Furnishing Across Generations
The workforce is changing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2015 the number of workers 55 and older will be around 30 million, or 20 percent of the total labor force. As the massive Baby Boomer population reaches retirement age, the younger labor pool has been considerably diminished and, as a result, has increased the value and necessity of hiring older workers.
So…smart companies are considering how to accommodate an older workforce in their strategic planning. Have you? Redesigning the workplace to accommodate the aging workplace is crucial and, ultimately, these improvements can help secure the supply of labor. The workplace can be designed (and redesigned) so that older workers have the ability and desire to adapt. This year, about 78 million people will begin to reach traditional retirement age, and employers will need to find ways to keep their aging employees healthier and working longer.
As a result of the Americans With Disabilities Act, many employers have already considered small modifications that create a more accessible, comfortable and productive environment for this group. According to an interview in Workforce Management, Ken Dychtwald of San Francisco-based AgeWave says some “common-sense measures include turning doorknobs into door levers, building walkways which offer ramps as alternatives and improving lighting.”
But what else can we do? While I suspect the research on older workers and ergonomics, comfort, and health in the workplace is forthcoming, the general movement towards universal design — the wide ranging solution that produce buildings, products and environments that are serviceable and effective for everyone, not just people with disabilities — means we’re already heading in the right direction. In the meantime, take a look at some engineering factors Lance Perry wrote in “Designing the Workplace for an Aging Workforce” for the Zurich Services Corporation, a risk-engineering company.
Workstation:
o Sit vs. stand
o Work surface height
o Reach zones
o Work envelopes
o Visual zones
o Chairs
o Slanted surfaces
o Sharp edges
o Footrests
o Floor mats/insoles
o Shelving
Other environmental design factors you might want to consider:
o Lighting
o Temperature
o Noise
o Vibration
o Clothing
o Footwear
o Gloves
o Office design
And, finally equipment design factors to think about:
o Knobs and switches
o Control locations
o Lighting
o Keyboard and mouse
o Lettering and character size
o Analog vs. digital
o Colors
I’d like to hear from you. What are your customers considering to contribute to a positive environment for workers of all ages?
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
Did you ever notice how some people go for designer labels in a really big way? These are the folks clad head to toe with labels covering everything they own – logos not just on clothing but also on wallets, handbags, shoes – everywhere. Perhaps they think there’s cache imparted by wearing one brand and not another. But do they consider value? Is the handbag with the logo printed all over it, which sells for $1,300, actually better than a comparable one (sold for a fraction of the cost) that doesn’t come with logos on it? Will it last longer? Does it even look better?
When it comes to buying furniture, the same questions apply. Choosing brand name furniture that may cost two, three, or even four times what we charge for comparable pieces seems, well, as silly as the logo-clad automatons out there.
Most businesses want great looking, well made furniture – and that shouldn’t be confused with brand name. From our fundamental System 2 to custom-made conference tables and casegoods, Friant sets itself apart with fair pricing and quality products. We don’t sell image, unneeded services or assumptions based on legacy, image, or trend. We simply sell products that look great, work well and are built to last – period.
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
20 Years … and counting
It’s hard to believe, but last month marked the 20th anniversary of Friant. Way back in 1990, after learning the ropes in my father’s furniture dealership, I started out as a one-man repair and installation shop that was “headquartered” in my garage. Today, Friant is about 400 employees strong and has national and international representation and distribution providing high quality, low cost office furniture on a global scale. Working the office furniture industry from all sides – sales, installation and repair – has given me a broad knowledge base that I believe has greatly contributed to our success.
Not only is Friant celebrating its anniversary, but we’re also proud of our unique position in the industry, offering products that offer the triad of quality, design and affordability – especially during these lean times. We have a fundamental belief that furniture needn’t be cost-prohibitive to hit design and quality benchmarks. We’ve built and will continue to build Friant on the core philosophy of making the most appealing furniture accessible to everyone. By streamlining the sales, manufacturing, ordering and installation processes – and having complete ownership over our facilities – we keep overhead minimal and pass the savings on to our customers. Unlike other furniture manufacturers, Friant prices its products based on actual costs and not what the market will bear.
I’m very thankful that we’ve come this far. And, of course, I couldn’t have done it without the hard work, dedication and commitment of all of Friant’s employees; everyone shares in this hard-earned success. And, judging from our growth this year, I know that we’re in for more success in the years to come. New products, innovative designs, and more green choices – all just around the corner – will give us more reasons to celebrate and you more reasons to choose Friant.
Thank you for your support over the last twenty years! Here’s to the next twenty.
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
Friant’s Making News
Last week’s issue of the Monday Morning Quarterback included a feature called “The Second Generation”, about those of us continuing on with the industry we grew up in. The writer, Robert Kirkbridge, interviewed me along with other industry leaders for the piece.
Everyone’s story is different, but mine certainly includes learning the ins and outs of office furniture from a young age. Yet, no one handed me this business, and I’m proud of that. I worked all sides of this industry and was able to successfully branch out on my own with little more than a $1k loan from my girlfriend at the time. From a one man service company we’ve grown to about 400 employees (in the U.S. and oversees) and together, we’ve launched new lines and have incrementally grown the business beyond California and even beyond the U.S. into new global markets.
Rob asked me about my past, which was, obviously, influenced by my time spent in my dad’s office furniture dealership. We also discussed Friant’s product lines, our manufacturing processes, and what the future holds. Regarding what the next 5 to 10 years will bring, I said:
“I know what I want: To provide just in time high-end products at an affordable price while being able to support the job from a project management standpoint very quickly. We might not have 45 colors to choose from, but we have 20 of the best. We might not have 200 chairs, but we have 30 of the best and they are ready to deliver.”
That’s Friant, in a nutshell.
And in closing the article, Rob states:
“The second generation is making a statement in the office furniture industry. And it seems they’ve learned their lessons well. The industry is in good hands moving forward.”
Thanks, Rob; I couldn’t have said it better myself. To read the story, check out page 15 of this PDF.
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
One World, One Cup…One Designer?
Whether you’re a soccer fan or not, you must have felt at least a little pull from the force that is the World Cup. In fact, you may still be planning to watch some matches even though the U.S. lost to Ghana this past Saturday. Sometimes, it’s not about watching our home team as much as watching the beauty of the play.
In fact, the governing body for the World Cup, The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) posted the question to their website: “Is it the artistic and aesthetic qualities of football, the athleticism, the simplicity or the accessibility of the game that makes it one of the true universal elements in a world torn into small fragments by divergent forces?” Throughout modern history, different people have had different answers to this question. My perspective is similar to Mexican soccer coach Hugo Sanchez who said, “Whoever invented football should be worshipped as a god.”
Everyone has his or her own take on soccer and, specifically, the World Cup. And, though the US, along with Italy, Britain and many other countries are no longer in the competition, there’s still a little fun to be had. German-based online furniture retailer smow created the happy place between World Cup madness and the world of furniture with the 2010 Designer Furniture World Cup. Each day, a new match between two world-renown designers is posted. For example, day two of the 2010 Designer Furniture World Cup was the first all female match with Patricia Urquiola (representing Spain) facing Hella Jongerius (team Netherlands). From the official website:
“As expected Urquiola started in her typical robust, voluminous fashion as demonstrated by her work with the likes of B&B Italia, Cassina or Molteni & C. Against the more wily, formally adventurous Jongerius, however, Urquiola advanced only slowly with her classic “lounge” approach. Switching to a more synthetic “Kartell” Approach seemed to offer Urquiola more options, however Jongerius countered with the fully unexpected Polder Sofa for Vitra and the contest was decided; 1:0 for Holland.”
To catch up on the latest scores of the Designer Furniture World Cup, check smow’s site.
Have fun when you can — whether you win or lose — and enjoy the rest of the World Cup.
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
Neocon 2010…Thank You
A big thank you to all who could make our cocktail party at Neocon last week – we loved putting new faces to familiar names and being able to express our sincere appreciation for your involvement in and contribution to Friant’s success. We ate, we drank, we talked shop (and not), and we had an overall splendid time. Cheers to our next 20 years!
We hope you all went on to enjoy all the visual riches and networking that Neocon has to offer. (Did any of you win an iPad?)
We attended a seminar about social media, and it reinforced our commitment to Twitter as the best direct communications tool for immediately valuable information. To sign up for Twitter and download instructions on sending our tweets directly to your smart phone, visit http://www.friant.com/connect.html.
What did you see? What did you like? What do you hope to see more of next year? Post all your thoughts here; we’d love to hear it.
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
Updated Industry Forecast
A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about what some creative designers have done to “recession proof” their businesses. It seems that the topic was, indeed, relevant and timely: recently, an updated forecast predicted that that office furniture industry will decline deeper this year than previously forecasted before rebounding in 2011.
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association predicts a 5.1 percent decline in industry-wide shipments in 2010 to $7.45 billion. A previous outlook announced three months ago forecasted a 3.8 percent shipment decline. Yet, there is good news: As the U.S. economy slowly improves, North American shipments should rebound by 11.1 percent, to $8.27 billion, in 2011, according to BIFMA projections. The industry’s snail-like recovery from its deepest ever one-year decline — 29.7 percent in 2009 — is in step with the national economy.
At Friant, we’re relieved to report that we remain on track for significant growth in 2010. We believe our growth is a reflection of several factors, our successful business model playing no small part. As a manufacturer, not a distributor, with streamlined production and distribution channels, we’re able to produce and warehouse large quantities of product while maintaining low overhead. This allows us to offer lower than industry average pricing, yet remain 100% accountable for our outstanding quality.
That’s a big deal; no one else in the industry is doing this. And entering our 20th year in business means we don’t plan to slow down any time soon; we’ll continue to do what works, which will only become more valued as the future of the global economy continues to shift and realign. With more accessible products at the forefront of every industry, it’s becoming less about brand and more about value. This defines Friant in a nutshell.
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
Double Duty
Have you noticed that some of the most important things in our lives are starting to take on added functionality? Our kitchens are also our offices, our computers are our entertainment centers and phones are – well, our everything. Today, our lives are busy and time is limited. We need solutions that work overtime – and often, products that perform double duty.
For example, our mobile pedestals are available with pillow tops to double as on-the-fly seating when needed. Our Mesa tables offer a landing place for in-person meetings that are also fully connected to our virtual compatriots. Our panel systems offer both visual and auditory privacy as well as add aesthetic and design value to our spaces.
Along this line of thinking, I recently read an article with some useful tips on how to maximize the value of some commonly-used products, which I thought I’d share.
Leftover wine
Pour leftover wine into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add the cubes to gravies, sauces or stir fries for a little extra oomph.
Wine Bottles
For women, after you empty out those wine bottles into the ice cube trays, use them for your boots. When you’re packing up your knee high boots for the winter, put cleaned out empty wine bottles inside them to help them retain their shape.
Cornstarch
Pesky knot in shoelaces that you can’t get out? Or a favorite necklace that has a huge tangle? Rub cornstarch right on the knot. Works like a charm.
Dollar Bills
If you’re ever at loss for a ruler, look in your wallet. Laid out flat, a dollar bill is just over 6 inches long; folded in quarters, it measures almost exactly 1 1/2 inches.
Coffee Filters
Did the cork break in your bottle of wine? If you still want to drink your wine without finding pieces of cork in your glass, pour the bottle of wine through a coffee filter and you’ll catch all the broken pieces of cork.
What’s your favorite way to double up functionality – whether at home or at the office? We’d love to hear how your furniture, or any other product, works overtime for you.
In Excellence,
Paul Friant
NeoCon – for Neophytes and Vets Alike
In just a few weeks, many of us will be heading to Chicago for the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair (June 14-16), the largest conference and exhibition of contract furnishings in the U.S. For me, NeoCon is essential because it’s where the furniture world comes together for three intense days of new connections, new products, and new opportunities. It draws people from around the world to come out and see first-hand what’s the latest in the world of built environments.
More than 40,000 industry professionals will attend, and thousands of new products will debut. The show is in its 42 year, and fills 1,000,000 square feet of exhibition space on 10 floors of The Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
In addition to important sessions and breakout conferences on everything from sustainability to social media, we’ll find inspiration in keynote speakers such as Majora Carter, former executive director and founder of the non-profit Sustainable South Bronx; Michael Graves, architect and founder of Michael Graves & Associates and Michael Graves design group; Margaret McCurry, one of Architectural Digest magazine’s AD 100 Top Designers for 2010; and Yves Behar, industrial designer and founder of fuseproject.
And of course, there’s Sunday night drinks with Friant at the Renaissance hotel, just across the water from the Mart.
Join us for the 80,000-foot perspective on the industry, to see what’s new, to connect with old friends and make new ones.
Hope to see you there,
Paul Friant
A Recession-Proof Model
With so many contradictory economic indicators, it’s hard to tell where the true trajectory of the economy is; even the officials are offering nothing short of ambivalence. “The recession is very likely over at this point,” Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said last week. But, he added “It’s still going to feel like a very weak economy for some time.”
However, even though it will be awhile before all indicators are pointing north, I see the silver lining. For example, home sales and new home construction are starting to make a long-awaited comeback, even though consumer spending is still decreasing as a result of continued job losses and difficult credit conditions. On the business front, companies have continued to reduce spending and have sharply decreased their inventories, but many economists think that businesses are, by and large, done with employee cuts, which could lay the groundwork for economic growth this quarter. 1
Earlier this week, I read an interesting article in Metropolis magazine. Ten designers were asked how they’ve had to “recession proof” their businesses 2. Some answers indicated that businesses have really had to reevaluate how they think and what they offer. For example, one company shifted its focus from residential to the commercial industry (specifically chairs and stools) because consumer confidence and spending had become so low.
At Friant, recession proofing hasn’t really been necessary since it’s part of our business model to accommodate more efficient budgets. Since Day 1, we’ve kept the fat out of our business operations and overhead costs. To keep our costs as low as possible, we scrutinize the cost of equipment and materials, renegotiate contracts as necessary, and continue to streamline the manufacturing and ordering processes. And our model has paid off: we’ve actually been growing amidst this downturn. The launch of our three new lines – Tiles panel systems, Gitana case goods and Willow reception units – have all been very well received. We’ve found that our customers want new products and innovation more than ever.
As the light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter for more of us, you can expect to see even more innovation and new product lines from Friant. And, as the purse strings begin to loosen across our industry, it will be up to you to decide where to set your profit margins since Friant will continue to come in under industry standard pricing.
1. CNN.money “G20 Summit: Six Countries in Recovery”
2. Metropolis link: http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20100512/the-state-of-the-union
