Jills Office Solutions

Making the right decision

2008-06-04T19:16:00.005-12:00

Careful planning is essential to ensure ongoing efficiency of value for money products.

Type of office furniture required (performance specifications, functional
appropriateness plus ability to be integrated throughout the business).

With our free expert advise, we will assist in helping you make the right buying decision for your business.

New or used we can help you make the right buying decision for your business. Contact us for further details.

How Uncomfortable

2008-04-15T21:35:00.014-12:00

I watched it the first time around from 2000-2003, as Red Productions one of Jills customers had hired all the used office furniture for the factory set. It is now being aired on ITV3 at 9pm, a long awaited re-run. Paul Abbott's acclaimed drama Clocking Off (who later brought Shameless to our screens).

Clocking Off focused around the lives of staff in a Manchester factory. A combination of colourful stories, each episode focuses on the home life of a different characther which stars the cream of Britain's acting talent. One being Siobhan Finneran (Rita, Sue and Bob Too and the TV series Benidorm), another being Phillip Glennister who plays the factory owner Mack.

Not a total reflection of real life, but it certainly comes close.

I thought I'd settle down and watch Newsnight bringing me back to reality. The programme investigated the effects of rising food prices, a rising population, growing poverty and climate change across the world and asks how better to tackle this global crisis. If you missed it you can catch it on the BBC website, labelled 'Unstainable World'. Definitely food for thought on unwanted food being disposed of every day, which to me reflects in items we buy every single day. Longevity and lifespan of a product.

I did cringe later in the programme when Jeremy Paxman was interviewing Cllr. Paul Bettison of Bracknell Forest Borough Council, as Cllr. Bettison is rather a portly gentleman and he just looked extremely uncomfortable in his chair. Jeremey looked a perfect fit in his.

Try Before You Buy

2008-04-11T01:04:00.004-12:00

Considering purchasing a new office chair can be very difficult. How can you judge from a picture if the chair is going to be suitable for your requirements and be comfortable?

In answer - your not. Therefore Jills have teamed up with Form Seating a dynamic seating office seating manufacturer whose extensive range cover the basic operator to the most prestigious of task chairs. Manufactured in the UK to the highest level of craftsmanship with full warranty.

Firstly we assess your requirments, we focus on physical size and work tasks performed to help determine your precise needs and will then supply a particular model of chair that you can demonstrate on a free trial period. A chair that can echoe your body movements and anticipates its needs just like comfortable and expertly fitted shoes.

Interested? Then contact us for further details.

Buying a Good Office Chair Can Make a Considerable Difference

2008-04-02T01:41:00.006-12:00

Price, rather than quality has been and is still a major issue for buyers of office chairs. The general accepted idea is that once a smart desk has been put into place - chairs appear poor in relation.

Requirements are usually on budget, some people are happy to spend £50 others will spend over £500 for that ultra-comfort feel factor.

What matters to the majority of consumers is to have a chair which is synchronised and get best value for their budget. Requirements are generally simple, flexibility and style.

Adjustability, is the first thing to check as all chairs are different, there are various mechanisms to suit all applications.

Fabric chairs absorb sweat from the body whereas mesh chairs allow the air to circulate.

Budget leather faced chairs will make your clothes shinny and can be uncomfortable. If spending a long time sat at a computer desk, you really want comfort. Fixed arms, depending on a persons height will generally not allow the user to be correctly seated.

Real leather chairs are produced using real cow hide not synthetic materials and can be expensive.

Whatever appearance or style, you get what you pay for.

Tall or short, chairs are suited to the individual operator due to weight which is a key contributary factor.

Specialist chairs can have superior gas stems and components which can be guaranteed up to 30 stone and can also be used in a 24 hour environment.

Think of your office chair as your 'daytime mattress', you probably spend as much time in there if not more than your own bed. A comfortable mattress isn't a luxury, it's a neccesity. The same should apply to your office chair.

Increase Storage Space

2008-02-04T03:24:00.003-12:00

By using Wallspace from Officeplan, one of our many office furniture suppliers, there are imaginative ways to help utilise storage space. By simply using modular bays and a multitude of internal fittings, this makes a cost effective solution to any storage issues. Contact us for details.

Office Desk - No Walkstation!

2008-01-02T21:23:00.003-12:00

Burn off the fat whilst you work.

The first mobile office - the 'Walkstation' is the fully integrated combination of an electric height-adjustable worksurface with an exclusively engineered, low speed commercial grade treadmill. And it’s the first product in the entirely new FitWork™ category of products from Details designed to bring healthy habits to sedentary workers while they are actually working.

A treadmill maximum 2.0mph with height adjustable work surface designed by Dr James Levine a MD and PHD in Rochester, Minnesota who has studied for the past 16 years the health effects of a sedentary work day.

Could this be the office of the future - no desks or ergonomic task chairs required?

Only available through Details a Steelcase company (USA at the moment).

Unique Design Desk

2007-11-30T03:13:00.003-12:00

Mixing the elements of space and the future, this new innovative desk from Uffix and Pininfarina, for the most prestigious office environment. The Luna range comprises of high tech meeting tables and accessories. From the manufacturers of Ghost Crystal and Amazon ranges.

Exceptional Value For Money Operator Chair

2007-11-29T20:21:00.002-12:00

By spending just that little bit extra you can be sitting on one of the most comfortable entry level chairs manufactured by Pledge who have over 35 years experinece in the design and manufacture of seating for commercial environments. The chair has been compiled and represents exceptional quality, durability and value for money from one of the UK's leading seating manufacturers.

Synchronised seat and back movement
Lockable in various positions
Safety release mechanism
Body weight tensioner
Seat height adjustment
Infinite locking back rake
Height adjustable arms
Seat slide
Inflatable lumbar pump
Over 60 different fabric options
Fantastic value for money chair

Quality Reception Units

2007-11-13T04:41:00.003-12:00

Quality Used Herman Miller Meridian Cabinets

2007-09-26T21:55:00.003-12:00

Heavy duty sturdy storage cabinets manufactured by Herman Miller (USA).

The steel construction and heavy engineering puts the cheaper inferior imported products to shame. These are the Rolls Royce of cabinets.

Comprsing of lateral suspension file drawers and flipper storage doors. Various combinations available.

We just had to rescue them from landfill.

Cheap Foreign Imported Office Chairs

2007-08-14T03:51:00.002-12:00

UK manufacturers face extremely strong competition against the cheap imported office chair flooding the UK market.

It is a buyers market and in the majority of cases provide only short term benefits and excludes the continuity of service and falls short of the many product, performance, environmental standards and guarantees required.

A lot of customers who have sampled these products are slowly returning to the better quality produced chair.

Poorly designed office furniture

2007-07-26T21:50:00.003-12:00

"Good morning, I wonder if you can help me? My secretary has a bad back and I need to find her an ergonomically designed chair".

I advise I have numerous quality chairs to demonstrate with a price tag of £169 upwards to over £700 and explained different chairs have different functions and a chair is personal to the user. There are models which have inflatable lumbar pumps, height adjustable arms and that you'd have to find a chair to suite her needs.

"But I was looking for something around 30 - £40, as my leather chair only cost £40"

(Leather, you gotta be kidding, it ain't seen a cow hide).

The caller wasn't prepared to bring his secretary into the showroom as she just may have choosen an expensive model.

When his secretary doesn't turn up for work for weeks or even months, due to back pain. Just how much will this guy lost in money and workplace productivity?

Poorly designed office furniture can certainly lead to health problems and absenteeism.

If your planning to buy an office chair, try it out first.

Congratulations - If you woke up breathing you have another chance

2007-07-02T00:54:00.001-12:00

As business owners we are always looking for ways to save money. Whether you're an office manager, company controller, or a business owner, you know that buying new office furniture can be extremely expensive. That's why more and more people are turning to used office furniture to save money while furnishing their offices.

If money is no object, feel free to buy as much new office furniture as you need. But if you're working within a strict budget, used office furniture may be the way to go. If you shop carefully, it's possible to purchase used office furniture that will not only look good, but will also be accepted by employees and customers alike. Some of the benefits of purchasing used office furniture include:

Saving money. If you shop around for the best prices and bargains, you can save more than 50 percent over the cost of buying new office furniture. Most used office furniture pieces have only been used for a few years (or less) and have minimal wear and tear. Once the bubble wrap is taken off and the price tag is removed, most people cannot tell the difference between a new desk and a used desk.

Saving time. If you've ever ordered new office furniture, you know that sometimes it can take up to six weeks to be delivered. Compare that to most used office furniture dealers that can have a van at your front door in 48 hours or less.

Reducing environmental impact. When a used wooden office desk is sent to the landfill, it takes years to break down. Melamine faced chipboard has to go to landfill if beyond repair because the surface cannot be separated from the wood chip and therefore contaminates it beyond use. The cost of stripping chairs into their components is high and not all parts can be guaranteed recyclable. By buying used office furniture, you will get a much better deal and help save the planet at the same time

Getting more for your money. When you buy new office furniture, the resale value can depreciate to 25 percent or less of the original purchase price over five years. But when you buy used office furniture, the resale value can remain as high as 75 percent of what you paid for it.
Many business owners are using the Internet to buy their office equipment, some with disappointing results. Price plays a huge part in budgeting. You shouldn’t have to go out and replace items in less than twelve months of use.

· Consider if the furniture comes in kit form and you have to assemble it yourself.
· More importantly, ask does the furniture have an accredited FIRA Certification (Furniture Industry Research Association) tested for strength and durability. Products tested to BS4875 carry a 5 year guarantee under normal usage and should go on to last increasingly longer.
Product durability and life span are receiving increasing attention. Of particular interest are capital items for the office work place, computers, office desks, chairs and storage etc.

When choosing the products the longevity of the product can be factorised into choice. A chair or a desk that lasts 5 years plus is preferable to the cheaper economical model that carry up to a one year life span.

Consider the impact that the cheaper imported item has on the environment, the thousands of container loads being shipped into the UK. In addition to the waste of raw materials and production of waste, there are also environmental impacts in the energy used to create containers and the transportation of the product by air and road.

Filing cabinets
An economy model has a 5 year guarantee housing a capacity of 25kg per drawer. A Bisley cabinet has a 7 year guarantee housing 32kg per drawer and a Silverline executive cabinet has a 15 year guarantee housing 50kg per drawer.

Things to Keep in Mind

When buying used office furniture, keep in mind that you might not be able to find the colour or design you had in mind. The key point to remember is it's just like buying a used car: you must accept the colour, condition, and size, and hopefully the money you will save will be worth your time and effort.

Recycled furniture isn't for everyone. Although many dealers carry top-of-the-line used furniture, your choices can be somewhat limited. Companies that need large quantities of matching furniture may not have enough options.

If you're flexible about designs, colours and styles, you'll probably find what you need. Remember that you're buying from the dealer’s inventory, not special ordering from a manufacturer's catalogue. Most dealers have large selections of new and used furniture, so you should be able to find a good combination. But if you won't settle for less than perfect — even if it means saving money — recycled furniture probably isn't for you.

Reused furniture, also referred to as "used" or "as-is," describes furniture that hasn't been altered or repaired.

Buying used furniture is an increasingly popular option for small and medium sized firms for one main reason: It's good for a business’s bottom line.

Recycled office furniture typically costs anywhere between 30 to 80 percent less than new furniture, dependant upon manufacturer. Once you figure out how much money you can save, buying another company's discarded furniture begins to sound like a pretty good idea.
And you won't just be saving money; you'll also be helping the environment. Millions of tons of office furniture — most of which is not biodegradable — end up in landfills each year, so you'll be doing your part to reduce waste, helping cut out harmful emissions that contribute to climate change.

There is so much that each of us can and must do, within our own homes, work places, communities and beyond as we work together in common cause to preserve and sanctify life.

Buying an office chair on line or trying it out first?

2007-02-05T23:41:00.002-12:00

Okay, so you've sifted through all the usual web sites on line, trawled through the eBay auctions and hey presto. You find one that you like and 'looks the part'. You've got a bargain! OR have you.

Scenario: You have 30 staff: weight ranging from 45kg (7 stone) to 165kg (26 stone) with height ranging from 1.5m (5') to 1.98m (6'5"). Do you go out and buy everybody the same chair? I see this type of mistake being made everyday. Selecting the correct chair to fit the user for comfort is essential.

Think about how long the seat is being used: 8, 12 or 24 hours. Chairs range from light useage to the more demanding 24 hour operation.

The nature of our business is assessing ergonomic needs in the office workplace. We advise and specify correct chairs and equipment for your office environment, ensuring compliance to regulations.

The endless amount of people who are still blinkered by health & safety standards. INVEST in a decent chair, it'll be worth every penny.