Office Furniture Central

Embody Chair Video

2009-03-09T23:39:00.003-04:00

Hey Embody fans! I came across this video, so figured I would share it with you. The Embody chair seems like a really strong follow-up to the famous Aeron chair!

I'll be back in a few days to discuss a new line from Mayline - I think you'll all love it!

The Embody Has Arrived! Herman Miller's Aeron Sequel

2009-03-04T08:45:00.009-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, the moment we've all been waiting for - the Embody chair from Herman Miller hit online retail shelves on Monday! The chair was unveiled this past fall to much fanfare, but unfortunately consumers had no way of purchasing one until this week. Consumers should be aware, however, that very few internet retailers have access to the chair, so they run the risk of buying a knock off if they don't make sure the retailer is authorized. Our friends over at Herman Miller Seating are among the very few. Here are a few more pictures of this revolutionary chair.

Although the chair retails for $1,595, consider how much time you spend every day in your office chair. If it's only an hour or two per day, it's probably not worth it. However, if you're like me, and you spend ten to twelve hours per day, then I think it's well worth the investment!

Rather than giving you my take on the chair, I figured I'd share a few reviews and blog entries.

Core77 Design Magazine

Gizmodo Gadget Blog

SlashGear

WIRED Product Reviews

2009-01-08T19:57:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone! I recently came across this great site for buying "open box" Aeron chairs and other products from Herman Miller. Whether you're a consumer or a business owner, in these tough times, we have to look for every way to save some cash. Here's the basic idea of this recession-busting site: if a large company orders too many Aeron chairs or if a customer returns one because they don't like the color, those chairs can't be sold as new again. But the key part is, these are brand new chairs! Who wouldn't want a discounted Aeron chair? That's what I thought.

Happy hunting! Tell them Ergo Joe sent you!

Happy New Year! Get Ready for More Fireworks...

2009-01-01T20:52:00.004-05:00

Hello loyal readers...if any are left out there. Sorry for the long time in between posts, but work has been pretty crazy lately. After a very busy holiday season, it's been nice to lay back on the couch and watch a few bowl games.

2008 didn't end so well for most folks out there. A financial crisis and two wars have really put a strain on the country. The fourth quarter shook the retail and manufacturing industries worse than any period in recent memory.

As my world sits at the intersection of online retail and office furniture, I've seen plenty of bad news as well. We've seen massive layoffs from top manufacturers such as Herman Miller, Haworth and Steelcase, and even once fast-growing internet retailers like eToys and iFloor.com have sought bankruptcy protection. One thing is certain, you can expect several announcements just like this over the next several months.

In these troubling times, it's more important than ever to make sure whichever company you buy goods from will be there in a year or even 3 months. Keep in mind, sometimes the company that's offering the best price is able to do so because they don't make investments in serving customers after the purchase, and if anything goes wrong you'll be stuck holding the bag...or the conference table as the case may be.

Okay, well that's it from me...I'll try to be better about posting more often.

Manufacturer Spotlight: Mayline

2008-08-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is the first installment of a new segment here at Office Furniture Central - Manufacturer Spotlight. Each week I'm going to discuss one of the many manufacturers in the office furniture business. It's no accident I'm kicking things off with Mayline.

The Mayline Group, based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is one of the top manufacturers of commercial grade and home office furniture. Founded in 1939, Mayline has established a strong reputation over the years for quality and customer service. I've met many members of the Mayline team, and each member takes pride in working for such a successful and valued organization.

Mayline is successful for a number of reasons. First, they offer a strong value proposition - durable office furniture that looks great at a fair price. It's not the least expensive brand of furniture out there, but for what you're getting, the price point is fantastic. Second, Mayline offers excellent customer service. Their products leave the warehouse within days of the order being placed, and they have a network of installers all over the country to help alleviate some of the stress involved with buying furniture online - assembly. Third, they cover the full spectrum of office furniture, both in terms of the various pieces that make up an office suite as well as price points for every budget.

Each collection is targeted at a specific consumer, from the economical shopper to those with significantly larger budgets for outfitting their office. Each Mayline collection includes all the essential pieces of an office suite, such as the desk, credenza, filing, bookcases, as well as conference and reception furniture.

As you can tell, I'm a big fan of the folks up in Sheboygan. I've seen all of Mayline's office furniture collections in person, and they are top quality. Let me know if you have questions about Mayline or any other office furniture company you come across. They're not all as great as Mayline, so in future spotlights you're likely to see some negative information.

Aeron Chair Review

2008-08-25T08:00:00.008-04:00

I found this review of the Aeron chair from Duncan MacIntyre at Office Chair Advice to be extremely helpful and informative. Duncan has spent 25 years in the office chair business over in the United Kingdom, so when he talks about chairs, I listen...and you should too!

The Origins Of The Aeron
The revolutionary Aeron chair from Herman Miller made its first appearance in 1994 and was the brainchild of designers Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick.

The Aeron was totally different to any other type of office chair and its revolutionary design made an immediate impact on the ergonomic office chair market.

It's fair to say that here was an office seat that truly was an ergonomic chair that put the chair user's comfort and posture first. Probably the most unusual feature of the Aeron ergonomic chair was its open mesh upholstery which Herman Miller named the Pellicle.

It's testimony to the Pellicle's success as an office chair upholstery that it has spawned a whole market for what has become the mesh office chair, that simply didn't exist before the Aeron.

What's Sets The Aeron Apart?
So, let's continue by looking at the Aeron chair and what sets it apart from so many conventional office chairs.

The first thing that impresses any user is the sheer build quality of the Aeron chair. You won't find any cheap or inferior components used in the construction of the chair, rather, high tech materials like carbon fiber, pellicle upholstery and aluminium.

When you consider that an Aeron carries a 12 year warranty, clearly the build and component quality can't afford to be anything but the best. Herman Miller, the chair's manufacturer makes the Aeron in three different chair sizes to cater for the diverse range of body sizes, heights and weights to be found in any organization. This article on Aeron Chair Size Selection will help you to work out the right sized Aeron model for you.

They also introduced an Aeron Work Stool option in late 2006 for people who work at higher than normal work surfaces. Finally, the range is completed with a side chair which is ideal for guest, visitor and meeting use, to combine with Aeron swivel chairs.

This is quite unusual as most chair manufacturers don't do this, so frequently for chair users at the extremes of the spectrum it is difficult to find the right model to fit them. Not so with an Aeron, there's almost certain to be the right model to fit your body's height, weight or size.

Adjusting The Aeron Ergonomic Chair
Depending on whether you select the basic Aeron or the highly adjustable version you may not get all the adjustment features detailed below.

Seat height adjustment is conventional and is by means of a lever on the right hand of the Aeron. If seated pulling the lever up will lower the user. Conversely, take your weight off the Aeron's seat pan and the chair height is raised when the lever is raised. Height should normally be set up so that your feet are firmly on the floor with your thighs roughly at right angles to your lower legs.

Kinemat® Knee Tilt Tension allows the user to set up the Aeron for their body weight and is controlled by a knob on the right hand underside of the chair. This is a most useful feature as it enables the chair user to adjust the Aeron to their exact weight. It's worth spending a little time on adjusting the tilt tension to your needs, when properly adjusted you should be able to lean back comfortably in your chair using your body's weight to do the work for you.

The Aeron's arms can be adjusted for both height and angle (note: this feature isn't available on basic model which has fixed arms).

To adjust the height of the arms, first the arm adjustment wheel located at the base of each arm is moved upwards, this allow the arm to be moved to the desired position when the wheel is locked down again. The height of the Aeron's arms should be set to support your lower arms whilst relieving the weight on your shoulders.

Arm angle adjustment (not included on the Aeron basic), enables the chair user to set the seat's arms in on of three positions, facing in, facing out or straight ahead.

It's simply a case of grabbing the arm pad and moving it to the position you want. Facing the Aeron's arms inwards can be great when you are working at your computer. Pointing the arms outwards let's you get closer to your desk. It's all down to individual preference and the Aeron allows you to position yourself comfortably when sitting at your desk or workstation.

PostureFit® adjustment is an optional extra and only available on the highly adjustable model. By no means essential it's a neat little feature that is intended to let you set the chair up to suit your spine's natural alignment as well as giving your lower back a comfortable seating position.

The Aeron lumbar support (optional extra on basic model) is adjustable for height by gripping each end of the support whilst seated and moving it up or down as necessary. You may find it easier to do this standing at the rear of the chair. The depth of the lumbar support can be adjusted to give either a thick or thin lumbar support depth.

To change this the built in lumbar support on the Aeron chair is removable and reversible, so it's just a case of undoing it turning it and re-fitting it to suit your needs.

Forward tilt and tilt limiter (highly adjustable Aeron only) are the final two adjustments included with an Aeron chair. Forward tilt can be great if you work a lot at your computer as it allows you to get into a good comfortable position for screen and keyboard input work. As you are effectively lowering your leg height when using forward tilt it's best to raise the height of the Aeron slightly to compensate for this.

If you do plan to use the forward tilt function on the Aeron it's probably a good idea to limit the rear tilt of the chair. Just lean back in your Aeron to the position you like and move the rear tilt limiter lever upwards. Remember, you can always remove the limit by simply leaning forwards in your Aeron and pressing the lever down.

Although all these adjustments on the Aeron chair may sound complicated in reality they are not. Bear in mind that a lot of the chair settings won't need to be altered once you have adjusted your Aeron to your exact needs.

Nonetheless, it is worth spending a little time going through all the settings to get the chair exactly as you want it.

Many people will look at the cost of an Aeron chair and decide that it isn't worth paying that much for an office chair, especially as there are loads of cheap chairs available.

However, when you consider the importance of being comfortable and reducing the stresses and strains on your body. The humble office chair is arguably the single most important investment you or your staff can make for long term productivity and comfort.

The fact that the Aeron carries a 12-year warranty is indicative of the anticipated life you should expect from this great ergonomic seating product. Think of how many cheap office chairs you would get through over this time, notwithstanding the aches and pains that cheap chairs inflict on their users.

Lazy Sunday

2008-08-24T14:20:00.003-04:00

Well, I talked a lot about Humanscale in yesterday's blog about ergonomic office furniture, so here's a video with a little more info on the company:

And an ergonomic video from Herman Miller:

And this video was too funny to not pass along:

Have a great Sunday everyone!

5 Ergonomic Products that Work at Work

2008-08-23T16:51:00.006-04:00

It's amazing Saturday here in Boston - 75 degrees, sunny. Not sure why I didn't head to the beach today! I figured I'd take this opportunity to present five products that will make your work life more comfortable. Everyone could use some ergonomical improvements at work. There are the slouchers, the perchers, the phone-on-shoulder crowd, the feet danglers, and many more ergonomic offenders out there. These products should help most of those problems.

1.) Let's start with the most important product - the chair. A chair is a chair, right? Wrong! Ergonomic seating didn't start with the Aeron, but it did bring ergonomics into mainstream consciousness. There are a lot more ergonomic chairs than the Aeron - I personally like the Freedom from Humanscale, the Leap from Steelcase, the Chadwick from Knoll, and the lesser known sibling of the Aeron, the Mirra from Herman Miller. None of them are cheap (prices range from $518 to over $2,000 fully loaded), but these will save your back and rest of your body in the long run.

2.) Number two is a keyboard tray. There are several benefits of using a keyboard tray. Most importantly, they keep your arms and wrists in the most healthy, comfortable positions. Most keyboard trays are pretty straight forward to install, and they free up lots of desk space once reserved for the keyboard and your mouse. Humanscale and Workrite are the top two manufacturers in the keyboard tray space, and both have an extensive selection depending on your individual needs.

3.) Next up is a monitor arm...or for those lucky multiple monitor folks out there, monitor armS. Not only do monitor arms free up desk space, but they also allow you to position your monitor in a position that is comfortable for your neck. Your monitor should be slight below eye level. Not surprisingly, Humanscale, the ergonomic experts, also rule the field of monitor arms, but there are also great monitor arms from Workrite, Peerless, Chief, Ergotron and others.

4.) The fourth product is a lumbar support. If you don't have the best ergonomic chair, and can't fit one into the budget, you should at least consider a solid back support to maintain proper posture. Back supports tend to range from $20 to $100, so it won't break the bank!

5.) Last up is a footrest. From the Humanscale website: "Studies have shown that 70% of all women and 40% of all men have health issues such as blood clots, varicose veins and pressure on the Achilles tendon due to pooling of fluids in the lower limbs — the result of prolonged, inactive sitting." Wow - I don't currently have a footrest at my workstation, but that is pretty powerful information. I may have to pick one up. Like back supports, footrests are fairly inexpensive (prices are $30 to $150). Humanscale and Safco are the top two manufacturers of footrests for the work environment.

I'm off to the gym - something has to combat my "prolonged, inactive sitting"! I hope this information is helpful, and please feel free to shoot me any questions you may have.

The Hard Drive That Handles Anything

2008-08-21T10:33:00.007-04:00

Check out the hard drive that can handle any firewall.

The Sentry® Safe Fire-Safe® Waterproof HARD DRIVE is the world's first and only fire resistant and waterproof hard drive. Direct USB connectivity to a laptop or desktop computer. Enables backup of critical data in the event of crash, computer failure and fire and water-related disasters. Contains a One-Touch 4 Mini Hard Drive from Maxtor. Encased hard drive is protected from dust and dirt.

Watch it work!

We don't need no water, let that hard drive burn!

The Olympics of Office Furniture: 5th Event - Filing Cabinets

2008-08-20T08:26:00.008-04:00

Hey everyone - after a few days blogging about other topics, I figured I'd bring it back to the Olympics of Office Furniture. Speaking of the Olympics, did you guys (in the non-gender specific sense of the word) see Usain Bolt in the 100m? That guy is ridiculously fast! He was able to celebrate for the last 30 meters, and still break the world record. And what a perfect name for a sprinter. Anyway, back to the important stuff - filing cabinets.

For today's event, I've chosen filing cabinets. Like Barack Obama, filing is a major weakness of Ergo Joe. Electronically, I'm a master of organization - from my email inbox to computer desktop, I've got that covered. But when it comes to paper, I just can't stay on top of it. If you suffer from the same affliction, maybe these items will help you.

Our Bronze Medal goes to this lateral filing cabinet from Bush Furniture. Bush is one of the most well-known names in home and small business office furniture. It's RTA (ready-to-assemble), so be ready to put a bit of work in. But from personal experience, it's really not all that difficult to put Bush furniture together as long as you have a few basic tools.

Our Silver Medal goes to this lateral filing cabinet from the Kathy Ireland Collection by Martin Furniture. For those of you that would rather not get your hands dirty with the assembly process, this is a perfect product for you. When this filing cabinet arrives at your door, it's fully assembled - just take it out of the box and you are good to go. This product is made in the USA and carries a 10-year warranty. With stats like that, you'd think it would have challenged for the gold medal.

As good as the two challengers were, I had to give the Gold Medal to this filing cabinet from DMI Office Furniture's Oxmoor collection. This lateral filing cabinet also ships fully assembled, so no worries there. It comes in a Merlot Cherry finish, and is perfect for all home and business filing applications. I stopped by the DMI booth at Neocon a couple of months ago, and they offer some truly premium office furniture. Based in the Heartland of America, all DMI products are manufactured in the US.

That's it for today. Be sure to tune in tonight to see if Bolt can break another record in the 200m.

Product Spotlight: Currency from Steelcase

2008-08-18T17:44:00.004-04:00

How many of you folks have heard of Steelcase? If you're not familiar with the world of contract office furniture, then you may not know too much about them. The Leap chair? The Think chair? You're probably more familiar with these names than Steelcase, who makes them. The Leap and Think are some of the more mainstream products from Steelcase, but the company doesn't quite have the name that Herman Miller does in the retail channel despite being a giant in the contract furniture arena. Well that is starting to change, my friends. Our sister site CSN Office Furniture has just recently launched the Currency® line from Steelcase. This product line is perfect for home offices or small businesses. It's a bit more expensive than some other products that look similar, but that is because the quality is significantly higher. This isn't a product you'll need to replace five or ten years down the road. I saw these products at NEOCON in June, and they are really sharp.

Lazy Sunday...Enjoy the Videos

2008-08-17T12:43:00.003-04:00

For the second installment of Lazy Sunday, I've found a few videos from some of the top office furniture manufacturers.

A neat animated commercial from our friends at Mayline...

A stop motion video that shows how easy it is to assemble Bush furniture...

A really cool green piece on Steelcase...

A fun commercial from Herman Miller...

And lastly, some ergonomic information from the masters of the field, Humanscale.

Have a great Sunday! We'll see you tomorrow for some more Office Furniture Olympics.

The Most Famous Office of All...The Oval Office

2008-08-16T12:39:00.006-04:00

I figured I'd take a break from the Olympics of Office Furniture to highlight the most famous office in the world - the Oval one. Created in 1909 as part of an overall expansion of the West Wing of the White House during the administration of William Howard Taft, the office was inspired by the elliptical-shaped Blue Room - one of three state parlors in the White Hosue. The Oval Office features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk and a fireplace at the north end of the room.

The Oval Office has four doors: the east door opens to the Rose Garden; the west door leads to a private smaller study and dining room; the northwest door opens onto the main corridor of the West Wing; and the northeast door opens to the office of the president's secretary.

You don't have to be President of the USA to have great furniture for your office, whether it's oval, square, rectangular, or octagonal. Just trust your judgement, do your homework, and design away.

Unlike certain Presidential candidates, I'm going to cite my sources - most of the content here comes from Wikipedia...I hear they have a great entry on the Republic of Georgia.

The Olympics of Office Furniture: 4th Event - Task Chairs

2008-08-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

Ergo Joe, back for another edition of THE OLYMPICS OF OFFICE FURNITURE. Cue the fireworks! I hope everyone has enjoyed the games thus far - the real ones and my little spoof here. I've been hooked to the TV - Michael Phelps has proven himself the great Olympian of all time, the Redeem Team looks like they could be the real deal, and the Chinese women's gymnastics team isn't old enough for high school, let alone the Olympics...although I'm not sure I see the big deal - at least they're not TOO OLD a la Danny Almonte in the 2001 Little League World Series. Stay tuned, we're sure to see more milestones over the next 10 days!

Okay, so we don't all get to sit on a throne at our job, at least Ergo Joe doesn't, but for our fourth event, I've chosen task chairs. Also know as office chairs, executive chairs, and that piece of crap I have to sit on for 8 to 10 hours per day. All kidding aside, a comfortable task chair can make your days and nights much more peaceful and productive. It's important to understand that, at least with task chairs, you get what you pay for.

Our Bronze Medal goes to the Space chair from Office Star. This chair is affordable and gets the job done. For only $159.99, it won't break the bank, whether you're buying one for your home office or 10 for you and your cubicle brethren. The thick padded seat will keep your back side feeling good, and the mesh back will help you stay cool during the dog days of summer.

Our Silver Medal goes to the Chadwick chair from Knoll. Designed by Don Chadwick, the designer of the Aeron chair, the Chadwick is comfortable, stylish and, at $518, it's a fraction of the price of other high-end task chairs. I've sat in this chair, and for a few hundred dollars less than the competitors, you're really not losing much. Give it a test drive, you won't be disappointed.

Was there any doubt? I mean, really, was there any doubt at all? Our Gold Medal goes to the Aeron chair from Herman Miller. The chair that spawned a movement! The Michael Jordan of office seating! Okay, maybe I'm getting a bit carried away. Although I'm not lucky enough to sit on an Aeron from 9 to 5, it's a chair I've sat in many times, and there are no substitutes. The price tag for the loaded model is $949, but you can pick up a basic model for $749. An Aeron is an investment, so do your homework. You want to pick the right size, model, color, so check out the Aeron Chair Guide for more insight.

That's all I've got for tonight, but just like the real thing, there will be plenty more action in the OLYMPICS OF OFFICE FURNITURE.

A Touch of Modern for Your Office

2008-08-14T09:22:00.002-04:00

If modern furniture is your cup of tea, like our friends over at the Modern Design blog, then you must check out the Lifework Portfolio from Herman Miller. Obviously, when office gurus like ourselves think of Herman Miller, the Aeron immediately comes to mind. However, Herman Miller is much deeper and broader than the Aeron, and they are the kings of the modern world. Lifework is not yet available, but our friends over at CSN are taking pre-orders so take advantage!

The Olympics of Office Furniture: 3rd Event - Conference Tables

2008-08-12T19:33:00.009-04:00

Well, Michael Phelps and the U.S. Men's Basketball team keep winning, and I'm still here to provide advice and insight on creating and maintaining your home or business office space - what more could you ask for?

For our third event I've chosen conference tables. Whether you dabble in monkey business like the fellas above, or you need a place to hold super serious negotiations, it's important that your conference table conveys what you're all about. There's nothing professional about a table from 1975 with nicks and scratches all over it. Here are three of the best conference tables I have seen, and I would highly recommend each of the manufacturers.

Our Bronze Medal goes to this boat-shaped table from the Global Total Office. The table is shipped ready-to-assemble, and assembly is very straight forward. It also comes with optional conference chairs from Global as pictured on the product page. Another great part about buying a Global conference table - it will ship within 24 to 48 hours! No waiting around for someone to build it from scratch.

Our Silver Medal goes to rectangular table from ABCO. This table, made of high-pressure laminate, is as solid as the team at ABCO. This table will last for years, and it's offered in fifteen different finishes! What more could you ask for?

Lastly, our Gold Medal goes to this boat-shaped table from Mayline. The Aberdeen collection is constructed with high-pressure laminate and combines fashionable aesthetics and top-of-the-line quality. This table ships out in less than a week, and for a small additional charge, Mayline will provide all the installation services you need. It's a no-brainer!

I'm going to close up shop for the evening. Feel free to shoot us questions as they come up.

The Olympics of Office Furniture: 2nd Event - Safes

2008-08-11T17:18:00.005-04:00

Wow, what an exciting start to the Beijing Olympics! If you didn't catch the 4 x 100 men's freestyle last night, I highly suggest checking it out here.

For our second event I've chosen safes. Whether you're protecting a few stacks of gold bullion, the highly confidential merger documents at the office, or your very own gold medal (or eight if you're Michael Phelps), it's very important to do your homework and pick out the best safe for your needs.

Our Bronze Medal goes to this fire resistant safe from the Mesa Safe Company. For $375.00, it's a great value, and it's perfect for both the home and your small business. This safe will protect your valuables for up to one hour at 350°F.

Our Silver Medal goes to biometric fire safe from Honeywell. Not only is this safe fire resistant for up to one hour at 1700°F, but you can also open it with your finger print!

Finally, for our Gold Medal goes to this fire and burglary safe from Gardall. In my experience, Gardall is the absolute best you're going to do when buying a safe. Not only are they top quality, but the customer service after the fact is phenomenal. This safe is also fire resistant for up to one hour at 1700°F, and an independent glass re-locking system.

As always, let us know if you have any thoughts or questions on buying a safe online or just a general question.

The Olympics of Office Furniture: 1st Event - White Boards

2008-08-08T17:07:00.011-04:00

Since I can't be in Beijing now for the 29th Olympic Games, I figured I'd have some fun with an office version of the grand tradition. For our first event I've chosen whiteboards. Although they may not seem terribly exciting, many a great ideas have started on these erasable canvasses.

Without further ado...

Our Bronze Medal goes to melamine. This hard plastic board with a clear coat is great for easy writing and erasing. It's best for light use, as the clear coat can wear away and the "ghosting effect" will occur.

Our Silver Medal goes to Dura-Rite. This high-pressure laminate provides a unique surface that is great for heavy daily use but is affordably priced. Dura-Rite are dust-free, and resistant to wear, stains, high temperatures, common detergents and chemical agents.

Last, but certainly not least, our Gold Medal goes to porcelain steel. The Cadillac of whiteboards, my friends. These boards are a bit more expensive than Melamine or Dura-Rite, though their cost has gone down dramatically since their inception. Porcelain Steel boards are intended for moderate to high or long term usage. The porcelain construction is much less susceptible to ghosting effects. These whiteboards are manufactured with a steel background which allows for magnets to be applied to them. If you are looking for a dry erase board to use often, the porcelain steel style will be the best fit for the long run.

Let us know if you have any thoughts or questions on whiteboards - Hammer Time is our resident expert in that field.

Lastly, I'd like to give a shout out to my friends over at JibJab for creating another hilarious political satire cartoon. If you didn't catch the videos from the 2004 election, I highly recommend them. Here's their latest installment...

Office Furniture Cleaning Tips

2008-08-07T15:11:00.004-04:00

I'm no Mr. Clean, but I know a thing or two about keeping my office furniture in tip top shape. Here are a few tips:

Matte Wood Veneer Desks - Clean with mild, soapy ater regularly.

Glossy Wood Veneer Desks - Using a non-silicone furniture polish or mild soapy water, rub in direction of the wood grain. Avoid abrasives or wax.

Laminate Desks - Clean regularly using Windex® or a non-silicone furniture polish. Again, avoid abrasives or wax.

Fabric - Spot clean using mild, soapy water or a fabric cleaner such as Scotchgard™.

Vinyl - Wipe clean with damp cloth or sponge.

Leather - Avoid cleaning solvents. For spots, stains or regular cleaning, use a damp cloth or sponge with mild soap. For oil-based stains, blot dry and allow the excess to absorb into the leather - DO NOT USE WATER.

That's it from me for today.

Ergonomic Seating Advice from a Certified Ergonomist!

2008-08-06T17:41:00.002-04:00

Here's a great video from our friends across the Pond. Enjoy!

Keep Your Documents Protected

2008-08-05T23:29:00.011-04:00

Have you ever wondered how to best protect your important documents at work or home? Locking them up is always a good start but to really protect them a fire proof filing cabinet is a good idea. There are a lot of options and sizes to chose from so that you get just what you want.

First you will want to decide if you need a vertical or lateral file. Next think about the size you want, either a 2, 3, or 4 drawer. Remember that with safes and fireproof file cabinets it’s always best to buy them bigger than you think you will need. By the time you get everything together to put in the file cabinet it will probably be a lot more than expected. It’s always better to have extra space than not have enough when it comes to protecting your documents.

There are several different types of fire protection you can choose from. If you see that something is UL rated, it means that an independent testing group has tested that model and approved it to certain standards. UL 1 Hour rating means the unit reached a max interior temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit at 1700 degrees over a 60-minute period of time. While a UL 2 Hour rating means the max interior temperature of 350 degrees would be reached over a 120-minute period in 1850 degree temperatures. Remember that paper chars at 450 degrees and the average house fire usually reaches the heat intensity of around 1200 degrees.

Another option to consider is an impact resistant file cabinet. This is a very important feature for your file if it is going to be on a floor above the ground floor. If there is a bad fire, the file cabinet may fall through the floor and you want the cabinet and its contacts to remain safe when they land on the ground.

If the majority of your important information is stored on digital media, you can still keep it locked up in a fireproof media safe made specifically for DAT Tapes, CDs, and more.

Aeron Sizes

2008-08-04T16:38:00.005-04:00

I'm still recovering from a family weekend in Florida, so today's entry will be brief. I decided to write about one confusing aspect of the office furniture icon, the Aeron chair - picking the right size. Aerons come in three sizes - A, B and C. Why they didn't go with Small, Medium and Large, I'll never know. Here's the sizing chart that should make it pretty easy for you to decide:

Without giving too much away, I'll let you all know that I prefer the size C.

It's Friday..... Kajagoogoo - Live - Ergonomics....Feel It!

2008-08-01T17:53:00.001-04:00

Buying Office Furniture Online: Tip of the Week

2008-08-01T17:19:00.003-04:00

This week's tip has to do with the method of delivery. When buying office furniture, or any furniture or large items online, it's very important to take note of the delivery method. Here are the basics:

Small Parcel - This is the method most people think of when shopping online because it's meant for smaller items. This is the standard, FedEx/UPS guy shows up at your door and leaves the package. Depending on how close you are to the shipping warehouse, your item will arrive between 1 and 6 business days (1 to 10 business days for USPS) after it leaves the warehouse.

Truck Freight - This is a bit more complicated. Typically items go truck freight because they are too large and/or heavy to ship through FedEx/UPS. The most important thing to remember about truck freight is that you must inspect the package at the time of delivery. If the box has any damage, you should either refuse shipment or write "PRODUCT DAMAGED" on the receipt when you sign for the package. Also, you should keep in mind that you may need a couple of people to help unload it. Unless you're willing to tip the driver, it's pretty unlikely he'll be willing to help in any way.

White Glove - White glove is the best shipping method for larger items. But not all white glove deliveries are created equally. Oh no, there are several tiers - white glove bronze, white glove silver, white glove gold, and the king of them all, white glove platinum. Here's how they break down:

White Glove Bronze - Bronze service level provides two-man delivery, to inside the threshold of your residence. If you live in a home with a garage this means the product will be left in your garage. If you do not have a garage the product will be left in your front entrance, or mudroom. If you live in an apartment building or condo the product will be carried up two flights of stairs from the building threshold (4-15 steps = 1 flight). The product will be left in the original packaging.

White Glove Silver - Silver service level provides two-man delivery, to inside your residence to the room you choose. This service includes carrying the product up two flights of stairs from the building threshold (4-15 steps = 1 flight). The product will be left in the original packaging.

White Glove Gold - Gold service level provides two-man delivery, to inside your residence to the room you choose. This service includes carrying the product up two flights of stairs from the building threshold (4-15 steps = 1 flight). Once the product is in the room you desire, the shipper will unpack the product and provide basic setup that requires no tools (i.e. will set pieces next to each other, or on top of each other). The shipper will also remove and dispose of all packaging.

White Glove Platinum - Platinum service level provides two-man delivery, to inside your residence to the room you choose. This service includes carrying the product up two flights of stairs from the building threshold (4-15 steps = 1 flight). Once the product is in the room you desire, the shipper will unpack the product and provide light setup that requires basic tools (i.e. pieces will be screwed or bolted together, set pieces next to each other, or on top of each other). The shipper will also remove and dispose of all packaging.

I cannot stress it enough, if a retailer says you're getting white glove gold or platinum, you should definitely make sure you get the services listed above. Unfortunately, some retailers will call something white glove gold that is anything but. BUYER BEWARE!

That's it from me - I'm off to the Red Sox game!

Office Chairs' "Bells and Whistles"

2008-07-31T13:32:00.011-04:00

Are you ever confused by the names and features that are included with office chairs? Let us try to clear it up for you...

Pneumatic Seat Height Adjustment - Regulates height of the chair relative to the floor.

Tilt Tension - Controls rate and ease with which the chair reclines for different weights and strengths of users.

Knee Tilt (Option below) - Allows user to recline at slightly more of an angle than conventional tilt.

Dual Function (Option below) - Seat and back angle adjustment independently from one another.

2-to-1 Synchro Tilt - Allows user to recline while keeping the seat cushion relatively level to the floor.

Adjustable Lumbar Support - Allows user to move support to the area that applies to their particular lumbar.

Please feel free to fire any questions my way!

Aeron Chair Celebrity Sightings

2008-07-30T10:59:00.011-04:00

We learned last week that Jack Bauer sits in a Freedom chair, so this week we figured we'd comb through the archives to see which celebrities sit in the world famous Aeron chair. Designed by Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick, the ergonomic Herman Miller Aeron chair has seeped into our popular culture and has become the symbol of professional influence and power in the work place. Featured on television shows, in big-screen films, in best-selling books, and even in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Aeron chair is undoubtedly a modern masterpiece to be marveled. Here are 10 places the Aeron chair can be spotted.

1. ) Medical genius Dr. Gregory House on the award-winning Fox Network television series House has an Aeron chair in his hospital office.

2.) God is sitting at his desk in an Aeron chair on the animated television series The Simpsons in the episode entitled “Thank God It’s Doomsday.”

3.) Claudia Jean Cregg, The White House Press Secretary on the NBC television show The West Wing, was frequently shown in her very own Aeron chair.

4.) In an episode about “chair envy,” The Aeron chair was featured on the Emmy Winning and Golden Globe Nominated NBC television sitcom Will and Grace.

5.) The Aeron chair is seen in the New York office of Dunder Mifflin in Season 2 of the hit NBC television series The Office.

6.) In the 2006 spy film Casino Royale, the character M, played by Judi Dench, has an Aeron chair at her desk.

7.) In the 2004 psychological thriller film Hard Candy, the character Jeff Kohlver, played by Patrick Wilson, sits at his desk in an Aeron chair by Herman Miller.

8.) The Aeron chair makes an appearance in the 2006 film Keeping Up with the Steins about a wealthy Jewish family planning their son's Bar Mitzvah.

9.) Author Malcolm Gladwell references Herman Miller’s Aeron chair in his 2005 book called Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking about our ability to use instinct. Gladwell writes how the Herman Miller team followed their instincts for modernization, rather than becoming discouraged by negative first impressions of the Aeron chair, and by doing so, created the company’s best selling office chair. Gladwell says, “What was once ugly has become beautiful.”

10.) In the hit TV show Lost, protagonist Jack Shephard sits in an Aeron chair shortly after the crew washes ashore on the island.

Okay, just kidding about that last one, but the rest are legit!

12 Tips for an Ergonomic Work Station

2008-07-29T11:05:00.000-04:00

Hello again, and thanks for tuning in. This week I decided I would share with you one of the best and most simple ergonomic overviews I've seen. Brought to you by Humanscale, the illustration above goes over 12 easy ways to improve your work station's ergonomacity (President Bush taught me that word). In case you're forgetful like me, here's a mousepad to remind you!

1. Top of monitor at or below eye level

2. Monitor and keyboard centered in front of you

3. No glare on screen

4. Documents in line with keyboard and monitor

5. Negative tilt keyboard support

6. Wrists flat and straight

7. Arms and elbows close to body

8. Change postures often (this one's a must!)

9. Work in a reclined position

10. Take frequent short breaks

11. Feet flat on floor or footrest

12. CPU off desk

Everybody's Aeron

2008-07-28T15:35:00.000-04:00

Did you know the average business person gets around 6 hours of sleep each night? So on average business people spend 18 hours each day doing something other than sleeping. Most of those people sit in an office chair for 8 hours or more each day and many of them would complain about discomfort in their chair.

Well guess what...Chair Boy has a gift for them! An Aeron Sale that no one should pass up. $150 off the everyday sale price!! Now you have no reason to complain about the cost. You have the opportunity to receive an Aeron chair in BRAND NEW condition for a drastically discounted price. Don't miss out on the seating sale of the season!

You deserve to sit comfort and just think about how many hours you are going to be sitting there.

Lazy Sunday

2008-07-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

There's no better way to spend a lazy Sunday than posting videos produced by other people. Enjoy...and please feel free to forward interesting videos as you find them.

The Leap Chair

The Aeron Chair

Some Fun with the Aeron

Workspace Egonomics

And some good ergonomic suggestions (I'm guilty of some of these offenses!)

Offices Going Green

2008-07-26T16:07:00.000-04:00

Everybody's doing it! Finally the masses care about the environment! Just kidding, didn't mean to get all frantic on you. But the truth is, it's finally cool to consider the environment in your everyday choices - and that includes buying office furniture or designing office space for your small business. Be sure to look for Eco-Friendly or Green notifications when buying office furniture online.

Cue the photos that remind us we only have one planet!

Buying Office Furniture Online: Tip of the Week

2008-07-25T22:07:00.000-04:00

Buying office furniture online can be pretty intimidating and confusing if you're not familiar with all the terminology. One of the aims of this blog is to reduce the stress involved with that process, so I figured it would be helpful to go over a few of the lesser known terms. Let's get started...

1.) Return: A work surface that is perpendicular to the main desk or work surface; a right return (pictured here) is to the right-hand of the user if they are sitting at the desk and vice versa.

2.) Credenza: A desk-height, closed cabinet used for holding papers, office supplies, etc., that often matches existing furniture.

3.) Low-Pressure Laminate: Sometimes referred to as melamine, low pressure laminate is a thin single melamine paper bonded to a substrate board. Although it has the same visual surface characteristics as a high pressure laminate, low pressure laminate surfaces are less than 3 millimeters thick and over time, the surface may not be as durable as high pressure laminates, depending on the utility of the furniture. They are more susceptible to scratches, water stains, and heat marking.

4. ) High-Pressure Laminate (example pictured to the right): Composed of multiple layers of paper, saturated with resin, and finished with a printed surface, these layers are pressed together under high heat and pressure, creating a durable plastic-type material that is very resistant to scratches, water stains, and heat.

5.) Veneer: Thin sheets of wood laid over a particleboard substrate. Because of this durable substrate, veneer furniture resists warping and the possibility of moisture damage better than solid hardwood. Veneer looks more like real wood construction than laminate. However, veneer surfaces are less durable than laminate. Objects, large and small, can leave visible scratches if carelessly placed or moved over the surface, and severe scratches may not be repairable.

That's all for today...or tonight as the case may be!

The Politics of Seating

2008-07-24T16:29:00.000-04:00

As always, thanks for stopping by. Today I figured I'd have some fun with Presidential politics, without getting...well, political. Political preference, much like seating, is a personal choice based on many factors. In both, you have the option to be more conservative and traditional, or go with something more modern.

On the one hand, you have John McCain - the battle-tested veteran of world affairs and Washington politics. He has a long track record we can examine and decide if he is qualified for the job or not. I compare the GOP candidate to this leather executive chair from Hooker Furniture. Both have been around for ages - some might say too long - and they are a safe choice if that is your preference. But for some people, this choice just doesn't feel right...

Then there is Barack Obama - the Change candidate. He is new, he doesn't sound like most politicians, but he just doesn't have the track record. Still, millions of people, disenchanted by traditional politics, are attracted to his message of hope. I compare Obama to the Aeron chair from Herman Miller. Although the chair has been around for more than a decade now, it came on the scene and revolutionized the way people viewed office seating.

Either way, there are two great choices, so do your homework and find the one that works for you!

A Chair Tough Enough for Jack Bauer...

2008-07-23T17:47:00.000-04:00

So, any guesses which office chair your favorite 24 star sits in? When Jack Bauer's not saving the world from terrorists, he's back at CTU sitting in his very own Freedom chair. Come on - did you expect anything else for this guy?!

The Freedom chair from Humanscale is not only durable enough to endure Jack Bauer, this is a pretty great chair for anyone who's looking for a comfortable and ergonomically sounds place to sit during their 9 to 5 or while at home browsing ESPN.com.

Another advantage of the Freedom chair is that it doesn't have a dozen knobs and levers on it. There are just a few simple adjustments for arm and seat height depending on the owner's body type, and the reclining function is self-adjusting. It actually senses your body weight and provides the adequate amount of resistence for ultimate comfort and healthy posture. Every aspect of this chair was intuitive the first time I sat in it!

If you're more of a mesh chair fan and you're still trying to be as patriotic as Jack Bauer, you may want to try the Liberty chair.

Thanks a lot for tuning in to this edition of the blog from CTU headquarters in Los Angeles.

Clear Up The Clutter

2008-07-21T17:52:00.000-04:00

George Costanza once said that one of the keys to moving up in the working world was keeping a messy desk. He said that top management can always get away with a clean desk but for the rest of us it looks like we aren't working hard enough, so pile those papers high and wide. Now I'm not one to typically disagree with the wisdom of T-Bone, but these days especially if you’re working in a paperless environment and with everyone and their mothers jumping on the green train the wisdom of Costanza doesn't seem like it will be holding up over the test of time.

Staying within the schoolings of Body Suit Man, in my opinion if you really want to make an impression at the office you should do so by having a well organized and clutter free desk. One of the best ways to go about reducing clutter without actually having to clean anything is to switch to an ergonomic work station. Having a monitor arm off your desk and a keyboard tray alone will really clear up some desk space. Next week we can take a look at how to sleep under a desk without file pedestals.

Intro to Ergonomics

2008-07-21T13:14:00.001-04:00

What is ergonomics? According to the Centers for Disease Control, ergonomics is "a discipline that involves arranging the environment to fit the person in it. When ergonomics is applied correctly in the work environment, visual and musculoskeletal discomfort and fatigue are reduced significantly." Makes enough sense, right?

The hard part is navigating the vast selection of ergonomic products available, and finding what's right for you based on body size and type, your existing work environment, your daily activities, and, most importantly, what feels comfortable to you. There are literally thousands of options - what type of chair, foot rest, keyboard, keyboard tray, monitor arm, mouse pad etc. The choices are endless! My aim with this blog is to simplify some of those choices and help you find your ideal ergonomic work environment.

First, just a few simple rules to start out:

1. Arm position - Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle when typing.

2. Thighs - Check that you can easily slide your fingers under your thigh at the leading edge of the chair. If it is too tight, you need to prop your feet up with an adjustable footrest. If there is more than a finger width between your thigh and the chair, you need to raise the desk/work surface so that you can raise your chair.

3. Lower-back support - There should be a cushion that causes your lower back to arch slightly so that you don’t slump forward as you tire.

4. Monitor level - Place the monitor so that the entire screen sits below eye level.

5. Armrests - Adjust the armrest of your chair so that it just slightly lifts your arms at the shoulders.

That's all for today, but I'll be back (once a week or so) to give more tips on creating the perfect work environment. Good luck!