Back in the early 1980’s, myself, the owner of our Steelcase dealership at the time, and a Steelcase sales rep were all in Houston, TX for a sales presentation at the Steelcase showroom. I remember preparing the night before in the hotel room for our sales pitch to Ford Aerospace.
Businesses today want to be more innovative and collaborative, but what does that mean and how is it achieved? Integrating technology into a collaborative workspace has become far more complex than just plugging into a projector.
Spring is in the air, and winter is probably still on your windows. It’s unavoidable. The weather, parking lots, roads and traffic, even coworkers, can all contribute to the soot, smudges and smears that appear on most glass surfaces.
We are honored and excited to be recognized as a Steelcase Platinum Partner for 2016. NBS is one of 33 dealers in North America who qualified for this award, and one of only five dealers to achieve this status for the fifth consecutive year. Thanks to Steelcase for recognizing us for this award again!
The very first OFP (Order Fulfillment Process) we created was presented at our company meeting as a rap! We performed different sections of the OFP process as a rap in teams to make it more fun and memorable for everyone.
We are excited to launch our 4.0 Volunteer Challenge! Over the past 40 years, our partnership with Steelcase has positively impacted our company, team members and clients. To celebrate and give back, we challenged each of our team members to volunteer 4 hours of their time in 2016.
North Canton City Schools in northeast Ohio saw an opportunity to transform student learning through the district’s physical spaces. Working with Steelcase Education, the district has implemented active learning environments throughout their schools – on a quest to make learning more engaging and to ultimately improve student success.
A well-designed and well-hosted environment including amenities, artwork, natural light and views of nature can elevate mood and improve wellbeing and emotional health. Research even shows that hospitals and healthcare spaces that cater to the emotional and physical comfort of patients and families boost satisfaction and increase traffic at these institutions.
Today’s hottest talent and top minds value the culture at their startups and are staying put, placing larger companies at risk of missing out on all that these fresh thinkers have to offer. What can be done? One answer: infusing coworking and elements of startup culture into your business.
Collaboration, creativity, and connectivity are words I never would have used to describe my work environment prior to joining NBS. Moving from a job where I sat in my own cubicle to an open plan setting has opened my eyes to a new way of working.
The biggest thing I remember working at NBS 20 years ago was that we all would eat lunch together every day in our conference room. The break room was small with only a fridge and one table. What happened in the Mount Clemens office drove our future NBS culture.
It’s an obsolete model for meetings: He who controls the video cable, controls the flow of ideas. That’s because traditional video displays prevent the active participation of all those in attendance. What if your display allowed for a seamless collaboration from everyone present?
Take a look back, while we look forward to the next 40 years. Remember 1976? We do because it marked a major milestone for NBS. That year, we became a Steelcase dealer and transitioned from an office supply company to an office furniture dealer.
A main priority for healthcare providers is of course patient safety. Hospitals are tasked with keeping patients well in addition to keeping them safe. Today, medical errors and hospital-acquired infections are a top cause of death. This responsibility includes safety from infection as well as from falling and getting hurt.
After a wildly successful first year, Steelcase Education is pleased to launch year two of its Active Learning Center Grant program. As 12 schools enjoy the benefits of their newly installed active learning classrooms, it’s time to open the opportunity to others who are ready to use their physical classroom space to advance learning.
As 3D printers become more accessible to consumers and popular online marketplaces continue to make major strides, it’s clear that people want to use their hands and are seeking out shared resources and knowledge to do just that.
When nature makes its way into the workplace, interesting things happen. According to Professor Sir Cary Cooper, an expert on workplace wellbeing, “Workspaces that incorporate nature allow for more effortless attention, are less mentally draining, and may restore our mental capacity.”
Here’s a shocking statistic: A 2013 study, by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, reports the average attention span has fallen to just 8 seconds. It gets worse. The same study says goldfish have an attention span of 9 seconds!
So what, exactly, is an intelligent wall? Walls are typically meant to divide and separate, but what if they could also bring people together? Enhance communication? Support the way you work today, and be flexible enough to support the way you’ll work tomorrow?
What if you had more control over privacy, access to power or managing disruptions in your workspace? At NeoCon 2015, Steelcase introduced some visionary new products that address these workplace issues. In the process, they won numerous awards at this annual commercial interiors showcase.
The disconnect between where and how people work today, and the traditional lunchroom, makes you wonder if a dedicated space just for eating still makes sense. Think about it. Most lunchrooms sit idle much of the day because they don’t function as workspaces.
Attracting top talent. Keeping staff engaged. Maintaining a healthy environment. These are all business challenges impacted by the cleanliness of your space. Factor in a brutal winter, and it’s probably time for a good spring cleaning.
Which color do you think is most likely to stimulate imagination and brainstorming? Which ones are best at supporting detail-oriented thinking? Or which color is most likely to induce relaxation? Research has shown a room’s color can have a profound effect on its occupants.
Are you an educator or know someone who is? Here’s a fantastic opportunity: Steelcase Education is awarding grants up to $50,000 to create active learning centers. For generations, classrooms were crowded rows of immobile desks facing a chalkboard.
