Branding is most recognized in a company’s marketing and advertising. But creative branding is also important to a business’s physical space. Colors, fonts, and logos create visual appeal in the office interior, spreading the brand message and core mission far and wide.

What is branding?

Whether the business is a small startup or an established corporation with worldwide recognition, branding plays an important role. Customers, competitors, and the community perceive the company through the unique lens of branding. Creative branding shapes their perceptions and sets the company’s trajectory.

A business’s identity is showcased through its name and logo, choice of design and colors, mission, core values, and tone. Other aspects of branding include the uniqueness of the products, the level of quality customer service, and even the pricing strategy the company employs.

The company’s creative branding extends to their office interior. Employees and visitors are given an inside look at where the creative juices start when they enter a business that has made the space their own. Staff also feel like a part of the team when the office is branded.

What are the benefits of office branding?

An office space with the company colors on walls, furniture, and décor improves employee morale. Brand visibility also increases among visitors who associate the visual intrigue with a positive experience. Office wall graphics can easily become backdrops for social media posts and other marketing.

What are creative solutions to branding issues in office interiors?

1. Showcase the Company Logo

A vibrant, updated logo with the company colors is the starting point for branding the office. The logo should be displayed prominently in the office building, ready to be viewed and appreciated by the visitors, partners, and staff who see it immediately upon entering.

2. Create a Branded Wall

Branded walls are achieved with the help of graphics. Easily customizable and installed, office wall graphics can be placed on the walls to create a focal point and simultaneously incorporate visual branding. Use the company colors and logo to create eye-catching designs.

3. Employ Zoning Techniques

Zoning techniques can be used to distinguish one office space from another. For example, install a tranquil ocean print on the lunchroom wall to promote relaxation. The meeting room might feature a frosted wall to promote privacy. Add visual intrigue to the lobby with abstract prints.

4. Reinforce Brand Identity with Décor

Gift office employees branded coffee mugs to help them feel they are a valuable part of the team. Consider distributing branded pens, soft touch notebooks, or custom sticky notes, too. Custom wall art also helps reinforce the brand identity, creating visual and emotional cohesiveness.

5. Revitalize the Space with Nature

A company that prioritizes sustainability might enhance their office branding with green practices. Living walls filled with plants showcase the company’s commitment to the environment, while adding vibrancy to the communal workspace. The company’s eco-friendly values and office interior immediately align.

6. Promote Company Celebrations

Custom infographics are an ideal way to inform employees about various company events, from new product rollouts to team-building trips. Branded images are effective when the business hits benchmarks or closes major deals. LED walls, SEG graphics, and glass clings deliver uplifting messages creatively.

7. Design the Interior with Branding

One of the best ways to enhance branding inside the office is to incorporate the company colors, fonts, and logos in the interior design. A company that sells guitars, for instance, might feature guitar-themed acoustic paneling on the conference room walls paired with fun, bright yellow chairs.

The headquarters of a coffee shop might infuse their office space with playful décor. For instance, the offices might be designed to look like the interior of one of their locations, with cozy chairs, coffee jar décor on the shelves, and the colorful company logo in the center.

8. Prioritize High Traffic Areas

Certain areas in the company benefit from more focused branding. The reception or lobby area, for instance, should receive red-carpet treatment, simply due to their high level of visibility. If meeting rooms are used frequently, ensure branding is front and center in these areas, too.

Proactive branding should be an integral part of every company’s interior office design. By utilizing the abovementioned solutions to creative branding issues, businesses show their employees, customers, partners, and visitors that they prize their team and the work they do.

Every inch of the workplace ideally reflects the company’s brand. The interior office itself, from the lunchrooms to the conference rooms and the lobby, should genuinely showcase the company culture. A thoughtfully branded space helps create a memorable brand experience for everyone.

When your office interior could use an upgrade, renovations may be necessary. Chicago Office Movers is ready to help you achieve your goal. Our office moving crews will carefully move heavy furniture, uninstall equipment, and move office goods to a new building so that your renovation can get underway.

In preparation for your exciting renovation project, our moving professionals pack and label boxes, clear out appliances and equipment, and pack the moving truck. Since we’re connected with organizations that accept or discard old furniture, we can properly eliminate unwanted possessions.

However, if your company intends to relocate to an entirely different space, Chicago Office Movers can transport your goods with our dependable corporate relocation services. We take care of the move from start to finish, including planning, packing, moving, and unpacking at the destination.

Business customers enjoy a wide range of conveniences. We offer short- and long-term storage options, add-on services and insurance and service contracts. Crews are licensed, trained, and background-checked to give you confidence. We’ll move your company locally, long distance, or internationally.

Chicago Office Movers is the preferred commercial mover for Chicagoland businesses. Our affordable rates, excellent customer service, and careful handling of your possessions earns us awards and high ratings. Schedule your upcoming corporate move by calling our Elk Grove Village, Illinois, office today.

Introduction

The Daily Herald Media Group (DH) is a media company that publishes newspapers in print and digital formats and provides marketing solutions.  The group is based in the Chicago suburbs and has been the main source of information for the local residents for over 150 years, offering a diverse portfolio of media and multiple ways to consume it.  The Daily Herald has moved their business four times with Chicago Office Movers over the past 30 years.  These moves were made to help the Daily Herald with growth, downsizing, rightsizing, selling of the printing division, and transitioning to remote work.

Client Background

There are two major factors at play for the most recent move.  The first is the sale of their Schaumburg location and all of their printing machinery at this location to the Chicago Tribune.  The Chicago Tribune will be doing all of the printing for the Daily Herald from now on.  The second factor is that the Daily Herald wanted to downsize their office space as employees transition to working remotely.  They still have a small office space in Schaumburg for meetings and similar purposes.

Specific Requirements

An important requirement for their move was for us to provide “paper” storage in our warehouse which includes their storage racking, past newspaper archives, banker’s boxes of files, and photos.  Our professionals packed, moved, and set up their paper storage so that Daily Herald employees could access this storage.

Challenge

This was a complex move that involved moving personnel and many pieces of equipment.  Dismantling and reassembling the storage in their facility and ours while keeping the archived materials in numerical order to be accessed by Daily Herald employees was our biggest challenge.  Daily Herald staff accessed the storage multiple times during the moving process.

The Daily Herald archive was stored in our warehouse for a year before moving it to their new Schaumburg location.  We also shredded some of their storage per their request, recycled the metal shelving units, and delivered the storage to their new location.

Personalized Services

Over the course of 3 weeks, we decommissioned the Daily Herald’s Arlington Heights location that consisted of two large buildings.  This involved selling excess furniture and modular workstations, recycling furniture, e-recycling, pulling out electrical wires, and maintenance such as cleaning, repairs, debris removal, and spackling.  All employee files were packed on library carts to be moved to the new location.

Implementation

The move was executed in multiple phases after meticulous planning.  Our Director of Commercial Sales wrote the work scope and served as the project manager for the move.  The client approved the plans, and we maintained direct contact with the client throughout the process to keep the move tight and on track.  We kept all parties on time by sticking to a strict schedule.

Special Care for Valuable Items

We used a Rigging machine, which is a specialized piece of moving equipment, to move a historic printing machine that weighs about 4 tons.  This historic printing machine is no longer functional but is an artifact of the industry that is on display at the Daily Herald’s new location.

Results

The client has worked with us for multiple moves and has always been satisfied with our services.  They have referred us to others who are looking for moving services, which has led to us booking additional moves.  They also continue to call us when they need additional services.

Conclusion

Chicago Office Movers can handle complex, multifaceted moves with care and precision, which is why each of our moves with the Daily Herald has been successful.  Our personalized services, meticulous planning, and direct communication facilitated a seamless move for the Daily Herald, underscoring the positive impact we had on their moving experience.

After relocating to greener pastures, launching a business in its new location is celebrated with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Complete with giant scissors, bright red ribbon, and an elated business owner, a well-planned ceremony draws numerous eager guests, from the mayor to new customers.

What is the purpose of a ribbon cutting ceremony?

A brand-new chapter in the life of a business starts upon moving to a prime location. Once the company is settled, the next step is planning for the grand opening. The ribbon cutting ceremony brings awareness to the company’s new location and the goods or services it offers.

This major milestone can be leveraged to attract local media attention and new customers or clients. The business owner, business associates, and board members have a chance to thank employees and others involved in the forward momentum of their company. Use these nine tips to plan the ceremony.

What are tips for planning a ribbon cutting ceremony?

Tip 1: Choose a Milestone

A successful ribbon cutting ceremony must be planned in advance. One of the early steps is to decide what milestone the ceremony is intended to celebrate. Some are held once an important project is completed. Others occur when a new business launches.

Tip 2: Decide When to Hold the Ceremony

The timing of the ribbon cutting ceremony is also important. Hold the ceremony on opening day to draw curious crowds at the front door. Or opt for a soft launch, when the company throws the ribbon cutting ceremony a few weeks or months after the official opening.

Tip 3: Consider Invitees’ Schedules

Take into account the schedules of important guests. VIPs may be scheduled to speak at the ceremony, so consider their dates of availability. Event participants may be torn between the ceremony and another big event happening concurrently, making it essential to plan so everyone can attend.

Tip 4: Pick the Best Hours

The local Chamber of Commerce is a vital resource for determining if other ongoing events create a conflict. Then schedule the ribbon cutting ceremony during a time that’s convenient for most attendees, such as during noontime and afternoon hours when offices give employees breaks.

Alternately, weekends are practical for businesses that want more guests to attend and stay longer to explore their offerings. However, government officials won’t be available. Weekdays are advisable when the company aims to attract government officials and prominent local business people.

Achieve the best of both worlds by holding two separate ribbon cutting ceremonies: a weekday ceremony when the mayor, other dignitaries, and the local press are available to attend and, on the weekend, a grand opening celebration to attract potential clients.

Tip 5: Choose a Fitting Venue

Many ribbon cutting ceremonies are held onsite, at the place of business. But if that venue is too small to accommodate a long list of guests, invite a few people to the actual ceremony. Afterward, hold a reception for all other guests in a larger facility.

Tip 6: Prepare a Guest List

A business that reaches its pinnacle does not do so alone. Stakeholders, leadership, management, and employees contribute to its success. Prepare a guest list by consulting with staff members, from leadership to management. This step ensures no VIPs are omitted.

Besides sending personal invites to stakeholders, send invitations to local dignitaries who can help the business network with others in the community. These well-connected individuals may be government officials, such as the mayor, city council members as well as various commissioners.

Don’t forget members of the team who’ve helped the company achieve its milestone, such as employees, architects, accountants, various levels of management, and administration. Allow staff to bring one family member. Create buzz around the ceremony by inviting local media outlets.

Tip 7: Advertise the Event

Spread the word about the ribbon cutting ceremony through social media. An official company account can bring attention to the event as equally as local influencers. Hang posters and billboards with the date, time, and location of the ceremony. Send out press releases, too.

Tip 8: Hire Professionals

Food and refreshments are an important part of any event. Hire a caterer to serve foods that promote the business’s agenda, like nutritious appetizers during a medical facility opening. Enlist a company photographer to take high-quality photos for later use in social media and marketing campaigns.

Tip 9: Prepare a Speech

At the start of the ceremony, guests will expect to hear from the business owner. Prepare a short speech beforehand, one that evokes emotion from the attendees. A heartfelt speech has the ability to connect with audiences. Also hand out brochures or pamphlets showcasing the company’s offerings.

The tenth tip involves the most eye-catching part of the ceremony: cutting the ribbon. Find large ceremonial scissors at a party supply store. But before you plan a grand ribbon cutting ceremony, schedule Chicago Office Movers to help you relocate to your desired location.

As highly experienced commercial movers, we offer your business comprehensive relocation services. We cover every phase, from the planning to the packing and the unpacking. Extra conveniences are also available, including short- and long-term storage options, insurance contracts, and add-on services.

Our dependable crew of office movers has expertly handled a wide range of items, including precious antiques, bulky office furniture, fragile IT systems, sensitive electronics, and cubicles. We’ll deliver the highest level of care when handling your office possessions and transport them in our climate-controlled trucks for extra protection.

Working with Chicago Office Movers gives your company less downtime. Your employees have the opportunity to continue focusing on job-related tasks while we take care of the packing and transport. Satisfied customers that have relied on us include University of Chicago and Alcatel Lucent.

Choose Chicago Office Movers for your upcoming local, long-distance, or international corporate relocation. We offer budget-friendly moves and exceptional customer service. Be onsite for your next ribbon cutting ceremony by letting us help you relocate.

Call our Chicago, Illinois, location at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) or fill out a form for a free estimate.

Young professionals consider moving to Chicago for access to the 500 Fortune corporations, tech startups, and smaller companies. The city’s vibrant nightlife and opportunities to mingle are also major draws.

If you are a young professional looking for the perfect place to call home in Chicago, look no further. The Windy City offers several neighborhoods that singles and young adults can call home. In this article, we will explore some of the ideal neighborhoods that cater to the needs and preferences of young professionals, helping you make an informed decision for your next move.

What makes a Chicago neighborhood ideal?

In order for Chicago’s urban neighborhoods to make this list, they must meet the criteria for catering to young professionals. Areas must be transit-friendly, with buses and trains. The walkability factor is a high priority for young adults who must walk to public transportation stops and nearby shops.

The number of diverse restaurants, bars, and cafes are important social aspects in the lives of young professionals. Grocery stores and retail stores, where people shop frequently, should be in close proximity. Parks and places for recreational activities should also be nearby.

1. River North

River North housing is abundant, with luxury complexes and high rises turned into apartments. Unwinding after a long workday, young professionals head to the various high-end dining venues with colleagues. Or spend the weekends shopping at the neighborhood’s many upscale stores.

If art galleries hit the spot, the River North Gallery District has plenty to offer. The House of Blues at the landmark Marina City is where young folks flock to for musical entertainment. Additional hot spots include Joy District and The Hampton Social.

River North is pedestrian friendly, with an impressive score of 6.3. At least one grocery store is within a few minutes’ walk, giving River North a shopping score of 7.4. Young professionals who aim to settle down find the high scores for nearby elementary schools appealing.

2. Chicago Loop

The Chicago Loop median monthly rent is $1,699. Home prices average $331,150. Whether buying or renting, residences are located close to recreational hot spots, like Millennium Park, Chicago River, Grant Park, and Lake Michigan. The amount of natural park space receives a notable 9.4 score.

The Loop is a central location in downtown Chicago, offering educational opportunities at nearby Columbia College and East-West University. The headquarters of top corporations, such as GrubHub, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Baird Private Wealth Management, are also located here.

Transit-friendly, with frequent bus lines and rapid transit, the Loop receives a public transportation score of 9.9. Dine on sushi, cinnamon rolls, or French toast at any of the Loop’s diverse restaurants located right on the street—giving this prime neighborhood a restaurant score of 9.6.

3. Lincoln Park

Less than two miles from the Loop is Lincoln Park, another ideal Chicago neighborhood for young professionals. Driving a car is unnecessary when residents travel to other city locations on the neighborhood’s two L stations or the many available CTA buses.

Home prices are slightly higher in Lincoln Park, with $508,008 being the median. Apartments can be rented for $1,508 per month. College students and university staff alike find this neighborhood to be an ideal place to live, as DePaul University and Knox College are located here.

Opportunities for arts and culture abound in Lincoln Park. Steppenwolf Theatre and The Second City entertain residents, while the Chicago History Museum opens the eyes of history-lovers. Lounge on the beach or dip in the cool waters of Lake Michigan at Lincoln Park’s North Avenue Beach.

4. Streeterville

Streeterville is home to Navy Pier as well as the John Hancock Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Situated in the Near North Side community of the city, Streeterville offers its residents high rise living and access to medical centers. Hotels are nearby to accommodate guests.

Ambitious young professionals prize the many educational opportunities available in this upscale neighborhood. The Kellogg School of Management and Northwestern University School of Professional Studies are located here. The frequent bus lines take residents to their destinations, thereby giving Streeterville a high transit-friendly score of 9.7.

5. Ukrainian Village

Median home prices in the Ukrainian Village are $407,865, while renting averages $1,335 monthly. CTA lines transport residents to their Chicago offices, schools or other places of interest, like restaurants. Grab a Chicago hot dog, chorizo, or a range of ethnic and signature Chicago dishes here.

Young entrepreneurs find the Ukrainian Village an ideal place to call home, due to the many quaint bookstores, antique shops, and indie music venues. The International School of Comics is located here, giving young professionals convenient access to programs in the visual arts and the humanities.

These five Chicago neighborhoods are by no means the only places in which young professionals thrive. Additional areas include Bucktown, bustling Logan Square, which attracts residents with its bohemian vibe, and the upscale Gold Coast, which is comparable to Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Young professionals eager to make their mark or climb the career ladder have plenty of opportunities to do so in any of these ideal Chicago neighborhoods. When their company relocates to the Windy City, a trustworthy commercial mover, like Chicago Office Movers, is necessary.

Our reputable moving service helps countless local businesses and universities relocate to greener pastures. Among our most-recognizable customers are Alcatel Lucent and Northwestern University. When you work with us, you’ll join the ranks of the many satisfied corporations we’ve moved.

Crews at Chicago Office Movers are top-notch, being experienced, licensed, and background checked. Your valuable office possessions remain secure and in good hands. Our trucks are equipped with air-ride suspensions, lift gates, and climate-controlled spaces to further safeguard all fragile items.

Your upcoming office move requires advanced planning. Our move specialists lend their expertise to help plan your corporate relocation and ensure it runs smoothly. We also offer conveniences, like short- and long-term storage options, insurance and service contracts, and add-on services.

Chicago Office Movers is the preferred choice for local, long-distance, or international relocations. Our budget-friendly office moving services are tailored to meet your unique business needs, which is why companies choose us for their corporate move.

Call our Chicago, Illinois, location at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) or fill out a form for a free estimate.

Choosing a reputable commercial mover is critical to the success of an office relocation. Unknowingly hiring a non-licensed, unqualified mover can lead to a host of problems, not to mention disruptions to business operations. Here is how to know when a moving company is reputable to avoid a bad moving experience.

Why is it important to hire a trustworthy mover?

Relocating a business is a daunting and time-consuming task. Business owners spend time planning, coordinating, and executing the move. By choosing the right commercial mover, company owners can be assured that their valuables will be delivered on time and within budget.

A reputable commercial mover trains their moving crews to safely pack all types of office assets. Careful packing prevents damage to the goods throughout the office relocation. A good mover also utilizes a well-planned moving process, completing the move in a timely manner, reducing downtime, and minimizing risk for damage to both building and company property.

What are the risks of hiring an unreputable mover?

Hiring a rogue mover, on the other hand, increases the number of problems a business owner may face. A bad mover causes unnecessary delays, which can significantly impact workflow. Damage to business assets during the move costs a business owner more time and money.

Scammers posing as commercial moving company representatives are out for money, asking for payment upfront and holding the business goods hostage until the additional fees they demand are paid. Denying payment provokes rogue movers, who sell the goods or disappear completely.

How do business owners tell if a moving company is reputable?

1. Look Up the DOT Number

Identifying a legitimate commercial moving company is a priority for businesses planning to relocate across state lines. Check the USDOT (US Department of Transportation) Number first. Good movers follow the regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The FMCSA mandates that movers register a DOT Number, which serves as a unique identifier for the DOT and FMCSA to monitor and assess a company’s compliance reviews, crash investigations, audits and inspections. The number can be easily used to look up safety information prior to hire.

2. Check the ICC Website

While looking up the DOT Number is helpful for interstate moves, not all states require this number for local moves. Illinois movers for instance, are not required to register with the federal government. In cases of local relocations, obtain valuable info from the Illinois Commerce Commission website.

Check the ICC website at https://www.icc.illinois.gov/transportation. Enter the transportation entity name in the field under Motor Carrier Information System. Upon entering the prospective commercial mover’s company name, their ILCC Number, DOT Number, and Public Carrier Certificate information will appear and can be used to verify the legitimacy of their details.

Once the DOT Number appears, visit the government’s Safety and Fitness Electronics Records (SAFER) System at https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx. Upon entering the mover’s DOT Number, the pertinent safety rating, inspections, and status will appear. Use this information to assess the potential mover.

The company’s name and contact information, for instance, should match what is provided by the mover or found online. The DOT Number should be active. Plus, their operating status should be listed as “active” and not “out of service” or “unauthorized.”

3. Seek an Online Presence

Ensuring that a potential office mover has an online presence is also telling. A mover without a website should raise a red flag, as it indicates a possible moving scam. Moving company reps who arrive without a uniform or a moving truck without a logo are suspect, unless proven otherwise.

4. Examine Business Certifications and Licenses

A reputable mover is certified by the American Moving & Storage Association. Check online directories, such as the Better Business Bureau, for ratings and any complaints. Make sure the prospective mover is licensed and insured by the state, which protect the company and their customers.

5. Obtain an Estimate

The FMCSA mandates that movers provide a written estimate of all charges. These include transportation, accessorial, and advance charges. The estimate can be binding, which means the charge will not go over the estimate at delivery, or non-binding, which is not a guarantee of final costs.

6. Check Reviews

A credible commercial mover is usually well-rated. The business relies on their reputation within the community. Check for positive reviews and customer feedback to learn about the experiences of past corporate customers and their overall impression of working with the commercial mover.

7. Consider Additional Services

An office move is highly complex, necessitating additional services, such as packing and unpacking, as well as the availability of safe storage space. The availability of extra offerings helps streamline the commercial move process and reduces the business owner’s investment in time and effort.

Experience also influences the process of securing a reputable office mover. Years of industry experience signal to potential customers that the mover is trustworthy. When you’re looking for an experienced mover who ticks off all of the above boxes, look no further than Chicago Office Movers.

As a commercial mover offering interstate relocations, we abide by USDOT regulations and have a DOT Number. Moving crews are licensed, background-checked, and trained to deliver exceptional customer service and ensure that your office goods are handled with utmost care and maximum security.

Companies large and small trust us for our many conveniences that make their corporate relocation easier. Among our offerings are short- and long-term storage facilities, paperwork storage, insurance and service contracts, and a free estimate. Our specialists can also help you plan the office relocation.

Our professional movers are experienced in undertaking the packing, transport and unpacking of a range of office goods. We’ve moved valuable antiques, bulky office furniture, and cubicles. Crews are trained to safely handle fragile IT systems, electronics, and science lab equipment, too.

Whether you plan to relocate locally, out of state, or internationally, Chicago Office Movers offers the experience, qualifications, and reputation that you can count on. Join our extensive list of satisfied business customers.

Schedule your free estimate today and let us help you relocate successfully. Call our Chicago, Illinois, location at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) or fill out a form for a free estimate.