AIS, a manufacturer of commercial office furniture and seating, heads to NeoCon this June 11-13 ready to share its latest products and a refreshed brand identity that includes a totally renovated permanent showroom at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
“It’s the 50th anniversary of NeoCon, and it’s also a big year for AIS – we’re launching a lot of new products, and we’ll be exhibiting them in a gorgeous, redesigned showroom space,” CEO Bruce Platzman said. “We’re ready for visitors to experience the bold, fun, ‘we’re on it’ energy that’s 100 percent AIS!”
We’re On It™ is AIS’s new tagline, and it’s rooted in the company’s culture and how they do business.
“Our core value is ‘treat the dealer right’ and that means listening to our customers and delivering relevant designs and quality products – fast. We make it happen, and people will see that passion at NeoCon,” said Nick Haritos, executive vice president of sales and distribution.
AIS showroom greeters will be sporting fun We’re On It™ aprons at NeoCon; the slogan also will be on tote bags that AIS will give out during the show.
Inspiring new furnishings, fabrics and finishes will be showcased in AIS’s renovated space, which will feature a marketplace theme. The company will exhibit a broad line of products with meaningful applications and always-affordable character – including tables and desks, workstations, conferencing solutions, seating, storage options and private-office products. Known for furniture that says, “Let’s get to work,” AIS also will feature several new pieces that cross over into “resimmercial” and emit a relaxed vibe.
Visitors are invited to explore the space and products while enjoying fresh coffee-bar service plus healthy snacks and tasty treats. Local artists will create complimentary AIS-themed caricatures for guests. A not-to-be-missed showroom party with live-music entertainment, cocktails and appetizers kicks off 4 p.m. Monday at the show.
“During this special NeoCon anniversary, we’re ‘rolling out the red carpet’ to celebrate great design and our growth as a company,” said Platzman. “We’ve created a destination experience that will engage visitors in spirited conversation about how we can help with all of their space-planning needs.”
Vibrant, redesigned permanent showroom – part of new brand identity
AIS unveils a redesigned permanent showroom on the 10th floor in Suite 1086 at The Merchandise Mart during NeoCon 2018 where products will be displayed in colorful vignettes inspired by some of the world’s most vibrant outdoor marketplaces. Taking design cues from the bright signage, vast selections and edgy-but-friendly atmosphere exuded by such markets as Seattle’s Pike Place and London’s Camden Market, AIS’s showroom will encourage exploration and offer a bit of adventure, with distinct stops throughout the space.
“The energy and deep-rooted authenticity found in these storied marketplaces are the same qualities that AIS brings to customers – and at NeoCon 2018, our visitors will be welcomed by a team that’s ready to listen and share our diverse product collections in a lively, festive atmosphere,” Vice President of Marketing Tracy Reed said.
The AIS showroom experience begins with a sleek glass wall guiding guests to the entrance and reception area where the new LB Lounge and custom planters have been designed for casual seating, and soon-to-launch Day-to-Day™ Tables are showcased in sculptural displays. Immediately to the right is a cozy café section with tables and seating. Just beyond, an elegant private room features AIS’s brand-new Calibrate® conference table and Upton seating.
Turning left into the showroom, the space opens up to offer expansive city views of Chicago. Here, visitors will experience Calibrate® Series casegoods as well as Volker™ cubes and nesting tables. Also in this area are the Divi® and Matrix panel systems, which create flexible workspaces for a range of environments.
Continuing on the showroom tour, AIS will display a large selection of seating products, including the new Devens™ task chair as well as the Upton™, Natick™ and Bolton™ task chairs – along with the Triad™ stack chair, the Pierce™ side chair and the new Sulli™ perch.
Turning the corner, visitors will experience AIS’s just-launched Rutland™ and new Sulli™ stools and the popular Aloft and Oxygen desking/benching products.
Throughout the space, pops of fresh colors, greenery accents and natural materials – such as wood-slatted walls, charming wayfinding signs, and structural elements to divide experiences and separate product stories – keep on trend with the market theme.
The 7,400-square-foot showroom was designed in partnership with Boston-based NELSON Architects and Full Circle Marketing, an integrated marketing agency in Michigan that’s been spearheading AIS’s brand-identity refresh.
Visitors to the AIS showroom also will get a sneak peek at expanded upholstery fabric collections offered by alta™. Four new patterns and more than 50 new colorways will be available on select AIS products starting this summer. alta’s revolutionary fabric-protection solution uses nanotechnology to safeguard and sustain textile products.
A quick glance at some of the products that will be displayed in AIS’s showroom during NeoCon 2018:
Tables
Calibrate® Conferencing
Launching at NeoCon and available starting in July, AIS’s Calibrate® Conferencing tables and solutions expand on and coordinate with the current Calibrate® Series of laminate products, providing affordable, contemporary options for today’s conferencing spaces.
Day-To-Day™ Tables
Launching at NeoCon and available starting in August, Day-To-Day™ delivers conferencing, meeting, training, nesting, occasional and height-adjustable table solutions for any work environment. The collection offers many top shapes, more than 10 base options, 18 laminate selections and a variety of edge details.
Systems
Matrix
Matrix, a full frame-and-tile system, creates sophisticated, flexible workspaces with robust electrical capabilities. Matrix can be configured for open plans, private offices, reception areas, conference rooms and more.
Divi®
Divi® is an affordable panel system that can create or complement virtually any design aesthetic. Its universal hinge connection system makes it one of the simplest and fastest systems to install on the market.
Desking/benching
Oxygen
A Best of NeoCon winner, Oxygen is a benching solution that unites form and function in a package that is as high-tech and multi-functional as it is stylish. From open, collaborative spaces to focused, more private environments, Oxygen is designed to meet the needs of a diverse and ever-changing work environment.
Aloft
Another Best of NeoCon winner, Aloft is a sleek height-adjustable benching solution designed for modern open-space environments.
Calibrate Community™
Making its debut at NeoCon as part of the Calibrate® Series is a new open-plan desking system by AIS. Calibrate Community™ is a thoughtful solution reflecting simplicity and flexibility as it accommodates the personal needs of individuals and the collaborative needs of teams. Calibrate Community™ will be available later this fall.
Seating
Devens™ Task Chair
Launched in April, the Devens™ task chair embodies intuitive design, robust ergonomics, quality and value for open spaces and private offices.
LB Lounge™ Seating
Launched in April, LB Lounge™ creates naturally sociable seating for a variety of settings, including corporate, healthcare and educational environments. Available in two- and three-seat configurations with multiple widths and back heights, LB Lounge™ offers generous dimensions and clutter-controlling open storage.
Volker™
Launched in April, Volker™ cubes and nesting tables are suited for impromptu gatherings in the office, as guest seating in workstations, in schools and other learning environments, and in casual waiting areas. The fully upholstered cubes on casters roll where users need them to go. The accompanying square-shaped stationary table doubles as a work surface for collaboration and as an “anchor spot” to discreetly stow the cubes when not in use.
Rutland™
Launching in June, Rutland™ low stools are ideal for quick conferencing in classrooms, offices and patient exam rooms. Taller stool options fit perfectly into today’s sit-stand work environments and for short-term counter-height seating. Rutland™ seating’s compact, lightweight design and handle allow easy movement and storage.
Sulli™
Launching in June, Sulli™ perch seating is a fun, flexible “pop of inspiration” for a variety of spaces, especially educational settings and casual work environments. A colorful, friendly façade masks Sulli’s “inner intelligence” – the ability to seamlessly height adjust simply by pulling on a side strap.
Visit AIS in Suite 1086 (10th floor) at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago and learn more at www.ais-inc.com/NeoCon.