When looking for new or used furniture the storage situation is often overlooked and desks quickly become cluttered with paper, knick knacks and other items. So what are some important things to consider when considering purchasing a new or used filing cabinet?

Amount – This is the biggest factor when determining your storage needs. Do you need lots of storage space (an accounting office for example) or less storage (web developer, as an example) in the office? This will determine your next step in the decision making process

Size – This will be based on the amount of storage you need, a small office may need lots of storage but due to office restraints taller filing cabinets and storage may be need. If you need lots of storage and have lots of space you can find more creative ways to utilize the storage by making a collaborative workstation on top of some counter height filing cabinets. The size of the filing storage will be dependent on your business and the office space

Style – It’s a filing cabinet or a storage shelf but they’ve come a long ways these days and now there are lots of different styles and options to choose from. Your filing cabinets don’t necessarily need to be hidden away in a back room any more. Get creative!

When looking for new or used furniture the office workstations are where most of your employees will be spending their time making sales calls, customer service, etc. So what are some important things to consider when considering purchasing new or used office workstation?

Size – Will there be multiple people working in the workstation, or just one? This can dictate the size and type of workstation that will be needed whether it’s a traditional cubicle, l-shaped workstation or something completely different.

Privacy – Is half-height or full-height better suited to the workspace? If you have people making sales calls noise can be a big factor so it might be better to go with a workstation the provides more privacy. If your business relies on collaboration then maybe it’s best to go with open concept workstations or half walls to give some privacy while still encouraging back and forth communication freely without technology.

Storage – Again this will depend on the situation of the workspace, if it’s a collaborative workspace then less storage might be needed versus an accounting department that is dealing with a constant paper trail. It’s best to do an analysis with your team and figure out how much storage is truly needed as this can be achieved either through the workstation or separate storage and filing units.

Style – Again it’s probably the first thing people look at and with good reason, pick a style that suits and blends the different personalities of the office but make sure to keep in mind the needs of the job when making your office workstation selections.

When looking for new or used furniture the office desk is one of the most important pieces as it is most likely going to be the centerpiece of the room. So what are some important things to consider when considering purchasing a new or used office desk?

Size – First and foremost the size of the desk is imperative and is based on your needs; do you need lots of space to spread papers, projects and other things out on? Or are you doing everything electronically and don’t need much desktop ‘real estate’. Also if it’s coming pre-assembled will you be able to get it through the door or into the space?

Assembled or Pre-assembled – Are you handy with tools? Or you don’t know your Robertson from your Phillips? Being able to assemble your own desk can be cost effective when buying new, but high quality used desks will typically always come pre-assembled and will often save you money and a lot of frustration messing around with screwdrivers and allan keys.

Height – Make sure your desk suits your needs, if you like to stand and work with papers, blueprints, etc a taller desk might be a better option, but if you sit all the time a lower or standard desk height might be best. Make sure to check to see if your chair will work with the desk, especially if you like being able to tuck your chair underneath your desk. Storage – Are you messy or are you neat? Drawer space is often a necessity for those who deal with large amounts of paper; it gives a space to put away items without messing up the aura of the office. A desk with no storage is typically recommended for those who are mostly digital in their work and don’t have a lot of paper that can quickly clutter an office desk.

Style – It’s going to be the centerpiece of the office, have some fun and pick a style that brings out your personality whether it’s a modern all glass desk or a classic Victorian heavy wood desk.

When looking for new or used furniture the office chair is probably the most important piece as it’s where you will probably spend most of your day. Picking an office chair is no different than picking a chair for your living room at home; they are just serving different purposes. So what should you be looking for:

Back Support – It helps to improve posture, which in turn will help you be more productive because you are comfortable, not experiencing stiffness or pain.

Seating – It’s all about padding and design. Make sure the seat is not going to cut off circulation to your legs (a straight edge chair can do that, so look for something more rounded or contoured at the front). Also choose a level of padding that suits your needs, a stiffer padding may be better in a boardroom where people need to remain focused, where a softer chair in the office will ensure those long hours are spent in productive comfort.

Width – If you don’t fit, then it’s not the right chair. Look for something that leaves adequate space between the armrests and your body. Also look at the width and adjustability of armrests; you’d be surprised how much better you might work with armrests that are suited to your arms. Narrow armrests can cause pressure pain much quicker leading to discomfort and lower productivity.

Height – We’re all different and having the right height chair can make all the difference in the world, so the chair should be able to raise or lower as needed.

Style – This is of course your main concern but don’t overlook the first four elements. There’s such a wide variety of used office chairs available that meeting style and comfort needs is easier than ever!

Envirotech Office Systems can help you pick out the perfect new or used office chair, give us a call today, 1-800-411-6585, or contact us online!

(BRAMPTON, ON) October 31, 2011 – Envirotech Office Systems is proud to announce that they will be celebrating fifteen years in business on November 07, 2011. To commemorate the occasion, we are giving away an iPad 2.

Over the last fifteen years, Envirotech Office Systems has grown to be Canada’s largest dealer of premium quality pre-owned and remanufactured contract furnishings, putting a focus on environmental responsibility since the very beginning. Currently, the company has 75,000 square feet of warehousing including millions of dollars in inventory, allowing Envirotech Office Systems to provide cost effective high-end office furnishings throughout the United States and Canada.

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When you think of executive office suites, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably a very large, dark, overwhelming piece that is very formal.  However, an executive desk, is really just a double pedestal desk with drawers on both sides.  This is applicable for workstations, U-shape desk suites, and L-shape desk suites.  In fact, any office desk that is 36" by 72", or larger, is considered to fall under the category "executive".  Often, media and advertisements would portray executive suites to be massive, dark, and very boss like figure.  What people don't know is that executive office suites comes in variety of  styles , which includes contemporary and traditional.

Recycling paper, glass, aluminum cans and other everyday products is now standard practice in homes and offices across America. But many consumers are unaware that office furniture is also a recyclable product. 

Think about it. The basic structure of most office furniture has a long life span. Instead of wearing out, it is often replaced because it has simply "uglied out." Color, fabric and other elements typically become worn or outdated over time. In the past, an office face-lift or a new color scheme meant old furnishings were given a life sentence in storage or doomed to the dumpster. 

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Every year businesses discard 3 million tons of office furniture creating enormous amounts of waste and an estimated $100 million in disposal costs, according to a US study. Manufacturing of office furniture is a $13-billion industry in Canada and its impact on the environment is significant: it contributes to the reduction of forest and mineral reserves through the extraction of natural resources. Moreover, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pollute the environment during the manufacturing process and, they may continue to be released and contribute to indoor air pollution after installation.

Green Building and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) programs in Canada, and newly adopted “green procurement” policies in North American corporations are designed to address this and other sustainability issues. Individual consumers and business organizations can choose to make a difference by selecting environmentally responsible products, and that includes office furniture.

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“Going green” means different things to different people. And businesses. There’s no question though, with sky high gas prices and concerns over climate change and air quality, that sustainability is a trend that’s here to stay.

This trend was underlined in a recent survey of 2,500 business professionals: over 50% of all respondents were interested in making their offices “greener.”

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