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Optimizing Productivity in the Workplace

As the dedicated owner of a flourishing company, there are many factors to be taken into consideration when laying the necessary framework for a promising business. Some of these components are more obvious, such as meeting efficiency, ensuring all of your employees are well informed and able to make decisions, and of course- a fair amount of cohesion amongst all of your team members.

One thing that typically goes unnoticed and undervalued, is the physical environment in which you and your employees exist in each and every day. Spending countless hours indoors in the classic work environment of an office space can be taxing on just about everyone. It can strain the individual and consequently – the overall morale of a business. Or on the contrary, it can be exciting, productive and a joy to exist in. How can you set your company apart from others ensuring that your workers are happy, healthy, stimulated and able to provide the best possible work for a flourishing business? The first step is to take a look around at what already exists. Below, we have outlined a few questions to ask yourself when assessing your provided work environment and the necessary solutions.

glass wall

Does the existing office offer your employees the ability to work together while maintaining crucial productivity? 

Do you and your employees exist in a vast open space with communal desks and no partitions? Or do you work in tight quarters secluded to individual spaces? Neither of these options is the right or wrong answer- yet both of these offer equal opportunity to either provide or detract from your business. Your employees’ engagement in their workday depends largely on how the building is laid out. If it is an open space, is it one that offers cohesion, shared thought and teamwork amongst your employees? Or does it restrict conversation and sever creative free-flow. 

The free-flowing exchange of ideas can be one of your company’s greatest assets. Allowing and encouraging employees to easily communicate and brainstorm with fellow team members is a key component in innovation and creation. Work environments that do not offer a fluid surrounding suffer a great loss of unity and integration of objectives. Of course, space and solitude in any working environment are necessary and integral to successful production and typical workflow. One promising way to achieve both individual spaces yet offer integration amongst your employees is to install easily adjustable wall partitions and glass office dividers- offering options. This way, your employees can swiftly enter and exit work areas with the semblance of separation when needed. This innovation also offers an inviting feel to any office environment, boosting morale and allowing for teamwork.  This is a sure way to provide much needed and appreciated cohesion in the workspace.

sliding door

Is there ample light throughout the workspace? Or is it a windowless environment? 

Oftentimes we don’t necessarily have the choice or comfort of abundant light in the office. If you find yourself enduring a windowless or sparsely lit existence, we have a few helpful solutions to consider. One answer to this problem is to effectively open up partitioned office spaces to allow for necessary light to pass through when windows are not abundant. Space Plus, A Division of The Sliding Door Company, proudly provides a myriad of glass wall partitions to choose from that are designed intentionally with the workplace in mind. Ranging from glass wall partitions, sliding door room dividers and glass Wall Cubicles, Space Plus offers it all. Rather than obstructing views and hindering light with solid cubicle partitions, opt for more of a free-flowing approach allowing for beautiful light to pass through. The last thing you want as an employer is for your workers to suffer and tire from an arid environment. There is little to no inspiration there, and that diminished capacity translates into the quality of your worker’s content and productivity. 

Is the general atmosphere instrumental to production and enthusiasm for your team members? 

A great way to gain and retain successful employees is to provide a healthy space to create. To learn, grow, develop and produce. When employees are uncomfortable, strained and lack enthusiasm about their environment, it can me expectantly difficult to anticipate excellence from your team.

A few ways to ensure a positive working container is to take the small details into consideration. Can the office act as an extension of their home? In the sense that it offers comfort, sustained energy and contentment. Consider things like lighting, art on the walls, and stylish features that are overlooked every day. Smooth sliding glass doors offer the feel that you exist in a smart and modern working arena. Hanging doors that slide, such as Space Plus’s hanging glass barn doors provide a stylish and thought-provoking flourish to a normally ‘safe’ office space. Not only are the hanging glass doors a joy to slide open and close, but they signal that care and intention were thoughtfully consideration in respects to their working environment. Offered in addition to the doors themselves are a plethora of accessories and options to individually customize your products. From a variety of glass opacities to framing options and panel configurations, your unique choice is implied in our business model.

By adding thoughtful touches and well-considered features to your office environment, you set yourself and your employees up for successful work experience. After all, you want your workers to be inspired, productive and sustained at the beginning and end of each day.

To get started on your exciting office improvements, check out our products gallery for inspiration and product images. Schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable professionals to get a quote and other information on our many available solutions. Simply find a showroom near you and get that much closer to optimizing your offices for success!

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The Exciting Move Toward Co-Working Spaces

In the past two decades, there has been a great metamorphosis in the way that we as Americans understand and exist in shared spaces. The entire culture surrounding what a workday looks like has dramatically shifted. The architects and space designers of today have reared a significant undertaking in spatial optimization for the modern worker. They understand that there is a certain strategic benefit in crafting inspired and artful shared workspaces for the professional.

This is (thankfully) a grand step away from the lackluster and boxed-in days of the past. It’s a re-write of about a hundred years of depressive office buildings and the classic cubicle existence. This has been a welcomed shift- one that we have only arrived at thanks to the concerted effort of spatial pioneers, builders, and environment visionaries. Top companies such as Google, Facebook, Zappos, and Stance have all transitioned their offices to provide an inspiring setting that caters towards creation, invention and the encouragement of shared thought.

The why and how in scaling up with a shared workspace. There are now over 35,000 flexible workspaces in the world today. If you haven’t jumped on board already, it’s about time. This article will inform you of how to update your workplace and offer a fresh hub for social inclusion and accelerated growth by your employees and ultimately, your business.

First, the why.

workplace

 

Why are so many businesses turning to shared work environments? It’s simple- because their workers are happy. Employee retention rates and productivity have never been better. Craft an artistically thoughtful workspace, allow for shared thought and cohesion, and you have invested workers. People who enjoy shared workspaces experience feelings of self-motivation, individuality, inspiration, and pride. They feel proud to go into a beautiful working environment, meaning they are inherently happier going into the office. Not only do co-work offices promote individuality, but they also foster a sense of community. A lot of European co-work spaces offer open floor plans with couches, comfortable chairs amid low height desks. They pay attention to lighting and the fluidity of the space. Sometimes there are even ping pong and pool tables set up amongst the work zones to encourage healthy breaks- increasing stamina and freshness throughout the long workday and providing team building activities.

These novel office designs have a coffee shop appeal to them, which generates a lot of comfort and relatability for workers. Businesses are starting to see higher retention numbers of their employees who work in shared spaces, as well as growing productivity. Statistics have proven that these shared workplaces have become the standard, not the exception. These spaces have implemented a more humanistic approach to design, not the other way around. We no longer design working environments with sterile columns and rows, with tiny hallways and fluorescent lights detracting from our quality of life. The archaic way of laying out office spaces is now being rejected, with so many people noticing how unproductive it was for the everyday employee. This shift has garnered a lot of attention and support and will continue to show up in a myriad of ways.

Now, for the how. 

How are businesses crafting these shared spaces? There are many different ways in which to jump on board this growing coworking industry. Designing and building novel environments is one way. Updating and redesigning an existing space is another. Utilizing everyday spaces in public has also become a movement.

Designing entirely new buildings for shared workspaces is something that takes time, capital and vision. Many architects are now seeing the value in these flexible environments and are coming up with innovative approaches every day. If it’s the inspiration you crave, take a look at this list of The 50 Best Co-working Spots in Europe for some visual ingenuity.

On the other hand, a faster, more economical approach to spatial redesign, is to use what already exists and update it. For example, take your vast and uniform office space. By clearing everything out (all of the furniture, cubicles and excess materials) and creating a clean slate, you can begin the process of redesign and integration.

A few key factors to consider during the redesign are:

  • spatial barriers
  • doors, walls, and partitions
  • lighting and aesthetics
  • shared rooms
  • amenities

When crafting a shared office environment, something to carefully consider are the materials used to separate spaces and offices. The updated solution to the outdated cubicle is glass wall partitions. While still offering necessary privacy and healthy space amidst hundreds of other employees, the glass lends a separate but equal feel to the workplace. This allows for the individual to enjoy their own space while still being able to see into the open floor.

The design of doors and walls in the office is also a crucial tool in creating harmony and integration in the workplace. Sliding glass doors offer equal flexibility and privacy in any office. With available locking accessories, the choice for separation is readily available. Glass walls are also a must-have in any shared office environment, encouraging office synergy and inspiration amongst co-workers. In addition, the glass offers beautiful light to enter and spread throughout the space, which adds to the overall experience of the workplace and how the employee exists in his or her environment. Without ample light in a building, space can begin to feel exceptionally closed in and uninspired.

Lastly, offering needed amenities into co-working environments can be a deciding factor for a potential employee. If they have access to coffee, tea, a kitchen, filtered drinking water, complimentary snacks, etc. this will add to the overall experience for the professional and make coming into work that much more enjoyable and viable.

As we approach 2020, we will start to see more and more of these thoughtful workspaces and creative environments pop up all around the States. These shared spaces are quickly entering into the public territory as well- in train stations, coffee bars, subway stations, airports, and hotels. It’s time to jump onboard and rediscover what’s possible in the workplace.

Make the move towards crafting a desirable coworking space, and visit Space Plus, A Division of the Sliding Door Company for ideas and inspiration. Get a quote from one of our professionals to begin the transformation today.

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Essentials For Successful Flexible Shops and Stores

In the past decade, there has been a collective move towards providing sanctuaries out of our retail spaces. A grand push to provide aesthetically pleasing and welcoming business fronts is now accepted as the norm. It used to be that the business provided the bare minimum in regard to interior design… there was no emphasis on aesthetic. Now restaurants, spas, financial offices and hair salons all take the visual landscape into careful consideration. When there are thousands of like businesses and shops in constant competition, it’s a no-brainer that you must set your business apart from the rest. And sadly, if you haven’t jumped on board just yet, you could be seriously missing out and unknowingly stunting your business. Whether it be a clothing store inside a mall, art gallery, restaurant, a boutique supply, hair studio, med spa or even a dental office – all of these businesses should appear inviting, creative and offer the appeal of luxury. If your store reflects an appealing design, your customers are more inclined to walk through your open door and enjoy a fully immersive experience.

A recent poll concluded that the three chief considerations customers make when choosing a restaurant are in order as follows:

  1. the atmosphere
  2. the service
  3. the food

This clearly demonstrates the unquestionable significance a business environment has on the customer. The main attraction and most powerful factor when determining where to eat, shop, indulge, relax – in the atmosphere. This means, if you aren’t representing your store or studio by attracting passersby with a stylish interior, then you’ve already lost your patron before they even have the chance to see your quality products.

Luckily, we’re here to help. Space Plus, a division of The Sliding Door Company, offers all of the necessary solutions and products you need to begin drawing in your beloved customers.

Where to start first?

Make sure you consider if your storefront is clearly visible to passersby from the street, across the way, etc. A key way to attracting potential clients is to allow for visibility. This creates intrigue and interest to an unsure prospective buyer. If they can easily see through a window and into your shop, they’re much more likely to enter. Most people shy away from stores when they can’t see what they are getting into. Call it human nature- we fear what we do not know. So why not eliminate the apprehension and provide full transparency?

A great way to ensure visibility is to install glass walls on the street side to attract passersby. By installing an entirely transparent wall, it becomes an obvious statement. “Welcome in, we’re not hiding anything!” Space Plus proudly offers many customizable options for your unique business so that you can utilize the design as effectively as possible. For example, you can choose from a multitude of panel configurations, glass opacities, and frame finishes. The option is also available to have tempered or laminated glass. By providing ample visibility, you set your business apart from others and enjoy another added benefit- utilize free marketing!

glass wall partitions

Now that you’ve attracted customers into your store, it doesn’t stop there. The interior environment of your shop should be carefully considered to provide the most enjoyable experience possible. This will hold their attention and reflect just how much care you put into your business. Providing thoughtful touches such as warm lighting, stylish furniture, indoor plants, art curation, even smells- all of these sensory details add to the overall shopping experience. Another crucial consideration is if enough natural light can enter and flow throughout your store during daytime hours. By choosing to integrate glass wall partitions throughout your shop rather than constricting walls, you allow this natural light to pass through while establishing a more fluid environment. People tend to feel trapped in small, enclosed spaces. It’s important to broaden the space, making your customers feel at ease and free to relax. Another great product to consider introducing into your store is the use of mirrors. Mirrors are excellent at reflecting and spreading existing light, thus lowering your energy costs and providing a much more inspired atmosphere. Consider integrating glass partitions into your floor plan, especially if you own a business such as a hair salon or a med spa. You can choose the mirror option for your glass finish, therefore, utilizing two invaluable materials at once.

Room dividing walls

If you provide a business such as a medical spa or dental office, something to think about is artfully dividing up your floor space to add dimension and usable rooms. By installing interior door room dividers throughout your space, you create necessary spaces for privacy. Room dividing walls are a fantastic solution to breaking up spaces at an agreeable cost, without any major construction or lengthy disruption to your business. If privacy is paramount, opt for frosted glass, or a glass option that has a high opacity. Space Plus allows for your individual customization because we recognize that each business is unique and catered to individually. With a plethora of accessories to choose from, you can install locking door handles, top hanging sliding tracks or bottom tracks, while the 3S Smart Shut System allows for a smooth, soft close. Quality and design are of utmost importance in our factory, ensuring you receive a high caliber product, every time.

With all of these considerations, evaluate your business front with discernment and see how you can update and evolve into one of the leading competitors of your industry. By taking the time to craft a beautiful and inspiring environment, you demonstrate quality and care to your customers.

To get started on your exciting storefront upgrades, check out our products gallery for inspiration and product images. There is a multitude of stylish and helpful products just a click away! Schedule a call with one of our knowledgeable professionals to get a quote and other information on our many available solutions. Simply find a showroom near you and get that much closer to optimizing your business for success!