Tricked Out Office Furniture Desks

Some people really do live at their office furniture desk, and as such, go to great lengths to create the ultimate personalized work space. OK, maybe some of these folks take things a little TOO far, but you can’t blame them on their effort or ingenuity.

The Office furniture

Desk/Bed Hybrid

When sleeping at your desk is encouraged, consider this lovely little number. All you have to do is roll over – do a little stretching and you can start your day. (We think there’s an office furniture desk in there somewhere!)

The Racecar Office Desk

Do you work at NASCAR? Do you REALLY want to impress your boss? Then take this little number out for a spin. The fumes from the engine may slow you down a bit in the afternoon, but it’s all in the name of getting the job done.

The Four Monitor Special




Too many columns in your Excel spreadsheet? Try four monitors to capture every last cell. Wait, what? You can HIDE columns now? But we just bought…eh, never mind. It will be great for World of Warcraft!

VERY Old School Cubicle





Now here’s a guy who likes to get back to basics with an old school wood finish. Hmmm…wonder what version of Windows he’s running?

For office furniture that’s uniquely you (without going over the top), visit http://www.aceofficesystems.com/ for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

When is modern office furniture TOO modern for its own good?

Everyone wants their office to look cool and sport the latest in modern office furniture design. But one trip to a major talent agency in Hollywood proves that you CAN take modern too far. Here are some sure signs that your office furniture is a little too modern for this world.

* You can’t tell where to sit.

If you’ve ever been in an office waiting room and wondered whether you’re supposed to sit on something, rest your drink there or hang your coat on it, you’ve been witness to furniture that takes itself a little too seriously and probably requires a trip through a time machine to understand properly.




* It scares little children.

Children of all ages are averse to sharp, stingy things. So why feature furniture that takes post-modern to a scary, torture-equipment kind of place? It’s cool to go with futuristic looks, but try and keep them out of your kid’s nightmares.

* The color is not found in nature.
There are SO many colors on the Pantone color wheel …so why couldn’t that pretentious German furniture design house pick one of them? If the color of your desks and chairs make the whole office look radioactive then you may have taken the concept a little too far.

* It’s not comfortable.
NOWHERE is it written that you should have to substitute style for functionality. Comfort and good looks are simply not mutually exclusive. Look for clean, smooth lines in your modern office furniture, but also chairs and desks that make you feel at ease and can used for hours at a time without discomfort.

* It cost more than one of your paychecks.
Just because something is expensive doesn’t make it great design. Classic, timeless modern office furniture should never go out of style and NEVER put your office’s bottom line at risk.

For modern office furniture done right, visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

The difference between cheap office furniture and great office furniture thats cheap

So youre online and you see an amazing deal for office furniture. How can you tell if these desks, chairs or filing systems are too good to be true? Consider our helpful guide below!

Knowing the difference between cheap and a great deal:

Cheap office furniture is out of style. Cheap office furniture doesnt accent ANY office décor. Chances are it is military issue or a refuge from a now-defunct government office.

Great office furniture thats cheap sports a timeless look. The best discounted office furniture is never out of style by the time you get it back to headquarters. Rather, it has a timeless appeal that works in seamlessly with a number of different decors and office types.



Cheap office furniture is no bargain. Sometimes, buying something at a ridiculously low price isnt really much of a deal after all. Working with a less-than-reputable office furniture dealer could mean replacing the whole order a year later after everything starts falling apart. Instead, consider…getting great office furniture for cheap from a reputable vendor who knows the business to a tee and comes strongly recommended online by the Better Business Bureau.

Finally, please remember these other important differences:
Great Office Furniture bought cheap makes you feel like a winner, but cheap office furniture makes good kindling for winter.

Great office furniture bought cheap will get you up for that big promotion, but cheap office furniture will get you transferred to the new branch office in Death Valley.

Want to do something really smart? Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

The difference home office furniture makes

So you’ve got a home office furniture. You sit every morning at your kitchen table and bang out your work, all the while trying to cut through piles and piles of folded laundry, toys and week-old newspapers in an effort to find that important memo that needs to go out to the client ASAP.

If you have real home office furniture to work with, things would be different. How different? Check out the list below to find out.



How office furniture makes a difference

1. It makes you look more professional – If you are going have potential clients visit your home office, you don’t want them to have to sit at the aforementioned breakfast table. By creating a professional-looking space featuring executive desks and chairs you are presenting yourself to the world in a more corporate, business-like manner.

2. It helps you get organized – Filing cabinets are a much better organizational solution that under the armoire that holds your entertainment system. Getting organized via home office furniture will make you more efficient in a heartbeat.

3. It improves your ergonomics – Sitting at chairs and desks that are not made for office use can be a health hazard. You are much more likely to suffer from back problems, muscle aches and a variety of repetitive stress disorders including the debilitating carpal tunnel syndrome. Purchase desks and chairs that are adjustable are designed for ergonomic comfort.

4. It helps you focus – Have a space that looks like a traditional office will make you feel like you are in an office – and that is going to lead to big things for your new company.
Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best home office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

5 things to do with the money you save on discount school furniture

So you’ have saved your school some serious money by purchasing discount school furniture. Good for you! Now the question is: what should you do with the extra funds? Here are five great ideas for spending school funds that will enrich the education of your children and help create a fun learning atmosphere.



1. Upgrade your computers. Many schools run out of funds before they can address their out-of-date computer systems. If kids are going to be competitive in the world, they need to work with the best software and hardware available. Spend your surplus on getting new computers or buying new educational software for existing units.

2. Upgrade your library. Kids can never have too many books around. A few extra dollars saved on discount school furniture can open up a window to buy dozens or even hundreds of new volumes for classrooms and libraries.

3. Start an afterschool program. Why send kids home to watch TV at the end of the day when you can create vibrant after-school programs that feature sports, arts and crafts, computers or other positive activities that kids love!

4. Send a teacher to a seminar. Teaching seminars help keep your educators at the top of their game. At these events they can learn the latest methods in teaching and the curriculums that are really making a difference in children’s lives.

5. Take an extra field trip. Kids learn so much more when they experience something first hand. Extra funds give school administrators a chance to take that extra trip to the art museum, natural history museum or historic landmark – creating a learning event that they will never forget.

For the best selection of discount school furniture at unbelievable prices, visit www.aceofficesystems.com. Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Luxury office furniture with an ergonomic twist

Luxury office furniture should do more than look good, it should also protect your health in the workplace. Ergonomic design offers cutting edge looks and important features that help avoid back pain and muscle stiffness while on the job.

The following are some of the most important features to look for in ergonomic luxury office chairs:

Adjustable Armrests – Adjustable armrest gives you support when typing, and also allow for movement during long periods of work to help curtail stiffness or cramping of the arms and shoulders.

Lumbar Support – The lumbar region bears most of the brunt of movement and stress in the back, therefore those chairs that feature lumbar support help increase comfort and enhance the health of the back and spine.

Chair Recline- The ability to adjust the chair’s recline (or angle at which the chair can be tilted back) gives the individual a chance to find the optimal compensation for the weight placed on their lower back.

Seat Height – Your feet must be firmly planted on the floor when working at your desk. If they aren’t you could suffer from nerve damage or back and leg pain. In order to accommodate individuals of different heights, most ergonomic chairs feature an adjustable seat height control that can be moved a span of several inches.

Seat Depth – The depth of the chair seat, or the distance from the front to the back of the chair, plays an important role in how well the chair supports your back. By making this seat depth adjustable, the chair can be made more accessible to shorter (smaller seat area) or taller (larger, longer seat area) individuals.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Five reasons to choose leather luxury office furniture

When it comes to luxury office furniture, nothing says excellence quite like leather. Simply put, when you walk into your office and see beautiful, hand-crafted leather furniture, something inside just tells you that you’ve “made it.”

Here are 5 great reasons to choose leather luxury office furniture!



Reason #1: Leather ages magnificently. Thanks to the way leather interacts with the environment and human contact, it just looks better and better as the years go by.

Reason #2: Leather adjusts with the weather. Leather breathes – staying cool in the summer and never growing too cold in the winter. It’s four-season comfort!

Reason #3: It’s easy to clean. A little water and soap is all you need to keep leather clean after most spills or smudges.

Reason #4: Leather is tough. Executive office furniture made with real leather will last for years – rarely succumbing to rips or tears.

Reason #5: Leather is timeless. There’s nothing that exudes class and elegance like leather office chairs and office desks. Year after year, leather never goes out of style.

For leather executive office furniture, you need to visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best desks and chairs at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Five essential tips for designing an executive office

Designing the perfect executive office furniture for office space can be a challenge – but the following expert tips will help you build a work area that is professional, inviting and enhances productivity.

1. Choose the right color scheme – It is important to choose the right color for your office walls and decor. Many executives prefer soothing brown tones that exude both professionalism and calm. If you want to venture out into more unique color choices just remember that you are going to be spending a lot of time in your office, so better to choose something neutral than a set of colors you might grow tired of rather quickly.

2. Create an inviting space – When a person enters your office, you want them to feel comfortable. Face your desk towards the door and place office guest chairs so that the people you meet with feel comfortable, but not intimidated or “boxed in” while speaking with you. If space permits, a couch also creates a welcoming atmosphere.

3. Select ergonomic office furniture – Busy executives spend a lot of hours in their office. Ergonomic chairs, desks and computer accessories help individuals like you maintain good health during the longest days – always keeping carpal tunnel syndrome, eye strain and other issues at bay.

4. Add a touch of home – Surprisingly, few executives remember to give their office a little touch of home. Family photos, childhood mementos and items from favorite hobbies all add a little customized element to the office and remind you why you’re putting in such long hours in the first place.

5. Don’t overdo it – When it comes to executive office furniture design, less is more. Remember to keep the look tasteful and refined, and don’t “overstuff” your office with accessories and furniture that doesn’t give you enough room to move around.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Classic looks from the history of office furniture and accessories

Some office furniture design is so distinct that one look transports you back to that particular place and time. The following items represent some of the unique highs and lows of office furniture design:

1. The roll top desk – One of the first hallmarks of fine office design, the roll top desk had a home inside the offices of such great minds as Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln. It is a look so timeless and functional that it can still be found in many offices today.



2. Shag Carpeting – From the people who brought you the wet bar at work. It seemed like no executive office in the 1970’s was complete without a little shag carpeting magic. Plush and strange, shag carpeting was the look of choice for creative shops in the American West for the better part of a decade.



3. The Aeron Chair – Nothing captures the essence of the dot.com bubble (before it burst) than the Herman Miller Aeron Chair. Sublime, sleek and ridiculously overpriced, these chairs were a staple at offices around the country that would eventually go belly up. In fact, many successful Web 2.0 companies bought theirs on eBay from failed 1.0 companies!



4. The phone headset – When the first phone headsets rolled off the conveyor belt, they looked more like an ancient night guard/retainer from the dental world than a high-tech communication device. Times have changed and the design has improved, but we’ll never forget those first cumbersome headsets.


Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

5 reasons to buy office furniture online

More businesses now shop online for their office furniture needs than ever before. But why? What makes the online shopping experience so much better for entrepreneurs and office managers alike?



Here are five key reasons why you should shop online for office furniture:

1. Convenience – Once upon a time, harried businesspeople had to drag themselves down to the local office furniture showroom and slog through 20,000 square feet of products in order to find what they were looking for. And that doesn’t even include hauling it all back to the office for assembly. Thankfully, we are now blessed with the Internet, which happens to be home to the point-and-click method of office furniture shopping. And instead of a crowded showroom, you get full color images, helpful product descriptions and everything organized logically for ease-of-browsing. It doesn’t get more convenient than that.

2. Selection – Originally, many people balked at shopping online for office furniture because there was simply no site that could compete with local “brick and mortar” retailers. Now, thanks to the web-wide adoption of Jeff Bezos retail teachings of the Long Tail, there are several online office furniture vendors that feature the most comprehensive selections in the world.

3. Price – Online shopping for office furniture is fantastic because it allows you to comparison shop so easily. As a result, the high-tech office chair you thought was out of reach and out of stock in New York, might actually be reasonably priced and ready to ship in New Mexico.

4. Feedback - The web has put a great deal of power in the hands of consumers. And nowhere is this more apparent than the area of customer feedback. People love to shop for office furniture online because they can read what other businesspeople thought about certain chairs, desks, keyboards, file cabinets and other items. It is truly a democratic shopping experience!

5. Productivity – Shopping online helps you keep the work flow of the day going. No more interrupting your Monday to head down to the store and work up a sweat when you should be finding new clients and growing your revenue.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

The 3 things you need to know about buying preschool furniture

Teachers have enough to worry about every day without having to bog themselves down with the elements of classroom design. But the classroom furniture is an important part of the learning experience, and therefore an integral component of school administration.When it comes to buying desks, chairs and other furniture for the pre-school classroom, the rules are a heck of a lot different than those you might consider when buying office furniture.

When you break it down, there are three key things to consider when purchasing preschool furniture: Size, Portability and Color.

Size – Kids grow at different rates, so even if you are using the chairs for just one class level, the difference in size between the biggest and smallest child at any given time can be considerable. Make sure your furniture choices (especially the chairs) accommodate them all.

Portability – During the course of the preschool day, the floor may be used for a number of different activities, which may or may not require chairs and tables. Therefore, it is a good idea that your preschool furniture is even to move and store.

Color – Preschool children respond to the colors they see. Choosing bright colors for your preschool furniture will elicit positive feelings, which in turn will create a more exciting learning environment for the kids.

Follow these three golden rules of preschool furniture and you’ll create a magical classroom environment that kids will love.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best preschool furniture and office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1-866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

How NOT to hold an office birthday party

The office birthday party is one of the social foundations of life in the corporate jungle.

Taking ten minutes out of your busy schedule to sing Happy Birthday to Bob (that is his name, right?) from accounting gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs and ingest some complex sugar-starch molecules before retreating to their office workstation for the rest of the afternoon.

But not everybody loves an office furniture birthday party.

Here are some simple tips on what NOT to do if you want to make the event more enjoyable for the guest of honor, and every else in the office:

1. Don’t ask for a collection. You never know what a person’s comfort level is with chipping in for a birthday gift or cake. Some people might not be in a position to give any money, while others may prefer to give the individual a gift on their own. Either way, ask the office manager about how much you can be reimbursed for, and spend accordingly.

2. Don’t pile on the sugar. Heavy cakes or desert treats rock…for about a half an hour. After that, they can really bring about a sugar crash. Try a lighter alternative like smaller cakes or fruit plates to celebrate a birthday.

3. Don’t throw the party during a busy period. Be considerate on the scheduling. Try and schedule the birthday get together during the slowest part of the day. If everybody is distracted, waiting to get back to work, it is not fair to them or the guest of honor.

4. Don’t go over the top. If you throw a huge gathering for one co-worker, then something more low-key for another, it might create resentment or hard feelings.

Inject a personal touch into every birthday celebration, but keep the level of celebration standard across them all.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Rewarding your employees

Rewards, especially those with a financial element, help motivate employees and drive them to do good work for your company. But which types of rewards are the best, and which elicit the most positive responses from the team? The following is a list of the best rewards for employees, and why you should consider implementing them into your business plan.

Best rewards for employees:

Non-performance-based Raise/Salary Increase

Why they are good: With non-performance based salary increases, there is no jealousy among employees regarding the amount of raises given. Everyone receives their raises based on the same scale and according to their position. This helps manage expectations as well as avoid unwanted surprises.

Bonuses

Why they are good: Bonuses increase worker motivation, but if the amounts vary from employee to employee they can also bring about some discontent. Manage your bonus plan fairly and your employees will be pleased with the plan.

Profit Sharing

Why they are good: Provided your company is in a position to offer it, profit sharing is an outstanding way to motivate employees. Unlike other forms of financial reward, profit sharing helps reduce turnover within the company and creates a stronger team atmosphere since everyone is working that much harder to see the company succeed.

Stock Options/Stock Ownership

Why they are good: Another reward that keeps people at the company longer, stock offerings give individuals a real, strong sense that they are part of the company and not just workers at the company.

Verbal/Activity/Non-financial rewards

Parties and positive reinforcement may not help pay the mortgage, but they do keep spirits high around the office. Outings and parties in particular are a good way to build morale and give employees a chance to interact in a stress-free, non-work environment.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Be more productive by understanding your work patterns

We would all like to be productive throughout the day, but the reality is that as human beings we have hours where we are able to get more done than others. Understanding these peaks and valleys of energy, and planning our work day accordingly, will help us achieve more and feel better while we’re doing it!

Here are some simple tips for understand and maximizing our work patterns:

• Perform your hardest tasks when you are at your peak. If you are a morning person, then take care of demanding, detail-oriented tasks when you first arrive at work or get up in the morning. If you are the type of person who has a big rush of energy in the hours before bedtime, don’t just sit there watching TV during that time – get some work done instead and you will feel great in the morning.

• Track your energy cycles. To better understand when, exactly, you are at your peak, create a chart with all the hours in the day. Spend a few weeks making note of the times when you have a ton of energy, as well as when you are lacking energy. The resulting chart will show you when you can get the most done.

• Take advantage of flex-time. If your company offers flex-time, and many of them now do, then take advantage of the opportunity to schedule your work around your peak energy hours. This will help you get more done without expending more energy.

• Take breaks when your energy is low. Trying to get work done when you are in a low-energy cycle is not a productive use of your time. In fact, it is like spinning your wheels. Take short breaks throughout the day and reinvigorate yourself so you accomplish EVEN MORE during your upswing periods.

To create an office that runs as efficiently as you do, visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Crazy People doing crazy things with their office chairs

Are they crazy, or just bored? You be the judge with this compilation of off-beat office chair videos!

The Rotating Office Chair

Anyone can spend the morning working, but learning how to turn yourself around in an office chair using the ancient Eastern art of Tai Chi is much cooler!



Office Chair Long Jump

Ever wonder why the mail room can’t seem to get your important letters and packages up to your office on time? This video might shed a little light on the subject…



Office Chair Racing

Confines of the office got you down? Why not strap some jet packs onto your office chair and engage in a little friendly racing action?



Office Chair Skating

It’s like the Olympics, only geekier. Check out the power, the grace and the majesty that is…office chair skating!



Want to create your own office chair adventures?

You can start with the best office furniture at the most competitive prices by visiting www.aceofficesystems.com! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

The most expensive office chair in the world

Got a few extra dollars lying around the office discretionary fund this month?

Are you a smart entrepreneur who knows a great deal when you see one?

Then get on down to the Emirates Millionaire Show and pick up the world’s most expensive office chair!

As the name suggests, the event is a gathering of people who have way too much money and not nearly enough places to spend it all.

About the Chair

Valued at approximately $60,000, this unique item was designed by world-renowned maker-of-things-for-rich-people Hadi Teherani who can also create really, really expensive bathrooms and other must-have accessories for your empire-in-waiting.

The gold plated chair was made for distribution by Interstuhl Manufacturing and includes such special features as: a place to sit, a foot rest and a handy holder to keep the receipt to show close friends and business associates.

For truly great office essentials, you don’t need the expense account of an Emir, just visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Does your co-worker or employee need an intervention?

Interventions help people struggling with addiction and substance abuse understand that they have a problem and need to get help immediately. Traditionally organized by friends or family, more and more concerned co-workers and employers are stepping up to the plate and helping save the life of those people they work with who have an alcohol or drug addiction.

And employers have a lot to gain as well. The cost of an intervention, and even paying for an individual’s rehab treatment, is less expensive that terminating their employment, then finding and retraining a new hire.

Here are some important tips for anyone considering a workplace intervention:

• Contact a professional first. Never attempt a workplace drug intervention without consulting a professional interventionist first. These experts can help create a plan of action for the intervention, and insure that everything is handled in a safe, straightforward manner.


• Consult with your employer. Unless you’re the boss, it is essentially that you receive approval from the company before moving forward – especially if the intervention is going to take place on office property.


• Have a plan of action. Hold a “dress rehearsal” before the intervention to make sure who will say what and when during the actual session. Try to elect a single spokesperson for the intervention so that people are not talking over one another.


• Don’t be confrontational. A workplace intervention is not the time to tell the individual in question how angry you are with them. This is a time to be supportive and explain to the individual, in clear but caring terms, that they have a problem.


Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Tips on Handling Getting Fired and Firing

Previously in this blog, we have focused on how to handle getting let go by your company. Getting fired is a very stressful occurrence – no doubt about it. But so too is being put in a position to have to terminate someone else’s employment.

If you have reached a certain level within the company, you are likely to have people reporting into you, and it is the performance of these individuals that will be reflected in your next performance review, salary increases, etc.

Therefore, the time may come when letting someone go is the only option. When that unfortunate day arrives, here are some tips for getting through it in a manner that is as productive as possible.

Tips for firing someone:

1. Don’t go it alone – Have members of upper management or human resources in the area to back you up. Many companies will actually allow ONLY HR to be present for firings, which would leave you a bit more off the hook.


2. Try and hold the meeting during off-peak hours – Studies have shown that the optimal time to undergo a termination meeting is near the end of the day and then at the end of the week. This minimizes distractions and commotion that could occur.


3. Have a detailed plan in place – Do not leave the individual without a distinct plan of action for what will occur post-termination. Explain to them very clearly what they need to sign, how much time they will have to go their desks, etc. From a legal perspective, these moments are crucial and must be well documented and thoughtfully executed.


4. Prepare yourself emotionally – Individuals who get fired are unpredictable. They may walk out quietly or just as easily begin screaming at you or crying. Prepare yourself for any of these occurrences by reminding yourself that this is a business meeting, and you should not stray from the facts of the matter. Getting too emotional yourself can lead to all types of problems moving forward.


Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Five tips for impressing your boss!

Building an excellent rapport with your boss is an important part of being a success at work. And those individuals who think that having a great relationship with the head honcho means “sucking up” are the same folks who wonder why they get passed over for big promotions year after year.

Impressing your boss is synonymous with doing a good job and being a productive member of the team.

Here are some tips for impressing the boss – and making yourself look great in the process:

1. Be positive. A positive mental attitude impresses management and also projects you as a person who is generally excited about coming to work every day. People who mope around the office and complain about their situation rarely advance through the company.


2. Be honest. Getting caught in a lie is an irreversible occurrence. Once the boss sees you as untrustworthy, you’re never going to be entrusted with any serious responsibility again. Even if the news is bad, always tell your boss the truth.

3. Be on time. Many people mistakenly believe that being late for meetings and work is no big deal as long as they get the work done. That may be true, but punctuality and perfect attendance help you stand out above the crowd.

4. Do more. The employees who get remembered come promotion/raise time are the ones who are willing to step outside their responsibilities and help out their teammates during busy periods. Innovation is also rewarded by the boss – so new creative ideas as to how to get things done should be shared whenever possible.

5. Give your boss strokes. Although it may come off as ingratiating if handled poorly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with letting the boss know when they do a good job, or has done something that has impacted YOU in a positive way.

Remember, at the end of the day, it is all about GOOD ATTITUDE and HARD WORK. People who embody these qualities are the ones who build great relationships with the boss.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

How to make more money with your 401(k)

In today’s unsteady economy, it is more important than ever to prepare wisely for retirement. If your employer offers you the chance to take part in a 401(k) or other retirement savings plan, congratulations, you are ahead of most Americans who are living check-to-check with no real plan for the future.

But are you getting the most out of your 401(k)? The following financial tips will help you feel secure that you’re doing everything possible to make your golden years a dream come true.

401(k) Tip #1: Take advantage of employer-matching opportunities.

If you are working at a company that offers matching programs (where the company contributes and matches all or a percentage of what you take out of your paycheck for the 401(k)) try to put as much as you can into the program. This is like getting free money from your employer for retirement!

401(k) Tip #2: Choose your investments wisely.

When setting up your 401(k), pay close attention to the types of investments your plan will be making. Make sure that the strategies employed by your plan meet your long-term goals. If you are risk-averse, find the 401(k) plan options that provide slower, steadier returns. If you prefer to “go for it” and live life on the financial wild-side, choose the higher-growth investments when allocating funds within the plan.

401(k) Tip #3: Change up your plan from time to time.

401(k) plans give you the option to change where your money is allocated over the course of time. Research has found that individuals who study the market (even on a casual basis) and make occasional changes to their distributions based on that knowledge, enjoy higher returns over time.

401(k) Tip #4: Spread things out.

Again, if you are risk-averse, try and spread the allocation of your 401(k) money across several different funds within the program. This way, the slower growth areas will be supported by the higher performing investments and the overall level of risk will be diminished.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Five tips for proper workplace etiquette

While it is hard to get along with everyone in your office all the time, there are still several things that each and every employee can to do make the workplace a more pleasant place to be. Some of them are obvious, such as bathing frequently and not bringing your un-housebroken puppy in to sit under your desk all day.

Other things, such as the items comprising the list below, we do without even thinking about the fact that they might be upsetting the gentle balance of the office ecosystem.

Five tips for proper workplace etiquette:

1. Don’t make personal calls within earshot of your co-workers. Just because you feel comfortable talking about your sex life or unfortunate medical conditions in front your peers does not mean that they want to hear all about it. Cell phones are a magnificent invention! Use them…outside.

2. Don’t “borrow” things from co-workers. While swiping a pen or a legal pad as needed may seem harmless, rooting around someone’s desk is a supreme invasion of privacy. The supply cabinet is only a few yards away. Make the trip.

3. Don’t play your music too loud. Respect the needs of those sitting near you. Keep the volume on your radio low. And if you’re listening to your iPod, and the volume is turned way up, it can be just as annoying as a large boom box placed at the entrance to your cubicle.

4. Let people know where you are. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to track someone down for a meeting or to answer a request, and finding out that they went to play nine holes at the local community course without telling anyone. Even if you are entitled to the time away from the office, let the people you work with know where you’re going to be, and how you can be reached.

5. Engage in proper hygiene. OK, so we mentioned it above, but unfortunately for many people, it bears repeating. Many times, you can’t smell the scent you are giving off. Shower every day and go easy on the perfume or cologne.

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Tax tips for small businesses

One of the biggest challenges facing small business owners is not growing revenue or figuring out ways to expand into new markets, but rather making sure they get their taxes right. No entrepreneur wants to run afoul of Uncle Sam – but the tax laws encompassing small businesses can be daunting for the uninformed.

Here’s a look at some top tax tips designed to help save your business money and keep you on the IRS’ good side:

1) Make sure employee withholdings are handled properly. Every employee must have the following deducted from their paychecks: Social security, state and federal taxes, Medicare, matching of any 401K programs (if applicable) and unemployment tax.

2) Keep all documents for at least seven years. If the government ever performs an audit on your business, they will ask to see records dating back for seven years. Plus, it’s just good business to track all financial transactions as you grow your business.

3) Remember all relevant tax deadlines. Businesses need to be aware of more than just April 15th. Estimated taxes for business are due quarterly, and employee taxes can be due weekly, monthly or quarterly as well. Missing deadlines can lead to big penalties from the IRS.

4) File your taxes online. When you file your taxes electronically, not only are they processed faster, but there is a strong chance that they will not be reviewed by lower level clerks at the IRS, thus reducing the odds that you will be audited.

5) Hire a professional. The easiest way to sleep at night is to hire someone who does taxes for a living to handle all your books. Accountants are a nominal expense when you stop to consider all the money they can save you in deductions and avoiding penalties.

6) Use the IRS, don’t fear them. The IRS has a wealth of resources available for growing business owners to help make taxes as painless as possible. Check out www.irs.gov for more information. You would be surprised how many of your questions can be answered in a snap.

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Inspirational books for the corporate bookshelf

There are some business books so filled with life and inspiration that simply reading them once can give you the “juice” you need to do more with your career. Here is a look at four such books – and why everyone who works in an office or has started their own company needs to read them right now.

Inspirational Corporate Biographies:

Iacocca – Over two decades old, this autobiography is beginning to show its age, but the story remains timeless. Lee Iacocca’s corporate journey is essential reading for anyone who has been fired or told NO repeatedly during the search for the dream job.

You’ve Got to Put Your Heart Into It -- Starbucks founder Howard Schultz built an empire with wits, enthusiasm and a refusal-to-be-denied attitude. This story places the reader at the center of journey and features plenty of business lessons that can be utilized in the course of a career.

Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist –- Read along with biographer Roger Lowenstein as he documents the inspiring life of our era’s greatest investor. There are so many inspirational tidbits in these pages you’ll be a “mini-Buffett” by the time you’re half way through.

Gates: How Microsoft’s Mogul Reinvented an Industry –- This blow by blow account of Bill Gates’ rise to corporate greatness illustrates the power of creativity and persistence, and gives a fly-on-the-wall perspective to some of the most important business decisions of the past 100 years.

Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way -- Is it possible to build a brand, get rich AND have a blast along the way? Virgin founder Richard Branson thinks so, and in this tell-all autobiography he shares with readers exactly how he did it!

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Warnings signs that you need to get organized, NOW!

How do you know if you need to organize your workspace and your work life? Well, if there’s a Billy goat roaming around your cube chewing on memos from a meeting that took place five years ago, chances are your organizational skills could use a touch up.

Here are several less extreme, but monumentally important signs that your workspace may be spiraling out of control:

• Does it take 5-10 minutes or more for you to find a document on email or in hard copy form?

• Are there documents on your desk that are no longer relevant?

• Do you find yourself looking for the same important documents again and again?

• Are unread magazines and newspapers piling up around your workspace?

• Have you ever been going through your papers and found an important document that needed to be addressed a long time ago?

• Is your email box filled with important or semi-important correspondence that you have not replied to or opened?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, then it is time to take a day or two and get organized! Make more effective use of your workspace. Get an Inbox/Outbox systems started. Take an evening and go through all your emails until you are 100% caught up. Once your desk looks less cluttered, you’ll be able to get more done in a day with a lot less stress.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

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The 10 best companies to work for (and links to their job openings!)

Have you considered pursuing your dream job lately? In tough economic times it is easy to lose sight of all the things we aspire to do professionally, but keep at it! The people who end up working for the company of their dreams are the ones who, well, went right out there and asked for it.

To help aid in your quest, here are 10 amazing companies and, because we don’t want to hear any excuses, links to their job openings!


1. Google (http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/)


2. Apple (http://www.apple.com/jobs/us/index.html)


3. Disney (http://corporate.disney.go.com/careers/index.html)


4. Yahoo! (http://careers.yahoo.com/)


5. Nike (http://www.nikebiz.com/careers/)


6. Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Careers-University-Recruiting/)


7. Target (http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?ref=nav_footer_careers2&contentId=PRD03-000483)


8. HP (http://h10055.www1.hp.com/jobsathp/)


9. Procter & Gamble (http://www.pg.com/jobs/sectionmain.jhtml)


10. IBM (http://www-03.ibm.com/employment/)


Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

5 technologies it’s hard to believe are almost obsolete

Voice Mail

Why sit there and try to craft the perfect monologue when a text message works just as well. And with the advent of so many new portable communication devices, who isn’t available all the time anyway? And with the graying around the temples of voice mail, it’s shocking to think that not long ago we were all using tape-driven answering machines.

Fax

The PDF, scanner and ability to send email attachments have all worked in concert to render the good old facsimile machine obsolete. For a while there, it was clinging to life due to the off chance that you would need to “sign something and fax it back”, but digital signatures and Tablet PCs have made even those document that require an authentic John Hancock deliverable online.

Messenger Services

Again, the need to get documents across town is handle

Xerox Copier

Admit it; you use the copier much less than just a couple of years ago. The digital distribution of documents (play say that three times fast) has made

DVD

We realize that this is not a business technology staple per se, but have you walked into a Blockbuster store lately? It’s like a funeral home in there. Although everything is where it should be, and staff still robotically greets you when you stride through the door, but there’s just something melancholy about the whole experience that feels like Netflix and even their own Blockbuster.com service have really changed the rules of the game. In this fast moving world, today’s technology is tomorrow’s drink coaster.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

Infants and Toddlers Furniture Sale

Guest Commentary: Review clears Collier County office furniture purchasing policy

At a May meeting of the Collier County Commission, D.M. Tidwell cited what he believed were a number of deficiencies in county practices for purchasing office furniture. Speaking on behalf of a Marco Island office supply firm that now employs him, Tidwell claimed the county purchasing department paid excessive prices for office furniture, refused to consider his employer’s competitive bid, wasted money for outside design services, etc. The claims were reported on by the media.

The county commissioners requested that the county Government Productivity Committee undertake a priority review of Tidwell’s various criticisms, which we completed last week. After a detailed study of both sides of the dispute, we concluded that the county has a sound approach to planning and acquiring office furniture that is consistent with widely established practices of government and business. There is no evidence of malfeasance by staff or suppliers, nor is there evidence of gross waste of county funds. Therefore, the Productivity Committee anticipates no further involvement in this vendor protest. Our findings are elaborated on below.

Purchasing strategy and policy

To put Tidwell’s criticisms in context, it is necessary to understand the current county policy for purchasing office furniture. The county commission established the standards for the office furniture through a deliberate and competitive process and selected two companies, Herman Miller and Steelcase, as primary suppliers. Advantages of focusing on a limited number of suppliers include:

 Consistent office furnishings throughout county government facilitates interchange of furniture between departments and divisions due to reorganizations or new and reconfigured buildings. Examples of savings in recent projects were cited.

 Standardization reduces the staffing required to purchase office furniture.

 Due to an umbrella purchasing agreement negotiated by the state, prices paid by Collier County for the selected furniture are the lowest available nationally and within the state.

The Collier County policy of a few suppliers is a mainstream management practice. Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota and Broward counties, as well as FGCU and others, use the same furniture brands at similar price points. Steelcase and Herman Miller are not the lowest-price brands, but they are ergonomically sound (an estimated 85 percent of the population will experience low back pain in their lifetimes) and come with longer term and/or broader warranties than brands sold on price emphasis.

The downsides of a county focus on a few brands is that it may generate resentment among local merchants who are not franchised to sell the equipment specified, vigilance is required to assure that the county obtains all the discounts and services that it should from long-term suppliers, and the potential for using newer and/or less-expensive brands may be undervalued. In my experience supervising an office purchasing department (as an element of my senior vice president of human resources and administration position at the Quaker Oats Co. in Chicago), the risks are manageable and are outweighed by the benefits of standardization.

Design services

Tidwell stated that he could provide office layout design services to the county for little or no fee. He retracted his offer of design services after learning that neither he, nor his employer, meets the professional licensing requirements for that activity under Florida law. In any event, prudent use of outside office layout design services is a reasonable and customary procedure that provides access to skills that are impractical to retain on county staff due to the specialized and periodic nature of the work. Also, an independent viewpoint can be helpful to avoid pressure from departments for more or better furniture than the county standard.

The glass reception desk

Much attention has focused on a $10,000 glass reception unit sitting in a warehouse. We now know that the unit was purchased last year for installation in a public area of the new Emergency Operations Center. Perhaps a modest premium was paid to achieve aesthetic goals, but economic pressures will undoubtedly result in a more utilitarian approach going forward. Evidence that a frugal mind-set is now in place are efforts reported by staff to redeploy substantial amounts of existing furniture to new facilities and a variety of expense-reduction initiatives incorporated in the budgets now under development.

Conclusion

The Productivity Committee consists of 12 appointed volunteers with several hundred years experience in government, business and management consulting. Historically we have not been hesitant to flag deficiencies in county practices when observed. However, the committee does not concur with the substance of Tidwell’s claims of broad mismanagement in county office-furniture purchasing.

Adding a touch of class to the office

By Ong Bi Hui

Office furniture is mostly functional rather than flashy in design, but two Singapore entrepreneurs are determined to add a touch of class to the workplace.

Mr Gavin Woo and Ms Katrina Tan are former colleagues who decided in 1997 to venture out on their own.

They used a modest $50,000 of their own money to set up Office Planner, a company that distributes designer furniture for the masses, with a focus on supplying inspiring designs for offices.

Just over a decade later, they are well and truly in the global league. They recently signed a deal to be the sole furniture distributor in Asia for leading French designer Philippe Starck.

Mr Woo and Ms Tan got to know each other when they worked together in the sales department of Corten Furniture. 'When we were at Corten's sales department, we were more or less solving most of the problems there using our own devices, so we figured that we might as well run a business ourselves,' said Ms Tan, a former stewardess with Japan Airlines.

Singapore-based Office Planner started with only four workers in 1997. Today, it has grown into a 70-man operation and has franchises in Australia and South Korea, with one more slated to open in Malaysia by October.

The company's annual revenue has soared to more than $10 million, a tenfold increase from its first year of operations.

Apart from distributing furniture from renowned brands such as Philippe Starck, the company also works with European designers to come up with its own line of office and home furnishings, some of which will be manufactured at its Sungei Kadut factory.

Ms Tan said the duo managed to break even in the first year of operations, which she added was 'no mean feat'.

'We had to survive without salaries for six months.'

While the 'bread-and-butter' income of the company comes from its line of office furniture called Mobilink, other lines are also selling like hot cakes. The most notable is Philippe Starck's xO series - home furnishings with the signature Starck look but at mass-market prices.

The duo had direct dealings with Mr Starck, including a trip they made to Milan to express their interest.

Mr Woo joked that Mr Starck 'speaks very little English - or so he led us to believe'.

But they almost missed the opportunity to clinch the deal.

'When his representatives came to Singapore to find an Asian partner, we were doing a job for the Singapore Embassy in the Philippines, ' Mr Woo said. 'By the time we rushed back, we had to meet Mr Starck's representatives at 11.30pm because they had to fly back the next day.'

Eventually, Mr Starck picked them as he felt that they were 'passionate about the business and not about the dollars and cents'. However, this was only after they personally flew over to Milan to express their interest in the deal.

Office Planner has also just launched a new line of colourful office furnishings called Itaca, and has been collaborating with Philippe Starck since last year on a series of office furnishings to be launched soon.

Despite their success, a niggling concern remains over whether office furniture will continue to be a neglected aspect of the furnishings market.

'At least 90 per cent of furniture design graduates end up doing home furnishing designs,' said Mr Woo.

Though the company currently works mainly with European designers for its collections, the duo hope they can one day hire design students as in-house designers, for that truly uniquely Singapore design that combines the best of East and West.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 2 July 2008.

U.S. office furniture orders up but outlook cloudy

NEW YORK, July 2 (Reuters) - U.S. office furniture orders rose 2 percent in May compared with a year earlier, to $990 million, but a slump is likely later this year, a trade group said on Tuesday.

The Business and Institutional Manufacturers Association said May shipments rose 1 percent to $945 million.

For the year to date, orders are up 1 percent and shipments are flat, it said.

But the trade group said it expects full-year orders and shipments to fall 4.7 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively.

"The industry's primary macroeconomic drivers are either negative (business confidence, corporate profits) or deteriorating (service sector employment, new office construction)," Raymond James analyst Budd Bugatch wrote in a note to clients commenting on the BIFMA data.

Rising commodity costs are also pressuring margins, forcing manufacturers to raise prices in the face of soft demand, Bugatch said.

Nonetheless, the analyst affirmed his "outperform" ratings on Herman Miller Inc (MLHR.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Knoll Inc (KNL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and his "market perform" rating on Steelcase Inc (SCS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

"Each of our companies under coverage is well managed and high quality, boasting individual competitive strengths and positive cash flow dynamics," Bugatch wrote.

He affirmed his "underperform" rating on HNI Corp (HNI.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), saying the company is exposed to the struggling low end of the office furniture market as well as the housing slump. HNI makes fireplace products in addition to office furniture.

BIFMA compiled its May report from 38 companies that account for about 75 percent of the industry's volume. (Reporting by Helen Chernikoff; editing by John Wallace)

Tech Bubble Video - Funny!

15 things everyone should have at their desk

When you add up all the time you spend in a day getting up and heading to the supply cabinet or asking a coworker to borrow a paper clip, it turns out than you could have gotten about a month’s worth of extra work done in a year…if you had just had everything you need to flow through the day right at your fingertips.

Still, workers at offices around the globe don’t keep the office essentials they use most right there at their desk.

Here’s a basic list of office supplies and organizational items that every worker – from CEO on down – should keep handy throughout the course of the day.

· Company letterhead

· Envelopes

· Stamps

· A Ruler

· Scissors

· Business cards `

· Kleenex

· Pens, pencils and markers

· Paper clips

· Stapler

· Post it Notes (lots and lots of Post it Notes!)

· Scratch paper

· An In/Out Box

· A moistener for stamps and envelopes

· Advil or other form of headache relief

Now that you’re all set with the basics, visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

How to prepare for corporate downsizing

Lately, the business climate in this country has been unstable at best. Even the most well-heeled companies are finding it hard to make ends meet, and letting go of people as a means if staying afloat.

If you’re concerned that your company may begin downsizing, the first thing to do is NOT PANIC! This can be a stressful time to be sure, but it is those who act calmly and prepare wisely that will rebound quickly if they are indeed let go from their job.

Here are some sure-fire tips for surviving corporate downsizing:

• Start saving. If you are let go, chances are that money is going to be tight during the period when you’re searching for a job. Penny-pinch wherever you can to make it through this time financially unscathed.

• Polish your resume. If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, take a few hours at home and make sure all the entries are current and looking sharp.

• Check in on your references. Make sure that the individuals you use as professional and personal references are still available and willing to sing your praises. Make sure that you have all their current contact info as well.

• Study the job market. This is a good time to look at sites such as Monster.com or HotJobs.com to see who is hiring in your industry or chosen field.

• Don’t freak out when you leave. If you are let go, don’t let any negative feelings or personal frustrations show. This is NOT a good time to burn bridges! You never know when your company might right the ship and start hiring again.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.

How to deal with cold callers

Before you make your own, probably brutal, suggestions as to how to treat a cold caller who reaches you at the office, perhaps you could take a moment and consider that they have families, responsibilities, hopes and dreams just like you. What? You still want to kill them? OK, calm down and read these tips while you catch your breath (and we call 9-1-1).

Tips for dealing with cold callers:

• Always be polite. Remember, these are human being just like you!

• Don’t get rid of them by suggesting that they “call you back another time.” The moment they choose to call again could be even worse timing!

• Only pick up if the number is available on your Caller ID. Any company that is blocking their calls in not one that you want to be in business with in the first place.

• If the caller seems genuine, forward them to someone who may be interested. This is a dangerous proposition. You must feel absolutely confident that what the caller is selling is legitimate, and that your contact will not be upset by the reference.

• Don’t waste the caller’s time. Don’t ask them to send their materials if you aren’t genuinely interested. This can cost their business money, create false hope and will likely lead to a string of future calls from the company.

Visit www.aceofficesystems.com for the best office furniture at unbelievable prices! Call us at 1866-964-8457. Or contact us via e-mail @ sales@aceofficesystems.com.