Cool Chairs For The Office

Yesterday, we had Paula from Coalesse show the sales team the cool Hosu chair. Sleek, multi-use, and comfy...what more could you want in your office? Today's blog will showcase 3 other cool chairs that would make your workspace a little more versatile.

1. Hosu from Coalesse - http://www.coalesse.com/products/hosu/

Personally, I'd like that entire set up. Lamp, cute table, open space with concrete walls for the industrial office feel. "Hosu encourages spreading out. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, this unique work lounge creates a comforting personal space to relax and get things done".

2. Big Lounge by Turnstone - http://myturnstone.com/products/big-lounge/

The Campfire series from Turnstone is great furniture for collaboration or solo time. Comfy, cool colors, modern - the Big Lounge is perfect for any office or school setting. " Big Lounge is just as good a place to work and generate big ideas as it is laze and loiter."

3. Emu by Coalesse - www.coalesse.com/products/emu-heaven-seating/

It may look like I'm playing favorites, but I really enjoy Coalesse's seating line. And emu is no exception. This indoor/outdoor chair creates an architectural dreamland of smooth lines and sophisticated style. Sigh. "A lounge chair, along with cafe armchair and side chair, comprise the chair selection; a coordinating upholstered stool is also available."

  4. C.R. Lounge by Davis - http://www.davisfurniture.com/product-details/C-R-Lounge/22/1

I think this is a chair that impresses upon first glance. It looks cool - maybe it's uncomfortable? There's only one way to find out...nope! it's perfect. This year, it won a silver medal at NEOCON . "The large, inviting seat appears to open up as you draw closer, beckoning you to relax in its warm embrace".

Have a suggestion for a cool, unique, comfy, inviting, must have chair? Leave a comment and let me know!

~ Kendal

Happy Thanksgiving

As we take tomorrow as a day of reflection, a time where we look at our life and all the things we're thankful for, I wanted to take this opportunity to send out a very Happy Thanksgiving to your and your family! B&OI/BarclayDean is successful because our customers choose to do projects with us. And for that, we are extremely grateful.

Best wishes for a happy holiday season!

Party Time! A Successful Celebration!

On Nov. 1st, we announced to our company that we would be getting bigger. That BarclayDean would be joining us and that we would "inspire workplace innovation, together". Then we decided to celebrate. Not only did we have a successful "mixer" of the new associates, but we also celebrated Steelcase's 100 year Anniversary, as well. It was quite the shindig, and I have visual proof of it.

First, the mixer. Held at Urban Enoteca in SoDo, we had appetizers and beverages as we mingled and mixed with our new coworkers. The thing about being in the furniture industry though is it's highly likely you have worked with these people in the past. And many had...



 

Tim Jones and Scott Harrison

 

Then, of course, the 100 Year Anniversary Party! So much fun!!!  We had our own "Dream Wall" where people wrote their thoughts about the future of technology and the workplace. We had quite the variety of ideas - and it looked great!

But there was also food, drinks and raffle prizes!!!

We'll be announcing our new name in January 2013 with a full renovation of our showroom (as well as a new office on the 4th floor of the design center). That means another party already in the planning for next year. Want to see more pictures??? Leave a message - I have tons!





BANK & OFFICE INTERIORS AND BARCLAYDEAN JOIN TOGETHER

SEATTLE’S LEADING OFFICE FURNITURE DEALERSHIPS,

BANK & OFFICE INTERIORS AND BARCLAYDEAN, JOIN TOGETHER

SEATTLE (Nov. 2, 2012) – Bank & Office Interiors and Barclay Dean announced yesterday that they are joining together to better serve customers with combined innovative workspace solutions and products along with an enhanced level of service. The two companies unite embracing the vision of “Inspiring workspace innovation, together.”

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

Tim Jones will remain President and CEO, while Bank & Office Interiors’ Jeff Rospond and Kristi Jones will join Scott Harrison and Valarie Schmidt of Barclay Dean to form the new executive leadership team. Both teams have joined goals of corporate citizenship within the community and exceeding customer service expectations.

All employee positions will be retained as a result of the companies’ uniting. The new company will continue to support its many clients throughout the region with Headquarters located in the Seattle Design Center. A new brand name and identity is set to be unveiled before January 2013.

“This new alliance is very exciting,” says Scott Harrison, CEO of Barclay Dean. “We are bringing together 140 years of experience 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.”

Both organizations have a strong relationship with Steelcase Inc., the global leader in the office environments industry; and both excel in quality practices, each having received Steelcase Exemplary Performance awards. The new entity will remain an authorized Steelcase dealer as the two companies come together.

About Bank & Office Interiors

Founded in 1934, Bank & Office Interiors has relationships with many local and multinational organizations creating dynamic workspaces that aid collaboration and drive productivity. The company also offers services through the Workspace Development brand like its innovative Integrated Project Delivery program. Its 130 employees provide services throughout the state of Washington with dedicated focus in the Greater Puget Sound Region and Spokane. For additional information visit: www.bankandoffice.com  and www.workspacedevelopment.com.

About Barclay Dean

Barclay Dean, founded in 1949, is currently headquartered in Bellevue, WA with nearly 60 employees. Its business is focused on providing innovative workplace environments that enhance customers’ business results. The company is strongly engrained in the community through professional engagements, non-profit organization leadership and participation in company-wide volunteer projects. For additional information, visit www.barclaydean.com

Media Contact:

Kristi Jones

206.768.8000

kjones@bankandoffice.com

# # #

100 Years Series: L.L. Bean

Welcome back to the final edition of the 100 years series! So far we've visited Steelcase, Girl Scouts and Oreos - all national organizations with rich histories and a determination to stay relevant and beneficial for another 100 years...and then some. Today's organization fits right in to this category...literally.

L.L. Bean is a well known shoe and clothing line for the outdoorsy type. However, this should not deter you from checking out some amazing products that have been providing warmth and protection from the elements to its owners since 1912. It originally started with the Maine boot that Leon Leonwood Bean invented in 1911. In 1912, L.L. Bean launched by sending a mailer out for "novel hunting shoes" - this led to their first 100 orders. Within 5 years they branched out into clothing - a hunting jacket to go with the hunting boot - and their mail order company began to thrive!

Some other notable events:

• They patented the Maine Hunting Shoe in 1921 after modifications by Winfield A Given were made
• In 1928, Ernest Hemingway recommended L.L. Bean hunting boots in a letter to a friend
• In 1960, Ted Williams (baseball legend) sends L.L. Bean a letter offering to buy the company. L.L. declined the offer.
• The Coty Award - "fashion's oscar" (1975) goes to the Allagash Hat (amongst other items).
• 1976, L.L. Bean got it's own zip code
• In 1995, llbean.com launched
• In 2010, online orders eclipsed catalog orders for the first time.

To find out more information on L.L. Bean's history (or to go shopping for some boots!), click here!

I hope you've enjoyed the heritage and history of some great American organizations. Though there are quite a few others that have turned 100, as well (check out wiki for a bigger list), we wanted to share in the celebration we're having with Steelcase with a few favorites. Did we miss one you really liked? Leave a comment and I'll try to do a history check for next week.

100 Years Series: OREO

Good Morning and welcome back to the 100 Years Series. Just to catch up, we are celebrating one of our favorite vendor's - Steelcase - 100 Year Anniversary (which we're celebrating Nov. 8th with great party - contact us for more information!) by looking at their past and future. They've achieved so much and have such a great theme. If you haven't seen it yet, check out there site: http://100.steelcase.com/.

After talking about Steelcase in week 1, we visited one of my favorite childhood memories - the Girl Scouts. Their history is rooted deep in tradition and respected what the girls and women of the world can do. Read last weeks post for info and then check out some facts about them here: http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/facts/

This week we visit what we're told is "Milk's favorite cookie". Oreo was made by Nabisco (a division of Kraft foods) in 1912 at the Chelsea Factory in NYC. The name was trademarked on March 14th, 1912.

The original design was set to look like a wreath  with the name "oreo" in the center. The newer design we see today was created in 1952 by William A. Turnier.

Did you know the Oreo Cookie has been renamed a few times? Originally, it was the Oreo Biscuit. In 1921, it was renamed the "Oreo Sandwich". In 1948, it was called the Oreo Creme Sandwich only to be changed in 1974 to the Oreo Chocolate Sandwich. Now, as far as I can tell, we call them Oreo cookies.  

Over the years, Oreos have been keeping busy. They've become international (mostly in the last 10 years) with great success. They changed their size (mini oreos, double stuf'd oreos), added some flavors (Neapolitan oreos, green tea, strawberry), they even got into baked goods and ice cream. And they continue to be a favorite as they market to the next generation of kids and adults.

For more information, I highly recommend checking out the Wiki site - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreo - and then visiting Oreo's online http://brands.nabisco.com/Oreo/birthday/. Play some games, share your birthday, take a pic of yourself dunking and oreo old school style...and do what their slogan says: "celebrate the kid inside".

Oreo, we wish you a very happy 100th birthday and look forward to many, many more!

~ Kendal

100 Years Series: Girl Scouts

Welcome back to our 100 years series that looks at a handful of great organizations that are hitting 100 years in 2012. Last week, we covered Steelcase (one of our favorite vendors) and gave a brief over of their history and awesome firsts!. Today's organization...Girl Scouts! Who are celebrating "the year of the girl".

As a girl scout member from 1989-1994 (troop #316 from Milford, CT, representing!), I have fond memories of camping and silly songs and crafts. Marching in the parade and learning about assembly lines and teamwork. It was a fun and rewarding experience and one that I cherish and hope to offer future generations. But the history and motto of the organization, as well as its evolution and continued effort to provide more options and education to girls is truly wonderful.

"Girl Scouts is dedicated to every girl, everywhere". - probably my favorite quote from the website

I am taking the rest of my information from their website: http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/facts/ - there is waaay to much information to share, and so I highly recommend taking time to go through it yourself. But here are the general facts:

Girl Scout Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

100 Years
Founder Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout Troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga.

An American Institution
Girl Scouts of the USA was chartered by the U.S. Congress on March 16, 1950.

Still Growing Strong
Today, there are 3.2 million Girl Scouts—2.3 million girl members and 890,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers.

Empowering Girls
In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships, girls grow courageous and strong. Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.

At Home and Abroad
Girls at home and abroad participate in troops and groups in more than 92 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas, and over 100 local Girl Scout councils offer girls the opportunity for membership across the United States.

An International Family
Through its membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.

A Pivotal Part of Women's History
More than 59 million American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during their childhood—and that number continues to grow as Girl Scouts of the USA continues to inspire, challenge, and empower girls everywhere.

 Such an amazing organization and one which will continue to change the lives of girls everywhere!