For many years, Steelcase has been known for its commercial office lineup, mostly in office chairs, but also desks, workstations and storage units such as lateral files and book cases. In addition, the manufacturer produces a line of contract grade furniture for classrooms and health care facilities.
But one of its biggest growth areas of late has been furniture for the home — you guessed it — home office, a category that also has been popular among residential furniture resources.
In fact the company said it has seen a 500% increase in sales in the category, which it sells online through its store.steelcase.com website, during its most recent full fiscal year between March 2020 and February 2021.
The e-commerce platform is not new. The company has had it for about 15 years, primarily serving the employees of contract accounts that wanted the Steelcase products in their homes.
But as demand for home office and student desks grew during the pandemic due people working and studying from home, so did demand for its products.
That demand has come from employees of Steelcase business clients, but also others that had learned about the Steelcase line through word of mouth and online searches, a still popular way to buy home office furniture.
“We have seen tremendous activity since March of last year,” said Rebecca Steketee, director of e-commerce at Steelcase, noting that the platform offers consumers a way to seamlessly order the product. “There has certainly been a spike since COVID-19.”
The product on the site is largely suitable not only for commercial, but also for residential use. While seating is the largest category with desk, conference table, and guest chairs and benches, there are also a mix of desks including some executive style desks and sit-to-stand desks available in multiple size and finish options.
There are also storage items such as lateral and mobile pedestal file cabinets as well as bookcase storage units and horizontal storage credenzas.
“So much of it is adaptable to the home,” Steketee said, adding that the company also launched its first consumer-focused home office product in January: the Solo sit-to-stand desk, which retails at $599 for a version with a 24-by-48-inch work surface. It also comes in three additional larger size footprints at a slight upcharge.
The desk also offers two base finish options and seven laminate work surface options.
Steketee noted that the line addresses the needs of consumers with styles and specs that can work in most home work settings.
“We have found that, as people have made the transition to working at home, they work in three kinds of spaces,” she noted, adding that the company also has designed the mix with safety in mind, particularly for parents with children at home. “It can be a kitchen or dining room table, or they are retrofitting a small space in a bedroom or guest bedroom, or they have a home office. … Depending on what the special limitations are, consumers are buying towards that.”
She also noted that the site offers a mix of pricing in good, better, best segments.