Could the Future of Your Office Space be Outdoors?

So many ideas are popping up showing the latest outdoor office spaces from around the world.  Some of the most successful US companies are offering these progressive amenities to boost productivity.  Simply put, it makes employees happier.

“Office design is often the silent partner, it influences and nudges us in ways you can’t predict. There are so many things that really impact not only how we interact and collaborate but also our performance.” Leigh Stringer,  author of The Healthy Workplace.

She adds that there is a strong correlation between employee health and productivity, so could this be the right option for your business?  Check out these offices that are promoting health and productivity for their employees.

Outbox in Downtown Silver Spring

Images VIA: Clark W. Day

Sett Studio

images via: settstudio.com

Office Pod by Manuel Villa

images via: cubeme.com

OfficePOD

images via: officepod.co.uk

Garden Studio by in.it.studios

images via: design milk

Michael Hilgers Balcony Desk

Image result for outdoor office

Images VIA: 6sqft.com

Two Men and a Truck – A Michigan Based Woman Owned Business

indexSPACE Inc. would like to spotlight Mary Ellen Sheets, founder of Two Men and a Truck.  Two Men and a Truck is a thriving moving business with more than 1,900 trucks and 300 locations worldwide.  Started right here in Michigan, Mary Ellen’s business is still going strong after 25 years.  Read more about this spirited woman business owner and her journey to the top.

“In 25 years, Mary Ellen Sheets has taken her sons’ small moving business and driven it to an international corporation with more than 1,900 trucks and 300 locations worldwide. After her sons, Brig and Jon Sorber, left for college, the business continued to receive numerous requests so Sheets decided to take it over. She purchased an old moving truck for $350 – the only money she ever invested in the company – and hired two movers. The business grew steadily and Sheets’ entrepreneurial spirit became well known in the Lansing area. Eventually, she quit her state government job (foregoing her retirement) to put 100 percent into her thriving moving business. She awarded the first franchise to her daughter, Melanie Bergeron, a year later. It was located in Atlanta, Ga.

By 1989, Sheets had developed the business into the first and only local moving franchise in the country. Last year, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc.’s annual revenue was more than $300 million.

Sheets considers herself fortunate to have all three children actively involved in running the company. Brig Sorber is currently CEO. Melanie Bergeron acts as chair of the board of directors. Jon Sorber is executive vice president.

“When I look back, I can’t believe this all happened,” she says. “I am in shock and so grateful. I definitely think this is the American dream. We live in a wonderful country.” –  twomenandatruck.com

Awards

  • 2006 Ernst & Young International Runner-up Entrepreneur of the Year
  • 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year by the International Franchise Association for her vision and savvy. She was the first woman to earn this award in its 40 year history.
  • 2004 Michigan Women’s Foundation Women of Achievement and Courage Award
  • 2002 Athena Award
  • 1999 Working Women’s 500 Congress
  • 1999 Working Women’s Best Employer Regional Finalist
  • 1998 Blue Chip Award
  • 1995 Michigan Entrepreneur of the Year Award
  • 1994 Top 25 Michigan Business Woman of the Year
  • 1993 Lansing Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year.

Say Yes to Carpet Tiles. Just YES!

A stylish and versatile alternative to standard carpet rolls, carpet tiles can meet the needs of a variety of commercial and residential spaces.  Carpet tiles now come in many different sizes and styles and are perfect for high traffic areas.  These tiles can even be installed over existing surfaces such as wood and tile with ease.  If you come to a crossroad between rolled carpet and carpet squares, here are some things that you should consider:

Photo via Interface
Photo via Interface

Ease of Maintenance

Carpet tiles are extremely easy to maintain in your business, just vacuum regularly as you would with any standard rolled carpet.  A big difference is that if one tile or area get soiled, you can just take those squares out and replace them with new tiles.  Buying extra carpet tiles when purchasing can save you the large expense of replacing a whole area of carpet should it become damaged.

 

 

 

 

Photo via Interface
Photo via Interface

Types of Carpet Offered

You can now find and equivalent carpet in a tile that you can find in most rolled carpet options.  The main difference is the backing.  Carpet tiles are backed with heavy vinyl or fiberglass to provide stability and to protect against moisture.  The backing is also offered in styles that have adhesive backing for ease of installation or floating tiles that are secured underneath to each other leaving no residue on your existing floors.

Design Away!

With the selection of carpet tiles that are now offered, who says you can’t go wild?  Carpet tiles allow you to mix and match colors and styles to show your personality.  Fit together different styles, shapes and sizes to make your carpet your own.  Just check out some of these creative design styles!

Homeminimalis.com
Homeminimalis.com
Via Pintrist
Via Pinterist

cad29110d9c14f6b40469b62a5974958

Via Pinterest
Via Pinterest

 

Office Filing System DO's, Do It Right The First Time

Your office is growing and changing, but is your filing system keeping up with your business’ momentum?  An effective office needs an effective way to manage the flow of information.  If a digital age, it’s becoming harder to manage all of the documents needed in hard copy.  Although we would love to banish the dreaded hard copy altogether, that’s just not a realistic option for most businesses.  Here are some filing system DO’s that will help your office run more efficiently.

 

Via spinologic.org
Via spinologic.org

DO:  Decide on a filing system that works for your business.  You can choose an infinite number of options but the most common are:

  1.  Alphabetical – You can do this by client name, company name, or project name.  Just make sure that all files are under the same category for easy retrieval.
  2. Numerical or Chronological – Giving each order or job a specific number can be your best option when working with multiple people or companies.  Dates can also be an effective filing tool when used effectively.
  3. Subject or Category – This can be tricky and can be the most confusing, but if you have a system that works for you, it could be the most effective way for your company.

 

DO:  Color Code.  Being able to look for information and see company documents broken up by color helps your brain process what you are seeing. When you know that invoices are yellow on contracts are green, it will help you retrieve information quickly and efficiently.

DO:  Avoid Saving EVERYTHING!  Not every piece of paper from a particular job or project needs to be saved.  Save important documents in hard copy, especially papers with signatures or vital information.  When in doubt, scanning information is a great space saving tool to keep all the useless clutter to a minimum.

DO:  Separate completed work from active work.  Designate a place for files that are inactive, unused or outdated.  Keeping these files might be a necessity for your business and an allocated area for this information will streamline your system.

 

SPACE anew WOWS at the Great Lakes Women's Business Conference

Great Lakes Women's Business Conference Panel Discussion participants.
Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference Panel Discussion participants.

Congratulations to Kathie Fuce-Hobohm for being selected to participate in a woman’s leadership panel discussion on generating innovation alongside Marcy Bell, President of Bell’s Landscape Services, Julie A. McFarland, President McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Lynn Perenic, CEO, Argent Tape & Label, Inc.  Kathie presented our cutting edge office furniture upcycling process, SPACE anew.  SPACE is known for innovative design and clean, precise installations.  SPACE anew accentuates what we do so well and Kathie has been enthusiastically advocating this groundbreaking and exciting division of our company.  We are delighted that she was able to bring this updated, environmentally friendly and cost effective idea to the table for discussion!  The 16th Annual Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference is the largest women’s business conference in the Midwest and was held September 27th and 28th at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI.

“As the Largest Women’s Business Conference in the Midwest states in 2016, Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, (Great Lakes WBC) takes pride in addressing the needs of both aspiring and established business owners. The conference will deliver strategies for succeeding in emerging markets and an exceptional opportunity for WBENC certified women business enterprises procurement matches.The conference is attended by women business enterprises (WBE’s), Great Lakes WBC corporate members, additional Fortune 500 executives, U.S Government entities and partner organizations. Great Lakes WBC Women’s Business Showcase, of 150 (WBE’s) offers exceptional procurement introductions and Meet the Buyers offers certified women business enterprises supplier matches with 70 plus Fortune 500 corporations.” – greatlakeswbc.org
Thank you to Joe Miller and Jeff Young for their outstanding effort putting together our SPACE anew mock-up at the conference.  It turned out just perfect and we were so happy to show the end result of the SPACE anew process.  Donna Adams and Michelle Hinskey presented our booth during the showcase to an overwhelming response!  Participating in the Woman’s Business Conference this year gave us a chance to highlight what we do best and we just can not wait for next year!
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