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Save money with discount office furniture suppliers

If you have a large office space that you need to fill, you'll save more money by purchasing from discount suppliers rather than high end office furniture stores.

I recommend: VQV Furniture Group has discounted furniture products, including home office furniture. FurnitureBuzz is another excellent choice.

Look for used office furniture to save even more money

Some businesses opt to purchase used furniture because of the deep discounts. This is a good choice for smaller offices. Large offices may find that there are not enough used pieces in a particular style to create a cohesive feel for the office.

I recommend: Arnolds offers used office furniture. They ship anywhere in the US and can help you with floor plan design. Cubeking has a number of used cubicles and workstations, which is ideal for new companies that have several employees.

Purchase commercial office furniture wholesale to save money

Whether you want wood office furniture or something more comfortable, wholesale shops may offer you the best deals on the things that you need.

I recommend: Furniture Wholesale Group has a number of products that are suitable for offices. Wholesale Warehouse Supply has everything you may need for your office, from clocks to desks, all at discount prices.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing office furniture, ask the company if the offer a warranty or maintenance plan. If a piece of furniture breaks in the future, it may be more cost effective to have the company repair it rather than buy a new piece. If there is an additional charge for the plan, consider whether it's cost-effective or not.

Guide to Buying the Right Office Furniture

Quality needn't cost when outfitting your office

By Toni Klym McLellan

1. How much furniture do I need?
2. Do customers or clients visit my office?
3. Should I buy new or used?
4. What's my budget?
5. What's my timeline?

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Big or small?

Where you shop depends upon your needs. A sole proprietor and a national sales team will have different budgets and office layouts. Know how to shop small, big, or in between.

I recommend: If buying in bulk, online office marketplace Buyerzone.com offers a worksheet allowing buyers to receive quotes from several vendors for everything from cubicles to office chairs. Cubicles.com offers new and used cubicles and chairs. For smaller office needs, don't overlook discount retailers such as Target or IKEA for affordable furniture. (Check out IKEA's handy online office planner).

New or used?

While it takes more digging, it's possible to find great bargains at auctions when large companies go out of business or upgrade. Eco-minded companies might want to purchase office furniture made from recycled materials as part of their media image. Used or refurbished office furniture is often indistinguishable from new other than by price.

I recommend: Browseauction site ebay and search for items near your ZIP code marked as "local pickup only." Office furniture reseller ReSources.com has regional listings of recycled office furniture dealers. FurnitureFinders.com offers both new and used items through resellers nationwide.

Online or off?

You may prefer to shop locally to test out chairs and desks in person and save dough on shipping. Or the ease of clicking and awaiting delivery might hold more appeal. Either way, myriad options exist for appointing your workspace.

I recommend: To shop online, check out BuyOfficeFurniture.com, OfficeFurniture.com, or EverythingOfficeFurniture.com. Shop online or off at major office supply retailers such as Office Depot, Office Max, or Staples. Googling "Office Furniture" and your ZIP code will net local listings of retailers.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to take shared spaces into account when ordering furniture and desks to guarantee elbow room aplenty.
• •  Take advantage of payment plans offered by many retailers - and pay off the items before interest payments kick in.
• •  Consider portability - if you're not sure whether you're going to expand or relocate your office, don't buy anything too bulky or built in.
• •  How much is your time worth? Many companies will assemble office furniture for a fee - well worth it for complex pieces like computer armoires or hefty entertainment centers.
• •  If in doubt, go with practical and comfortable before pretty, especially if you're on a budget.
• •  Don't be blinded by name brands - discount retailers often make products that outperform trendier, pricier offerings.

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Purchase attractive reception furniture for the reception or waiting area

If customers will visit your office, it's important that you make a good first impression, by furnishing your reception area with furniture that fits your business. Whether you need wood office furniture or something more plush, the choices you make will affect customer perception.

I recommend: OneWayFurniture.com offers waiting room chairs that are functional. This is a good choice for businesses that expect many customers to visit the office and wait for service. Associated Corporate and Institutional Services has styles that are more comfortable.

Look for comfortable office furnishings for your employees

Your employees will spend much of their time in your office and it's a good idea to purchase desks and chairs that are comfortable for working. Purchasing furnishings with respect to ergonomics is a good way to keep your workers free from injuries.

I recommend: OfficeFurniture.com lists a number of desks that are attractive and can fit in with many different office styles. Biomorph Interactive Desk has a number of styles that are ergonomically correct.

Find the right commercial office furniture for the meeting room

If you hold frequent meetings, trainings or demonstrations in your office, then you need a meeting room area that can accommodate the right number of people. Oval shaped tables allow everyone to feel an equal part of the group.

I recommend: At FurnitureWholesalers.com, you can find a boardroom table that fits your space. Fulbright & Company can custom design a table if you cannot find what you are looking for.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have enough money in your budget, consider hiring a designer to help you pick out office furniture. A designer can help you create the right feel for your office space.

Guide to Office Furniture Key Terms

Become knowledgeable about office furniture key terms

By Denise Brown

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Case goods

You may see wooden office furniture used for storage purposes advertised as case goods. Bookcases, cabinets and desks fall into this category. Some case goods come pre-assembled, but items may need some assembly on site.

I recommend: Grafton Furniture has an elegant selection of case goods for sale.

Credenza

A credenza is a long, low cabinet used for storage. As office furniture, a credenza can serve as a filing cabinet. In some instances, a hutch is set on top of the credenza for additional storage. Decorators often place office credenzas behind an executive desk or below a window. With today's large flat screen televisions, many businesses are using credenzas as television stands and storage units in lieu of mounting the televisions on the wall.

I recommend: You can see a variety of credenza storage options at OfficeFurniture.com.

Cubicle

A cubicle is made up of partitions to give the office worker his or her own workspace. In a cubicle you have some sense of privacy while you work. It also can limit the amount of sounds and other distractions that can affect concentration.

I recommend: Read a more detailed explanation of office cubicles from Tech Target.

Office furniture systems

These are all the components that complete an employee's workspace. Office furniture systems include the walls of the cubicle or workspace, the desk, the bookcases and other furniture. Many pieces of office furniture systems are interchangeable, and you can arrange them in a variety of configurations.

I recommend: As you look at the office furniture systems from Haworth, you can see how versatile this type of office furniture can be.

Furniture installation quote

As you hire professionals to set up your office, you need to get a free furniture installation quote. Ask questions until you are sure the furniture installation quote meets all your requirements. Some quotes are binding, which means the price cannot vary on the actual installation. Some quotes are non-binding, which means the actual price of the installation may be different from the quote.

I recommend: Project Dynamics handles packing, delivery, warehousing and reconfiguration, and encourages prospective customers to apply for a furniture installation quote.

Furniture reconfiguration

As your business needs grow or change, you may need to change your office space. Rather than purchase all new furniture, you can hire professionals to do a furniture reconfiguration. They take the existing furniture and rearrange it in a way that makes more productive use of your space.

I recommend: Cubicle Solutions offers information on how to go about doing a furniture reconfiguration.