like monitor |
| workers are computer savvy these days and | | | | height and workstation position relative to lighting. |
| they now know the terminology that was | | | | An established online office furniture supplier |
| deemed to be almost black magic just ten years | | | | should be able to provide a free DSE assessment, |
| ago. It was box with a monitor and mouse, we | | | | room layout drawing and good quality, reasonably |
| turned it on and then, there was black magic! | | | | priced office furniture solution. |
| There is a multitude of advice on the internet on | | | | Dearest doesn't always equate to best, but |
| RAM and graphics cards, monitors and the like. So | | | | cheapest can land you right in the middle of that |
| much so that high street retailers are finding it | | | | minefield. |
| very difficult to compete against the big online | | | | |