Introducing OpenSquare, formerly B&OI + BarclayDean. Better Together!

BANK & OFFICE, BARCLAYDEAN JOIN AS OPENSQUARE
Premier Seattle Office Furniture Dealership Announces New Brand Name

SEATTLE – August 13, 2013 – Bank & Office Interiors and BarclayDean Environments are pleased to announce their new official business name, OpenSquare, and company slogan, “Your workspace. Your workstyle.”

OpenSquare offers integrated services, inspired workplace solutions and high-quality office furniture supporting diverse workstyles for a wide variety of businesses across the Pacific Northwest.
The new name was selected to signify advancement beyond the cube with a focus on exceeding client expectations.

The words convey the following:

Open

• Open-minded support of a variety of clients and workstyles
• Opening up an array of possibilities for innovative workspaces
• Open dialogue by sharing new ideas and solutions for the future

Square

• A foundational shape in architecture and art, opens to innovation
• A town square symbolizes engagement and collaboration within the community
• “Squared” represents the exponential value of providing extraordinary client experiences

The top two commercial furnishing dealerships, Bank & Office Interiors and BarclayDean Environments, united in November 2012. The company’s official brand launched as OpenSquare on Tuesday, August 13, 2013.

The companies' combined leadership and workforce remain intact. Tim Jones will remain President and CEO, while Bank & Office Interiors’ Jeff Rospond and Kristi Jones, are joined by Scott Harrison and Valarie Schmidt of BarclayDean, as the executive leadership team of OpenSquare.

“Both organizations’ focus has always been on providing excellent customer service,” said Tim Jones. “United we have a depth and breadth of skill and resources that can take our customer service to an extraordinary level.”

“This new alliance is very exciting,” said Scott Harrison, OpenSquare Executive Director. “We are bringing together 140 years of expertise to inspire workspace innovation and provide clients with an extraordinary experience. Together we renew our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities in which we live and work.”

As a proud Steelcase Platinum Partner, OpenSquare engages Steelcase, customers and the community, to deliver exceptional value to the people and places they touch. Through Steelcase’s state-of-the-art products, vast research and knowledge about work environments and the ways people work, OpenSquare is armed with the tools to deliver extraordinary client experiences. OpenSquare establishes the highest industry standards for quality and performance in the Pacific Northwest.

About Bank & Office Interiors
Established in 1934, Bank & Office Interiors (B&OI) has grown to be the largest full-service office furnishings dealership in the region, providing innovative workspace solutions and office furnishings while maintaining a firm commitment to sustainability and community. B&OI cultivates a longstanding, integrated relationship with Steelcase, its primary manufacturer, which supports the vision of serving as a dynamic provider of effective space solutions.

About BarclayDean Environments
Since 1949, BarclayDean Environments has delivered quality office furniture and services founded on a value-centric corporate philosophy that includes good corporate citizenship, protecting the environment and supporting the Pacific Northwest business community. The company’s founder set out with a goal of helping regional companies create and furnish offices with quality building and specialty products. Today, this hallmark is realized and empowered through an investment in its people, technologies, tools and infrastructure.

Naming, Renaming, or Rebranding Your Company - Things to Think About!

As part of the planning team for B&OI/BarclayDean, I have been neck deep in the process of renaming our company. I feel it's one of the cooler parts of marketing - your brand image speaks volumes. And your name, if not supported properly, can be a dud. However, with the right amount of planning and care, naming or renaming your company can be a positive and successful experience. I searched the web for some expert  advice when it comes to naming your brand and thought these sites were beneficial.

I found this good resource from risingabovethenoise.com  on questions to ask yourself before rebranding: Why do we want to rebrand? What do we want to convey? Are we leading with our brand direction? Check out the full article here.

Learning from other's mistakes is also a great way to watch out for possible pitfalls. This article from rebrand.com looked at 20 mistakes marketers make when rebranding. Hint: It's not just about the logo. Click here to read the full article.

 And finally, this article from econsultancy.com offers 5 good tips for branding - and one I really stand behind. Plan early! This is not an easy process or something that occurs overnight. You can not plan too much for this event. And it is universal. Start-up looking for a new name or 75 year old company trying to get a refresh...plan! Click here for the full article.

After months and months of hard work and going back and forth with teams and thoughts and ideas...I am truly excited to start talking about our new brand (having brand advocates is important!!!). But what I learned from my experience is being prepared and knowing the full scope will make this effort a little less stressful.

Kendal

Start Up Companies and Office Furniture

 

Yesterday, I found an interesting infographic on twitter. It is a map of the USA with the top 7 locations for start-ups highlighted with costs (taken from Entrepreneur.com - check out the article!):



First - I love seeing Seattle on the map. We have such a great culture and innovative epicenter that the fact we're not number one is a little surprising...except that we're a little pricey. So I get it. I like Austin, too - it's just very, very hot.

Second, I happened to find a Steelcase article in their new 360 magazine called "Small Companies, Big Ideas" that looks at the structure of the small business and the need to create a culture.

Taken from Steelcase 360

Small businesses need to fight harder to get momentum and recognition in the beginning. Being involved in the community and identifying with their company is key to pushing forward from that small struggling start-up to that successful small company. So how does furniture enter into this?

'Space reinforces what makes each firm unique. “You really want your space to reflect who you are,” says Mueller. “You want clients to walk into the space and think, ‘Hey, this is really cool. I’m working with smart, interesting people.’ Everyone wants to feel good about the firm they hired, and your office can reinforce that feeling."' (taken from Steelcase 360)

Choosing pieces that are functional and fit the businesses personality can help achieve success. Your employees want to come to work - giving them the tools to excel will only add up in the log run. Turnstone is a great line for start-up businesses to consider. They love the spirit of the startup entrepreneur and aim to create furniture that fits their work style. Though there is nothing wrong with Ikea...there are better options that you can afford. Do not underestimate the power of pre-owned! You can score great pieces at more than half off that are merely "gently loved".

Post NeoCon Thoughts

Regard by Nurture featured at NeoCon

Hi Everyone!

As the excitement of NeoCon starts to die down and attendees take hours scrolling through notes and photos trying to remember the exhibits and people they met, I wanted to get some quick thoughts from the four B&OI/BD associates we had attend. Two were veterans. Two were newbies. All four had great things to say.

Lauren: A+D Specialist, first timer.
Describe NeoCon in one word: Debut
What was your favorite part of this year's NeoCon: The interesting shapes and ways to reclaim private space. Also, the heat formed felted panels!
What is one tip/words of wisdom you would give someone going on their first trip: Keep your eyes and ears open. Get tours from as many reps as possible. They speak great language giving you the highlights and "meat" up front.

Todd: Contract Sales Manager, veteran.
Describe NeoCon in one word: Interactions
What was your favorite part of this year's NeoCon: Connecting with customers, other dealers, Steelcase, and manufacturer reps.
What is one tip/words of wisdom you would give someone going on their first trip: You won’t be able to see/do everything, so you’ll need to be strategic and plan ahead.

Jack: Sales Representative, first timer
Describe NeoCon in one word: Innovative
What was your favorite part of this year's NeoCon: Of the show, it really was V.I.A. from Steelcase. Of the trip, it was filling an item on my bucket list by attending a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.
What is one tip/words of wisdom you would give someone going on their first trip: Plan, plan, plan. Make sure you talk to someone with a lot of Neocon experience about how to get the most out of it.

Hal: Sales Team, veteran
Describe NeoCon in one word: Inspirational
What was your favorite part of this year's NeoCon: Seeing the various interpretations of the future workplace.
What is one tip/words of wisdom you would give someone going on their first trip: Wear comfortable shoes.

Lauren taking a moment to test out some furniture

NEOCON 2013 - Here We Come!

B&OI/BD are NEOCON veterans...but that doesn't mean it doesn't help to brush up on the do's and don'ts from time to time. I'm pulling out an old blog from the archive to help refresh those attending, both new and old, on how to handle this amazing event!

NEOCON 2013 is being held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago from June 10th - 12th. This is the premier tradeshow to go to if you're in the interior design / furniture industry for office, healthcare, educational, hospitality, GSA/gov, and retail. With amazing vendors showcasing their latest wares, this is the place to be to see the latest and greatest designs and schmooze with clients and vendors alike.

Check out NEOCON's official website here.
And follow them on twitter: @NeoCon

The bonus, of course, is that this is being held in an amazing city that offers a variety of shows, restaurants, and extra-curricular activities to attend. Besides the parties the vendors are throwing, you can catch an act at The House of Blues. Or, if you're in town for the weekend (10-12th), hit up the FREE Blues Festival.

And don't forget your restaurants!!!

The thing to remember with NEOCON is that it is a 3 day marathon of your senses. You're going to be meeting people, seeing tons of new designs, entertaining clients, being entertained, and you need to do it all in 72 hours (don't forget to sleep!). It sounds like enough time, right? It isn't. B&OI has been going to NEOCON for the past 15 years and every year they schedule as much as humanly possible in...it's an amazing feat.

Newbie tips
1. Research! Don't go in without knowing what you're coming up against. The show is on multiple floors and you're going to want to know where the vendors you're going to see are located
2. Start reserving restaurants now. Really? Yes. I tried to make reservations last year around this time and couldn't get into 2 popular restuarants...you can not just show up with 5 people on Tuesday night.
3. Prepare! There are a lot of parties and special events going on. Know which ones you can get to if they're off site of the Mart. Check with your reps and vendors - they should know!
4. If something falls through, don't stress! A lot can go right at this event, but sometimes, things go a little haywire. Being prepared and knowing back up plans is a great way to avoid stress and frustration.
5. Have fun! This is an amazing event and enjoy it and Chicago while you're there!

Enjoy!

~ Kendal

B&OI / BarclayDean 4th Floor Installation

With the merger and continued growth of our company, B&OI/BD had to expand. We chose a space in the Seattle Design Center one floor down from our current location. This new space holds our design team, coordinators, and accountants. Check out some fun pictures and great products!

This is a great collaboration space featuring Coalesse

Our "phone booth" space - privacy with room for flexibility

 

The artwork we received from Ghana fully framed!

 

Look at this fun space! Modern industrial at its finest!

 

Designer's station



Coordinator's Space

 

Not the best shot of the furniture, but look at that view! Hello Seattle!!!

Better, more professional photos are in the works. But I am so excited about how great this space has come together!

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New IIDA VP of Campus Centers

CONGRATULATIONS JAYNE LEIGHTY!

B&OI/BarclayDean associate Jayne Leighty has received this prestigious honor: the VP of Campus Centers. According to the IIDA website, "Campus Centers provide an environment for the development and exchange of knowledge among students, educators, administration and design professionals. Participation in a Campus Center adds further value to your student membership because it involves working closely with your local IIDA Chapter or City Center to develop programs and events." Bella, a coworker of Jayne's, noted "Jayne is 1 of 2 design students chosen in four years to be honored in the Art Institutes Hall of Fame (graduating with honors). Past honorees include the guy who designed the Iron Man costumes, a culinary student who won Iron Chef, and a fashion student who was on Project Runway."

We completely agree with that statement. Congrats again!!!

Giving Back to Your Community

When B&OI and BarclayDean merged last year, one of the things that the B&OI associates were looking forward to was the philanthropic nature of our new counterparts. BD was known throughout the Bellevue and Seattle region as a very giving organization and devoted to the programs they were a part of. From Junior Achievement to Youth Eastside, Swedish to Providence Hospitals - we have maintained that level of dedication to continue our effort to support our community.

As a company, a locally owned and operated company at that, we feel we have a duty and our proud to give back. However, each company is different in what they can provide (a start-up versus an established 20+ year company may not have the resources to attend a dinner gala where tables start at $3000). But getting your company behind a few causes or local events is a great way to not only help out, but also promote team building. Here are just a few examples of things you can incorporate into your company culture.

1. Charity races and walkathons. These usually take place on the weekends and can be a great way to promote bonding and fundraising. Maybe the company can pay half entrance fee for each runner. Maybe you do internal fundraising for a select team. There are so many different races that benefit research and non-profits, you can reach out to employees and ask which organizations they want to donate to and plan accordingly.

2. YWCA / YMCA donations - Our local YWCA does an amazing job collecting donations around the holidays for children and families. From Valentine's baskets to Thanksgiving baskets, you can have you office adopt a family to help out. Donate 1 basket or donate 20. There are many charity organizations that do this and doing a google/bing/yahoo search of the area can bring you in contact with one.

3. Bowlathons/Golf Tournaments - currently, B&OI/BD has partnered with Junior Achievement (www.jawashington/bowling.org) to raise money for their educational programs (and their organization is international, so there may be a branch in your area). But I also know that Sleep Country USA partners with the local foster care program -another worthy and great cause (http://www.pajamabowl.com/)! Each individual raises money to meet the team goal and bonds over brews and bowling. Or why not check out which local charities are holding a golf tournament? We know of quite a few in our region that hosts for a specific cause and are also a great time!

4. Habitat for Humanity - I know if seems obvious, but this could be a great way for your company to give back. Why not offer a paid day off for your office to go build a house for a local family in need. It offers your workers a way to get away from the daily grind and work together for a great cause - almost like a retreat without the scavenger hunt.

There may already be organizations/non-profits that you're thinking about supporting - this is a great way to give back to your community and tie it in to your company culture. Make that 12K race an annual tradition! Know that every year around the holidays, you will hold a coat drive. Simple things make big differences and giving back to your community makes you feel good.

Event Alert! IIDA on March 28th!

 

 

B&OI / BarclayDean is a proud member and sponsor of IIDA and we are excited for next week's great event on Corporate Responsibility.

 

The event includes breakfast, networking, and of course, a great speaker:

 

"Speaker Vincent Stanley, co-author of The Responsible Company, is Patagonia’s vice president of marketing and has been with the company on and off since its inception in 1973. For the past eight years he has focused on the intersection of the company’s brand, sport and environmental stories. He has helped initiate and produce the Footprint Chronicles, the Common Threads Partnership; and Patagonia Books".

 

Event Date: March 28, 2013

Event Time: 8 am – 11 am

Location: Hyatt Olive 8

 

Tickets are still available for this great event (click on the picture) and we will definitely be there to learn and interact. Will you?



 

 

Advanced Educational Furniture and Technology

Today, our company went to the University of Washington's supplier fair where the various vendors showcase their products and hopefully get new sales. This is a great opportunity to highlight both new and old items to the members of the University who need these tools to make their workday a whole lot easier.

Fortunately for us, Steelcase has a wide range of products that fit in great at UW(as well as many other schools and universities) that we feel will keep paving the way for updated classrooms. Click on the names to go directly to their product page for more in-depth information.

 

Verb is an integrated collection of classroom furniture designed to support a full range of teaching and learning styles on demand.  

 

Node is designed for quick, easy transitions from one teaching mode to the next. A classroom can transition from lecture mode to team mode and back again, without interruption.

 

 

Fuse, the all-in-one digital visualizer, is a document camera to display and annotate over live demonstrations, web camera to connect with other classrooms and scanner to capture student work.

 

 

Through the integration of furniture and technology, media:scape is reshaping the way people collaborate in a connected world.

 

Have you seen these out in your schools? I know Gonzaga has the media:scape in their library...let us know!



 

Tired Eye Syndrome or Your Eyes vs. The Office

As I sat in the eye doctor's office this morning, my eyes dilated and scratchy, corneas yelling at me for wearing my contacts too long, too often, etc., all I could think about was having to wear my dumb glasses for the next 2 weeks and how I was going to run my race on Saturday with my dumb glasses tied to my head (I then went and bought less dumb glasses and talked the optometrist into letting me wear single use lenses for a few hours race day...whoot!).. What I wasn't thinking about was how much pain I'd be in when I get back to work and the amount of strain I put on my eyes normally.

We stare at our monitors and portable devices for hours and it does have serious impact on our comfort. Take a second and ask yourself, do you regularly get the following symptoms?

• burning
• dry and strained eyes
• headache
• neck ache
• blurred vision

My neck and head constantly hurt throughout the day. I try to get up every 50 minutes but a lot of the time I'm deep in a project and the pile just gets higher. I do sit to stand at my desk, but that doesn't give my eyes a chance to rest. Here are a few tips good tips I found to help alleviate computer eyestrain.

1. Take a break. I know I said it's hard to pull away from the pile, but between the two articles I read, this is the highest on the list. IPN Lighting suggests that "if you can't leave your desk, lean back, close your eyes and relax".

2. Use proper lighting. Both sites have this as number 2 on the list and as a person who works in a dimmer area,, I definitely get the importance of having better light. If you can get away from overhead fluorescent lighting, that would be ideal. if not, see if you can get "the current fluorescent tubes with "full spectrum" fluorescent bulbs designed to be more similar to natural sunlight and therefore more comforting to the eyes than conventional fluorescent lighting".

3. Air Dry? Get humidity. "Natural plants in your workspace can increase humidity as well as control dust and other irritating particles".

4. Upgrade computer display settings. By adjusting the display, it can help to alleviate eye strain. Look at brightness, text size and font, and color temperatures.

All About Vision (article here) and IPN Lighting (article here) wrote great informational pieces with a few more tips. Check them out!

Let us know the tricks or tips you use to reduce eye strain in a message below.

Thanks!

Kendal

Telecommuting and your Business - Can it Work?

Today, I read an interesting article from Eric V. Holtzclaw on inc.com about increased productivity away from the office and why businesses should adopt this practice. In his article, Secret to Increased Productivity: Don't Come to the Office, he writes that "in my conversation with my business owner friends, their biggest objection to telecommuting was reduced productivity. But in the same breath most admitted they spend a lot of time on work outside the office, often accomplishing a great deal. Their barrier was pretty basic: a lack of trust in their employees".

A few weeks ago, Turnstone wrote a blog titled Confessions of a Remote Worker - The First 90 Days.  The head of Marketing for the company wrote about how he, located in Atlanta, was able to telecommute for his company, located in Michigan, at a local co-working space. Though there were some initial fears, he has been able to create a positive, and productive, environment for himself and his company.

Holtzclaw's article helps to calm the nerves of the business owner and provide a way to enable and evaluate workers. His key points were:
1. Use it to your advantage - provide distinction for what a telecommuting day is.
2. Trust, but verify - have clear ground rules about office participation from home
3. Quantify: Has productivity gone up? Sales made, phone calls made, etc.
4. Know when it's not working - it takes adjustment and evaluation but can be successful when done right

Turnstone's article is about how the worker can be productive. Key tips include:
- Determine what types of calls you’ll likely be involved in remotely before evaluating technology tools; will most be with one other person, or large groups?
- Use in-office time for face-to-face meetings; clear your calendar of anything else that can be done just as easily from home later.
- Test a variety of screen sharing tools, and don’t be afraid to consider new ones as they hit the market; with more remote workers in the workplace every day, it’s a competitive field!

Both articles show the highlights of a positive telecommuting experience, though I haven't researched for negatives. Are you allowed to telecommute? Have you had positive or negative experiences? Let us know in the comments section!

Kendal

Networking - The Joys of Schmoozing

The benefits of living in a larger city like Seattle is that there are a ton of events, clubs, societies, organizations, non-profits that you can be a part of to help get your brand (and yourself) out there to potential clients. It's more than just "showing up" to the event, handing out and receiving business cards, and doing basic follow-ups. If done correctly, this could be extremely beneficial for your business and yourself.

Here are some tips to help create a plan for your 2013 networking:

1. Do a full search of clubs, organizations, etc in your community: your local chamber is a great start, but there may be specific clubs that hit key aspects of your business that you weren't aware existed. Also thinking outside the box like going to a Young Entrepreneur Meeting or finding a charity to join. The website, meetup.com, has also been creating clubs that may be worth exploring (depending on your area).

2. Be prepared to spend money: Networking is not particularly cheap. If you're hitting a lunch and learn, an evening networking event and then happen to hit a social event, you could be spending anywhere from $15 - $100 per event. Once you've found the organizations you want to be a part of, look at their events calendar and see which is most beneficial to your networking needs. Also consider becoming a member - there are a lot of benefits that come from joining including space on their website and email blasts, special sponsorship opportunities, and special events.

3. Be prepared to spend time: If not planned out properly, you could be spending a lot of your evenings at networking events. Some last an hour and a half over lunch, others are 4 hour event galas - it's good to know what you're planning for yourself and promising others to be a part of.

4. Don't make rookie mistakes: It would seem a no-brainer, but you walk in and are surrounded by strangers. It's open bar with great appetizers and feels extremely social.Don't forget you're there to meet people for professional reasons! Make sure you have your business cards with you. Have a brief, more casual, elevator pitch to discuss what you do - and don't be afraid to mingle! Also, don't be too tempted by the bar! Knowing that some events are more social (Thirsty Thursday) and some have more corporate tones (Business After Hours) is great before walking through the door.

Above all else, if you find you've gone to an event once or twice and you're not gaining anything from it, move on! Finding the right networking opportunities to help grow your connections is what you're aiming for. Networking can create leads, so make sure to follow-up with people you meet.

Happy Schmoozing!

Privacy in the Office

Happy New Year! I hope you had a great evening and day bringing in 2013! As we look towards what will hopefully be another great year, I encourage you to check out some some cool resolutions to make for yourself. Personally I have a hard time keeping to one for a whole year, but knowing I promised myself to be healthier, be happier, and grow professionally, checking in on some of these will be good.
Health: http://buff.ly/Uzujv2 (from Fitness Magazine)
Life: buff.ly/UzvbQm  (from Inc Magazine)
Work: buff.ly/YQz0Eh  http://buff.ly/UhlWBL  http://buff.ly/Uy1wYE  http://buff.ly/WNjjK5  - from Bank & Office Interiors/BarclayDean, Turnstone, and Inc Magazine

Today's blog is on finding privacy in the office and incorporating an old concept to integrate within the ever changing office floorplan - the telephone booth:

My office space kind of looks like one with a sliding glass door and smaller size. Turnstone just wrote a great blog (with some very cool pictures and ideas) highlighting the benefits of this small, private space. The modular style area would be great for personal phonecalls, deals that are sensitive in nature (for example, your company is merging with another and you're making super secret plans to throw a mixer for it...),group meeting space for 2-3 employees, and even phone/skype meetings. Working in an open space plan provides few options for these types of situations and instead of using the 1 conference room, creating a private area could be worth it.

Check out Turnstone's blog for some cool ideas for your office - I personally like the pods.

Kendal