Are you looking to spruce up your workspace on the cheap?
Office furniture prices are currently at an all-time high, with raw lumber prices increasing by 14.3%, steel components fluctuating as much as 17.8%, and petroleum-derived materials up 12.6% over the past year. The steep rise in prices is a big problem for businesses that are looking to buy new office furniture or upgrade their existing workstations.
But don’t sweat it…
There is an alternative option that is much better for your budget, better for the environment, and gives you access to premium office furniture.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- The reasons why smart businesses are using used office furniture
- How much used furniture can save you over new
- The environmental impact you can have
- What to look for in used office furniture
Why Smart Businesses Are Buying Used Office Furniture
The office furniture market has undergone a massive shift over the past few years. An increasing number of businesses have come to the realisation that buying new isn’t always the best way to go.
Consider this:
Premium brands like Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Haworth design their furniture to last 20+ years in demanding corporate environments. This is not some cheap imitation desk or chair that starts falling apart after a year or two. They are constructed using top-grade materials and designed to withstand daily heavy usage.
Used office furniture has become the perfect solution for businesses that want to take advantage of premium designs but at a reduced cost.
The right quality used office furniture suppliers give you access to high-end pieces that have years of life left in them. All at a fraction of the cost.
The secret…
A lot of used office furniture is surplus from companies that are upgrading, relocating, or downsizing. The furniture is often in great shape, but it simply isn’t required by the original company anymore.
Save a Lot Without Sacrificing Quality
The real elephant in the room with used office furniture…
Cost.
Used office furniture is 40-70% cheaper than new. That’s huge for a small business or startup. You can effectively furnish a 10-person office for the price of what you would normally spend on 3-4 desks.
But it’s not just the initial purchase price that gives used office furniture an advantage:
- Lower initial capital outlay – more cash for other areas of the business
- Shorter lead times – set up operational much quicker
- No depreciation like you would have with brand new furniture
- Higher quality for the price tag – get premium brands beyond your budget
Think about it – A brand new Herman Miller Aeron chair is going to cost you around £1,200-1,500. The used version? £400-600 in many cases. Same ergonomic features and build quality but for much less money.
The math is simple. When you have the option of furnishing an entire office space for what you would spend on a few pieces of new furniture, it frees up your capital budget for other things that are going to grow your business.
Office Furniture: The Environmental Impact You Can’t Ignore
Did you know?
The US sends 8.5 million tons of office assets to landfills every year. 17 billion pounds of perfectly usable office furniture thrown away annually.
Here’s why that’s a big deal:
Used office furniture helps to directly keep these pieces of office furniture out of landfills. For every desk, chair and filing cabinet that you use instead of buy new, there’s one less piece that has to be manufactured from scratch.
And that means less environmental impact including:
- Carbon emissions from manufacturing and transport
- Demand for raw materials like wood, steel, plastics
- Energy required to manufacture and transport
The office furniture industry accounts for 2-5% of global carbon emissions. This is a significant amount and choosing used over new has an enormous impact on your carbon footprint without any sacrifice in terms of functionality or aesthetics.
Corporate sustainability targets are no longer nice-to-have initiatives. 72% of executives deemed sustainable furniture procurement a “significant” or “very significant” contributor to corporate ESG targets in a recent survey.
Buying used office furniture is a no brainer for businesses who want to have a positive impact on their carbon footprint.
Immediate Availability When You Need It
Used furniture is the opposite of on trend.
One of the reasons why used office furniture is so popular right now is that new furniture has incredibly long lead times. Ordering a desk from anywhere can take between 8-16 weeks if not longer.
It’s simply not good enough for businesses that need to set up their workspaces fast.
Used furniture? It’s available straight away. Most used office furniture suppliers have stock on their warehouse that can be delivered within days not months. This means you can:
- Get your workspace set up immediately
- Rapidly respond to growth when you need to add more workstations
- Handle emergency scenarios like office moves or expansions
Immediate availability is essential for startups and growing businesses that need flexibility.
Quality That Lasts a Lifetime
Used furniture concerns everyone has…
Quality.
Office furniture designed to commercial standards like Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll and Haworth is built to last for decades. These are not your average low cost home furniture items that start to fall apart after a year or two.
Commercial grade office furniture is made to a higher specification so that it can withstand daily use over years (if not decades) in a demanding office environment.
Office furniture from premium brands feature superior construction with:
- Ergonomic designs that have been tested for comfort and productivity
- Timeless styling that doesn’t look dated
- Parts and components readily available for repairs and maintenance
This is because manufacturers have to replace every desk or chair if they wear out prematurely. It simply isn’t cost effective for them to produce low-quality furniture.
As a result, used office furniture from these manufacturers is of a higher quality than you might initially think.
If you buy from a quality used office furniture supplier, they often thoroughly clean, repair and refurbish pieces before they are sold on. This can include:
- Replacing worn fabric on chairs
- Fixing mechanical components or adjustability on chairs, desks and filing cabinets
- Simply giving the whole piece a thorough clean
The result is furniture that looks like new but at a fraction of the price.
Finding the Right Used Office Furniture
Ready to make the change? Here’s how you can find the right used office furniture for your business:
Start by analysing your requirements:
- Type of work done – Do you have a lot of computer workstations where people are sat at a desk for long hours? If so, ergonomic chairs and sit-stand desks are vital.
- Employee needs – Do staff have any special requirements like lower chairs for wheelchair access?
- Work style – Do you have a lot of collaborative team meetings that need to be supported with tables and chairs? Then you’re going to need collaborative seating.
- Brand preference – Stick to established commercial furniture manufacturers. Herman Miller, Steelcase, Haworth, Knoll are your best options.
- Inspection reports – A quality used furniture supplier should be able to provide detailed condition reports. Don’t be shy to ask for this.
Work with the right supplier:
- Partner with an established supplier. Someone who has good reviews and a proven track record. They should also be knowledgeable about the furniture they are selling and provide advice.
Upgrade Your Workspace for Less
Don’t let a tight budget hold you back when it comes to upgrading your workspace.
Used office furniture gives you access to top-quality office furniture from premium brands at a fraction of the cost. You also get the environmental benefits of reusing office furniture and preventing it from going to landfill.
The cost savings alone from used office furniture are huge, ranging from 40-70% lower than new. When you consider that this can also be premium quality furniture from the brands that would normally be out of your budget, it’s an easy business decision.
With so much furniture ending up in landfill every year, choosing to reuse and repurpose used furniture is one of the most direct ways to improve your sustainability as a company.
Whether you are furnishing a new office, looking to upgrade your existing space, or simply need to react to an unexpected event that changes your space requirements, used office furniture is the way to go.
