Archive for March, 2009

How is Best Practice Management Relevant in the Modern Context?

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The spirit behind best practice management is of striving for excellence and the desire to be the best. It embraces a wide spectrum of fields including technology, sales, construction, accounting etc. Best practice management has gained so much popularity that it has become a cult practice with the most successful companies. They are now willing to share the secrets of their rise to the top. Absolute transparency with the employees, suppliers and customers regarding the application of the best practices brings the best outcome.
(more…)

Office furniture for a non profit organization.?

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

We have the tax exempt forms and we are not looking for handouts just discounts of any kind. We are expanding due to the services needed by families in AZ. Any suggestions or advice on somewhere to go would be great. Ikea of Tempe I have tried and will never go back, due to the customer service I have received the past few days. The company I work for will help anyone and we are proud of what we do! Provideing support and assistance to families with behaviorally challenged children.

Have you tried discussing this with Office Depot or Office Max to see if they would give you a discount since you are a non-profit? All they can do is say no. Check at thrift shops or places like Salvation Army stores.

How can I sell off my office furniture for the best price?

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

I'm closing my mortgage office in Oceanside, NY. All my furniture is only 6 months old and of very high quality. I want to recoup as much as I can get. What % of the retail price should I be asking for and how can I get it sold quickly?

I tried a blast fax to other mortgage companies asking for 60% of the retail, but no one has replied. If I don't get at least 50%, I'll just give it to charity and take a write off.

I have 3 executive desks, 4 executive chairs, 5 grey work stations with matching file cabinets, 2 old L shaped workstations, 4 art prints, 29 comdial phones with system, 9 computers with xp professional, an okidata b/w laser printer, 5 black mid back office chairs, a black conference desk with 6 high back vinyl chairs, and a Louie IV cherrywood end table.

try craigslist. its free so it cant hurt.

Will this chair match the rest of my living room furniture/color scheme?

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

I recently bought some furniture for my new living room. Most of the pieces (coffee table, end tables, tv unit, audio tower, bookshelf, etc) are all in a dark brown/espresso color, and all pieces are contemporary. I also bought the couch at this link - http://www.bernieandphyls.com/2008003ST-Suede-Light-Taupe-Sofa.html (notice how the legs are dark brown to match the rest of my furniture)

Also, here are my tables - http://www.bernieandphyls.com/830PK945S-Sleek-Occasional-Table-Set-Cocktail-Table-and-Two-End-Tables.html

Now I’m trying to buy a single chair for the living room. My question is, is it ok to mix and match fabric style and color between a chair and couch? I’m hoping to get a leather chair and ottoman in a dark brown, sort of like this - http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_Club-Chairs-Ottomans_193649_Business_Supplies_2_10051_SC2:CG32:DP2230:CL161807

or even like this - http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00051607

Also, if it helps, my walls are all white and my carpeting is a light tan sort of color. Is this too much brown? Is it not ok to match color and fabric? Can anyone please advise or give me some links to recommend any chairs or loveseats that would match or compliment my current scheme? I kind of like this one (would it be a good alternative and a complimentary color?) - http://www.bernieandphyls.com/2108016SH-Suede-Hydra-Chair.html

Thanks so much!

I think you’ve done really well picking out great, neutral furniture. I think the brown leather would be much better than another cream/white piece of furniture. You may want to pick an accent color to spread throughout the room. With what you have already almost any color would work. For example, if your favorite color is brick red you’d pick a few pillows with a pattern that has red, maybe even the brown and cream too. Then throw in a vase, a lamp, a painting with the same basic colors…anything to give the space a little personality.

Has anyone ordered online from IKEA?

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

I want to purchase a bedroom set, living room set, and furniture for a guestroom/office. It's telling me shipping and handling is only about $120 for all of it. What's the catch? I know Ikea stuff has to be assembled. But what about the couch and huge items like that? Is Ikea furniture reasonably relaiable for the price? This is my first place.

I have ordered online and at the local store. When I reflect on my experience, this is what I came up with. Putting furniture together is a pain! Yes it can can save money, but jeez what a pain. I found a website I use now that has similar prices for completely assembled furniture, delivered right to my house. I would rather pay 10% more and not spend countless hours assembling….http://www.everythingfurniture.com - that is a good resource. If you really need to be cheap about your furniture, then Ikea is a fine place with a good selection. When I bought online everything went smooth but the assembly was a pain.

What happened to all of the office furniture that was in the twintowers?

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Why wans't there a desk in the rubble or any furniture?I know there was a fire in each tower but that was only on the upper floors. What happened to the lower floors office furniture?

In Australia tonight there was a tv documentary showing how the events on that shocking day played out. It was so sad.
They touched on the office furniture, computers etc.
Apparently, when the towers collapsed, everything just disintegrated due to the sheer force.
That's why there was nothing left. Just dust.

I need home decor advice. Any ideas?

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

I've just moved into a new rented apartment and like it very much. Before we moved in, the landlord has spent a lot of money renovated the dining room and spent a lot of time on the wooden paneling. This paneling is not to my taste at all, in the rest of the house it is painted white which looks light and airy, but in this room it is a dark teak color. I want to make this room an office so I can work at home and want to soon buy some furniture. However, I am at a loss at how to decorate this room. Should I go for an Old-English style drawing room look complete with leather chesterfield sofa or would it look to good to contrast the old paneling with contemporary furniture which is more to my taste. I'm not an interior designer so don't have the vision. What do you reckon?

You're smart to appreciate your landlords hard work.
I know your situation, I lived in apartment with dark panaling, but they let me paint it.
Don't worry about matching your furniture to it.
It's there to complement the apartment, thats it.
It should also complement your furniture, not your furniture complement the wall.
You say you like contemporary furniture, and you want to brighten up the place. Buy furniture to do that. You won't get any work done in an office you're not comfortable in.
Get furniture you like. Sounds like you have pretty good taste, you'll make it work.

A Common Sense Method For Laying People Off

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

A recent article by Patrick Lencioni on “How Executives Botch Layoffs” got me to thinking about the lay off process and how difficult it is to do. He wrote an excellent article and I would like to add some insight from the perspective of someone who participated in the laying off of people, to being laid off.
(more…)