Buying Used Office Furniture: Cubicles vs. Boxed Items
Buying used furniture is a smart option for many businesses. Furniture typically sells for pennies on the dollar and can be found in “like new” condition. There are many different types and looks of office furniture, but budget usually determines the options available.
Since offices are distributed in many different configurations, choosing the right type of furniture is essential to use the available space. Some furniture can get in the way of high-traffic areas, and some just waste a lot of space. There are offices that barely fit 10 people due to the distribution of furniture. If the office only had different furniture, which was arranged correctly, it would be possible to comfortably fit 15 people and still have plenty of space to walk around.
Many people like the aesthetic appeal of box furniture. These are your standard desks, bookshelves, and file drawers. Box products may look attractive, but they only work well in private offices. Good furniture often offers very little privacy, so it is often necessary to place it in an office that has a door. Many times, a private office can be too big and can comfortably accommodate 2-3 employees. The problem is that the lack of privacy makes this very unappealing to everyone involved.
One solution when buying used office furniture is to consider cubicles. The cubicles are like a separate office. They can stand alone or connected to two or three other cubicles. The walls vary in height and can suit a call center with low walls, an owner or manager with high walls. A private office that used to house one employee can now house two or three employees thanks to cubicles. Cubicle walls help create an artificial private office.
A growing company can sometimes add employees without having to get new office space. Changing only the furniture, it is possible to add up to 30% or more of employees. This can save valuable capital dollars for a company looking to expand in other directions.
The storage and efficiency of these cubbies make life very easy and organized. They usually come with overhead and under desk storage. The desk space is also much larger than most good desks, allowing for more work space and the ability to not be cluttered. The cubicles also come with full power electricity connected to them. This allows lights, computers, fax machines, copiers, and more to work just as efficiently in a private office.
For those offices with large open spaces, cubicles are essential to properly use space efficiently. Thanks to the different heights of the cubicle walls, it is possible to create the perfect configuration depending on the situation. Ergonomic height selections allow enough privacy and enough open space that you don’t feel boxed in.
When you buy used bins and crate supplies, you can save 70-80% off the retail price. There are many companies offering these good values across the country. Some companies will even come to your office space and make a recommendation that will utilize the office space to its fullest. Most offices or parts of them will do better with cubicles or boxed items, but not both.