The Business of Furniture | January 25, 2023 BoF
Top Eight Workplace Trends for 2023
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The Business of Furniture January 25, 2023 BoF HIGHLIGHTS <22 9to5 Seating Wins Four GOOD DESIGN Awards “Last year, 9to5 Seating received three prestigious GOOD DESIGN Awards and to receive four awards this year is representative of our continued commitment to providing high-design products to the market that are both functional and attainable,” said Dara Mir, President and CEO of 9to5 Seating. 28 Finch Takes Flight Byrne’s clever new accessory is perfectly positioned to elevate any space with easily-accessible power from both the front and back. 32 Allsteel Moves Sales Organization to Chicago 36 Years In The Making: The McKenzie Family’s Continued Investment In Watson’s Future 40 STEPHEN SAYS: Is Your Email Address Costing You a Job? Before we get into the fun and games, let me just point out why the email address on resumes is so important. 46 Louis Poulsen Appointment of CEO, US and Canada 48 Formica Celebrates 110th Anniversary 58 KAI Enterprises and The UP Companies CEO Michael Kennedy, Jr. Named a 2023 St. Louis Titan 100
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The Business of Furniture January 25, 2023
COLUMNS Stephen Says 40 Is Your Email Address Costing You a Job? & MORE Regional News 34 Industry Shares/Graphs 60 Upcoming Events 62 Classifieds 70 Looking For Energetic Sales Professional 24 | Framery Builds Best-In-Class Hybrid Workspaces with Logitech All-in-one video conference set-ups equip the office for effective and intuitive hybrid work.
7 |Now Repping
08 |Upfront
09 |Product Spotlight
12 | Top Eight Workplace Trends for 2023 A company culture that prioritizes employee health and wellbeing has the best chance of attracting and retaining top talent, as well as amplifying the employee experience.
44 | As New Year Rings in, Wyatt Seating Celebrates with New Staff and Promotions As operations continue to grow, a trusted leader in seating solutions promotes new VP, adds fresh talent to operation.
52 | Choosing Color, Materiality and Design The Davis Color Story continues to expand with the release of the Aurora Leather Collection.
64 PLACES Nestlé Offices – Jakarta | The Customer Engagement Centre for Nestlé Professional is designed for team meetings and training sessions with customers.
66 INDUSTRY PULSE Ware Malcomb - Yamini Mudaliar/ FK Architecture - John Anderson, Linda Rodriguez, and Hamilton Carias / Momentum Textiles
71 FIRST LOOKS Kirei Unveils Geo Collection of Printed Acoustic Panels / Flos Skynest: Hypnotizing Woven Light
5 The Business of Furniture | Subscribe at bellowpress.com | January 25, 2023 - Paul Cleary / Hollman - Sue Hwang / Material Bank Expands Global Presence
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Landscape Forms Appoints Annette Baubie as Business Development Representative for British Columbia Ɇ Landscape Forms announced the appointment of Annette Baubie as Business Development Representative for the British Columbia, Canada region.
Baubie brings to Landscape Forms over 25 years of experience in the furniture industry, working extensively with architecture and design professionals, contractors, and end users alike. She is a passionate problem-solver, developing close relationships with her clients, identifying their objectives, and analyzing their needs to bring unique visions to life. She has an immense appreciation for great design, deriving deep inspiration from beautiful, functional projects and the forward thinkers who create them.
She currently resides in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island but will soon relocate to the Lower Mainland. In her free time, she enjoys culinary experimentation, yoga, and time spent in nature hiking, sailing and scuba diving. BoF
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At Bellow Press we deliver a platform to reach facility managers, specifiers, interior designers, reps and dealers who seek insightful, strategic coverage of the contract furnishings industry as a front-and-center concern. We cover the industry from a strategic point of view, concentrating on quality analysis and independently written articles, helping you understand the business better. Our competitive edge lies within its highly targeted and fully paid subscriber base - you’re investing to reach an extremely qualified audience. It’s more affordable on a per-page basis than broad interior design based monthly publications, and it’s more affordable on a CPM basis than in-market publica - tions. Better yet, none of your media buy is wasted: we pinpoint the industry professionals who are specifically focused on contract furnishings.
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BoF BOS Orlando Names New Executive Team
BOS, a 100% ESOP, full-service Haworth Preferred Office Furniture Dealership, is pleased to announce new executive leadership as Robert Bagley, III joins Mike Berry. Bagley brings over 20 years of commercial interiors experience to his new position having served in sales leadership roles at companies like Shaw and Mohawk. An experienced growth catalyst, Bagley has helped large public and private businesses with hands-on P&L, building high-performing cross-functional teams and cohesive, transformational cultures. Mike Berry spent more than 20 years at Florida Business Interiors before it was acquired by BOS Holdings in 2016. He spent another four and a half years as general manager of BOS Orlando before relocating out of state shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Berry returned to Lake Mary and BOS in June of 2022. BOS is thrilled to have both Berry and Bagley leading the team together in Orlando and looks forward to the positive impact they will have on clients, partners and the community. “Mike has been fundamental in delivering operational excellence in the Orlando market and Robert’s fresh perspective and vast experience will accelerate growth and allow us to cultivate a strong team for the future,” said George Pfeiffer, CEO of BOS Holdings. BOS Orlando is a subsidiary of BOS Holdings, which is 100% Employee Owned with offices, inspiration centers, and warehouses in Orlando, Tampa, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Roselle, Illinois. BOS is one of the largest Haworth dealerships in the world and has been in business for 75 years. BoF 8 The Business of Furniture | Subscribe at bellowpress.com | January 25, 2023
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Introducing Spinni by Division Twelve The bent metal furniture brand takes on the classic drafting stool, with a twist. Ɇ Division Twelve announced the launch of Spinni, the latest product in the company’s ever-growing collection of bent metal furniture. Take one spin and you’ll feel like a kid again — minus the strict bedtimes and constant dirt on your face, of course. A playful twist on the practical drafting stool, Spinni is supportive, stylish, and takes sitting to a whole new level. This marks a first for the brand: Spinni is the first Division Twelve product to feature a seat that swivels a full 360°. Plus, it’s carbon neutral. So not only can you spin around and around if you want to, you can also feel really good about your minimal environmental impact while you do it.
“With Spinni, we wanted to create a unique swivel barstool that provides a warm, residential feeling to contract and hospitality spaces,” said Mike Keilhauer, president of Division Twelve. “Spinni is simple yet beautiful, providing big comfort with minimalist design elements.” Like all past launches, Spinni is a collaboration between Division Twelve and an innovative, exciting designer in the industry — this time, the partnership is with
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
celebrated Canadian designer Thom Fougere. When designing Spinni, Fougere was inspired by the work of the American artist Ellsworth Kelly, which informed the geometric shapes of the chair. Take one look at this modern chair and you’ll see it immediately — Spinni’s backrest is a rectangle, the footrest and seat are circles, and the angle of the legs mimic the shape of a triangle. Division Twelve’s vibrant color palette of 20- plus powder coats allows you to play with color just like an influential artist when designing your own Spinni.
“The soft geometric forms [in Kelly’s work] and their relationship to one another informed the shape of Spinni’s seat and backrest, as well as their gentle relationship to each other,” said Fougere. “My intention behind this point of inspiration was to bring a new form to the common stool seating typology that visually communicates both comfort and elegance.” Spinni is available in two standard heights, barstool and counter. Spinni features a unique T back detail that both showcases the bent metal construction while also providing support. All Spinni models come with an upholstered seat and back, available in any Division Twelve textile. Spinni’s steel and textiles are fully recyclable, our seat foam contains bio-based ingredients, and its seating is BIFMA LEVEL® 2 certified and Indoor Air Quality certified at the Indoor Advantage Gold level. Spinni also features an eco-friendly powder coating process that limits VOC emissions in its metal frames. Thom Fougere studied architecture at the University of Manitoba before working in furniture, product design, and architecture. In 2010, he was appointed Creative Director at Canadian design house EQ3. In 2015, Thom Fougere established his studio offering full design services in furniture design, product design, architecture, and creative direction. His work has been exhibited internationally at design fairs in Milan, Stockholm, New York, Montréal, and Toronto. BoF
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INDUSTRY FABRIC
Bernie Gordon
Pictured with his family. Ɇ Bernie Gordon, Co-founder of Wolf-Gordon and beloved father of former Executive Vice President David Gordon, recently passed away. Living to 98 years old, Bernie led a fulfilling life and career; soon after WWII, Bernie joined Gilford, Inc. with Mel Wolf until starting their own company in 1967 with the help of salesmen Tony Prota and Frank Carr. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Bernie, and are grateful for the legacy he left behind,” said Rick Wolf, CEO. Bernie was at the forefront of the movement to use fabric backed vinyl as wallcovering, understanding that the commercial market needed high performance finishes. Leading the product design and development until retirement in 1991, Bernie passed over his responsibilities to his son, David Gordon. Bernie and his wife, Reva, proceeded to move to Delray, Florida where they enjoyed a long and peaceful retirement. In 1994, two of the founders’ sons—Rick Wolf and David Gordon—became President/CEO and Executive Vice President, respectively, and catalyzed a period of national growth by way of product and brand design. Interviewed in Wolf-Gordon’s 2017 publication, Sample Book: 50 Years of Interior Finishes , Bernie stated, “I’m proud of what we did when we were running the place, and I’m proud of the natural evolution that has taken place at the company since then. In order to stay in business, you have to keep coming up with new things, and that’s why Wolf-Gordon now commits so many resources to design.” BoF
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Top Eight Workplace Trends for 2023 A COMPANY CULTURE THAT PRIORITIZES EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELLBEING HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF ATTRACTING AND RETAINING TOP TALENT, AS WELL AS AMPLIFYING THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE.
Contributed by Spacestor
W ith many companies encouraging returns to the office and others shifting to remote work, the office and its purpose has changed and businesses across the globe are moving to prioritize flexibility, empathy and wellbeing. Another year has drawn to a close and if there’s one thing that we’ve learned throughout 2022, it’s that the role of the workplace is continuing to evolve quicker
than ever before. With many companies encouraging returns to the office and others shifting to remote work, the office and its purpose has changed and businesses across the globe are moving to prioritize flexibility, empathy and wellbeing. With all that we’ve learned, it’s time to focus on the future as we look at the top eight trends that we expect to see dominate the workplace in 2023.
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1. Commute-worthy Workspaces The office is no longer an obligation for employees who can largely choose how and where to work – but in 2023 we’ll see more workers deem it a preference. The only way to get employees back into the office is by making it a commute-worthy destination space that stands out. Through designing attractive workspaces that burst with personality, culture, amenities and functionality, employees are likely to choose to commute to the office and employers who invest in their environment will reap the benefits. Fresh from the ‘Great Resignation’, more and more organizations looked to their workspaces to help with staff retention and beating their competitors to the pick of the
talent pool. Noting that remote workers had struggled with loneliness, lack of belonging and feeling disconnected, companies are moving to create a destination space that encourages community and culture through providing inviting, relaxed and supportive environments, that are a genuine alternative to working from home. Our work with AstraZeneca showed the value of creating a sympathetic workspace and a home away from home, and the new Domestic & General offices reflected employee needs by putting community at its heart. 2. Creating Meaningful Moments Employers are finding that employees perform best when they can be their “whole selves” at the workplace.
If you are interested in acquiring or selling a manufacturing firm, dealership or brand, now is the time, and we can help. Introducing VISCUSI ADVISORS Viscusi Advisors is a consulting company to private equity as well as to manufacturing companies interested in acquiring businesses in the interiors space. The Viscusi Group, our parent company, has unique long-term relationships that we are willing to share with investors seeking to acquire specific brands, or to sell existing brands that they own. Viscusi Advisors is not a business broker, or an investment banker, simply an advisory service. We are excited about sharing our relationships and influence with company owners and Industrial Opportunity Partners. Also, we can provide insight into the personalities that you will be negotiating with, which may help you be more successful in your acquisition. You can reach Stephen Viscusi at 212-979-5700 x101 to start this process.
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Yet today, one-third of employees still feel that their employer doesn’t encourage them to be themselves. A greater focus on authenticity and acceptance in the workplace will help talent attraction and retention in 2023, especially as a younger generation enters the workplace with greater expectations for their employers to treat them as a customer and help them to create meaningful moments and experiences. Generally, moments of meaning can fall into three categories: Cultural moments, family moments and personal passion moments. For cultural meaning, employers can create a more human workplace by
being open and more understanding to their employee’s faith, traditions and social needs, as well as encouraging diversity and inclusion. To increase family meaningful moments, employers will need to acknowledge that the definition of family has changed and improve policies in areas such as parental leave, childcare, bereavement and even pet care. For personal passion moments, employers will need to show a vested interest into their employees’ hobbies, values and passions outside of work and get to know their teams better. Hosting talent shows, encouraging volunteer and team building days are just some of the ways we can expect to see this manifest in 2023.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
3. Home and Work, Blends and Bounds During the pandemic, newly remote employees struggled to maintain a separation between their work and home life. Now, with post-pandemic returns to the office complete, the line between work and home is more blended than ever before. Although there’s still a large number of employees working from home, 2022 has seen a shift into hybrid ways of working. In 2023, more employees will choose a hybrid working pattern, seeking out the benefits of a physical location while still having the freedom to choose to work remotely when they need to. Although in 2023 we expect to see power swing back to employers – as the last
few years have seen businesses fight for talent – even in a downturn, it will be up to businesses to help facilitate this migration back into the office through supporting employees who have been working remotely. There are a number of ways that employers can make this transition easier for employees, but understanding that the role of the office has changed is the first step. The office is no longer a place for routine tasks and business as usual, its purpose now is to provide an environment that serves as a hub for creative collaboration, socialization, team building and personal development. In 2023 we will see many more organizations recognize this and adapt their environments accordingly.
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4. Tech Integration Booms The pandemic saw an exponential rise in the popularity of mobile apps and technology to support newly remote workers. Although in 2023 a hybrid way of working looks set to become the norm, remote working is here to stay and with it, a greater need for teams - regardless of location - to stay connected. As remote, cross-region and international teams find new ways to work together efficiently, in 2023 new mobile app integrations and technology will move to the forefront to facilitate this global way of working. Productivity apps such as Asana, Slack and Basecamp will continue to rise in popularity, allowing communication, engagement and project management
to thrive even when teams are working in various locations and time zones. We also expect to see strides forward in new technology such as the Metaverse, which will revolutionize the way remote teams stay in touch. This level of app integration has already begun to influence workspace design, with meeting room booking, desk reservations and locker allocation becoming increasingly embedded in a company’s ways of working. This level of flexibility enables a truly hybrid workforce to become even more agile. 5. Productivity Alfresco One of the ways we’re seeing companies encourage greater levels of
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wellbeing, productivity and engagement in the workplace is through the use of biophilia and outdoor spaces. Terraces, balconies and courtyards not only offer an extra space for employees to socialize and relax, but they encourage greater health and wellbeing through an increase in access to natural lighting, offering much-needed respite from computer screens and noisy offices. This trend has been building throughout 2022, with organizations such as The Office Group opting for neutral, earthy tones throughout the office and even introducing
an Oxygen Room to boost employees’ moods whilst connecting with nature. In 2023, we will see a number of businesses seeking outdoor spaces to allow employees access to the much-needed fresh air and calm within their working day. 6. Culture Supporting Healthy Minds The wellbeing and mental health of employees rocketed to the top of the executive agenda in the last couple of years and will continue to be crucial to talent attraction and retention going forward. As a new generation of health-
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conscious workers enter the workplace and an increasing number of people report a disability that is largely driven by an increase in mental health conditions, the importance of investing in wellbeing for employees is only growing. A company culture that prioritizes employee health and wellbeing has the best chance of attracting and retaining top talent, as well as amplifying the employee experience. Workspace design can really support healthy minds through adopting biophilic design principles, tackling tech fatigue, encouraging healthy habits, and zoning spaces to create focus areas for those in need of a quieter environment. Meditation app provider, Headspace, embedded these in their new California
headquarters, providing a space that encourages movement and champions natural lighting. 7. Empathetic and Soft Design As creating a kinder, more empathetic workspace increases in importance, organic and soft shapes, materials and finishes are set to become more common in workplaces to give employees a homely, more natural environment. A renewed focus on empathy, kindness and supporting employees in the workplace and beyond extends past organic materials to give employees a feeling of ease. Another element to soft design is bringing the home into the office, with which
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businesses can replicate that same sense of belonging, relaxation and security for employees when transitioning into hybrid work models. When using organic forms in the workplace, designing furniture pieces with curves, and circular features such as the Arcadia can transform an office into a more natural, welcoming environment, and we’ll see more bustling offices opting for a softer, calmer workspace design in 2023. 8. Embracing Ultra-flexibility As the hybrid way of working becomes more commonplace, ultra- flexibility will be a main driver for employees and employers alike in 2023. With so many unknowns influencing the workplace of the future, remaining agile, fluid and changeable is a priority
for employers investing in a physical workspace. The solution for uncertainty is the use of flexible, modular, and customizable designs that allow for multiple configurations in the office. Modular sofa systems, flexible partitions and foldable desks that fit together like a puzzle, expanding and compressing according to capacity can help businesses stay ultra-flexible. Likewise, this level of agility will be key to encouraging workers back into the office, allowing them control over their surroundings and real design choice. With the number of people in a workplace at any given time unpredictable, dynamic and flexible furniture and fittings accommodate impromptu interactions for large groups and small teams alike. BoF
Inspiration is everywhere curious | current | curated
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9to5 Seating Wins Four GOOD DESIGN Awards
9 to5 Seating has been honored with four 2022 GOOD DESIGN® Awards for HÅG SoFi, Ellie, Vox, and Dash. Granted by The Chicago Athenaeum in 1950, the prize recognizes innovative industrial, product, and graphic designs worldwide. Four GOOD DESIGN Awards is an unprecedented honor for 9to5 Seating. Founded in Chicago in 1950 by pioneers Charles and Ray Eames and former
MoMA curator Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., GOOD DESIGN spotlights work that has “chartered new directions and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace.” Winning products HÅG SoFi, Ellie, Vox and Dash collectively represent the creative direction 9to5 Seating is taking in design while addressing the needs of the market. The HÅG SoFi combines two market drivers
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in a single product: clean aesthetics and groundbreaking engineering. The HÅG SoFi provides ventilation and gives a sense of space thanks to its transparency, making it ideal for space planning. Ergonomic features include adjustable seat depth, padded adjustable lumbar, the intuitive HÅG in Balance mechanism, and innovative SlideBack™ armrests that slide back to allow users to get closer to their desks, sit sideways or use the armrests as elbow support. Ellie is a designer’s dream combining task-seating-level ergonomics with plush lounge comfort, merging functionality with an appealing design. With many base and finish options, Ellie in mid-back or high- back complements any workspace from corporate settings to open-concept offices or at-home work. Vox and Dash provide contemporary multi-purpose seating solutions for organizations looking for more versatility
in their facilities with its unique flex back supporting well-being with multiple flex zones for comfort for every user. Both chairs provide an easily cleanable surface and a variety of models- side, stool and light task and options – all-plastic, upholstered seat, and upholstered back and seat, while Dash’s perforated back delivers breathability. “Last year, 9to5 Seating received three prestigious GOOD DESIGN Awards and to receive four awards this year is representative of our continued commitment to providing high-design products to the market that are both functional and attainable,” said Dara Mir, President and CEO of 9to5 Seating. “We look forward to providing more innovative products that customers now expect from 9to5 Seating.” HÅG SoFi, Ellie, Vox and Dash are now available to order. Products can be specified using the 9to5 Seating Chair Designer. BoF
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Framery Builds Best-In-Class Hybrid Workspaces with Logitech ALL-IN-ONE VIDEO CONFERENCE SET-UPS EQUIP THE OFFICE FOR EFFECTIVE AND INTUITIVE HYBRID WORK.
F ramery announced the launch of a partnership with Logitech, a leading manufacturer of conference room solutions and computer peripherals. As many companies adjust to hybrid work models, the number of meetings that include an online participant are quite staggering: depending on the source, 80 – 98% of all meetings have at least one remote participant. Together, Framery
and Logitech are ideally positioned to join forces and create best-in-class hybrid workspaces. This partnership ushers in a new era of video conferencing for offices around the world, as Framery-Logitech product compatibility brings numerous benefits to end users and facility managers, including streamlined Microsoft Teams access for an all-in-one video conferencing setup.
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“As human beings, we are always searching for richer interactions with one another,” said Framery’s Head of Products, Lasse Karvinen. “The Framery and Logitech partnership equips employees with seamless interaction both in- person and remotely. Framery pods are already designed for quality discussions in a soundproof environment — we can now provide sound insulation for full speech privacy and clear audio during teleconferencing with Logitech products.” Framery products can be paired with the Logitech product family through a plug-and-play, all-in-one virtual meeting solution to ensure optimal audio and video quality. From Framery O and Framery Q
to Framery 2Q and Framery One, each pod can be equipped with Logitech webcams, control panels, and docking stations. “Our customers and system integration partners are looking for solutions that seamlessly blend physical spaces and technology components. We are thrilled to partner with Framery via the Logitech Collaboration Program (LCP) to integrate the Framery pods with Logitech’s meeting room and desktop products to simplify the deployments and enhance the user experience,” said Sudeep Trivedi, Head of Alliances and Go-to-Market for B2B at Logitech. The tech-forward partnership satisfies the current needs of the workplace industry
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through a one-stop-solution that prioritizes privacy, acoustics, adaptability, and comfort combined with intuitive, video-conference ready technology. Well-equipped pods lend to an adaptable workplace that can easily be re-configured without construction or major interior renovations — providing additional benefits for not only facility managers and property owners, but also the environment at-large. Framery and Logitech have been exploring device configurations and compatibility since the beginning of 2022. After gathering feedback and additional product insight
during Orgatec 2022, the brands have officially gone live with the partnership announcement this month. The buying process will include a product page on the Framery website that showcases all of the Logitech setups, configurations, and links to resellers so clients can easily choose suitable devices for their existing and/or future Framery pod purchases. All device configurations for the Framery product family will be Microsoft Teams Certified. In addition to the website, Framery plans to release additional product materials such as meeting guides and product cards for ease of use. BoF
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Finch™ Takes Flight
BYRNE’S CLEVER NEW ACCESSORY IS PERFECTLY POSITIONED TO ELEVATE ANY SPACE WITH EASILY-ACCESSIBLE POWER FROM BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK.
I n the world of power, like the natural world itself, there’s beauty in simplicity. When things are easy to find, easy to use – it can provide a sense of gratification that’s almost… magical. For West Michigan-based manufacturer, Byrne, their team understood the growing need for an innovative, hardworking accessory that could provide this ease of
use. A simply elegant solution built to both power and empower any user. So, they built one. And named it Finch™. In nature, the Finch is truly a thing to behold and it’s no surprise that Byrne’s own is just as lovely. Driven by the company’s Powerful Design philosophy that products can – and should – be as beautiful as they are functional, Finch is at once smart
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and sophisticated. With smooth lines, and a gently curved anodized aluminum extrusion, it’s o ered in a warm, natural palette of color-saturated new metallics. Stylishly at home in any working space, it was even recognized by Interior Design Magazine as a 2022 BOY Award finalist in the office accessories category. But pretty is as pretty does. And that’s what makes this little Finch a big game changer. Like its feathered namesake, this Finch perches happily on the edge of any desktop or just below the surface. Compact, but
undeniably mighty, power comes standard in a 5- port or 3-port option. And for a bit of that Byrne magic – the 5-port allows users to plug in from both sides. “Parsing out workplace power based on how it’s used has always been tricky,” said Parker Genau, Industrial Designer. “Phones and laptops require easy charging above the worksurface, while things like lighting and CPUs don’t. That often means juggling different accessories, multiple cords, multiple outlets, and a whole lot of clutter.” But with power access available from both sides, Finch is built to fly solo. Front
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and back, Byrne’s 5-port delivers three 110 outlets, two USB-A and three USB-C ports. Its clever two-sided arrangement delivers quick access from the front with plenty of power in back for items that stay plugged in. All with a single cord. A single outlet. And no electrician required. It’s the perfect solution for any user looking for two-tier functionality who isn’t quite ready to make the leap to a full power system. “Finch’s design – the profile, functionality, cool metallic palette – it all feels like
something really new for Byrne,” said Kristen Hummel, Brand Marketing Manager. “It’s a next level power approach for us and it’s driving new design thinking for other accessories too.” According to American folklore, a Finch reminds us to seek out the paths in life that fill us with a sense of freedom and happiness. The Byrne team agrees that they couldn’t write a better mission statement for the company’s newest addition if they tried. BoF
BoF
INDUSTRY NEWS
Allsteel Moves Sales Organization to Chicago
A llsteel announced the move of its Muscatine, IA sales office and showroom to the brand’s new Experience Center in Fulton Market in Chicago. With this move, Allsteel will close its facility on the HNI campus. No jobs will be affected with this move, which will take place in the first quarter of 2023. The 67,464 square foot Muscatine building, located at 2210 Second Street, will be placed on the market in early 2023. “As we look at how our brand has evolved, and at the large-scale initiatives we’ve mapped out, we’ve prioritized repositioning our investments to focus where our clients need us and want to interact with us,” said Jason Hagedorn, President of Allsteel. “With this new Experience Center in Fulton Market, a continued focus on sustainable practices, and expanded perspective on the
evolving workplace, we are excited about placing our investments in the critical areas we know our clients need us most.” Fulton Market Showroom Reinvents The Allsteel Experience In late Spring of 2023, Allsteel will open the doors to its new Experience Center in Fulton Market in Chicago, one of the fastest growing markets for Allsteel and the HNI family of brands. The 345 N. Morgan building is finished, construction build-out within the Allsteel space is complete and interior finishings are on schedule. The Experience Center will include a series of interactive design areas, an immersive learning space, and several hospitality hotspots. This will serve as Allsteel’s main client interaction space, providing a more central and convenient hub for future collaboration engagements.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
“We are thrilled to open our doors and welcome our clients, the design community and commercial real estate professionals to our new Experience Center,” said Natalie Johansen Murray, Director of Brand and Marketing. “Throughout the entire design journey, we focused on developing a space to celebrate and encourage collaboration, a space that is designed to help our clients and design community do more.” Allsteel also announced expanded investments in product development and workplace strategy collaboration with clients. By exploring the topics of “Flexible and Hybrid Work Points,” “Modern Leader
Challenges” and “Inclusive Design,” Allsteel will launch a series of live and online programs to deliver content and products from the industry’s leading expert voices. “We continue to see our clients, many representing some of the strongest brands in the world, seeking guidance on how to create their future workplaces that will advance their business and culture goals,” explained Andrea Gauss, Director of Workplace and Client Solutions. “Now, more than ever, we are eager to collaborate with industry leaders and clients to develop solutions that keep a strong focus on a company’s largest asset, its people.” BoF
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REGIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS
PACIFIC WEST LARGEST AVAILABLE
needed housing, Return-to-office trends have been spotty in down- town Seattle, but the number of occupied apartments has never been higher. People are moving to the suburbs, but many are staying and moving into the urban core. Accord- ing to CoStar Group, the number of occupied apartments in and around downtown increased 11.6% from
ments from the City of Phoenix, and now they have the deed to the once-flourishing retail center. A group made up of Concord Wilshire Capital, TLG Investment Partners and CDS International Holdings will start work immediately on the $850 million redevelopment project. The Mall was one of the first and most famous in Phoenix until it closed down during the Covid pandemic. The news is a big deal to Mayor Kate Gallego, “Metrocenter has memories for so many of us in Phoenix. As we look to the future, Metrocenter now means jobs, attainable housing, and restoring community strength to northwest Phoenix.” Hines has been brought in to help repurpose the property for the village that will in- clude over 2,600 multifamily units, 150,000 square feet of retail, office, and food and beverage options. Connect CRE MIDWEST NOT COOKIE CUTTER SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — An Iowa- based company is planning to build a new retail/office development in downtown Sioux Falls. The new project, which is being developed by Christensen Development, will cover 4.6 acres of the former rail yard property downtown along 8th Street. It will consist of three or four buildings, with the first build- ing along 8th Street featuring retail on the first floor and a few floors of offices. The other buildings will be a mix of apartments, office and retail. Jeff Eckhoff, director of planning and development services with the City of Sioux Falls, said, “One thing I thought was unique about Chris- tensen is they’re not cookie cutter,” he said. “They take the site, take the attributes, and redevelop it to really fit into the neighborhood.” Argus Leader
SAN FRANCISCO — Following recent news that Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta Platforms Inc. is subleasing of- fice space in Seattle, the company has confirmed it is also dumping 435,000 square feet of space in San Francisco at 181 Fremont Street. The Silicon Valley Business Jour- nal reports Meta is subleasing its Transbay District space primarily occupied by Instagram. The space, reportedly the largest single avail- able sublease in The City, will open June 1 with JLL handling the listing. Like so many Bay Area tech compa- nies, Meta says it is embracing the remote-work realities brought on by the pandemic and is looking to make investments that support the workplace of the future. The com- pany also leases the entire 43-story Park Tower on Howard Street in San Francisco, which it will continue to occupy … at least for now. Connect CRE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK SEATTLE — A recent URG survey of tenants across the company’s approximately 10-million-square- foot Puget Sound region portfolio found only about a fifth felt they had more space than they need, around a tenth actually had less than they need and over two-thirds said they had the right amount. In addition, it is expected the market will add only about 6 million square feet, or about half of what the market would have in a pre-pandemic cycle. Then there’s the region’s approxi- mately 50 million square feet of Class B space, which has been hard hit by the office market’s accelerat- ing flight -to-quality trend. A 10% conversation rate would replace 5 million square feet of space with
2020 to this quarter’s 55,920. Puget Sound Business Journal LEED AIM
PORTLAND, Ore. — The under- construction 11W mixed-use tower in downtown Portland has secured a new 12,000-square-foot tenant. At- torneys with International law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP will move into 11W in the fall. The building is scheduled for comple- tion within the next few months. The 25-story, mixed-use development features six floors of office space above ground floor retail, with the upper floors reserved for apartments. The lease is certainly good news for the downtown area which has seen office vacancy rise to 27% in Q4, ac- cording to CBRE. 11W amenities will include a fitness facility, bike parking and an upper floor event space. DDG is also seeking LEED Platinum certi- fication for the building. Connect CRE MOUNTAIN RESTORING COMMUNITY PHOENIX — The developers of the Metrocenter Mall conversion have received their zoning and entitle-
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REGIONAL INDUSTRY NEWS
gling to recover from the COVID pandemic, which saw many employ- ees forced to work from home and launched a new hybrid environment that seems to have become a new normal for certain types of office jobs. Long Island Business News DISCERNING FEATURES WAYLAND, Mass. — R.W. Holmes, one of the largest commercial bro- kerage firms serving tenants and landlords in Massachusetts for more than 45 years, announced that they have been retained to sell Lincoln North, a 128,500-square-foot Class A office building in Lincoln. Since acquiring the property in 2018, Real Capital Solutions (RCS) has revital- ized the building with several capital improvements and amenities to create a first-class office experience. Lincoln North has been home to several prominent companies in the defense and technology industries in its lifetime. The building has sev- eral discerning features that make it unique; the circular parking lot de- signed to make every parking space equidistant to the front entrance, the modern brutalist architecture with glass and steel atrium, and the shape of the footprint of the build- ing intended to be the point of a compass facing north from an aerial perspective. Boston Real Estate Times SOUTH MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT COPPELL, Texas — Coppell City Council approved plans for a mixed- use development. Three office and retail buildings will be constructed at the northeast corner of SH 121 and North Coppell Road. Each building will be two stories and 9,000 square feet with an overall total of 23,000
square feet for office space and 4,000 square feet for retail. Community Impact MEDICAL OFFICE MADISON, Miss. — Newmark has arranged a $30 million construction loan for a new four-story, approxi- mately 99,000-square-foot medi- cal office building development in Madison, about 15 miles north of Jackson. The healthcare facility will be located on Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp.’s medical campus and is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. RE Business Online CLASS A BUILDINGS
NORTHEAST RETHINKING PLANS
NEW YORK — The website for 56 North Moore Street, a former Tribe- ca parking lot slotted for new office space, shows renderings of a Class A, light-filled concept built on century- old bones and flanked by three-sto- ries of terrace space. Navigate to the brokerage Avison Young’s site and the project’s nine floors are listed as immediately available to lease. Metro Loft may instead be eyeing a luxury condo project. This comes as some developers have put a pin in planned office projects, deterred by faltering demand amid rising construction costs, interest rates and turbulence in the tech and fi- nancial industries. But the project’s developer, Nathan Berman’s Metro Loft, may be rethinking plans for the space, a pivot that would come as New York’s office market is in the throes of an existential crisis. The Real Deal STRUGGLING TO RECOVER LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — There is a growing dichotomy between prop- erty classes in the office real estate market on Long Island. The latest numbers show better occupancy rates and leasing activity for Class A office buildings, as compared with many Class B properties, where occupancies continue to shrink and leasing activity wanes. The variation in leasing activity stats suggest what brokers call a flight to quality where companies looking for new space prefer better buildings with more amenities. In addition, brokers say vacancy rates at Long Island’s top office properties pale in comparison to those in the Class B sector, where more buildings are struggling to at- tract and hold onto tenants. Overall, the area’s office market is still strug-
ATLANTA — San Francisco-based Spear Street Capital — an owner operator of distinctive commercial office properties — has completed its $247.5-million purchase of 1001, 2002 and 4004 Summit Boulevard, three Class A office buildings located within Perimeter Summit in Atlan- ta. As part of the Central Perimeter submarket, the largest corporate office market in the Southeast, the Perimeter Summit is surrounded by more than 4,000 businesses. Connect CRE
Compiled by Emily Clingman
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Clif McKenzie (Left) and his son, CK McKenzie (right), after playing catch, 1990.
Years In The Making: The McKenzie Family’s Continued Investment In Watson’s Future
AS CK MCKENZIE TAKES ON THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT, WE LOOK AT THE WAYS THE MCKENZIE FAMILY HAS SHAPED WATSON’S CULTURE, AND HOW THEY’RE COMMITTED TO HELP GUIDE ITS FUTURE WHILE MAINTAINING ITS DEEPLY-HELD VALUES.
T he Orchard is a special place. heartbeat, or the imperceptible passage of time. It’s a pulse so familiar that it fades into the background, persisting regardless of their notice. As you approach the main entrance, a factory side door is sometimes propped open; you glimpse seasoned teams in a complex logistical dance, always navigating Watson’s arbored headquarters has a natural rhythm – something like a
some novel challenge to craft and ship Watson’s products. Once you pass through the entryway, the hum of machines gives way to the bustle of Watson’s industrious administrators. The manufacturing floor and the offices, contrasting yet complimentary, are the vital organs supporting the company and serving their clients. Watson feels special because it feels alive. It’s an ecosystem: people, place, and shared purpose moving together in harmony. It
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INDUSTRY NEWS
CK McKenzie, Watson’s President
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