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The CSS Advisor, the CSS Client Newsletter

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

Delivered to your inbox monthly, with all the latest and greatest!

Another client newsletter you have to read?  Well, it is actually our first in over 30+ years of business…

Sure, some say that newsletters are outdated and not useful.  Thinking back, I remember what someone said to me at a conference in 2017 when I shared how thrilled I was to finally have received the QR code decal to link our website for putting on our trucks. The person’s reply?  “I didn’t think people used QR codes anymore?”  Well, look where we are right fricken now?  Huh?  QR codes everywhere!  Everywhere!

So, that correlates with my thoughts on newsletters, they’re never going away, and will be with us forever.  Their popularity rises and falls, but I truly believe that is all comes down to what is included in the newsletter.  Some I love and read right through to the end; others are painstakingly difficult to understand what message is trying to be sent – these are the ones that I don’t make it to the end of.

Whatever your reason for newsletter signup, you do you, because at CSS we’re just getting started with this client newsletter adventure!  Whether you’re a person that registers for newsletters to get the discount codes or to see what the latest trends are, we want you all as part of our newsletter audience!

At CSS, we’ve had an internal employee newsletter for a number of years, and so it was about time that we brought some of our knowledge and wit, obviously for your entertainment pleasure, to our clients and the world!  I’ve also learned that it takes a bit more courage, really deep breathing to ease thoughts of “will they like it?”, and a managed platform to initiate a client newsletter.

For a business that’s been around for 36+ years, it brings me great pleasure for when we’re able to announce a new company milestone for CSS. Our very first (yes, in 36+ years, this is our first!), Client Newsletter!

Why we named our newsletter The CSS Advisor?

Well, first we gathered input from our staff – which is always a brilliant exercise to see what fresh minds and perspectives can bring and think of.  After tallying the data, we had our client newsletter name nailed down!  It felt just right and point on for what we had in mind!

At CSS we consider ourselves subject matter experts when it comes to all things office furniture related. We like to be known as the trusted advisors in the industry community and especially with our clients.  Providing trust, along with a high level of integrity is of great importance to us and it is one of the main reasons we decided upon the newsletter name of The CSS Advisor.

As a client, you want the right information, and the proper data to make the most informed, intelligent decision.  At CSS, we do things the right way, not just to get them done, but to get them done the proper way the first time.  Being advisors for our clients is a different perception and certainly not a term that is used frequently when we’re talking about our other local-to-Calgary office service companies.  Why is that? Isn’t that the opposite of how it should be?  The answer, oh you betcha!  You are supposed to have a trusted, no BS relationship with your suppliers, or is that just in my imaginary world?

Either which end of the spectrum you land on in your supplier relationships, CSS has worked hard to transform the mindset of being ‘just the mover’ and to break away from common misperceptions in our industry.  Having been in this area of business for many years, we’re adequately known to advise on all things regarding office furniture, your office moves, your furniture disposal options, your best layout to maximize your distancing and space usage, etc.  We obviously want all of our clients to have a trusted advisor when it comes to making decisions based around your office furniture, space layouts, purchases, supplier options, etc. so why settle for anything less than being able to refer to your supplier as an advisor?  You shouldn’t settle!

At CSS, being the advisors alongside our clients is what we value the most, and we know how sharing our expertise is of great value to all the clientele that we serve.  CSS couldn’t be any happier to be referred to as advisors!  Would you consider your supplier, or moving company, as a trusted resource for your business? Do you refer to the company, or to your main contact at the company as an advisor of yours?  Will they provide you with the advice that suits you and your needs, not just their needs as a supplier?  If you’re not able to immediately answer yes, to all of these thought-provoking questions, then you should likely begin the hunt for a new, more trustworthy company to partner with.

With producing a monthly client newsletter, our aim is to bring content that matters with information that is relevant, to you, to us, and to our industry.  We always see lots of changes when it comes to corporate office moving, vacancy rates and industry adaptations.  We’re constantly adjusting too. It is our absolute pleasure to be able to bring you updates and great content that is more than just fluff for reading!  One discovery we made when we did some recent client analysis, is that some of our clients aren’t even fully aware of ALL of the services we offer!

Imagine that!

Our own clients going elsewhere for services only because we didn’t let them know we offered that too = burn, that stings!

With this information, we knew it was important to appropriately plan our monthly newsletter inclusions – thinking the whole point is that we want you to be excited to read The CSS Advisor each month, and not just hit the delete button.  A section included in each newsletter’s edition is a service feature that will showcase and provide a little more detail about a specific service that we offer.  Perhaps it’ll be a service you’re not familiar with, or are using consistently, or maybe you have another provider completing this service currently.  Obviously, CSS would enjoy having your services simplified, which almost always means using one company for multiple services and product offerings.  We do hope that with showcasing our services in an easy-to-read format in the newsletter it will increase our audience’s knowledge of all that we offer.  The more we can offer to you as a client of CSS, the true one-stop-shop, the better for everyone!

At CSS, we’re all about simplification and making your job as one of our clients easier, let’s achieve that together!

Interested in being part of The CSS Advisor client newsletter community?  Click here for a link that will bring you to our website, where you’ll be able to complete the form to sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Connect with CSS today by phone or email for all your office service and furniture needs and if you’re a company looking for a trusted office furniture advisor let’s start a conversation about what CSS can do for you!

Movers vs. Installers

by Jen Harding••1 Comments

Here’s a hint – they are not the same, but CSS takes care of BOTH!

We all hear the terms “moving company” and  “installation company” but what exactly do they mean?  What’s the difference?  In this post we’ll discuss the differences as they relate to the office furniture world.

Basically, a moving company is just that – a company that moves you from point A to point B.  There are numerous companies operating like this.  They should be capable of loading, transporting and unloading boxes, crates, and disassembled furniture.  They should be able to provide you with all the moving supplies you’ll need such as boxes, plastic bins, labels, bags for cables/phone/computers, and should have their own maintained equipment to facilitate the move.  You need movers during a relocation – they do the heavy lifting and transportation! 

An installation company has a different purpose and scope.  Installers are trained technicians who know the proper sequence of disassembly/reassembly so that all pieces of furniture can be moved safely and without damage.  Considering some workstations have multitudes of small individual components it doesn’t take long before that becomes overwhelming to someone inexperienced.  Most installation companies do not do the physical moving, they’re often called in before a move to take furniture apart for the moving company and then return after the move to re-assemble the furniture. 

Keep an eye out for these common warning signs for a less-than-ideal moving or installation company:

·         Inability to provide proof of insurance.  This is a huge red flag!  DO NOT hire any contractor that cannot prove they have insurance coverage.  Should the unforeseen happen you are stuck paying for furniture repairs/replacements.  Also consider that most movers carry general liability insurance which only covers $0.60 per pound!  Always ask about insurance coverage and inquire about the cost for additional coverage if it’s needed.

·         Inability to provide a WCB clearance letter in good standing.  As stated directly on the WCB-Alberta website “A clearance letter indicates if a contractor has their own coverage or would need to be covered as your worker.  If the contractor has their own coverage, the letter clears you of responsibility by notifying you if the contractor has paid their WCB premiums.  If you do not have a clearance letter and the contractor has not paid their premiums, you may be liable for those premiums.  You should get a clearance before you hire the company or individual and before releasing payment.”

·         Using temporary workers instead of hiring staff.  Using temporary workers or “independent contractors” may save these companies costs associated with payroll deductions and benefit coverage, but they’re also not likely to be well trained or experienced which can lead to an uptick in damages to your furniture, belongings and even the building you are in which again can cost you more than you anticipated.

Office furniture (and space) is expensive – don’t take the chance with untrained or inexperienced companies, you’ll regret it! 

Want to know more now?  Give us a call or send us an email!

 

Welcome to The (CSS) Green Side!

by Jen Harding••0 Comments

We’re happy to introduce you to us, CSS Office Solutions Inc.

It’s official, we have a blog and we’re learning how to use it!

Hello, and welcome to our first post. 

We are so excited to share more of who we are and what we have to offer!  We’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the years and can’t wait to bring a deeper level of who we are and what makes us tick through this blog.

So, who are we?

CSS Office Solutions Inc. is a long-standing family-owned office solutions company operating out of beautiful Calgary, Alberta. Over the  last 38 years we have established ourselves as leaders in the industry when it comes to catering to the different needs of our clients.

What do we do?

At CSS Office Solutions, we strive to provide superior products with unmatched customer service to ensure our clients receive the utmost satisfaction at every level – from hanging a simple picture, repairing a lock, refinishing your favorite table to relocating over 1,000 offices – CSS is the company to call.  Our talented Account Managers are here to help you every step of the way AT NO CHARGE by helping you design your space, source new or used furniture, and project manage your entire move.

Okay, but wait – what is the green side?

Many of you will recognize the CSS crew out and about in our green shirts…hence “The Green Side”. Over time we will showcase some of the amazingly talented crew members that make up the CSS Office Solutions family and their take on being “green”.

Contact us today and find out for yourself why we truly are Calgary’s ‘ONE STOP SHOP’ for all your office needs!