Officefurniture.Com To Businesses: Create Enticing Work Environments To Gain A Competitive Edge

Furniture World Magazine

Officefurniture.com, a new-breed office furnishing solution for large corporations and the small office/home office (SOHO) market, announced the kickoff of an online office furniture store that empowers companies to succeed in this digital economy through the creation of image-enhancing, attractive and efficient work environments. Officefurniture.com, through a personal approach to customer service, provides businesses with complete office furniture solutions to gain a competitive edge in today's marketplace. Working environments are now a determining factor in the battle to recruit and retain employees, increase productivity, and stay efficient. "Let's face it -- the first impression is everything, especially in this highly competitive marketplace," said Rich Peterson, CEO of Officefurniture.com. "Your office must be great looking and attractive to land the hot recruits and best clients. People are drawn to beauty combined with efficiency and if you do not have the right environment, it could be the difference between survival and extinction. What Officefurniture.com does is provide personalized service to help businesses create productive and enticing work environments that resonate with potential clients, your employees and prospective new hires." Officefurniture.com is also changing the landscape of Internet shopping by combining the online convenience with a personal approach. Buying office furniture, whether a desk or a complete office system, can be time-consuming and tedious. Today's customers have to muddle through a stack of catalogs or a blur of online sites offering everything from pencils to copiers. In the new economy, businesses are working at a lightning-fast pace; thus, buying office furniture should be quick and easy. The need for an entity that just sells office furniture and that has large selection, low prices and expertise was apparent. At Officefurniture.com, customers can order products online, via e-mail or by fax. Online shoppers seeking additional guidance as they view the extensive selection on the Web site can consult with customer service representatives seven days a week by a toll-free phone number or through the Internet. "The human touch really makes the difference to many of our customers," Peterson said. "When we first started, we were just trying to grasp the technology. It didn't take long to realize there was a void in the online world when it came to personalized attention. The Internet doesn't have to be cold and sterile. My vision was to have a Web site that incorporated the personal touch of a furniture showroom with the convenience of online shopping. With Officefurniture.com, I believe we have done just that." Site visitors can also design their own workspace with the "Project Manager" feature, and get information on leasing and assembly services. Thanks to the executive team's 45 years of experience in the furniture business, the company secured agreements with the industry's top manufacturers and suppliers to provide a large selection of more than 10,000 office furniture items. "We pride ourselves on our selection of office furniture, which is growing every day," Peterson said. "No other office furniture retailer offers the kind of selection and service we do when it comes to office furniture." Officefurniture.com is the brainchild of Peterson, 39, who spent 17 years working in the furniture industry with reputable companies like Levitz and Breuners. When major furniture outlets began suffering financial hardship in the 1990s, Peterson and colleague Scott Perry decided to embark on a new and different path -- the Internet. Their first venture, FurnitureOnline.com, immediately turned a profit, a noteworthy feat for a pre-IPO e-commerce retailer. "We were pioneers," said Peterson. "The big furniture stores, with the high overhead and inventory, were in financial trouble. We knew the Internet was going to change our industry, and we wanted to blaze the trail. Our goal was to create a convenient, easy, and efficient way for customers to choose from our vast selection of furniture. FurnitureOnline.com was an immediate hit and we foresee the same future for Officefurniture.com." The efforts of Peterson and his team, which includes Perry, former NBA player and business executive John Lambert, long-time furniture operations expert Rick Lamb, and former Nestle and advertising agency marketing vice president Tony Adamich, have caught the interest of the investment community. Hummer Winblad, a leader in venture capital funding in Silicon Valley, is one of Officefurniture.com's venture partners. About Officefurniture.com Officefurniture.com is a new-breed office furnishing solution that caters to large corporations and SOHO businesses. Officefurniture.com empowers customers to fulfill B2B and B2C furnishing needs without the hassle of visiting traditional brick-and-mortar channels. With the largest online selection of furniture from over 40 well-respected manufacturers, customers can enjoy personalized service, fair prices, and convenience. Officefurniture.com, funded by Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, is backed by a management team with over 45 years' experience in the furniture industry. The company site is http://www.officefurniture.com.