Tag: commercial relocation

Designing an Office Lobby Your Customers Will Love

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Facility Installation, Office Furniture

As soon as a new client walks through your business’ door, the evaluation of your company begins. Wandering eyes will carefully examine the lobby looking for clues as to what you and your business might be like. This room is where your company gets its first impression, so you want it to be a good one. Here are some tips on how to make a positive lasting impression on everyone that walks through your business’ front door.

Before you design your perfect office lobby, you need to think about a few things. Will there be a lot of people in your waiting area? Will there be a check-in desk? And, how much space do you have to work with? These questions are important so you know how to effectively design your space.

After you figure out the answers to those questions, you’ll know what kind of furniture to work with so that you can adequately accommodate your guests. Make sure to plan for enough seating for the maximum amount of people that you think will be waiting at a given time. You don’t want any of your guests uncomfortably standing.

If you have a check-in desk, it’s important to make sure this desk is not too high. If it is, it can cause guests to feel intimidated. So, just be sure when planning your check-in area, that the desk is a suitable height for your guests.

Now it’s time to talk décor. Bottom line, you want the décor in your lobby to be aesthetically pleasing to your guests. This starts with having a lot of natural light streaming through the room because it makes the room appear bigger and brighter. Also, you should not paint your lobby a “loud” color like neon green, hot pink or bright purple. Having an accent wall is one thing, but painting the entire room a loud color is not recommended.

To add some sophistication to your décor, add some art, your company’s logo and some of your business’ prestigious awards to a few walls or shelves. Spice up your company’s logo by adding spot lighting to shine on it. Not only will this be an impressive touch, but it will also reinforce your brand, and what company doesn’t want that? As for art on the walls, frame a piece or two to add a little something about your company’s personality. It could be a framed quote, or a nice picture that preaches determination and the will to never give up. Whatever it might be, make sure it will convey something your brand does or believes in.

For some small impressive accents, we suggest putting some of your branded promotional materials out for visitors to take. Whether it’s a bowl of branded candies, pens, or business cards, these materials will add some pizzazz and a professional feel. Another added bonus to having these promotional materials out for grabs is that your company is more likely to stay at the forefront of your clients’ minds even after they leave. Next time they go to write their “to-do list,” they may just grab that pen they got from you to write it.

Nobody likes to wait, so it’s important to keep your guests happy while they’re waiting. Have some industry-related reading materials out on the table to help clients pass the time. We also suggest having a TV in the waiting room with a news station on. Not only will this keep your visitors occupied, but it will also show to them that you’re staying current with today’s news and trends. For your guests’ enjoyment, we also suggest having a coffee, tea and water station in the lobby area in case guests need some refreshments.

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and in most cases, this impression begins in the lobby. By putting a little extra effort into the design of your lobby, you can be sure that your guests will wait happy and have a positive lasting impression about you and your company.

Your IT Move Check List

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Commercial Relocation, Moving Preparation

In an age where technology is the lifeline of your business, you can’t afford to have something go wrong, go missing or just not work. There are a lot of things that go into making your IT equipment function properly. So, when it comes time to move your office, you want to make sure you properly packed up all of your IT equipment, have services transferred with no interruptions and have all IT accessories in line so you’re sure that you aren’t forgetting a thing. After all, you don’t want to lose valuable business hours because of misplaced adapters, no Internet connection and non-functioning laptops. So, we’ve put together an IT move check list so that you can be sure you’re not forgetting to cover all your bases.

Always plan ahead. Always. At least two to three months before your move contact your ISPS and all other technology companies to let them know about your move. You wouldn’t want your services not transferred and lose valuable business time because of it.
Make a checklist. Plan a visit to your new office location. We suggest making a checklist of things you want to make sure the office has so you know what you’ll still need to get. On this visit, make sure you check out the offices’ network cabling requirements, decide where you want and don’t want computer workstations, pick out locations for fax machines, printers, scanners and routers, and locate a secure, cool room for your server.
Back-up your data. You can never be too careful, so we highly recommend you back-up your data before you move. Make copies of your firewalls and servers and store in a secure location.
Look into new IT equipment. Out with the old, in with the new is what they say right? Well, moving is the perfect time to live up to this saying. You’re moving to a brand new office, so why not take a look at some other things that may need to be updated as well. We suggest:

Inspecting your IT equipment and deciding whether or not it’s time for an upgrade.
Taking inventory Central Bodybuilding Episode 77 | IronMag Bodybuilding Blog buy winstrol results – winstrol reviews australia santa clara county sheriff commander accused of bodybuilding while faking injury of what equipment you currently have.
Writing down anything you might need to update or replace.
Properly disposing of the aged or broken equipment you might have.

Get all communication set up. Getting your phone lines set up is vital. Before moving, we recommend:

Reviewing your phone line capacity with your provider to make sure you don’t have too much, or too little.
Taking a look at your current phone system and decide if it’s what will be best for your new office.
Setting up call forwarding if you’re changing your phone number.
Establishing and ordering your Internet access.

Moving IT equipment. Moving IT equipment is very risky. We strongly suggest hiring professional commercial movers to help you safely and securely move your expensive equipment to your new location. Don’t risk broken or lost equipment. Research commercial movers who will move these goods, so you don’t have to.

Coordinating all things IT can be a hassle. Take this checklist and make sure you’re taking care of the necessities before your move. If you want a little extra help and less stress, look into commercial movers that can help you through every stage of your move, even the vendor coordination and technology set up.

Don’t let your office move run you. Get ahead of the game, make a plan and make a check list so that you can get to crossing things off your list and you can get to enjoying your new office sooner.

Work with The Quality Group

At The Quality Group, we’re your commercial relocation specialists. Founded in 1987 in New Orleans, LA, The Quality Group serves the Gulf States with comprehensive commercial moving services from move planning to furniture installation. No other company puts in the time or preparation that we do to make your move stress and hassle-free.

Three Common Mistakes Made During a Commercial Move

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Commercial Relocation, Moving Preparation

You may not think there are things that you can do wrong when it comes to an office move, but believe us, there are. And, these mistakes could cost your business time, money and lots of headaches. We don’t want you to get caught up and fall into the trap of these mistakes, so we’ve put together a few common mistakes that you should be aware of before your office decides to relocate.

Not choosing professional commercial relocation specialists for the move. Your goal is to move from one location to another. You don’t think it would be a big deal to have each employee move their designated station over to the new office. Well, let’s think about it. If you have all of your employees move their computer monitors, laptops, printers, scanners and all other expensive IT equipment you run the risk of these items being damaged. Your employees could leave them in their hot cars, not wrap them properly and have the items break or even lose some of the materials needed to make the equipment function properly. By hiring a professional commercial moving company, you can ensure that all of your precious business materials will be properly packaged, properly stowed and carefully transported to your new location. If your employees damage the equipment, you lose that employee’s work time, and you have to eat the cost to replace or fix the damaged item. It’s worth the time, research and money to find a professional commercial moving company that will carefully move all of your businesses materials. Don’t make this mistake and risk losing or damaging your businesses important equipment. It’s not worth the headaches, or money wasted, we promise.

Not enough time to plan your commercial move. To properly execute your move, a lot of time, effort and planning is needed to make sure everything runs smoothly. Don’t procrastinate. As soon as you know that your business is moving, begin taking the steps needed to plan each part of the moving process. When your business is left with little time to plan the move, it’s difficult to get everything seamlessly transitioned. What if there’s a hiccup and you don’t have enough time to properly mend the situation? Bottom line; plan ahead so that you can move your business with as little stress as possible.

3. Not realizing how much is involved in the commercial relocation process. The previous mistake and this mistake go hand in hand. You may think there’s not a lot of stuff to do before the move, but you need to think again. A lot more goes into it then you think. You have to get a new location, pick the best time to move, choose a moving company, contact your business’ vendors and your clients to let them know you’re moving, coordinate employees, order new furniture, purge the clutter in your old office, plan out your new office space, and more. There are so many details involved in this process that they’re easy to overlook. Don’t get caught up in the big picture so much that you forget about all you have to do to achieve the end goal of a successful move.

So, if you’re planning a commercial move, begin thinking about the little things you need to do in order to make your office move as successful as possible. Remember, it’s better to be over prepared instead of under prepared.

Work with The Quality Group

Move without Really Moving? Here’s How:

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Facility Installation, Office Furniture

We get it. Your business is in a prime location. Easily accessible to customers and clients, and you’ve been at this location for years. You’re not quite ready to part with your building, but you want a new, refreshed office. So, how do you get that without moving? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve got some answers.

To refresh your space, you can always paint, paint and paint again. Want to open up your space and make it look and feel bigger? Then, stick with lighter colors. Going darker encloses your space and makes it look and feel smaller. Believe it or not, colors can actually affect work productivity and evoke certain emotions. Want more productivity? Then try not to overload your office with white paint. Want to create an environment all of your guests will most likely love? Stick with a shade of blue because most people enjoy this color. The new paint color is sure to change things up and give your space a new and refreshed look.

The next thing you can do to revamp your current office is get new furniture, or rearrange current furniture. If you decide to go new, depending on the type of furniture you want, certain kinds allow you to better maximize space and offer storage capabilities. Research various types of furniture to see what type will help you make the most out of your offices’ space, and give you much-needed storage. If you want to rearrange your current furniture, map out what furniture would best fit in different places. Maybe you want to just move around your employee’s offices for a change of scenery. Whatever route you take, changing up your furniture will definitely help you refresh your office space and make it feel like new.

New flooring can also transform your space. Ripping out that old grungy carpet and replacing it with something more modern can do wonders. Choose a new carpet, or upgrade to tile, hardwood or laminate flooring. New flooring can open up your space and make it feel fresh and new. While you’re at it, you may even want to revamp your baseboards. You might not think about it, or notice the baseboards, but when they’re new and freshly painted, you’ll be sure to notice them, and you’ll be surprised how your office transforms.

The next thing you could do to make your office feel like a completely different space is to check out the office building next to your current office. Does a business occupy that space? If not, would it be possible for you to make that space yours? If this looks at all possible, contact a contractor to see if they can put a door in to connect your current space with the adjacent one. This can be a great transformation for your space. You can take over a new office, while still occupying your current office. You can’t get much closer to moving without actually moving than this, huh?

Whatever upgrades you decide to do to your office, you’re going to need to get your furniture, computer equipment and everything else you have in your space out of your office so you can get it done. Our advice to you: don’t lose time moving your stuff out of your office yourselves; look into commercial movers who can help you out. At The Quality Group, we not only do moving from one location to another, we can also help you with retrofit. So, if you’re looking for that perfect office, without the move, we can move you.

Moving your office from one location to another can be a great thing for your business. But, it’s not the only option you have when you feel like you’ve outgrown your office or need a refreshed look. Whatever you decide to do to change up your look, make sure you explore your options so you can get on your way to make your office feel like new again.

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Furniture Installation Made Easy

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Facility Installation, Office Furniture

You’re a business owner. You’ve got a lot of things to worry about and deal with, but, there are some things you just shouldn’t have to do.

When you order new furniture for your office, you shouldn’t be worried about how to install it. You need to focus on what you do best, and that’s running your business. So, we’re going to tell you how The Quality Group does furniture installation to make your life easier.

To begin the furniture installation process, we schedule a meeting with you. We want to know about what you want when it comes to office furniture. We’ll boil down what furniture best fits for your business’ functionality, and what pieces will look great in your office as well. After we decide what you want, we map out some pricing and the proposed installation services.

After we finalize everything in a contract, we meet with you and our furniture dealer to schedule proposed dates of meetings with the construction contractor. We want you to be in the loop on every part of this process so that we get everything done just how you want it. Open lines of communication between all parties is so important, so we do our best to stay in constant contact with everyone involved.

We believe in doing things right every time for you, so we carefully review the specifications for the furniture install and review the plans to ensure accuracy.

Next, we have a crew go to your office to verify critical measurements and check for electrical and communication entries. Then, we attend the contractor’s meetings so that we make sure we’re doing everything according to your timeline. We want to limit the hours spent on furniture installation so that you can get back to business as soon as possible.

After we coordinate the furniture delivery times and receive the furniture at your office, we inspect the furniture for all necessary pieces and any damage. If needed, we’ll file a damage report.

When we have everything we need, we begin installing your furniture. We visually inspect each workstation and private office to ensure we accurately installed the furniture. We make sure the level, trim and all other aspects of your furniture are perfect and functional.

After this whole process is complete, we sign off with you; we contact the furniture dealer for the final punch list and make sure you’re satisfied with all services.

Furniture installation is a process, and we make that process easy by installing it for you. You shouldn’t have to worry about missing furniture pieces, how to put together a desk or filing damage reports. So, relax, The Quality Group has you covered.

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How Your Offices’ Wall Color Gives Your Business a Competitive Advantage

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Facility Installation

You never really gave it much thought. A wall is a wall. What color they are shouldn’t affect the productivity of your employees and the success of your company, right? Think again.

In an article by Forbes, Amy Morin interviewed Sally Augustin, Ph.D., to find out about color psychology and how certain colors can give businesses a competitive advantage. We’re going to give you a few of those tips so that when you decide your office needs to be refreshed with a new look, you can take them into consideration.

First, wall colors have the ability to make people perceive temperature differently. As you might guess, warmer colors like red, yellow and oranges tend to make people believe it’s warmer than it actually is in the office. Contrarily, cooler colors like greens, light purples and blues make people feel as though it’s colder in the building than it actually is.

How can you use that to your advantage? Well, it all depends on where you live. If you live in a generally cooler environment, think about painting the entry way of your office warmer colors to save on heating costs. The opposite is true for those who live in warmer environments. This is a pretty easy way to save on that costly electric bill.

Want to evoke more creativity in your workplace? Go get some green paint swatches. Research shows that the color green stimulates productivity and broad and creative thinking. But, why green? “There seems to be a positive association between nature and regrowth,” said Augustin.

If you’re looking to please most people, then go for blues. According to Forbes, “when asked what their favorite color is, the most common answer around the world is blue.” It could be because of associations with blue skies or the ocean. If you want to know what to paint the waiting area in your office, you should go with blue since it pleases majority of people.

So, what colors should you stay away from? For starters, stay away from red in areas of your office where you want to stimulate productivity. The color red evokes forceful and fast reactions and reduces analytical thinking.

Yellow. That’s another color you should stray away from when deciding what to paint your offices’ common area. This is because there are few people who like the color, but those who do, tend to really like it. So, to be safe, Augustin suggests sticking with the good ol’ blues.

If you want to increase productivity in your work environment then stay far, far away from the color white. According to Augustin, “too much of a monochromatic look can cause people to reflect on their own thoughts.” Because of the lack of stimulation in the color white, employees may become distracted. And, you don’t want employees distracted all day thinking about things other than what they’re supposed to be thinking about, right?

Pink is said to be a calming color. Unless you work in an intense field where tensions can run high and meetings can turn into heated arguments, then we suggest staying away from this color. Pink is also known for draining people’s energy, so be mindful about choosing this color.

We gave you a crash course on Augustin’s psychology of color so that you can choose the best paint for your business’ walls. You can save money, stimulate creativity and make employees and your business more successful just because of a paint color. So what are you waiting for? Go out and get some swatches!

Work with The Quality Group

Finding the Right Office Furniture for Your New Space

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Commercial Relocation, Facility Installation, Office Furniture

When you move, you and your business get a fresh start. New office, new surroundings and a new feel to go along with it. As you look around your current office space, you begin to contemplate where you’re going to put things. You’re not sure if your furniture will fit and look best in your new location. So, where should you begin to solve this problem?

First, start with your moving company. You should ask your commercial movers what furniture they suggest, if they can recommend a furniture brand/style to best fit your new office and business operations and if they can install it.

If your commercial movers do not provide these services, then we have some tips for you to remember. When you shop for your new office furniture make sure your shopping not only for a reasonable price, but also for functionality. You don’t want to buy hundreds of cubicles when your business operations require employee collaboration. If you buy office furniture that isn’t functional for your business operations, it could also lead to unproductive employees. You need to foster a productive work environment for your business and your employees. So, if you’re shopping for new office furniture make sure to keep functionality, operations and employee productivity in the forefront of your mind.

The next thing you want to think about is furniture storage. You need to be prepared if either some of your new furniture, or some of the old furniture doesn’t work in your new space. If you find yourself in this situation, we recommend you ask your commercial mover about any solutions they might have. They should be able to either store it, or dispose the unwanted office furniture. If they have storing capabilities, make sure the storage facility is secure so that all of your office furniture is safe and sound.

You spend a lot of time in your office and at your desk, so you need to ensure that both you and your employees have functional office furniture. You don’t want to find yourself with too much furniture for your new space, or with furniture that doesn’t flow properly in your new office. Take some time to consult with your commercial movers, think about the best way to organize your office to streamline your business productions and then shop for that perfect office furniture that will make your new office the office of your dreams!

Work with The Quality Group

Maximizing Your Small Office Space

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Commercial Relocation, Office Furniture

You started a small business and are about to move into a new space. You’re wondering how you can make the most of your new office space. You want it to be practical and functional, but you don’t know where to start. We’ve compiled a few tips so that you can make the most out of your small office space.

First things first, assess your new office space. What are the sizes of each room? Are there large open spaces? Big windows? Does the space have any restrictions from the landlord? Ask these questions and get answers so that you can best plan out your new space.

If you have a commercial moving company helping you out with your office move, they may be able to help you answer some of these questions. Your space needs to function for you and your business operations. So, think about what you want each room in your space to be functional for. Do you want a collaboration room? Break room? Individual offices? After you figure out how you want your space to function, talk to your commercial mover. They should be able to help you plan out where your furniture and equipment should go so that you can maximize office productivity and make use of your space.

We also suggest looking into modular furniture as an option for your small office. With this type of furniture, you can easily take apart, put together and rearrange workstations to fit your particular need. Modular furniture is good for small spaces because it can help you optimize your space. If you decide to look into this type of furniture, make sure to talk to your commercial movers to see if they are able to install it.

Storage is another thing you’ll need to think about when trying to maximize your small offices’ space. You’re going to have a lot of office supplies, maybe extra furniture and other items that you’ll need to store. If you don’t need these items in-house, consider putting the items in storage, especially if it’s furniture. For the items you do need to have in your office on a daily basis, make sure to have the items organized. Disorganization will only lead to clutter that will take up space. Purchasing decorative storage bins or purchasing office furniture with a lot of storage capabilities will help keep your office organized, and help you maximize your office space.

You also need to think about the visual impact you want your office to have. Do you want your employees and visitors to be wowed when they walk in? Of course you do. Consider painting some walls to add a little character to your space. Painting is an easy and great way to make your small space stand out.

Just because you have a small office space doesn’t mean it won’t be functional. You just have to make sure to plan everything out so you’re using your space to its full advantage. Talk to your commercial mover and come up with a strategy to help you configure your space into the office of your dreams.

Work with The Quality Group

Curious About The Commercial Moving Process? Here’s How The Quality Group Does Commercial Relocation.

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Joe DiGiovanni - Commercial Relocation, Facility Installation, Moving Preparation

When your company decides to move, you may think it’s going to be complete chaos. But, we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be. We’re going to take you through our commercial move process step-by-step so you can see how The Quality Group does relocation.

The truth is, a move isn’t a one day process. There are multiple steps involved so we can seamlessly move your business. We start about three to four weeks out from your desired moving date and have a planning meeting. At this meeting, we get to know you, your business and what’s important to you in the moving process.

One to two weeks before your scheduled move, we have another meeting. At this meeting, we bring our finalized moving strategy to you. We go over this strategy, answer your questions and solve any problems you may have. Getting feedback and solving any issues regarding the move is important to us. After all, this is your business’ move.

The next step is to prep your office for moving day. The day before, our crew will come to your office to put up signage and room numbers around the building. By doing this, we can streamline our moving process so that our crew can easily flow through your building without confusion.

When moving day arrives, we’ll come to your office and meet with your designated move captain. The move captain or captains are put in charge of the business move. When we meet with the move captains, we check and see if they have any last minute questions or problems.

At the same time, our crew will protect the walls and floors of your office building. After your office is protected, we have a team meeting and split our crew into two groups. One crew will help breakdown and pack computer stations, and the other half of the crew will be in charge of breaking down your office furniture.

Once we’re ready to take a truck load to your new office, we split our crew again. One crew we call the destination crew, and the other we call the origin crew. The destination crew will go over to your new office and begin protecting the walls and floors and then begin to move in your furniture. The origin crew will stay at your old office and continue to breakdown your furniture and clean up. The origin and destination crews stay at their locations until final loads and clean up. The only thing moving throughout this process is our truck and your office items.

When your old office is cleaned up and all of your furniture is at your new location, the origin crew moves to your new destination and helps to tie up any lose ends. Our crew makes sure your office furniture is set up correctly; your computers are fully functioning and makes sure no moving supplies are lying around your new office.

After the move, we like to make sure everything in your office is perfectly set up and fully functioning. A few days (or the next day, depending on when your move is) after your move, we schedule a post move meeting with you. We come and answer any questions or solve any problems you may have.

By streamlining our moving processes and making your move our top priority, we help you get to your new location so you can get back to business as soon as possible.

Work with The Quality Group

Tag: commercial relocation

Designing an Office Lobby Your Customers Will Love

Your IT Move Check List

Three Common Mistakes Made During a Commercial Move

Move without Really Moving? Here’s How:

Furniture Installation Made Easy

How Your Offices’ Wall Color Gives Your Business a Competitive Advantage

Finding the Right Office Furniture for Your New Space

Maximizing Your Small Office Space

Curious About The Commercial Moving Process? Here’s How The Quality Group Does Commercial Relocation.

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