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.

Just like fashion, office designs change all the time, especially in the past few years. In the olden days, creativity wasn’t given much thought and strict office rules mandating that employees work in their own cubicles made them uncomfortable.

But would you agree that if an employee is spending 8 hours a day, 5 days a week in this office space, they should feel not only comfortable, but motivated, energetic, and relaxed?

By simply making a few adjustments or choosing a modern office space, you may notice some changes in the atmosphere. People will want to work in a fun environment, they will bring more ideas to the table, and they will probably even be more productive.

So if you’re looking to move to an office that offers more design or to change up the current space, here are some office design trends that can make all the difference when it comes to keeping employees happy in the work place.

1. Flexible Spaces

The key to having a flexible space is that it doesn’t restrict furniture from being moved. It allows desks to be adjusted, meeting areas to be easily accessible, and still offer space for employees and customers to move around. Simply working in a different space can make a big difference in productivity and creativity. This can be accomplished by having an open layout or by having movable walls so that the room can be changed into whatever shape is needed at the moment.

For example, if employees need to concentrate on a particular task or their work requires them to have their sound on, they can easily relocate to a meeting room so they won’t interrupt others. Allowing them to work in different spaces can also give them some stimulation while motivating them to become more efficient.

2. Collaborative Furniture

More companies are now realizing that having furniture in collaborative working spaces is important – and a growing trend in the workspace today. As meetings and shared spaces are a vital part of doing business, having furniture that supports these tasks will not only add to the modern design trend but increase productivity.

It’s easy to find collaborative furniture – being that it’s in. There are also various types, including acoustic pods where small meetings can be held conveniently, large meeting desks with outlets so nobody will have to worry about going in with a full battery beforehand, and freestanding media units that allow employees to project their work on a screen, adjustable tables, task lighting, and a lot more.

3. Technology Innovation

If companies haven’t taken advantage of integrating technology into their strategies and daily tasks, they’re falling behind. But why not make it convenient for everyone by mounting a TV to a wall in the meeting room or setting up screen projectors? Keep in mind that technology is constantly being updated, so it’s important to have the right equipment needed in order to work efficiently.

One growing trend for many companies is the use of laptops instead of desktops, so employees can work remotely. Now that work can be taken with them, it’s important for office spaces to be adjusted as well. There should be power around the office that is easily accessible, video conferencing equipment, presentation screens, data ports, smartboards, wireless charging stations, and open seating that allows employees to easily move around without feeling like they’re invading others’ spaces.

Bluetooth technology is becoming increasingly popular in offices due to its convenience and ease of use. With Bluetooth technology, employees can use their mobile devices seamlessly while they're working at their desk or throughout the office without having to worry about cables getting tangled or having limited range between devices like they would if they were connected via USB cables or Wi-Fi network signals. This type of wireless connectivity helps eliminate clutter that can often occur when there are too many cables lying around.

Install acoustic panels on walls where employees spend most of their time (e.g., conference rooms or workstations). Acoustic panels can help reduce noise distractions by absorbing sound waves instead of reflecting them back into an open space. This will help decrease distractions for workers who are trying to concentrate on specific tasks at hand.

4. Natural Designs

Known as a biophilic design, this growing natural design trend focuses on a stress-free environment. Biophilic design is a type of interior design that incorporates natural elements into the built environment. It can be used to reduce stress and improve health, productivity, and well-being. Hence it’s popularity, more and more office designers are integrating this design into their presentations and recommendations for clients.

Popular characteristics of this new trend include large windows that allow natural light to shine in, large, potted plants, organic color, and materials and patterns with natural colors like brown and green. Use plants and water features to bring nature indoors. Plants can reduce stress and improve concentration. They also add color and texture to your office space. Studies have actually shown that this has helped employees to feel more relaxed, focused, and energetic.

Bringing in natural light through windows or skylights can help increase productivity by reducing stress and improving moods. Natural light also helps reduce eye strain from staring at computer screens all day long. This type of lighting is best when it comes from above, since it allows people to see better while they’re working on tasks that require fine motor skills like writing or typing. If you aren’t able to add windows or skylights to your office space, consider adding large mirrors to reflect light into other areas of the room where there may not be enough natural light coming through windows or skylights alone.

5. Comfortable Work Spaces

If employees are not comfortable in their working space, it’s not likely that they will want to come to work. In other words, if they sit in cheap desk chairs or are confined to cubicles all day, they won’t be nearly as successful as they would be if a little more investment was made towards the workspace. When taking the time and energy to create a modern looking, comfortable space for employees, you may notice higher employee satisfaction, lower turnaround rates, and higher productivity.

Some aspects of comfortable working spaces include open seating areas, such as couches where employees can work on their laptops. Some companies are even in ping pong tables, video games, and areas where employees can take power naps to stay energetic.

One of the easiest ways to improve the comfort level of your employees is by providing ergonomic chairs. Ergonomic chairs have been designed specifically with comfort in mind and provide support for both back and neck. This can help prevent muscle discomfort and injury while at work. Ergonomic chairs also include features such as arm support and adjustable backrests, which can help keep an employee’s head at eye level while working at a desk or computer station.

Carpeting and flooring can also help improve employee comfort levels. Carpeting provides extra cushion for those who may be standing for long periods of time during their work day. For example, carpeting could be installed under desks where employees are standing most often or have been standing for prolonged periods of time throughout the day (e.g., retail sales associates). Carpeting can also be installed in break rooms or other areas where employees may spend a lot of time on their feet.

Moving to a New Office?

Whether you’re looking to move for business reasons or simply want a new, innovative working environment, you will want to work with a professional moving company that can handle the process for you. Especially with new furniture or fragile belongings, it’s important that they arrive to your new space in the same condition as before they left. So it’s important to find movers that are experienced, trained, and licensed so you can focus on the benefits of your new office space.

The professionals at Chicago Office Movers not only have over 35 years of experience in the commercial moving industry, but are fully equipped to plan, organize, pack, relocate, and install all of your furniture and equipment at your new location. We ensure to handle all parts of the moving process so you and your employees can stay focused on work with little interruption.

If you are undergoing any office renovations, Chicago Office Movers will proudly relocate and store your furniture during the remodeling process. This will allow you to get that modern office look and not have to worry about your furniture in the process.

Free Estimate

For more information or a free estimate on our office moving services, contact Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246 or fill out a contact form. We look forward to working with you soon!

Everyone has to move sometime or another, but seasoned moving customers are well aware that not all moves run smoothly. Professional movers can speed up the moving process, but choosing the right company is also important. If you don't do the research beforehand, a bad moving company can make your moving process even more of a headache. Just as each moving company will differ in their services and prices, it’s extremely important to know what to expect on moving day. So you’ll want to do your homework and research as many vendors as possible.

When researching, keep an eye open for scams and rogue movers, as they will never have your best interest in mind. Once you have a list of movers, here are 11 things to consider when looking for a moving company:

1. Get a Complete Estimate

Any estimator that does a quick walk-through of the building will not catch all of the details when giving you the quote. When calculating, they should ask questions about what exactly you will be bringing with you to your new location. Just be prepared to answer the questions regarding which items will not be going on the truck and will need to be decommissioned:

• Donated
• Thrown away
• Sold
• Left behind to new owners
• Given away
• Transported yourself

Chicago Office Movers can help you with decommissioning items to local non profit organizations.

2. Choose a Company with One Name

You might be surprised to find that a number of companies operate under various names to avoid being assessed by the Better Business Bureau and other online review platforms. Make sure the company has an address that is local and information about their licensing and insurance.

Check for any other name the company “does business as” in addition to their state and federal license numbers. Also make sure to check their online reviews, reviewing any complaints and compliments about them.

3. Never Pay a Large Deposit

While some can’t be avoided, reputable moving companies will not require a large deposit before moving. The service – at least the majority - should be paid at the end of the move. Otherwise they may disappear with your belongings and you have a lawsuit on your hands. When you do pay, use a credit card to protect against possible fraud.

4. Create an Inventory

When walking through your home, the estimator will take an inventory of all your items and furniture to determine the bulk weight of the home. They should also be thorough and check all storage areas, including drawers, desks, lobbies, bookcases, and filing cabinets.

A significant factor of the moving cost will be the overall weight of your belongings as well as the amount of space it will take up on the truck. When presented with the estimate, look it over carefully and make sure you understand everything on it.

5. Look at Reviews

More and more potential customers are trusting online reviews as if they were recommendations from their friends and family. A reputable moving company will have an overall high rating, provided that they have served their customers well.

When researching these reviews, you will find that few to none will have a perfect score. This is OK. Some customers just can’t be satisfied. But it will be up to you to decide which company to hire based on what others have said.

6. Be Aware of Extra Fees

Keep in mind that many moving companies – even those that are reputable – will add on additional fees for specific cases. Things like going up and down more than one flight of stairs, narrow streets, truck transfers, and moving to or from 2-story homes are all likely to result in additional fees. However, this should be noted in the initial estimate, so you won’t come across any surprises when you get the final bill.

You can also call the company ahead of time if you are unsure of whether or not something will incur an additional fee. Just keep in mind that all movers are different; therefore, while one company may include going up multiple staircases in the service, it may be counted as extra in another.

7. Be Aware of the Packing Process

Keep in mind that if you decide to pack your items yourself, the mover is not responsible for any damage to them. But if the mover does packing and things are broken in the process, they should be covered under the mover’s insurance policy.

Before hiring the company, ask about their packing experience and the materials they use to protect items. This will be helpful to know when they pack up your inventory, machinery, or special equipment.

8. Know Your Moving Contract

While some companies vary, there are generally 3 different kinds of moving contracts:

• Binding Estimate. This includes a guaranteed price for the move that includes all additional fees and requested services. If you want to add on additional services after the contract is made, these fees need to be paid within 30 days after the move.
• Non-Binding to Exceed Estimate. This prevents the company from charging for overages to the original quote they provided. The estimate given is the maximum you will need to pay for the services provided.
• Non-Binding Estimate. This means the mover cannot charge any more than 10% above the original estimate. Just know that the overage must be paid within 30 days of the move.

9. Report Any and All Problems

It’s understandable that not all damage to your items will be noticed right after the move. But you are given 9 months to report any damage or other problem to the moving company, as well as to file an insurance claim. So if you open any box a year later and find something shattered, it’s too late.

On moving day, open as many boxes as you can after they arrived at the new location and be thorough when checking for damage. All problems should be listed in details on the mover’s copy of the final bill, and make sure to check it for any changes before signing it.

After making your claim, the mover has 30 days to acknowledge it and 120 days to deny or accept charges for it.

10. Never Sign a Blank Moving Contract

Rogue moving companies may present you with a blank moving contract before adding services and charges to it. Never sign it. Everything – and absolutely everything – must be listed in detail, including extra fees, pickup, and delivery dates.

Always read your contract carefully, checking that all of your items are listed, before signing. If a computer wasn’t listed on the inventory form before the driver pulls out of your garage or parking lot, you shouldn’t expect it to be in the box. You also won’t be able to file an insurance claim for it because it wasn’t listed on the contract.

11. Choose Insurance and Protection Plan

Reputable moving companies will offer a number of insurance plans you can add on to protect your belongings. This way the moving company will assume liability for the value of your belongings moved. Be sure to take a detailed estimate of the overall value of your items before choosing the insurance coverage.

Choose a Reliable Moving Company

While some moving companies can offer better solutions for customers than others, it’s crucial to find a reputable moving company that keeps your best interests in mind. From start to finish, the service should be professional, friendly, and financially accurate. Remember to always stay on the lookout for red flags such as asking you to sign blank contracts, missing items from the inventory, and “rough” estimates.

Work with Chicago Office Movers

If you live in the Chicago metropolitan area and are looking to move your business, check out our professionals at Chicago Office Movers. Our union movers are dedicated to professionalism while keeping your best interests in mind. We understand that many items and furniture within a business are fragile as well as the information that must be kept confidential. As we conduct hundreds of moves every year, we know the best ways to make the process as smooth as possible.

In addition to our services, each of our movers is background-checked, trained, certified, and experienced to provide you with the peace of mind you need during the transition. Our staff will also be able to handle all aspects of the moving process for you, including move management, packing, furniture assembly, decommissioning, and more.

Our union movers will work with you every step of the way. This includes providing additional information like answers to frequently asked questions, a Commercial Moving Timetable Checklist, what to expect from the process, and more.

Contact Us

For more information regarding our commercial moving services or to schedule a free estimate, give us a call at (312) 244-2246.