They say change is good. In the office furniture business, change is great! That’s because when I started in the office furniture business, there was no such thing as an office computer, or at least not one I, or any small business owner could afford. For that matter, 42 years ago, there was no such thing as a computer that could fit on a desk! Since I started selling office furniture in 1974, we have undergone the rise of technology, various trends in furniture styles and for some businesses, a more laid back work environment. Here are the most significant changes in the office world I’ve witnessed over the last 40 plus years:
By Hannes Grobe
TYPEWRITER vs. COMPUTERS – Believe it or not, 41 years ago, there was no such thing as a personal computer on the market. In fact, in the 1970’s, typewriters were the norm. Then, IBM was just introducing the first electrically operated kind that included new, never before seen features like bold headlines, italics type and the availability of different fonts! In the 1970’s, I would visit a client’s office, then sketch out orders with a pen on paper. Nowadays, I use a computer to layout entire office spaces without even leaving my office.
TELEPHONES vs. SMART PHONES – Telephones have been a prominent office tool since the 1920’s. In the 1970’s, they were the best way, besides house calls or office visits, for business owners to communicate with their customers and vice versa. Today, most business owners still have a landline for their office phone, but in addition they also use smart phones. That means many office workers can forward those landline calls to their smart phones allowing them to work from anywhere in the world. I had a “car phone” in the late 1970’s before “cell phones” were invented. Back then, there were only 4 lines available and you were limited to 2 minutes per call. Now I have a Samsung Note 4. To put it mildly, technology has certainly changed.
THE FAX & COPY MACHINE – When I first started in the office furniture business, you couldn’t
even send a fax. That invention didn’t happened until the late 1980s. In the 1970’s, companies used a telex to keep in touch with foreign offices or parent companies. A telex looks like a large typewriter. Users would have to dial in a number and once a connection was made, the typewriter-looking device would punch in a message into a punch-tape unit. In the 1970’s, copiers were also around, but office workers also used carbon paper. In today’s eco-friendly age, many office workers prefer to avoid making copies and send information electronically instead. Same for the fax machine; many have become obsolete thanks to the use of e-mail and instant messaging.
DESKS vs. COLLABORATIVE WORK STATIONS – The staple of every office, both today and back in the 1970’s, is a desk. I have always sold desks and a chair to go with it. Forty years ago, desks were smaller and chairs were more functional rather than luxurious. In the 1970’s, every office had a desk for every employee. Today, while employee desks are still standard, they have become more stylish and can be bought in a number of budget ranges from inexpensive to over-the-top. Also new, we’re noticing less personal space and many offices offering collaborative works stations or large multi-functional tables, where employees can work as a group on a project.
CATALOGS vs. WEBSITES – Back in the 1970’s, I spent a lot of time delivering or mailing catalogs of office furniture to clients or potential clients. They would look up the furniture they wanted and I would write the order down. Today, paper catalogs are nearly obsolete in the office furniture business. My clients simply go to my web site and view thousands of product offerings. The worldwide web has changed the dynamic of customer interaction and purchasing power today, and so many businesses are better for it.
The office furniture business isn’t what it used to be four decades ago and it won’t be the same in the next 40 years. Changes are inevitable. If you want to keep up to date with the latest in office furniture, do not hesitate to contact me or check out my web site.