In a growing business, our goal was to change our physical image. Our internet and online presence is coveted and sought after by many competitors and other businesses. Alarm Relay provides an unprecedented and professional level of customer service. We needed a solid partner and company to share our views and take us to the next level for our physical presence. Right when we stopped by the OfficePlanIt Showroom, we envisioned our growth and immediate future.

We found the OfficePlanIt team to be very resourceful and knowledgeable in the furniture and office industry. They worked in cohesion with our Tennant Improvement team in coordinating the labor to be completed chronologically and to be ready by our Go Live date. The installation crew showed up perfectly on time on the date of install. And we were expecting a small crew of furniture technicians. To our surprise, we had 9 furniture technicians and 2 electricians ready to knock out our new office! The technicians worked perfect together, they were extremely professional (lead by their project manager Jose) and finished the furniture earlier than expected. We also had OfficePlanIt’s CEO Theron Williams stop down to make sure everything was going great; as well as, 2 representatives from the furniture manufacturer (who flew from Toronto to San Diego) who stopped by and made sure the installation crew had everything under control.

Overall, our experience with OfficePlanIt was seamless. We know we achieved the image we want to portray to our employees, vendors, partners and most importantly our customers. Our employees have a new paradigm about coming to work. They enjoy commuting knowing their environment is pleasant and has a home feeling to it. A great company starts from the head down. Likewise, the head is represented from the bottom up. Alarm Relay was impressed by all parties affiliated and employed by OfficePlanIt. Great Job!

Paolo Piscatelli
C.O.O at Alarm Relay

OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio recently brought principal Justin Enderton on board to lead the company’s expansion to the greater Los Angeles and Orange County markets. The office furniture solutions leader has plans to open their new southern California showroom in the third quarter of 2011.

Enderton is a skilled veteran in the field of interior design and contract furniture, including a successful 17-year track record holding roles as a designer, project manager, sales representative and dealer principal. His diligence, resourcefulness and detail-oriented approach has resulted in furniture sales of over $100 million throughout his career and lasting client relationships in various industries, including biotech, pharmaceuticals, technology, entertainment and banking.

Our company brand is very exciting and has the ability to combine the INSCAPE products with our custom products, and offer our client’s affordable, diverse & sustainable solutions with exceptional quality and the highest level of detail & design. “These are very opportunistic times and I’m excited to be leading the efforts in the Orange County & LA Markets, including our lighting distribution company,” Enderton said. “LightingPlanIt offers a unique approach to lighting procurement, similar to our furniture distribution model.”

For more information on OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio Los Angeles/Orange County, please contact:

Justin Enderton
, President
OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio LA/OC
justin@officeplanit.com

Taking a 180-degree approach to business in any industry seems risky. You could set yourself up for unparalleled success or devastating failure. But often the reward is worth the risk.

OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio are using innovation and ingenuity to their advantage by giving the contemporary office solutions market just what it desperately needed: office interiors that don’t compromise sophistication on an aggressive budget.

So how do we do it? It is definitely more than just great office furniture. Clients are responding to what we believe in. We do our research. We have a plethora of boutique manufacturers at our fingertips and within that expansive network we can design and create a modern, fresh look that meets a budget. This type of focus is speaking volumes as clients such as Century 21, Geary Interactive and SPAWAR are choosing OfficePlanIt to elevate the interior of their office spaces.

Any savvy business owner or executive wants their surroundings to emulate their success. Drab interior = less than desired clientele and often employees. Exceptional interior = impressive client list, product/service offerings and sought-after employees.

We listen. We strategize. We budgetize. We finalize. We materialize. It happens seamlessly, so all the client is left saying at the end is, “wow.”

Clients such as Mitchell International and Cobra-Puma Golf have placed their trust in OfficePlanIt because of our ability to creatively problem solve and design spaces their teams will feel inspired to make magic happen in.

Our work has included collaborative areas, new office furniture, conference rooms, open plan workstations and hospitality zones.

The recent clients that have come on board are a testament to our team and philosophy: thinking outside the box is a win-win AND we will value engineer it for you.

We helped create their little slice of office heaven:

Mitchell International
Northwestern Mutual
Century 21
Cobra-Puma Golf
Five Point Capital
San Diego 2-1-1
Linde
Location Matters
Kimball Tirey & St. John LLP
SPAWAR
Altegris
xPlair
Global Holdings
Benchmark Insurance
Douglas Wilson Companies
Geary Interactive
Grid to Home
Jitterbug
Red Door Interactive
SDCCD
Sunroad Enterprises
Xcom Global

Setting up a new office, moving, expanding or simply wanting to make over an existing space?

In these situations, sometimes our requirements, our wishlist and our budgets don’t quite match and we’re tempted to consider used office furniture rather than new.

We know we’ll have to sacrifice some style perhaps, but the savings make it an attractive option. Or do they?

If you’ve been thinking that used office furniture is your best option because of budget constraints, there are a few things you should consider before making that final purchasing decision.

1. There are great quality, well designed new office systems available at prices that compare very favorably with used furniture.
2. Used furniture offers 3 distinct options – all of which carry inherent risks. What you see is not necessarily what you get.

Let’s take a quick look at your used furniture options which fall into 3 main categories:

• Used
• Refurbished
• Remanufactured

Used Office Furniture:
Workstations come to you in the same condition that they left their previous owner, complete with all the wear and tear they’ve received since being manufactured. If you’re not looking for matching, aesthetically pleasing furniture, this may be suitable.

Refurbished Office Furniture:
Some basic spot cleaning and touch-up is done, but essentially work surfaces and electrical components remain unchanged.

Remanufactured Office Furniture:
The furniture is spruced up with a new coat of paint, new work surfaces, new fabric and electrical components UL listed or re-listed.

The upside of choosing one of the used furniture options is, of course, price.

The downsides are:

1. You have to choose from available inventory, the aesthetics of which may not enhance your corporate image
2. In the used and refurbished options, electrical components may not comply with the electrical code in your area, causing additional, unexpected costs. Work surfaces may have some warping.
3. Connections and fitting may be less secure, compromising stability
4. The furniture is essentially used and will therefore have a shorter useful life than it did when new
5. Warranties vary but rarely match those offered on new furniture
6. All used furniture options are likely to be less environmentally responsible than new furniture which has been manufactured to comply with specific environmental standards
7. No tax advantages

Having said all that, if budget is your primary concern, what would you say if we told you that you could avoid all the risks and downsides associated with buying used office furniture by buying new at prices just as low, if not lower?

Plus, there’s the consideration that new office furniture carries some tax advantages such as accelerated depreciation. Not to mention high design and great warranties.

Now that you know that used furniture is not your only option, why not call one of our consultants who will be able to provide you with more detail on affordable and attractive new office systems that fit your budget and your style?

Mitchell International, Inc., is headquartered in San Diego, CA.  They are the leading provider of information, workflow, and performance management solutions that enhance productivity and profitability and increase customer satisfaction for members of the Automotive Repair and Property and Casualty industries.

OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio have been chosen as suppliers of Inscape Scala furniture systems as well as the ancillary furniture package.

According to president, Jim Edmondson, OfficePlanIt’s bid won out against much larger competitors such as Steelcase and Herman Miller.

“We’re extremely gratified that our commitment to excellence and value is being recognized in the market,” commented Edmondson, “Mitchell’s 900 person move presents us with a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our ability to not only provide our client with some of the most exciting office furniture systems available, but also to make Mitchell’s new office space one of the finest Class A spaces in San Diego.”

Installation will begin during the first part of August.

This project is the largest awarded to OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio since they opened nine months ago.

For further information, please contact:

Jim Edmondson
President
OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio
jim@officeplanit.com
619.607.7800 (c)
619.961.1800 (o)
619.961.1861 (f)

Check out this short video:

When we first opened OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio, one of our goals was to deliver mind blowingly great service. We told everyone that was our intention and the standard we would hold ourselves to.

The thing is, often reality is what you perceive it to be.  Each of us has a different perception of our own ‘world’.  We’ve been so busy working at living up to the high expectations we’ve encouraged that it’s only now, several months later, that we’re pausing – briefly – to assess where we’re at.

Overall, we’re excited by the great customers who’ve supported us.  Without them, obviously we wouldn’t be here.  When we took stock of what you’ve been saying, we have to admit, it did make us feel really good.

Here are just a few of the comments you’ve made:

“Dear Jim and Theron,

We wanted to first thank you for the great deal on the table and chairs; they look fantastic in our new space. Now we can use our office the way we intended it to be. Second, we appreciate the efforts of the installation crew. They were friendly, timely and clean which seems like a rarity these days.

Your contribution to our new space is very much appreciated and you’re welcome to stop by anytime!
Best regards,

Christopher T. Veum, llDA, AAIA President AVRP Studios
Doug Austin, FAIA,    BC, LEED AP CEO AVRP Studios”

… and here’s one from Jill Parker of xPlair Technology LLC:

“I just saw the new systems furniture in our new space and it ROCKS!!!  Really nice quality and the step down walls look fabulous.  What a difference high-quality systems furniture makes!

In my humble opinion, our systems furniture looks nicer than the HM Systems in our Dallas office. ”

Ken Herskind, President of XCom Global Inc told us:

“I just wanted to personally thank you and your team for the great work you all did for XCom!  Your professionalism and dedication to quality service is much appreciated.

If you ever need a reference or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me.”

…. and here’s one that was passed onto us.  Seems like the word is spreading:

“Hi Steven and Andrea -

Hope you’re both doing well.  It has been a while but I wanted to finally follow up and let you know how happy I am with the space, materials and the way everything came together.  We are loving our space.

Steven – I also wanted to let you know that I tried working with (name withheld) but they were really unresponsive.  So I did some research and found a guy named Theron Williams (Andrea – I think you might have worked with him?) at OfficePlanIt and he was fantastic – super responsive, great ideas and just a great guy.  Anyway, just FYI – I’d highly recommend him….”

Well, it looks as if we’re fulfilling those expectations! But… we’re not content to rest on our laurels and we’ll be continually raising the bar – keep watching here for future updates!

Mario Ruiz, Barcelona based designer of HBF’s linea casegood line, believes in functionality.  “Whether or not you’re being innovative, coming up with new ideas, everything has to function.“

Ruiz remarks that working for the first time on designs for the Untied States, he’s had to be very open to input from here regarding how the work place operates.

“What I’ve tried to do with this one line ‘Linea’, is to respond to the greatest number of needs that can arise in the market place. ”

Ruiz uses different materials to create different looks.  Dark, rich wood finish for a more mature, sophisticated look through to lighter tones and textures for a younger,more playful look.   He believes that the system should allow you a greater spectrum of possibilities to create exactly the right environment for you.

HBF’s focus with all their lines is the end user.  Ruiz says that he has been able to focus on many different types of users beginning from the same starting point.  Linea has been designed to engender calmness in the user.  The use of leather, metals, glass and wood have been well integrated to create a harmonious whole.

Linea caseloads reflect a magical blend of European sophistication and North American functionality that are perfect for todays growth conscious organization to whom both aesthetics and productivity are of paramount importance.  These considerations fit well in a variety of office and reception environments and provide enough options to fulfill countless specification requirements.

For further details on how Linea can create your perfect working environment, please visit us at our San Diego showroom.  To view visuals of this line click here. (http://www.hbf.com/Products/Item136/Linea-Casegoods.aspx)

Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, Planna’s crisp intersection of horizontal and vertical  planes combine with off modular floating tops for a warm residential feel  complemented by rich, back painted glass.

Winner of multiple awards, Planna provides an unmatched aesthetic highly sought after by architects and designers. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but Planna is also an environmentally responsible product.  It’s made a high percentage of recycled content and, in turn, it can be recycled at the end of it’s useful life.

However, don’t hold your breath waiting for that time to arrive!

Planna is a hot contender in the mid-market category and offers exceptional durability assuring you of many years of use and enjoyment.

But, perhaps one of it’s greatest attractions is its enormous functionality.  This storage  based desking system is extremely versatile and is easily configured for private offices, reception areas, open plan spaces and collaborative benching applications.

Planna Highlights:

• Off-modular floating tops
• 1.5” interior incremental adjustability
• Exceptional storage capacity
• Easily reconfigurable
• Integrates with any furniture system for infinite planning options
• Steel construction for long-lasting durability
• Manufactured with high recycled content steel and can be recycled at the end of its life cycle
• Multiple applications – private offices, reception, open plan and benching

OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio are a Premier Inscape dealer and you’ll be able to view the Planna system in our extensive showroom.

Incorporating glass walls when designing or reconfiguring office space allows for maximum R.O.I. in terms of space usage, productivity and aesthetics.

OfficePlanIt + Olab Studio recommends Alur glass walls, with their clean, simple, architectural looks and practical flexibility.

When organizations are transitioning from private offices to multi-use and collaborative spaces, glass walls allow the transition to flow effortlessly.  Smaller private spaces look larger.  Privacy is maintained while interaction is visually encouraged.  Spaces can easily multi-task,  gracefully accommodating everything from touch-down applications through to conferencing and dedicated offices.

Glass is timeless.  Elegant.  Simple.  Natural light and human interaction is facilitated – something with which solid walls simply can’t compare.

To explore the enhanced dimensions offered by Alur glass walls, please call 619.961.1800 or email.