Blog - Nate

Last Updated on Thursday, 30 December 2010 09:17 Written by Jake Chaney Thursday, 30 December 2010 09:13

[Nathan Chaney} Throughout the last 10 years in the office products industry I have seen both sides of the distribution channel. I worked for Office Depot and now for the independent channel in WJ Office. Both have strengths and weaknesses. I favored the independent not only for how the staff was treated but also the products being sold. The independent channel is inherently “customer focused” because that is the life-blood of the organization. Office Depot was more “stockholder driven” and there is a big difference between those.

The biggest difference is the type of furniture being sold. Furniture for home use has a different level of construction than furniture for the office. Almost everyone you meet with, would not debate you on this but do we know what exactly is different? First of all, desk construction from the “Big Box” channel is made up of LDF (Low Density Fiberboard) coated in a Melamine (which is the same thickness as a sheet of copy paper) and is fastened with a cam-lock system. Cam-lock’s are a good way to construct office furniture but the difference is the connection.

Commercial furniture has a metal-to-metal connection which allows for the end user to move it multiple times as well as longer term durability. This is reflected in the warranty (WJ does not have a manufacturer under 10 years on desks). The commercial desks are also constructed of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) to hold shape, add weight and can take a screw. MDF is more dense than solid wood. This is why drawers do not warp and why your desk surface stays level even after you have moved the unit a couple of times. The MDF is in turn fused with a HPL (High Pressure Laminate) which is ¼ “ thick and has better impact resistance (i.e. Drop tested) than a solid surface. All commercial furniture is tested by an independent rating agency (BIFMA) in which it has to pass certain standards to qualify as Contract Furniture (a.k.a. Commercial).

There is also a social consequence of purchasing furniture. Most all of the furniture from an independent dealer is made to order, which means it is not sitting in a warehouse waiting to be shipped. Also, the lead times are roughly 4-6 weeks, but the product is made in the U.S. and North America. To me, this is the most important aspect. Most of the big box furniture is made overseas and made to different quality standards. This is purely for stockholder interest and to increase margins. Ever wonder WHY the furniture you see on their shelves is so cheap? Now you know.

Both types of furniture have a place in this market. When you decide to buy, just make sure you know what type is best for you.

Nate Chaney

WJ Office - Furniture

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