Systems Furniture for Today’s Corporate Office
Steelcase is the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan it has over 1900 furniture dealerships.  Founded as the Metal Office Furniture Co. in 1912, it became known for metal desks, files, and other office furniture then in 1954 the company name was changed to Steelcase.  Over the years, the furniture needed for America’s offices changed.  As the economy changed from a manufacturing/factory based one to an information age one, the need to accommodate office workers with flexible space that would also handle miles and miles of wires became pressing.  Steelcase’s Movable Walls introduced in 1971 were the answer.  In 1973, they introduced Series 9000 panels and the cubicle designed workspace was off and running.  Other manufacturers such as Herman Miller, Haworth, Knoll, and so on provided innovative systems as well.  As Interiorscapers, we have become very familiar with this type of office layout as corporate America added green plants to help soften and humanize the workspace and we became an integral part of the office scape.  Over the past 30 plus years there have been many changes, improvements, and upgrades made to the original systems.  Color preferences have changed as well.  Back in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s Light Tan and Warm Brown were the most specified colors.  More recently it’s been Black and Grey.  At one point there were pronouncements that “the cubicle is dead”.  However, cubicle layout still survives in the office workplace and has been updated to include multiple systems wall type layouts.  For example, one of Steelcase’s most popular systems product line is the Answer Series of panels that can be used to fit a broad range of needs. Panels can be configured wider, taller, and shorter along with optional storage units such as towers, bins, and bookcases.  They can be solid or have glass window sections.  They can have tack board or marker board surfaces or a wealth of other options.  What’s important for us as interiorscape salespersons to know is that whether the panels are configured in a cubicle layout or more freestanding, the Answer Series accommodates TOPsiders planters just as well as the other Steelcase systems – Avenir, Kick, and Montage.  In fact, most of the other systems out there such as Herman Miller, Haworth, Allsteel, Knoll, etc. all work well with TOPsiders.

 Who is the Biggest?
Today, Steelcase and the other office furniture manufacturers continue to be innovative bringing creative office design to the forefront.  However, it may interest you to know that one of the largest office panel system suppliers is not a private company but the U.S. Prison System.  Yep, they don’t just make license plates any more but provide a wide range of systems furniture particularly for government projects.  Strange world, huh?

So, why have I covered all this info on office furniture ?  Because as an interiorscape salesperson you have got to be at least a little knowledgeable about where your plants and planters go.  A savvy salesperson learns about Steelcase, Herman Miller, and the rest.  At least enough to know who makes which system and be able to communicate with the facilities manager or the designer.  It’s all about credibility.

 Pull up www.steelcase.com and check out their product lines, same with Herman Miller and so on.  Or, next time you are working with an office furniture dealer, see which lines they sell and pick up some literature and finish pages.  It’s all part of your ongoing education as an interiorscape salesperson. 

Now go out there and get ‘em Tiger!