The conversation around modern workspace innovation has recently become more pertinent as organizations seek to adapt to new-age working conditions, accelerated by the global pandemic. Challenging the conventional workspace models pave the way for more flexible, efficient, and technologically driven solutions. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, about 54% of adults indicated a desire to work remotely post-pandemic, while 39% preferred to return to the office. But how are workspace solutions providers aligning with this shift?

In this riveting episode of Spec’d Out presented by Specrite Interiors, host John Erbstoesser engages with the ‘Big Kahuna’, Craig McPhail, in exploring the dynamics of workspace innovation.

Erbstoesser and McPhail discussed the following:

• Paradigm shifts towards flexible leasing due to uncertainties, pushing for more adaptable workspace solutions
• The ‘Amazon Effect’ influencing consumer expectations for speed, driving workspace providers to offer quicker solutions
• Technology advancements expediting decision-making processes, and how Workspace48 meets these evolving demands

Holding the helm at Workspace48, Craig McPhail comes with a vision to revolutionize the traditional office furniture market. With a robust operational backbone, Workspace48 promises a blend of quality, high design, and speed, aligning with modern-day workspace exigencies and setting a benchmark in the industry.

With all the news about declining vacancy rates, the fall of the office, and office ghost towns, we’ve sold more furniture (yep, desks and chairs) than ever before. So how do we do it, and how can you do the same?

With some spaces collecting dust for a few days of the week, the focus and role of the office has changed making high-end designer workstations not so practical anymore. After all, everyone has a desk at home, and coming to the office means less time spent at the desk and more time spent collaborating and networking. We still need workstations but not the over-engineered, ridiculously expensive ones the furniture giants thought we once needed.

As financial tides ebb and flow, thanks to the dance of rising inflation and unpredictable interest rates, pouring a fortune into high-end office systems does not make financial sense. But fear not, because the demand for (practical) office furniture isn’t going anywhere. These spaces are still critical for culture, training, and collaboration, albeit with much lower occupancy rates. That’s why many are investing in systems that meet the industry standards all while maintaining a reasonable budget.

In a world where flexibility and adaptability are becoming the norm, investing a small fortune in lavish furniture for a short-term, leased space might seem appealing at first. However, the transient nature of such spaces makes it evident that this could be a costly mistake. With a limited lease term, you’re constantly on the move and expensive furniture loses its value rapidly. Not only do you have to bear the initial cost, but it raises a few questions on the logistical and financial challenges of moving and maintaining these assets. Instead, a quality, solutions-focused system will not only save you money but also provide the flexibility needed to adapt to ever-changing business landscapes. So, when it comes to short-term, leased spaces, it’s wise to prioritize utility and financial prudence over opulence and extravagance. Your bottom line will thank you.

Workspace48 designs and manufactures quality solutions that you can count on to meet your needs day in and day out. Through our focus, we continue to develop the right solutions, at the right price, that strike the ultimate balance of features and functionality.

Want to win more projects and see more solutions relevant to today’s changing environments?

Download our catalog here or contact us at info@workspace48.com for more details!

P.S. If you’re looking for the uber-cheap stuff, there are box stores for that. But you won’t get any service or 10-year warranty there. You won’t find a commercial-grade, built-to-last product there. Or any fully integrated systems that consider for your power and IT requirements. The choice is yours.

Woodgrain Worksurfaces in Stock!

That’s one small step for Workspace48, one giant leap in “revolutionizing the way office furniture is bought and sold!”

Another great day and another feat accomplished and made possible by the ‘furnonauts’ of the Workspace48 community! Cheers to an epic vision and for supporting every step in expanding another product, to revolutionize our field and beyond. We’ve got big plans and work to do but this is just the beginning of awesome things to come!🚀

So what does this mean right now?

Today, you can order all your favorite products with 3 new wood-look finishes to ship in 48 hours! That’s every product with a worksurface. Desks, workstations, coffee tables, meeting tables, conference tables, collaborative areas – you name it.

The Colors

We’ve curated a palette of colors for these finishes, ensuring a perfect blend of shades and tones that offer a pleasant spectrum of choices to suit any space. From soothing neutrals to darker tones, our selection caters to a wide range of aesthetic preferences and interior styles. We understand that every environment is unique, and we wanted to provide options that seamlessly integrate with various design schemes. Whether you’re seeking a calming sanctuary or a bold statement piece, our thoughtfully chosen colors will elevate your workspace, allowing you to create a visually pleasing and harmonious atmosphere.

Want to see any combination in your space? Contact our team for a proposal!

Do you find you often sit in one spot without moving for the day?

It’s quite likely, because as creatures of habit we like to keep things the same with little change. But what if you could dramatically increase performance by tailoring you workspace to the task at hand?

[ENTER ABW]💡

Activity-Based Working (ABW) is a concept that has been around since the 90’s, which does just that. It provides people with spaces suited for what they’re working on; quiet spaces for focus work, collaborative spaces for group work within teams, and lounge furniture for people to relax and socialize.

However, as obvious as it seems, ABW is still largely underutilized despite its numerous benefits. The idea behind ABW is to create a flexible working environment that adapts to the needs of the worker, rather than the other way around. It allows employees to choose the environment that is most suited to their task, rather than being confined to a single desk or workstation.

One of the primary benefits of ABW is increased productivity. By allowing employees to work in an environment that is tailored to their specific task, they are able to focus more effectively and complete work more efficiently. This is particularly true for tasks that require concentration and focus, where a quiet workspace is essential.

ABW also fosters collaboration and teamwork. By providing a range of different spaces for employees to work in, it encourages them to work together on projects and share ideas. This can lead to increased innovation, as well as a more positive and supportive work environment.

In addition to these benefits, ABW also helps to promote a healthier work-life balance. By allowing employees to choose the environment that is most suitable for their work, they can avoid feeling stressed or burnt out from working in a less-than-ideal workspace.

Despite these clear benefits, ABW is still largely underutilized in many organizations. This is likely due to a number of factors, including a lack of understanding of what ABW is, a lack of investment in the necessary infrastructure, and resistance to change.

However, as our workspaces continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly clear that ABW is a concept that is well worth exploring. By allowing employees to work in a flexible and adaptable environment, organizations can improve productivity, foster collaboration, and create a healthier work-life balance.

That’s why we created MotionOffice, a collection of products tailored to the needs of a spectrum of activities carried out in any workspace.

Whether it’s focus space, collaborative areas, lounge rooms or beyond, MotionOffice has a product designed for the task. Better yet, it’s in stock ready to ship in 48 hours! ⚡

Ready to move? See how MotionOffice can deliver exponential results in the health and well-being of your workforce. Your mind and body (and results) will thank you!

Is your workspace organization perhaps a little…shoddy or not quite what you’d like it to be? We’ll, here are a few tips ‘n tricks to get you back on top of your space! Read on to see how you can step your workspace organization up a level!

Stow It

We all know how easy it is to get busy and very quickly our workspace becomes a stockpile of all the things we deal with daily. But all this clutter becomes a reminder of everything we need to do distracting us from our priorities. This is known as ‘switchtasking’, a major productivity inhibitor.

The basic concept of switch-tasking is that our brains can only focus on one task at a time. This is why many people believe that true multitasking is a myth, rather, the brain is rapidly switching between tasks. The issue here is that when we are distracted from a task, our brains take time to restore full focus and thus never achieve optimal performance when constantly switching between tasks.

In short, we need to reduce the switching and distractions around us. A great way to do this is to store everything possible out of sight and in its place. Try using a catch-all (large bin or drawer) and put everything into it throughout the day. Then, schedule 10 minutes once or twice a day to deal with everything that accumulates there. This would be giving it the correct home, completing it if it can be completed in 2 minutes or less (ex. a note to send someone something), or scheduling a time to work on it. In doing this, we allow our minds to focus solely on what’s at hand knowing if anything comes up I can write it down, put it away, and deal with it at a scheduled time.

Need more storage for your workspace? Check out our personal, shared, or overhead storage pages to help you make a home for everything out of sight.

Pin It

Do you have loose papers that you need to keep in front of you throughout the day?

No problem, pin them up with our tackable e-Panel dividers!

These are manufactured by recycling plastic bottle chips, used polyester fabric and
other reused products. Our aim is to protect our future by using recycled material. The material is also water resistant and fire retardant with an ASTM E84 rating. e-Panel also has an NRC 0.8 rating with a cavity.

Tidy It

What’s worse than a birds nest of cables dangling beneath your worksurface? Not much.

We provide full cable management solutions to help you maintain a pristine workspace and to protect your cables from abrasion. Keep your cables straight, tangle-free, and easy to access. Reduce hazards by keeping cords out of the way.

To get more out of your office, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook!

If you’d like to discuss your needs today, give us a shout at info@workspace48.com!

You’ve probably done it or at least considered doing it; purchasing furniture from retail giants. At Workspace48, we think differently. We are out to revolutionize the way office furniture is bought and sold. We turn our nose up at lead times with the likes of 6+ weeks, and you probably do to.

Today, lead times are soaring to the likes of 12+ weeks – ouch. So, many turn to online retail giants such as Amazon, Wayfair, and Ikea for solutions. Truth be told, these companies neglect very important aspects of your furniture buying experience.

Here’s why you should never buy furniture from retail giants:

Warranty

Warranty is important when making an investment in new furniture for your office. If you are investing in your talent, what better way to do so than by purchasing furniture that is very high quality and backed by a serious warranty.

You should never have to risk leaving your investment unprotected and have to purchase products more than once. We stand behind what we create and that is why we are able to offer a 10 year warranty on most of our products!

Power and Data

Today, we use electricity for so many things that it is important to consider this when purchasing furniture. You may need to plug in a phone charger, your laptop, or a desk lamp, and this can be nearly impossible in a pod of desks away from the wall in your office. Plugging in an extension cord is a very unsafe option as it is a tripping hazard and worse, provides no protection for your devices in the event of a power surge.

Our workstations come equipped with CSA approved power solutions incorporated into the desks so users can conveniently access outlets at or below the surface. We also provide cable management options to keep cables concealed and tidy. Our data plates include knockouts so your IT provider can connect data ports so users can access phone service or ethernet.

Service and Installation

Installation and service can be difficult, frustrating and even potentially unsafe if you are unfamiliar with installing product. The last thing you should be stuck with is a product you purchased online that you can’t install or contact anyone about resolving it. That is why we partner with elite furniture dealers and installation networks across North America to provide top quality installation and ongoing service.

So, if you’re looking at completing an office project, contact someone who can guide you through the process. We’re here to help and we’ve done it a time or two. Just check out our home page for the numbers of products we’ve delivered.

If you would like to speak to a representative, visit our FAQ page to find you local salesperson for your area. They will be able to direct you to a dealer near you who will provide pricing and further detail!

To get more out of your office, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook!