NASA-endorsed office furniture startup ROOM launches in UK

The US firm supplies modular, soundproof 'phonebooths' that allow for private conversations in open-plan offices. Its phonebooths are made from recycled materials, with each one incorporating over 1,000 recycled plastic bottles.

ROOM launched in the States in May 2018, and launched today in the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.

It has adopted a direct-to-customer strategy, and the company says revenues are growing at around 20 per cent per month. It expects total revenue to reach $40 million this year.

Morten Meisner-Jensen, co-founder of ROOM, commented: “ROOM is at the forefront of a wider movement focused on solving the persistent issue of noise and distraction in the open plan office. The challenges faced by open office workers is global, not local, and we look forward to introducing our proven privacy solution to Europe, helping companies around the world make more room for what matters most in business—their talent. 

“We have seen substantial and sustained growth in the US, with many organisations turning to ROOM to help them design better and more productive office environments. The open office trend shows no signs of abating, and while the answer may not be a return to the cubicle, there is a significant need for employees to find some quiet amid the chaos. Our soundproof phonebooths are just the first in a collection of products we will be rolling out in the near future that look to change the way the world works.”