6 Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Office Furniture for Your Reception in Johannesburg
The purchasing of reception furniture can be a challenge. Most business owners are more concerned with aesthetics, but in fact, the choice of office furniture reaches much further than looks. It is a fact that employees have to be able to comfortably operate in the spaces that they are allocated, and that the comfort of guests must also be considered. This means that choosing well when it comes to the purchasing of office reception furniture is vital, and there are some mistakes that people commonly make during this process that should be avoided.
- Lack of planning and vision: Impulse buys are seldom successful ones, Just going out and buying osome reception furniture in Johannesburg can cost you a lot of money in the long term. Before you decide to purchase, you have to work out a plan of what exactly is needed. Assess what you will need to make the space more functional, yet good looking. Consider the functions of the pieces you will need and how much they will be used. Purchasing a chair for your receptionist means that they will be using it all day, yet purchasing guest chairs means that they will only be used on occasion, and not for very long.This means that the chairs will have to have completely different characteristics. One should be made for all-day comfort with height adjusters and back support, and the other for temporary or light use. Check what you already have that can be re-used or refurbished. Often, you can save a lot of money by taking an existing piece of furniture and incorporating it into your reception area. Decide on a look and purchase office furniture that completes the look you have in mind. Remember that your reception area is the first thing a guest or client sees, so it has to represent your brand.
- Getting stuck on new trends: As with all other things and fashion, office furniture trends also change regularly. Unless you have the money or the type of contract that allows you to update your reception furniture along with the trends on a regular basis, don’t get stuck on the newest and trendiest pieces. If you are a fan of trendy furniture, you can purchase one or two pieces that represent the trend and then replace them with something better when the trend becomes outdated.
- Solely base your decision on cost: Everybody loves a bargain, and when you are choosing reception furniture for your office, there will be many suppliers in Johannesburg that will offer you low-cost furniture. While this might seem like a good idea, you definitely have to consider quality and comfort. Office furniture has to be robust, hard wearing, and long lasting, as well as attractive, so if you invest in cheap pieces, you may have to spend more money on replacing broken or unattractive items.
- Not considering productivity: It is almost impossible for an employee to remain productive for hours on end if they have to deal with a chair that is uncomfortable, a desk that is too high, filing cabinets that are difficult to open and close, and other furniture-related stumbling blocks. Try to purchase ergonomically designed items – these are especially designed to increase comfort and reduce fatigue, which will make for many more happy working hours and much more motivated employees.
- Not taking into account future developments: Over the last two decades, office furniture has changed radically – partly due to us moving from the use of personal computers to laptops. Using these two different computers will require different support, so it is important to take this into consideration. Of course, nobody has a guardian angel that is going to tell them all about the new technology and how it will affect what we have in the office, but it is possible to get an idea of whether there are plans to purchase new machines or technology that will influence your choice of reception furniture.
- Choosing the wrong supplier of office furniture: You should ideally not just choose an supplier office furniture supplier that will lose sight of you after you have made your purchase. The best and most reputable office furniture suppliers are the ones who offer great customer service long after the purchase has been made; they know the needs of their customers and are pleased to assist with future sales, repairs, and exchanges. Do some homework and find a good supplier of reception furniture that will be able to assist you when you need it.
If you are currently looking for reception furniture in Johannesburg or Gauteng, call our team at Quantum Office Furniture and we will help you to avoid all these common pitfalls, while providing you will high-quality items.