Avoid These Office Moving Mistakes

Corporate relocations are on the rise as hybrid work increases and labor shortages mount. Any major business move requires extensive, strategic planning. While planning an office move, tread carefully, as making these ten common mistakes can increase the stress factor of the relocation.

Companies move for numerous reasons. Some may find the talent pool attractive in larger cities, like Chicago, and prioritize moving there. Other major corporations find urban areas rife with crime and struggle to hire skilled professionals, therefore moving out of the big cities.

Businesses may also expand their product or service offerings, which necessitates additional workspaces and larger production facilities. On the other hand, companies may have plans to downsize and seek a smaller, more economical building in which to continue business operations.

Whatever the reason for relocating the business, it is not an easy decision to make. Nevertheless, taking the company to a location where opportunities abound can boost employee morale. Greener pastures can be on the horizon for companies on the move. But it’s important to avoid these moving mistakes.

Mistake 1: Insufficient planning

Planning well in advance of the expected relocation date is critical to the success of the move. Set aside a few weeks to involve employees in the move and keep moving costs down. Assign dependable employees a role to facilitate specific parts of the move.

Mistake 2: Not taking inventory

Costly mistakes can arise when businesses fail to take an accurate inventory of the goods in the office. Without an inventory list, staff will struggle to ensure the right goods are moved correctly. Record all items moving to the new office as well as their locations in the new building.

Record the conditions of the items on the inventory list. The condition of high-end equipment should especially be noted. If the pricey equipment is damaged during the move, the business owner can hold the commercial mover accountable and streamline insurance claims.

Mistake 3: Failing to include IT staff

IT systems are crucial to today’s businesses. Setup of technology equipment will take time and advanced planning, especially since the electrical, network, and space factors could be different in the new office. Ensure the IT leaders see the layout in the new building beforehand and have time to make adaptations.

Mistake 4: Using the wrong moving supplies

Moving boxes come in all sizes. Choosing boxes that are too small or too large can lead to unwanted consequences. Packing small items in an extremely large box that allows significant wiggle room can result in damage to the items. Pick moving boxes with the right size to ensure protection.

Mistake 5: Moving unnecessary goods

Ideally, before the move, a business will donate, sell, or discard office goods that will not be used in the new building. The mistake occurs when this important step is forgotten. Businesses will pay more to move more items and spend time packing items that generate little-to-no revenue.

Mistake 6: Not insuring the move

While a company may have existing insurance, the coverage may fail to cover all the office belongings that will be transported during the move. Accidents are a reality of any move, so it’s necessary to obtain additional coverage from the current insurer or from the moving company.

Mistake 7: Not labeling the boxes

During the flurry of packing, labeling the boxes may be forgotten. Since organization is the key to a successful relocation, label the boxes owned by each employee, the box numbers that correspond to the inventory list, and where the boxes go in the new building.

Mistake 8: Forgetting to turn on utilities

Downtime is expensive for companies. Prevent unproductivity in the new office by setting up the utilities in the new building well in advance. Schedule the internet service provider before the IT equipment is delivered. All operational functions should be in place by moving day.

Mistake 9: Hiring an unprofessional mover

Commercial movers with experience understand how to handle the logistics of a major office move. Business owners who aim for a seamless move are advised to obtain quotes from several moving companies, assessing factors, such as availability, affordability, and industry experience.

Reading reviews is especially valuable for learning about other customers’ experiences with a prospective commercial mover. Choose a mover with the desired qualities. Finding and hiring a reputable mover will eliminate the bulk of stress that comes with relocating the business.

Mistake 10: Not communicating moving requirements

Special requirements may be expected when moving to a new building. The commercial mover should be aware of the availability of an accessible elevator, stairs at the origin and destination or access only through a narrow alleyway. Communicate the logistic of the move and avoid costly surprises.

Avoiding these top ten mistakes can reduce the stress that accompanies a major office move. Another important factor that will provide your business with a seamless relocation is hiring an affordable, highly rated and locally based commercial mover, like Chicago Office Movers.

Work with Chicago Office Movers and streamline your corporate relocation. Our moving crews are unionized, licensed, and experienced to deliver maximum customer satisfaction and the most stress-free move possible. Your items are secure in the hands of our background-checked movers.

Our moving trucks are also designed to protect office goods, whether you are moving down the street or across state lines. Each truck features a climate-controlled space, lift gates, and air-ride suspensions. Business customers utilize a tracking system to track their goods as they move.

Chicago Office Movers provides comprehensive moving services. As a leading office mover, we offer not only packing and unpacking services, but also short- and long-term storage options, insurance and service contracts, sturdy boxes, and professional help with planning your office relocation.

Whether you plan to move delicate antiques, fragile IT systems or bulky office furniture, Chicago Office Movers has the experience to make your relocation dreams a reality. Choose us for a budget-friendly move.

Contact our Chicago office today at 312-244-2246 for an upcoming local, long-distance or international move.

An upcoming office move is an important event for any business. Moving to a bigger building can indicate the company’s growth and success. But the practical logistics of an office move may be less than enjoyable. Here are four tactics to make an office relocation a fun experience.

Staff are comfortably settled in their current workspace; getting accustomed to a new one is undesirable. Plus, personnel will be forced to take a new route to the new office. Employees may need to move. Shifting offices is a big change that may not be exciting—at first.

1. Motivate Employees

Before packing a single office item, it is important to motivate the employees about the upcoming corporate relocation. The first step is to inform staff early on about the office move. Get employees thrilled about the office relocation in any number of fun ways.

It is encouraged to boast about the new office space. Let the employees know about a scenic view, if one is available in the new building. When office equipment will receive an upgrade in the new space, the team members will be eager to try it out.

If it is in the company budget, offer the employees an allowance to buy furniture for their individual offices. The employees will have a say in how their offices will look and function, which gives them reason to feel excited about shifting workspaces.

Offer guided tours of the new office space. If the relocation is local, some employees will be happy to know the new workplace is closer to home or their kids’ schools. A virtual office tour is equally effective when relocating out of state.

Boost morale by providing employees with information about the new neighborhood. Provide menus from local restaurants in the new work vicinity. The staff will be enthusiastic about ordering out from the new office and participating in team lunches and after-work gatherings.

2. Involve Staff

Team members who are involved in the office move are more likely to look forward to it. Hold a meeting to ask the employees what they would like to see in the new office space. An opportunity to provide input gives them a chance to simultaneously unwind and vent.

Welcome suggestions for leisure opportunities in the new office. Examples include a break room featuring a rock-climbing wall, table tennis and video games. Promote the fact that employees will no longer hunch over their desks all day in a hot, humid cubicle.

Staff feel valued when leaders listen to input, from the need for upgraded equipment to improved color schemes. When employees are given the chance to express their voice and feel their opinions matter, they are more likely to contribute to a successful commercial move.

3. Reward Team Members

Personnel who contribute the most to the upcoming office move deserve to be rewarded. Offer prizes and other incentives for team members who submit the best ideas for such things as new meeting room names, color schemes in the new office space or for staying later to help pack.

Incentives may be as simple as new coffee mugs for their new office desks. Or, reward top contributors with the opportunity to pick where they will sit in the new office. Similarly, incentives may include leaving the new office early on a given Friday afternoon.

While preparing for the move, provide office staff with abundant refreshments. Caffeine withdrawal is a downer, as is shelling out hard-earned money for a cup of coffee. Ensure the break room is stocked with fresh coffees, teas, and sodas to keep employees energized throughout the moving process.

4. Celebrate

Getting all the files and office knickknacks packed on time is a milestone in the moving process. Celebrate small wins like these by ordering pizza for the team and incentivizing everyone to dive back in and continue contributing to both the minor and major aspects of the relocation.

Once the relocation is complete, throw an office party to celebrate the success of the move. Take this opportunity to also showcase the new corporate office to clients, customers, and other business associates. Kick off this moment of triumph with a well-earned celebration.

Corporate leaders may also present their hardworking staff with welcome packets for the new office. These packets can include information about the new building, the neighborhood, and local amenities. Consider including personalized water bottles to express gratitude for employees’ contributions.

Remember that once team members have settled into the new office space, it is important to continue showing them that they are valued. Maintain an ample supply of fresh fruits and refreshments so that employees remain hydrated and nourished throughout the workdays.

Work with an Office Mover

Shifting to a new office space is a major milestone for a business. Reaching this point is rarely achieved without the remarkable efforts of team members. The actual move is also significant and cannot be done without reliable help from a reputable moving company, like Chicago Office Movers.

Chicago Office Movers is experienced in commercial moves of all sizes. We have helped move prestigious area companies and universities, such as Alcatel Lucent and the University of Chicago. Our moving crews handle all office goods, equipment, and furniture securely and carefully.

Whether you are moving locally or interstate, our professional moving team will ensure your sensitive equipment is safeguarded. Our moving trucks feature climate-controlled spaces, lift gates and air-ride suspensions. Customers also receive tracking information to follow every step of the move.

Relocating companies will also benefit from our climate-controlled long- and short-term storage facilities. Our moving crews are available for packing and unpacking your office goods. If you need help planning the relocation, our experienced corporate moving specialists will provide assistance.

Contact Us

Whether you are moving delicate artwork, fragile lab equipment or sensitive IT systems, choose Chicago Office Movers. Given our industry experience and excellent reputation, we will help you relocate affordably and on schedule.

Contact us for your upcoming local, long distance or international move at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO).

Chicago is one of the most popular and populated cities in the U.S.  It has one of the most recognizable skylines in the world dominated by the Willis Tower (still called the Sears Tower by locals) and is home to many landmarks and attractions that draw visitors from all over the globe.

About the City of Chicago

Chicago is also a city of historical significance as industry within the city helped develop the western U.S. in the 19^th century, and it is a major cultural center as many artists, writers, actors, and musicians have hailed from Chicago.  Many prominent businesses were started in Chicago, including Sears and Marshall Fields (now Macy’s), and many businesses still operate out of Chicago and the surrounding areas including Boeing, Walgreen’s, United Airlines, and more.

This Chicago Flag

When one thinks of Chicago, several visuals may come to mind, including the Sears Tower, the Lakefront, Navy Pier, and the Bean.  One symbol of Chicago that is recognizable across the U.S. is the city flag.

The Chicago flag has a simple design with 3 white stripes, 2 sky blue stripes, and 4 red 6-pointed stars and different representations of this design can be found all throughout the city.  The flag is flown in homes, outside of businesses and government buildings, and at public parks.  It can also be seen in graffiti art and some Chicago residents even incorporate the design into their tattoos as a display of city pride.

The Chicago flag is easily one of the most recognizable city flags in the U.S. and each symbol on the flag represents something about the Windy City.  In this guide, we will cover the history and meaning behind the design of the Chicago flag.  If you own or manage a business and are interested in moving your operation to Chicago, our commercial movers at Chicago Office Movers can help with every aspect of your business relocation.

History of the Chicago Flag

The history of the Chicago flag starts in 1915 when then Mayor of Chicago William Hale Thompson created a municipal flag commission.  This commission was asked to hold an open public competition in which people submitted their design for a Chicago flag.  The winning design was submitted by a man named Wallace Rice and his design was adopted as the city’s flag in 1917.

At its inception in 1917, the Chicago flag had the design that is familiar to us today, but with only two stars.  In 1933, the third star was added and in 1939, the fourth star was added.  The design of the Chicago flag has remained unchanged since the addition of the fourth star.

Chicago Flag Design

Every element of the Chicago flag symbolizes something in relation to the city.  To put it generally, the white and blue stripes represent the city in a geographical sense, the stars represent historical events, and each point of the star represents concepts and virtues related to the historical events.

Bars

The bars on the Chicago flag consist of three white bars at the top, bottom, and middle of the flag, separated by two sky blue bars.  Each of these bars represent the following geographical aspects of the city:

• Top white bar: The North Side of Chicago
• Top blue bar: Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River
• Middle white bar: The West Side of Chicago
• Bottom blue bar: The Great Canal and South Branch of the Chicago River
• Bottom white bar: The South Side of Chicago

Chicago was established on the shore of Lake Michigan in the early 1800s because the Lake, Chicago River, and the Great Canal that connects the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River made it easy to import and export goods by water.  Because of this, Chicago’s downtown area developed on the shore of Lake Michigan and the city could only spread north, west, and south, creating the main geographical regions of the city known as the North Side, West Side, and South Side.

Stars

The four stars of the Chicago flag represent important historical events that occurred in the first 100 years of the city’s history.  Each of the 6 points of these stars also symbolize virtues, concepts, and accomplishments related to the historical events.

• The Great Chicago Fire: The first star which was featured on the flag’s original design stands for the Great Chicago Fire that occurred in 1871. The Great Fire occurred when most of the city’s buildings were made from wood and it burnt much of the city to the ground.  Chicago’s subsequent recovery and literal rise from the ashes showed the resiliency and city pride of its residents.  The six points of this star represent transportation, heath, population, finance, commerce, and labor.
• World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893: The second star from the original 1917 design represents the World’s Columbian Exposition which was held in Chicago in 1893. The exposition was held in Jackson Park in a temporary fairground known as the White City.  It drew over 27 million visitors from around the world between May and October of 1893 and this event had a profound effect on Chicago’s arts, architecture, and self-image.  The six points of this star represent religion, civic sport, beneficence, justice, aesthetics, and education.
• Century of Progress International Exposition: This third star which was added to the flag in 1933 represents the Century of Progress International Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, which was held from May 27, 1933 through October 31, 1934. This fair was held as a celebration of the city’s centennial and the theme was technological innovation.  It was also a celebration of Chicago’s rise to become the second largest city in the U.S. (now third largest behind New York and Los Angeles).  The six points of this star stand for world’s third largest city, convention city, wonder city, great central market, the “I will” motto, and the city motto urbs in horto (city in a garden).
• Fort Dearborn: The final star added to the flag in 1939 represents the founding of Fort Dearborn in 1803. Fort Dearborn was built along the Chicago River before the formal establishment of the city, and it was reconstructed in 1816 after being destroyed in the Battle of Fort Dearborn in the War of 1812.  While European and American settlers had already reached and settled in the area that became Chicago, the opening of Fort Dearborn resulted in a permanent small settlement being developed in the surrounding area which grew to become Chicago.  The six points of this star represent every political entity that Chicago once belonged to including France 1693, England 1693-1763, Virginia 1763-1778, Northwest Territory 1798, Indiana Territory 1798-1802, and Illinois statehood 1818.

The Chicago city flag remains one of the most popular and recognizable city flags in the U.S. and has been named the second-best flag in multiple surveys, coming in second to the Washington, D.C. city flag.

There have been proposals for adding a fifth star to represent various people and events including the city’s first African American mayor Harold Washington, the founding of the Special Olympics, and even the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s and Cubs 2016 World Series.  However, it is expected that the city will stick with the current iconic design.

Relocate Your Business to Chicago

Chicago is a great America city that is home to world renowned businesses and institutions and a proud populace.  There are many great reasons to move your business to Chicago, including access to a young and tech savvy workforce, access to the third largest market in the U.S., access to two international airports, and lower taxes than the east and west coast.  If you want to endear your business to the local workforce, customers, and clients, be sure to fly or display the Chicago city flag.

Chicago Office Movers is a professional commercial moving company that can help you move your business to the city of Chicago or the surrounding Chicago suburbs.  Our licensed, union commercial movers will help manage every aspect of your move to make your office relocation as seamless as possible.

You can reach us at 312-244-2246 (CHI-CAGO) for more information about our office relocation and commercial moving services.

Bringing style to a cubicle is a DIY task. No hard and fast rules come into play when uplifting the mood of an office cubicle. The best part of designing the interior of a cubicle is that your personality takes center stage. Add a splash of color, throw in a few accessories, and end up with a comfortable, lively work space into which you can retreat for the entire workday.

1. Embellish a Cubicle Wall

You are surrounded by three walls when working inside a cubicle. As a first tip, these panels deserve the most attention. Decorating the walls is super easy, especially given the cushion-like texture of standard cubicle walls. Tack up calendars, favorite photos, and framed art in a cinch.

Feeling dramatic? Take the cubicle wall panels to new heights. Cover the entire expanse of the panels with colored fabric or wallpaper, like shimmery aqua blue for a tropical feel, bright yellow to evoke the cheeriest of temperaments or even camouflage for the occasions when you feel like hiding out.

When you fancy a new look, the existing wallpaper or fabric can be easily switched up. The temporary nature of hanging wallpaper onto cubicle panels makes altering the ambiance of your cubicle simple and quick. Change out the panel décor as often as you fancy!

2. Perk Up the Floor

The dull carpeting of the cubicle floor is no match for the vividness of a spectacular floor rug. Add a hefty dose of personality to your office cubicle by laying an eye-catching rug along the floor. If you kick off your shoes during the daily grind, the soft rug will keep your feet cozy.

3. Add Plants for Vibrancy

Nature may not thrive in the well-contained atmosphere of an office. But you don’t need trees to experience nature from nine to five. Several plants flourish in the bright, white lights and cool temperatures of an office environment. Just remember to water the plants so they stay hydrated.

Known for growing in limited natural light, the fern is an ideal plant for cubicles. If your cubicle features a window, set an Aloe Vera plant along the windowsill. The trellises of the English Ivy plant accentuate the desks of any cubicle. Little time for care? Bamboo plants are low-maintenance.

4. Add Some Light to Influence the Ambiance

Lamps come in all sorts of sizes and designs, from liquor bottle lamps to rustic design lamps to comical vintage lamps. Unique floor lamps, custom table lamps, bookend lamps and hanging lamps add massive flair. A mandala lamp shade, for instance, is a perfect conversation starter with colleagues.

Bring a lamp into your cubicle and plug it in for warm, subtle lighting. The golden light of a lamp boosts an officer worker’s mood and streams a cozy ambiance throughout the cubicle atmosphere. Say goodbye to harsh office ceiling lights with the placement of a desirable, functional lamp.

5. Add Little Furniture

While hauling in a sofa will not pass in a cubicle space, bringing in shelving might. Cubicle panels are ideal places to install shelving or vertical bins. Shelves can be painted to your preferred color. Supplemental shelves add a personal touch while serving the functional purpose of refining organization.

Office workers may also bring in their own chair to add vibrancy to the cubicle. Consider a brightly colored ergonomic chair to increase physical comfort, an upholstered chair that matches your preferred cubicle color scheme or a chair that features a no-nonsense, contemporary design.

6. Make it Your Own

Adding items that are personal to you like pictures, drawings and handcrafts are some of the best ways to really personalize your workspace. This can also improve productivity as you feel more comfortable being surrounded by memories that are unique to you.

In addition to adding pictures of family and friends, you can also add pictures of your favorite things, such as an animal, plant, flower, car, etc. This is your own space so you can personalize it according to your preference!

7. Incorporate Some Quotes

Adding some inspiring quotes can go a long way and even give you some motivation for those Mondays where you just don't want to be at work! We're also not talking about "Live Laugh Love", but something from celebrities or world figures like Walt Disney, Tony Robbins, Abraham Lincoln or Albert Einstein.

You can certainly achieve a lot if you adopt their strategies and views on life as they certainly did something in life to be successful! So why not surround yourself with your favorite quotes. Below are some of our favorites:

• "The best way to predict the future is to create it" - Abraham Lincoln
• "The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." -Walt Disney
• "The pessimist sees difficult in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficult." -Winston Churchill
• "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today" -Will Rogers

8. Keep It Organized

No cubicle or office will look good with a ton of decorations and no organization. With a few file organizers, mini desk shelves, pen holders and room to put your papers, you can keep things neat and organized. Outer order contributes to inner calm! Here are some more tips on office desk organization.

Some of these organization accessories can also be personalized. So if you want to paint or draw on them, or even add some stickers, go crazy! The sky's the limit.

9. Make it Seasonal

Of course you can never forget the holidays! what better way to decorate the office space than to incorporate some holiday pizzazz! Whether it be streamers and little party favors for the new year, a little Christmas tree or menora for December, or some colorful leaves in the fall, there are a ton of trinkets available on Amazon to scroll through.

Some people go as far as setting up a whole fireplace right beside their desk, complete with garland, plants and a holiday picture above. That's definitely going above an beyond!

Others have completely gift wrap their entire desk and everything on it! There's also those that set up an entire Christmas village, complete with little lights and cotton padding for snow.

Bonus tip: Think ahead of how these accessories will fit on your desk before purchasing. Many customers make the mistake of buying a ton of items and not having enough space to place them all. That's how things become cluttered.

10. Give It a Theme

Many cubicles have a whole theme incorporated into their working space. Some are straight blue, purple and pink while others will have a full football field mouse pad that covers their full desk space. Other ideas to consider are Disney, holidays, flowers, retro, beach, nature and patterns.

Just be sure that the theme is appropriate and doesn't contain anything offensive or too personal to make others uncomfortable as they will still be walking by.

11. Add Accessories for Gusto

Unless you have a tendency toward minimalist design, go all out with accessories. Even standard office supplies, like deep blue paperclips, markers and bright green pushpins, can be decoratively housed inside mason jars to simultaneously serve as office supplies and brilliant cubicle décor.

Play with washi tape. The variety of designs makes decorating with the tape fun and unique. Stick the colorfully designed tape around the edges of file cabinets or around table-top jars. The ornamental tape provides beautiful accents to any materials or objects upon which it is adhered.

Have fun with paint. Large rocks may be painted in metallic colors, like silver or gold, and strategically placed next to books. The rocks serve a dual purpose—as decoration and as bookends. Add metallic sheens to the tops of the mason jars or trays that house office supplies.

Toys are not just for kids. Mini action figures, stuffed animals, and building blocks line some cubicle shelves for a brilliant effect. A themed approach works best. Customize your work space with a sci-fi theme or an animated one. Avoid the mess of clutter or items considered inappropriate for work.

When your office cubicle is dull and dreary, take decorating your workspace into your own hands. The options for infusing your cubicle with humor, vibrancy or scintillating color are endless! Once you take to reinvigorating your space—just once or every few weeks—your colleagues are sure to ask who is your new office cubicle designer.

Moving Cubicle Decorations

Whether your office cubicle décor features attractive pastels or bold hues, you’ll require the services of a dependable mover, like Chicago Office Movers, during an office renovation or remodeling project. As Chicagoland’s premier office mover, Chicago Office Movers handles moving office goods from start to finish.

Included in the company’s comprehensive business moving services are disassembling cubicles and office equipment, packing and labeling boxes, unpacking and setting up in the new space. Moving specialists also are available to provide assistance with the installation of furniture or appliances.

Moving to another building during an office renovation demands the help of experienced professionals. Chicago Office Movers is equipped with the manpower and equipment to make moving an easy task.

Expect only quality service and exceptional work from our skilled movers. Chicago Office Movers is dedicated to serving Chicagoland’s large and small businesses.

Get a Free Estimate

Before the office renovation or remodeling is set to start, contact us at (312) 244-2246 to get a free estimate from Chicago Office Movers.