PRESENTED BY
FRIDAY APRIL 30, 2021
The Upfront
PRODUCT LINE DIVERSITY PAYS OFF FOR HNI
While most publicly-held makers in the contract furnishings arena depend upon residential furniture sales to give them a boost during the tough times (aka now) in the workplace. Not so HNI. The company, which supplies office furniture at almost every price point, is also a significant residential fireplace supplier. It’s not a pun to say that business is red-hot at the moment and burning bright.
It turns out that when people work at home, they may buy a new desk or office chair, but what they actually spend on is the home itself. The company’s first-quarter 2021 revenue grew 39 percent on a year-over-year basis, operating margin expanded 600 basis points from prior-year, pre-COVID levels. This fueled a greater than 90 percent year-over-year increase in segment operating profit to a first-quarter record of $39.8 million. Not too shabby.
Meanwhile, we learned that back over in the high-end world of office and residential furnishings, business is yet to show any significant recovery. There is no doubt a recovery is coming eventually, but for now, Knoll takes its lumps. Despite a considerable boost in high-end residential sales (rich people are still rich), Knoll still posted a 22.3% decrease in sales. Sales to residential end-users represented almost 40% of their revenue, up from 20% a year ago. These sales increased 46% over the prior year, and still, they posted a considerable decline in revenue. Imagine for a moment Knoll without the residential segment. “We continue to believe that we are just scratching the surface of what the residential potential for our cornerstone brands can be,” said Knoll’s CEO in reporting the latest results. He had better be right, or Herman Miller will have to lower their acquisition price for the company.
HNI POSTS 3.3% SALES GAIN WITH HELP FROM BUILDING PRODUCTS SEGMENT
HNI Corporation Wednesday announced sales for the first quarter ended April 3, 2021 of $484.3 million and net income of $15.0 million. GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share was $0.34, compared to $(0.56) in the prior year. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.36, compared to $0.21 in the prior year.
First Quarter Highlights
Strong results in Residential Building Products: First quarter 2021 revenue grew 39 percent on a year-over-year basis, and operating margin expanded 600 basis points from prior-year, pre-COVID levels. This fueled a greater than 90 percent year-over-year increase in segment operating profit to a first quarter record of $39.8 million.
Signs of improvement in Workplace Furnishings: First quarter 2021 revenue was down approximately 12 percent from the first quarter of 2020, on an organic basis. This rate of decline was the lowest since the beginning of the pandemic.
Strong incremental margins: Non-GAAP consolidated operating income increased 67 percent year-over-year (or $9.4 million) to $23.3 million on two percent organic revenue growth (or $6.8 million). This equated to a 60 percent incremental operating margin, which was primarily driven by volume leverage in the Residential Building Products segment and solid cost control in the Workplace Furnishings segment, as both segments benefited from the Corporation’s annual cost savings initiatives and cost actions taken last year to combat pandemic pressures.
High-quality balance sheet: Quarter-ending debt levels were $176 million, essentially unchanged from last quarter and down from $230 million at the end of the first quarter of last year. The gross leverage ratio at the end of the first quarter of 2021 was approximately 0.9x, slightly improved from last quarter and last year. Cash totaled $94 million as of the end of the first quarter of 2021, more than double the $35 million reported in the first quarter of 2020.
“We delivered substantial profit improvement, highlighted by strong revenue growth and expanded profitability in Residential Building Products. Although the pandemic continues to negatively impact demand in Workplace Furnishings, particularly in the contract market, we benefited from our reset cost structure and improving top-line performance in our brands focused on small to mid-sized customers. Overall, the first quarter shows the power of our diversified revenue streams, our ability to react quickly to changing market dynamics, and our overall operational capability,” stated Jeff Lorenger, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.
First Quarter Summary Comments
Consolidated net sales increased 3.3 percent from the prior-year quarter to $484.3 million. On an organic basis, sales increased 1.5 percent year-over-year. The acquisition of Design Public Group ("DPG") in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased year-over-year sales by $6.4 million, and the acquisition of residential building products distributors in 2020 and 2021 increased year-over-year sales by $2.4 million.
Gross profit margin decreased 40 basis points compared to the prior-year quarter. This decrease was primarily driven by lower Workplace Furnishings volume and unfavorable price-cost, partially offset by improved net productivity and higher Residential Building Products volume.
Orders in the Workplace Furnishings segment declined 10 percent year-over-year. Within the segment, orders to small to mid-sized customers were down less than the segment overall and improved through the quarter. Demand in the contract market remained soft with orders down over 20 percent. eCommerce and international both generated positive order growth.
Normalized orders in the Residential Building Products segment increased 40 percent compared to the prior-year quarter. Remodel-retrofit activity and orders tied to new construction were both strong throughout the quarter.
Workplace Furnishings net sales decreased 10.5 percent from the prior-year quarter to $302.7 million. On an organic basis, sales decreased 12.4 percent year-over-year. The acquisition of DPG in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased sales by $6.4 million compared to the prior-year quarter.
“As we look to the rest of the year, we are increasingly optimistic. We expect our strength in Residential Building Products to continue and see evidence our HNI-specific strategies are gaining momentum for the long-term. In Workplace Furnishings, we see improving conditions and expect revenue growth as we progress through the remainder of the year. Signs of improvement are strongest in our businesses focused on small to mid-sized customers, where we have a strong competitive position. Our opportunities to grow profits will improve as we move into the back half of the year.
Knoll Sales Drop 22.3% posts Loss in First Quarter
Knoll, Inc. Wednesday announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.
Net Sales decreased 22.3% to $264.2M
Gross Margin increased 20 bps to 36.2%
GAAP Operating Expenses decreased $17.5M to $93.4M or 35.4% of net sales
Adjusted Operating Expenses decreased $13.6M to $87.3M or 33.0% of net sales
GAAP Net Earnings/(loss) decreased $12.8M to $(1.9)M or (0.7)% of net sales
Adjusted EBITDA decreased $11.5M to $21.7M or 8.2% of net sales
GAAP Diluted EPS decreased $0.30 to ($0.08)
Adjusted Diluted EPS decreased $0.36 to $0.04
“One quarter into the year, our thesis around 2021 being a year of robust residential and consumer growth and a transitional year for our commercial contract business as clients return to the office later this year remains intact. On $264.2 million of total sales, favorable mix and the benefit of our footprint consolidation was able to offset under absorption of fixed costs and modest inflation to hold gross margins relatively flat at 36.2%. Combined with good operating expense controls we were able to generate upper single-digit adjusted EBITDA margins of 8.2% and better than expected EPS performance.
“Sales to residential end-users represented almost 40% of our revenue, up from 20% a year ago. These sales increased 46% over the prior year, and helped reduce our first quarter net sales decline to just over 22%. The improvement in our residential activity has been broad based and is consistent with strong demand for interior design services as noted in the most recent American Society of Interior Designers report. Looking at our Lifestyle segment, this strong residential performance drove bottom line adjusted EBITDA growth in the segment, with 15.7% adjusted EBITDA margins that were up 440 bps from prior year. We continue to believe that we are just scratching the surface of what the residential potential for our cornerstone brands can be.
“On the commercial contract front, we are the most optimistic we have been in the last several quarters as we can start to see the return to the office market activity materialize in our pipeline and forecasts. In closing, while we work toward closing the proposed merger with Herman Miller, Inc., we believe we have taken the worst of the COVID-19 hit and are now positioned for broad based success as our commercial clients return to the office and our investments in residential and digital initiatives continue to build on the momentum of the past year. Thank you for your continued interest in Knoll.
Okamura’s Nagare collection awarded the GOOD DESIGN® Awards 2020
Okamura Corporation received the GOOD DESIGN® Award 2020 in the Furniture category for its Nagare lounge seating collection. This award is sponsored by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, established in 1950 and has the longest history of any design award, recognized as one of the most prestigious design awards in the world.
Nagare is a series of sofas and tables designed in collaboration with the Rainlight design studio, featuring an organic, curved design that evokes a sense of flow. With the flow of nature in mind, the collection brings a sense of calm and peaceful space in today's bustling environment. It provides a peaceful time as if you were sitting by a stream.
The lineup includes two types of sofas, Lounge, and Platform, with various sizes and shapes, together with occasional tables to compliment. Options such as cushions and power outlets are also available to support a variety of work styles. okamura.com/nagare
The $4 billion problem designers can't shake
Knockoffs threaten designers’ livelihood. Now companies, from Herman Miller to Gensler to Steelcase, are fighting back.
The Eames lounge chair and ottoman are icons of mid-century American design. With a curved plywood back and playfully tufted upholstery, they look as fresh in 2021 as they did when they debuted 65 years ago.
They are also relentlessly copied. Search eBay, and dozens of fakes appear. Sometimes the product descriptions are modified and misspelled to avoid explicitly misleading consumers (“Eams Style”). Other times, they outright lie and say the furniture is genuine. On Google Shopping, more than half of the top hits are replicas. The biggest giveaway is the price: The original costs $5,500 and up. Fakes usually cost $600 to $1,200. Cheaper but not exactly cheap.
The Eames lounge chair is one of hundreds, if not thousands, of designs counterfeited then sold to consumers. The rise of e-commerce has made it exceedingly easy for knockoff artists to sell replicas of popular furniture at a fraction of the original cost. Designers and manufacturers have some legal recourse, but not much. Many describe the process of combating knockoffs as a game of whack a mole: As soon as you shut down one company, another pops up.
To fight back, designers are banding together under a nonprofit organization called Be Original Americas. Founded by PR maven and former Metropolis magazine publisher Beth Dickstein in 2012, Be Original Americas has 126 paid members who vow not to support fakes. They range from major American companies (Design Within Reach, Herman Miller, Steelcase) to European brands (Fritz Hansen, Artemide, Moooi) to prestigious mid-size design studios (MNML, Bruce Mau Design, Fuseproject). Architects, including Studio O + Aand Gensler, the world’s largest architecture firm, have joined, too.
The organization’s mandate is simple: to protect designers’ intellectual property both by educating the public about the value of authentic design and by purging the market of fakes. Over several years, Be Original Americas has helped U.S. Customs and Border Protection seize nearly 18,000 pieces of knockoff furniture worth an estimated $30.3 million if the goods were genuine. “Original design is sacrosanct. People should be paid for it,” says Kenneth Baker, a managing principal at Gensler, who showed up to our Zoom interview dressed marvelously in head-to-toe Gucci. “Be Original Americas gives a bigger voice to this movement of keeping original. Using plagiarized [design]? It’s kind of like embezzlement.”
That might sound like an overstatement, but for designers and manufacturers, the stakes couldn’t be higher, especially during a year when furniture sales skyrocketed. Counterfeit pieces abound on small, generic furniture sites in addition to major platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Alibaba. One design retailer estimates that knockoffs put a $4 billion dent in the luxury furniture business each year.
For consumers, the argument for buying original design is tough in a retail climate that favors cheap, disposable goods and free, two-day shipping. But sentiment might be shifting. Homebound for a year, many of us have been forced to look closely at how we fill our domestic spaces and consider the real cost of all our flimsy plastic chairs and $30 bookcases. While sales of furniture rose 12% overall during the pandemic, sales at some companies that stock original design exclusively rose even more. The French luxury furniture brand Ligne Roset reported a 40% increase year over year. At Minneapolis-based Blu Dot, which produces mid-range modern furniture, online sales climbed 50%. This suggests that consumers may be coming around to the notion that authentic design is a worthy investment—for their homes and the planet.
“LEGAL CHICKEN”
One major challenge facing designers is that knockoffs aren’t categorically illegal in the United States. Some are legal, others are not. It all depends on the protections designers seek for their work.
Broadly speaking, U.S. law actually enables copycats. Designers can secure patents and copyrights, but those offer a limited period of exclusivity—for a patent, it’s 15 years. Then the design belongs to the public and anyone can copy it. “The status quo is there is nothing wrong with copying another company’s product,” says Sarah Burstein, an expert in design patents and a professor at the University of Oklahoma. “Free competition is the baseline in the U.S.”
Some companies have found a workaround by getting their designs protected under trademark law. Trademark rights can last forever as long as a company keeps selling a product. But trademarks are tricky. They’re meant to prevent consumers from being confused about a product’s origins (courts don’t want a customer to think he’s buying Herman Miller when he’s not). They’re not available for designs that are considered functional, like a table—only the shape of a table can receive trademark protection. So while prominent retailers including Herman Miller, which sells authentic Eames furniture, have aggressively sought trademarks for their products, others have failed to secure that protection, or never went after it in the first place. Without securing a valid trademark, patent, or copyright—or all three—designers all but roll out the red carpet for others to steal their work.
Microsoft Makes a Serious Commitment to Hybrid Work
Microsoft was one of the first companies to send employees home in 2020, as the scope of the pandemic became apparent. Today, the software giant is one of the largest companies to come out vociferously in favor of a hybrid workplace for its 160,000 employees who work in 21 countries. As a first step in that direction, the company soft-opened its Redmond, Washington, headquarters and nearby campuses in late March.
A new operating model
In a recent blog post on the company’s website, Kurt DelBene, Executive Vice President, laid out the philosophy behind its intentions to run a hybrid workplace well into the post-pandemic future. The blog post reveals that Microsoft has truly grokked the enormity of hybrid work.
“Looking ahead, we know that hybrid work requires a new operating model and strategy that encompasses flexible work policy, inclusive space design and innovative technology solutions,” he writes.
We're on the brink of disruption
In an article on the company’s website, provocatively titled, ”The Next Great Disruption Is Hybrid Work—Are We Ready?” the company asserts, “We’re on the brink of a disruption as great as last year’s sudden shift to remote work.” Another sobering statement in the piece positions hybrid work – or better put, a flexible, employee-centric workplace – as critical defense in the talent wars: “With over 40 percent of the global workforce considering leaving their employer this year, a thoughtful approach to hybrid work will be critical for attracting and retaining diverse talent.”
In a world where the majority of work is team based, “hybrid” is indeed a potential threat to the continued functioning of teams – unless the physical gaps between team members can be bridged by technology and other innovations.
Deutsche Bank Eyes Hybrid Model While JP Morgan Plans Office Return
More bad news for commercial landlords: Deutsche Bank is considering return-to-office plans that would make it one of the most flexible employers among large international banks.
Under the proposal, employees would be able to work from home up to three days a week, Bloomberg News reported. The bank is also “moving to provide our employees some additional flexibility in hybrid working models,” Chief Financial Officer James von Moltke told Bloomberg Television Wednesday.
Though location-specific plans have yet to be made, they will likely have an impact on Deutsche Bank’s real estate assets. The lender said in its quarterly report Wednesday that it expects “further savings” from the accelerated “rationalization of its real estate portfolio.”
Other banks have made similar moves. HSBC, which announced a hybrid model for work in February, said this week that it expects to cut its office footprint 20 percent this year and 40 percent in the long term.
Not every boss will let workers continue in sweatpants. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon just announced that the company’s entire U.S. workforce must return to the office in about two months. He has urged the rest of the industry to follow suit.
But even Dimon’s workers will not be coming in five days a week. In his annual letter to shareholders this month the CEO said the bank would “significantly” reduce its office space to about 60 desks per 100 workers.
Why do we need to go back to the office?
The past year has taught us that we can work differently. In the face of challenges, we’ve developed new habits, new strengths, and new expectations. We have seen that we can be productive and happy working from our kitchens, home offices or garages. So why exactly do we need to go back to the office?
As designers, building owners and landlords, we need to recognise that choice is the new amenity. Going forward, the workforce will demand options, including the choice to work wherever and whenever they can to tap into their best self. We can’t simply give them a new, safe version of the old office. This is about the human experience. We need to give them more. We need to offer something better.
Recent studies already give us an idea of how the pandemic is affecting people. In a recent Harvard Business Online survey, 59 percent of the respondents said they made health a priority in the last year, 70 percent said they prepared healthier meals at home, and 68 percent said they spent more time with their pets. (For the record, one in three said they drank more.)
A tangible response to the lessons learned over the past year should drive change and create workplaces that nourish the mind, the body, and the soul. Could the work experience be more tailored to suit the individual? Could we use this as an opportunity to help our staff develop as individuals, as well as employees?
This level of specificity requires a different approach to design. To be successful, the process needs to incorporate the outside influence of the designer and the inside knowledge of organisational operations and human resources, as well as direct input from staff. Encouraging the workforce to leave the comfort of remote work will require a strong link between design and operations, as well as an understanding of the importance of corporate culture and social relationships.
UK Government Opens The Way To Permanent Work-From-Home
The UK government is asking a business task force to advise on how working from home could become a permanent feature of office life.
The move follows last month’s consultation on how to strengthen the right to work from home and demonstrates a growing commitment from ministers to hybrid working. The government is reviving a task force formed in 2018, but which has not met for more than a year, The Times reports.
A statement from labour markets minister Paul Skulley emphasised the “significant benefits” of working from home, including flexibility and improved productivity.
The government’s move comes on the same day as data from the Office for National Statistics that shows the extent to which working from home has grown, particularly in London.
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, 65% of London adults under 65 years old were working from home. That figure has grown to 70%.
The West Midlands saw the biggest change from spring 2020 to spring 2021, rising from 31% to 41%. The North West remained stable at 42%.
Across the UK, the total increased only slightly from 47% to 48%.
Growing government enthusiasm for hybrid working has already led to innovative deals.
Driven by Design Episode 1: Cory Grosser
Introducing Driven by Design: a new video series, hosted by Coalesse Global Design Director John Hamilton, that explores what drives the international design community. Each episode follows Hamilton as he talks with innovators from around the world about creativity, inspiration and their work, all while driving around town.
To kick off the series, this week, our guest is Cory Grosser, a product designer, brand strategist, and educator based in Pasadena, California. In 2011, Grosser designed the CG_1 Collection of tables for Coalesse. Hamilton and Grosser discuss empathetic design, generational buying, career paths, and more as they navigate the streets of Munich.
Remote operation: Why designers are bringing on virtual employees
While the pandemic has made much of the working world recognize the extent of what’s possible to accomplish virtually, for many people, working remotely has long been their preference. Sarah Durnez, a virtual design assistant who has been freelancing for over a decade, says that the crisis just shed light on a category of workers who’ve always been there. “I think the past year has made a lot of designers be like, ‘Oh, right—the internet!’” she says. “People thought they were inventing something, but we’ve been doing this for years.”
Durnez recently began teaching a course for the interior design educational marketplace eDesign U in which she trains other people to become VDAs. “There’s definitely been a big surge since the pandemic started, both for designers wanting to hire virtual help and for people with the skill sets to become a VDA wanting to learn how to market themselves,” she says.
While she’s based in Washington state, Durnez contracts with designers across the country, offering expertise in programs like AutoCAD and SketchUp in addition to assembling presentations and creating marketing materials. “It’s a hands-off experience in that I’m never working with homeowners, but I get to only do the parts of the job that I like—and I get to do them on my own schedule,” she says.
3 Smart Steps to Rightsize Your Workspace
Many understand the hybrid office is positioned to become the backbone of the office of the future as flexible work from home jobs become the norm. That said, there is a burning need to figure out what the right amount of space for a flexible, CDC-approved shared office will be. When you don’t know how much of your workforce will work from home, or how many will actually be in the office on any given day, it isn’t an easy task.
There is a delicate balance between under- and over-allocating space for in-person staff, and getting it wrong in either direction can have tremendous ramifications on profitability, productivity and employee satisfaction.
That’s why you need to quickly master two critical competencies:
Evaluating your real estate portfolio and utilization to determine the “right size” of your real estate footprint as workplaces reopen.
Leveraging analytics in a comprehensive way to determine how to continuously optimize your office spaces as in-person, remote, and hybrid work models evolve throughout the coming years.
What is rightsizing?
Rightsizing is the process of aligning the physical footprint requirements of the professional office to both the current and future requirements of the organization.
But how can you figure out how much space is truly needed compared to what you have now? Even more daunting, most companies weren’t very good at this in the stable pre-pandemic days. Even as most employees spent most of their time at individual spaces (workstations/cellular offices), these spaces only accounted for about 40 percent of the floor space, which left 60 percent of space underutilized most of the time.
Office Demand Surges in March
Office demand surged in March, rising 28% from February and 161 percent in Q1 2021, according to the VTS Office Demand Index (VODI). Demand is now just 9% below pre-pandemic levels.
If the current pace continues, demand for office space in April 2021 could meet or exceed pre-pandemic levels. Half of the major markets, inducing Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Seattle, have exceeded or are within 5% of pre-pandemic demand for office space. Still, only Seattle (18.5%), Los Angeles (-2.8%), Washington, D.C. (-4.8%) and San Francisco (-8.8%) have a VODI within 10 percent of or above their recent historical average. Even though it’s near pre-pandemic VODI levels, Chicago is 27 percent off its recent historical average.
Can New Jobs Make Up for the Decrease in Office Demand?
Brett White, CEO of global commercial real estate services giant Cushman and Wakefield, sees some bad times immediately ahead for office space, though he expects that to reverse with new job creation.
“We’re very optimistic with the signs … that we’re seeing in the marketplace right now,” White told CNBC in a recent television interview. He pointed to increased “transactional velocities” and market activity, all dependent on vaccination levels or a lack of Covid-19 cases in countries like Australia and New Zealand.t.
Salone del Mobile to go ahead in September 2021
Italian furniture fair Salone del Mobile has announced that it will take place as planned in September this year, under a banner of "uniqueness and innovation," at its regular FieraMilan Rho venue.
In an announcement released by Salone del Mobile on 28 April, the fair said that the decision to go ahead was decided by a unanimous vote by the organisers. The fair will be held from 5 - 10 September 2021.
New digital platform announced
The 59th edition of Salone del Mobile will have "a new, careful look to enhance the news, technologies and projects of companies," according to the statement.
The upcoming show will also be "in dialogue" with a new digital platform to be presented shortly.
"The project of the 2021 event – which was primarily announced to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and subsequently to all the national institutions involved and to those of the territory, as well as shared with the historic partner Fiera Milano – will be entrusted with coordinated by an internationally renowned curator and will aim to strengthen bonds, relationships and concrete actions with the economic and social fabric that recognizes centrality and relevance to Salone del Mobile," the statement said.
Salone del Mobile president already resigned
Reports in the Italian press over the past few days had suggested that the Salone edition in September would be a "mini version" of the regular event, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Salone del Mobile president Claudio Luti resigned earlier this month, citing a lack of unity amid the ongoing pandemic.
"The common will of purpose [...] has failed," he said.
Beppe Sala, Milan's mayor, weighed in to say the fair was "in the balance" and urged Italian brands to support the furniture fair.
Organizers for fuorisalone, the citywide event staking place during Salone del Mobile, had previously vowed its September event would go ahead regardless of whether Salone del Mobile was taking place or not.
Versteel Launches Aerie Table Collection, Bringing Modern, Functional Design to the Evolving Workplace
Shaping the future of the resilient office, Versteel’s latest collection of tables, Aerie, blends minimalistic elegance with function and power, standing strong as the focal point of any room. As companies consider reconfigurations for the offices of tomorrow and the range of return styles that will drive these decisions, Versteel is committed to providing versatile solutions that will elevate the workspace as a destination for collaboration and hub for individualized, focused work.
“The office is resilient. Our focus remains on creating versatile products that will support the varied needs of any type of work style that arises. We’re challenging ourselves to create products that encourage productivity and collaboration in ways that give unparalleled power to the office,” said Versteel President Scott Schwinghammer.
Aerie tables use integrated technology and thoughtful design to promote productivity in a synergetic space with enough room to socially distance due to their expansive size. The tables also integrate centrally located, flush-mounted power bays that provide easy access to functional elements when needed.
Honoring the commercial furniture manufacturer’s rich history of collaboration, the Jasper-based company co-designed Aerie with the award-winning, industry-renowned Favaretto and Partners. Inspired by aerodynamics, it offers durability with a lightweight, sophisticated design aesthetic that showcases a unique blend of strength and lightness.“The inspiration for Aerie came from the desire to combine a light leg with a strong, stable top, mimicking that of an architectonic and monumental bridge,” said Francesco Favaretto of Favaretto & Partners. “The end result was a table that offers exceptional flexibility, encourages productivity, and elevates the design of the space.”
Aerie is available in a range of conference sizes and can be specified with various power and charging options. Aerie can be found at furniture dealerships across the U.S.
epix is a flexible furniture collection that will adapt to any space
The epix collection with Keilhauer by Form Us with love is a furniture collection that is fully recyclable and designed in a modern and refined way to support the future of the workspace. it includes a chair system, ganging tables, shelving walls, and a trolley, that allow a variety of interchangeable work settings to become possible. architects are empowered by epix to design offices that they know can adapt to change. spaces can be divided or opened up as needed by their occupants just like work settings can be easily scaled up or down.
Samuelson Furniture Reveals “Sound By Samuelson”
Samuelson Furniture, a fourth generation family-owned furniture manufacturer, announced the launch of Sound by Samuelson, a patent pending product that integrates bluetooth technology into its seating. Sound by Samuelson allows users to be immersed in the comforts of sound with the option to privately enjoy their favorite song, audio book, TV show or game system without the need of turning the volume up to an uncomfortable level for those nearby.
Unlike typical sound systems, Samuelson Furniture does not use commonly-found directional firing speakers, but rather high-grade technology that provides a private and pleasant sound experience by turning the chair itself into the speaker. This system reduces the struggle or strain to hear while simultaneously reducing disturbance to others nearby. The furniture is free of exposed wires, hole cuts for speakers, volume knobs or buttons that are typically found in Bluetooth enabled chairs and are controlled entirely through the user's phone, tablet, or TV.
Sound by Samuelson products can also be utilized for therapeutic or wellness-related purposes. The comfortable seat combined with the enclosed sound system can enhance the experience of music therapy or other applications that might be specific to the needs of an individual.
LaunchDarkly Headquarters in Uptown Oakland
Ware Malcomb, an international design firm, announced construction is complete on LaunchDarkly’s headquarters in uptown Oakland, California. Ware Malcomb provided interior architecture and design and branding services for the project.
LaunchDarkly, a software company that produces the a feature management platform, is located in the uptown neighborhood of downtown Oakland at the Lake Merritt Plaza. The highly sought-after plaza offers spectacular views of Lake Merritt, as well as quick access to the Oakland airport and the BART station.
The 30,000 square foot remodel offers office upgrades across two floors. The design highlights the value of community within LaunchDarkly, paralleling the culture of Oakland. Strategically placed open-concept areas throughout the office promote employee engagement. The expansive break room features a full kitchen with modern appliances and decor, with light colored wood, delicate accents, clean lines and exposed ceilings. The people-centric design encourages employees to congregate and foster a community culture within the break space.
Other design features accommodate further company growth and alternative ways of working. The office has many flexible spaces that allow for independent work, small huddles or large collaborative meetings. Ware Malcomb integrated LaunchDarkly’s brand colors of navy blues and grays with light wood and greenery throughout the space. The branding team also developed space-themed graphics to align with LaunchDarkly’s company image.
“Our focus was to bring the LaunchDarkly brand to life while weaving in the authenticity of Oakland culture,” said Rhea Butler, Director, Interior Architecture & Design of Ware Malcomb’s San Francisco office. “It was exciting to contribute to the growth of LaunchDarkly.”
Carnegie Fabrics Announces New CEO
Carnegie Fabrics today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Gordon Boggis as Chief Executive Officer of Carnegie Fabrics (“Carnegie”), effective immediately.
Gordon is an experienced executive with a consistent track record of delivering transformational change through a clear and strategic vision for growth. Skilled at improving key processes that help companies reach their full potential, Gordon will lead Carnegie into an exciting new chapter that will capitalize on the company’s existing strengths.
“We are excited to welcome Gordon to Carnegie as CEO. He brings terrific leadership and a remarkable ability to focus and galvanize an organization in pursuit of long-term strategic objectives,” says Ethan Thurow, Director of Carnegie Fabrics. “Gordon knows the key to Carnegie’s continued success is leveraging the best of what makes the company unique, while driving the business to new heights.”
Previously, Gordon served as the CEO of Mission, an innovative textile company that produced personal cooling gear. Over the past 17 years, he has led several highly successful brand-centric companies as CEO—including Redco Foods and Unreal Candy—through effective strategy development and execution.
Gordon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Loughborough University in England.
This transition marks the beginning of a new phase in the evolution of Carnegie, which has seen steady growth in recent years and continues to further solidify itself as a leader of innovation within the building and design industry.
The Ori Cloud Bed Table Edition Is a WFH Solution for Small Spaces
The Ori Cloud Bed, Table Edition gives off all appearances of a contemporary home office desk (or dining table), a surface that would naturally blend into an apartment, loft studio or even within a hotel room. It’s also a design harboring an impressive hideaway feature nobody would suspect until set into motion.
A follow-up to the brand’s Cloud Bed, Sofa Edition, this latest table edition operates with a similar push button ceiling drop mechanism that would make Kanye proud. The wall and ceiling unit houses either a queen or king sized Cloud Bed in a ceiling mounted position; at the push of a button the bed descends from the ceiling space while the table tucks down to floor level.
Designed for both residential and hospitality interiors, the transforming unit optimizes usable square footage by creating two spaces – a bedroom alongside a home office/dining room – all within the footprint of single space. In an era of working from home, the Ori Cloud Bed, Table Edition seems to arrive as a solution literally descending from above.
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