The Economy of Furniture

So, at this point in the election cycle, we've all realized that the Economy is a top issue to most voters. Certainly economical concerns have been a top issue for home owners for some time now, as the housing market has plummeted. The question we at Ace Office want to ask is, what does do for furniture sales? Furniture Today provides some possible answers:

Tuesday started with a 465-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrials Average — severe by any measure — by midday the vast majority of furniture stocks were up and some gained as much as 10%. Does that make sense to you?

In the complex and sometimes befuddled mind of Wall Street, it does. The Federal Reserve hammering down interest rates should begin to ease the current housing distress by lowering mortgage rates and saving homeowners money, reducing the step-up rates on adjustable mortgages, and hopefully making home purchases more affordable so that the glut of homes for sale will be reduced. That, in turn, will stop the decline in home values and everyone should sleep better (helping the mattress industry).

As far as home office furniture goes, it seems that furniture sales rise and fall with the rest of the housing sector. So, when the housing market has hit its lows (as many believe it already has), houses (and furniture) are set up for a come back!

Office (Furniture) Politics - 2008 Election Special Edition!

Pictured: Former Governor of Arkansas and current presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, seated in a tasteful chair, surrounded by polished wood furnishing, and awash in soft lighting. (A candidate who loves good office furniture!)


On December 3, an entry was posted about office furniture politics. In Boston, local politicians were butting heads over an issue known as "Drapesgate." House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi openly criticized Governor Deval Patrick for purchasing $10,000 curtains for a corner office. It may sound petty, but office furniture purchases are always grounded in issues of personal legitimacy and fiscal responsibility. Our advice? Make smart choices in affordable office furniture, of course.

The drama continues, but now on a national scale. Unless you've had your head buried in the sand, you probably have noticed that one of the biggest news stories is the upcoming 2008 U.S. presidential election. In a race that has no returning incumbent, both the Republican and Democrat parties lack a clear front runner, which only adds to the excitement and anxiety. The Democrats seem to have three leading contenders: Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, and former Senator John Edwards. Other notables include House Representative Dennis Kucinich, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Chris Dodd, and former Senator Mike Gravel. Among the Republicans, will it be former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Senator John McCain, Representative Ron Paul, Representative Duncan Hunter, former Senator Fred Thompson, or former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee?

The latter candidate is the one at the center of another office furniture scandal. A couple of weeks ago, a blogger for the Arkansas Times reported on the issue and dubbed the politician's gaffe as "Officegate" (perhaps the English lexicon would benefit from a different suffix that indicates controversy). Apparently, Huckabee accepted new lights, speakers, and furniture as gifts to replace ones that were not up to par. In this case, taxpayer dollars were not used (as was the case in Boston), and the source was reported as "private funds." Around $70,000 worth of Mansion furniture was offered as a gift from Boe Adams, a wealthy cotton planter. There have been other issues that have called Huckabee's fiscal responsibility into question, and this is just another log thrown into the fire.

As seen above, candidate Mike Huckabee seems to like fine lighting and seating. And who can blame him? Presentation is important, and no career highlights image more than possibly politics. However, as the aftermath scandal has proven, it is still important to consider budget alongside furnishing needs. The most sensible route is to look at quality furnishings at discount prices. Don't sacrifice enduring style and quality just to stay within budget!

Ace a Member of DMI Furniture

Pictured above: Belmont Series Executive Five-Piece Office Suite

Ace Office Furniture is a proud to be an authorized dealer of products by DMI Furniture, which is a large retailer of furniture since 1911. DMI office furniture includes different categories, including traditional, transitional, small office/home office, seating, and tables. The brand is known for its high-quality veneers and fine wood materials.

Ace conveniently offers all of its DMI inventory on the DMI Furniture page, as a part of its large online store. Clicking on "More" for each of the listed items will directly lead you to related office furniture pieces for decor coordination. Celebrating its tenth year as a DMI Dealer, Ace is also excited to say that it's the number one retailer of DMI furniture on the web!

How to Create Office Space at Home

How to Create Office Space at Home

The home-based business has its perks. There's no long commute, no expensive $7.00 sandwiches for lunch (don't forget an extra $1.50 for that bottled water!), and none of the typical dreariness of the office (flickering florescent lights and tight cubicle space).

It is a challenge, however, to create a demarcation between your home and your business. Avoid driving yourself crazy by keeping your personal and work lives separate! Here are a few tips to refashion your house/apartment into a diverse setting for both work and home.

1. Decide on your office space.
Do not simply set up your workspace in the bedroom you sleep in or the living room in which you watch television and receive guests. Remember, you will need to carry out business correspondence on the phone so you will need quiet. You will also need an appropriate amount of space for your basic machines, which usually includes a computer, printer, and fax machine. Opt to take a spare bedroom or an unused garage for your business operations and keep your usual home space out of it.

2. Consider equipment and accessories you will need.
The computer, printer, and fax machine are the usual weapons of choice for the home-based business. You may also prefer a separate phone line. But, depending on your business, you may find that operations run more smoothly if you have desk accessories such as a desktop calendar, a lamp, a pen holder, a pair of scissors, or a paper shredder. Think of what will be of convenience on a daily basis.

3. Storage is important.
It is a fact of life, but every business yields an impressive amount of paperwork. It is generally not a good idea to keep archived materials in your desk, which should ideally be used for accessories and papers that are more immediate and relevant to current tasks. Consider filing cabinets for papers, roll filing systems for rolled-up papers, and media storage units for items such as DVDs, CDs, and more.

4. Present a professional image.
For home-based businesses that do not receive clients of guests, this principle will generally not be a concern. But your home office should strike the client as efficient, clean, and professional. Otherwise, the client will assume that you are not efficient, clean, or professional. Keep clutter off the floor and at a minimum on your desk. Unless you want to create the atmosphere of a mobster scene, keep the area well-lit and the room well-ventilated. Try not to smoke in the office.

5. Set up regular work hours.
Just like at an office, you should set up regular work hours. You have the advantage of putting in some overtime if you need it, but generally, try not to allow your business to spill over in your personal time. Unless you have an ad hoc policy with clients and customers, you should let them know when are the best times to contact and work with you.

Happy Holiday Wishes from Ace Office Furniture!

Ace Office Furniture would like to wish you Happy Holiday Wishes! And we know that the shopping days before Christmas Eve and Day are fast reaching zero, so we would like to give you some info to rush in those orders for furniture now!

For online shoppers, visit our website store or if you're in the New York/New Jersey area, we have a showroom location at: 229 42 Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232. Our friendly customer service would be more than happy to help you with any orders or questions.

Feeling the Tension? Here's a Video to Vent It

As the holiday break is fast approaching, many worker bees are finding their desks increasingly cluttered with last-minute tasks and assignments. Ace would like to help you relax with a little venting.

Behold, it's a classic scene from Office Space:

All About Ergonomics

The term "ergonomics" can be applied to any practice that studies human factors when designing a product or strategy. People usually think of physical comfort when they hear the term, but we also have structural and psychological benefits such as work shifts and safety culture at various businesses because of ergonomics.

Physical ergonomics help individuals remain comfortable and focused on task even after long days of toil in an office. Ergonomic design has been especially focused on white-collar workers' office seating and computer furniture. Muscle aches and hand/wrist strain (which sometimes advances into carpal tunnel syndrome) are common negative consequences of sitting in front of a computer all day.

It's important to recognize the important qualities of a good chair. Whether it's a task chair, executive chair, or guest chair, think about who will be sitting in the chair, and for how long and for what purpose. Chairs at work desks should have more accouterments: arm rests, supportive but flexible backs, adjustable height options, and wheels. Guest chairs can be decidedly less comfortable yet more ornate; guests will normally not sit in these all day.

As for hands and wrists, mouse pad wrist supports, keyboard wrist supports, combination wrist supports, and single wrist supports are various helpful solutions.