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Digitally Moving Forward with SiteDocs

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

Safety is a key component in our work environment, and especially in the industry of office moving.

How many site hazard assessment forms are you required to complete in a day? For CSS Office Solutions, depending on the sites our crew may visit in a day, it could be well up into the double digits. And with that it used to equal lots of paperwork and loads of physical pieces of paper that had to be handed in, tracked, recorded, and translated for safety stats. Plus, we all know that sometimes the physical paper disappears, or gets dropped in the snow or rain, and the information completed is lost and gone forever.

Better Managing our Safety Program

A number of years ago we sought to make a change in how we were managing our safety program. We came upon a program called SiteDocs that was introduced to CSS from a leading concrete company in Calgary. When it checked all our boxes and more, we decided to dive it and get it immediately intertwined into our safety program – and we’re sure happy we did! Now, this (and much more) safety information will forever be with our company, and all those juicy stats we all want to know are automatically calculated! Yes, yes, yes! It’s all true!

Customized Forms

This software has allowed us to create and customize our own forms and fields where required based on the type of work we do, and its all electronically completed! No matter where our staff are working, they have access to complete the necessary safety documents, and track hazards including uploading pictures. The software stores an incredible amount of other data such as being able to upload our safety policies and other pertinent policy documents to have right at our employee’s fingertips. With the added feature of adding certifications and trainings, such as forklift or fall protection, it has helped have this information handy when we’ve had to work at heights on a jobsite or operate a forklift at a different location. Our employees can open their app and present their certification right from the SiteDocs system to show to the general contractor or compliance manager!

Vehicles in Your Fleet?

Have company vehicles? We sure do! This program aids in the necessary safety checks and maintenance tracking we do for all our vehicles, service units and our 5-ton trucks! Checklists make it easy to instruct our drivers on what to look for, what needs to be checked each time, and what items can be checked less often. Again, the ability to upload pictures right into the form is an incredible handy piece for our procedures. How easy is it to have a vehicle concern flagged by an employee, pictures taken on the spot to upload and the report is instantly sent to the HR & Safety Manager to get the ball rolling on next steps. Just like that, and all the driver did was complete their check and made note of something that wasn’t regular. Want to know how many kilometers each unit has been driven, that’s an easy report and now supports creating the exact stats we need.

Supporting Toolbox Meetings

Toolbox meetings occur before any work is started and are conducted at the same time as the hazard assessments. One handy piece of added information in SiteDocs, is the feature of included toolbox topics. They are not all applicable to each industry, but it certainly helps when your teams are feeling as if they’re running out of content. They can simply login to the system and within seconds, you have a full toolbox meeting topic and information to share with your co-workers. What a brilliant addition, as it can sometimes seem like our crew is running on repeat as it was normally the same topics that would be brought up time and time again. Now, we’re able to mix it up quite a bit and include topics that are of importance, but never crossed their minds. At CSS, we’ve found this to be a practical part for our crew.

Why We Made the Switch – True and Transparent Compliance!

Transitioning our safety program management and tracking to SiteDocs has entirely transformed our in-house safety requirements! No more of our ‘safety IN’ basket being flooded with paperwork to review, check off from each job site or work location from each day, and no more lost paperwork! With the click of a few buttons, our team is able to view, verify, and communicate with the on-site crew about their safety documents.

At CSS Office Solutions we look back at how we were previously managing our safety program and couldn’t imagine operating our program, forms, employee access, etc. any other way! When we say that we now have true and transparent compliance, it isn’t a joke! We’re extremely proud of our exemplary safety record in our workplace, especially as compared with similar businesses. As our safety manual says on the front:

When everyone makes it home safely at the end of the workday, this is always a good day!

 Interested in learning more about SiteDocs or how CSS is managing our safety program?

Contact our office to have a conversation – we’re always willing to talk safety in the workplace!

Understanding Your Office Moving Company’s Insurance Coverage: Why It Matters!

by Jaclyn Reid••3 Comments

Moving offices can be a complex and stressful process, requiring meticulous planning and attention to detail. One critical aspect that often gets overlooked is the insurance coverage offered by your chosen office moving company. Before entrusting your valuable items to an office furniture moving or service vendor, it’s essential to understand their insurance policies to ensure you are adequately protected in case of any unforeseen mishaps. Mishaps happens and sometimes accidents during an office move are unavoidable, and knowing what can be done in the event of a mishap is an item that should be on your pre-move checklist!

In this article, we will delve into the importance of discussing coverage options with your office move provider prior to hiring the company and highlight the key factors to consider when evaluating insurance coverage for your office move.

Insurance is in place for a variety of reasons, but most importantly its in place to ensure you, the customer and as well the vendor, are protected! This is why before any move project or furniture install is started, the client will likely request a certificate of insurance from the vendor. As a client, if you’re reviewing the COI, it is important to keep in mind that this document only confirms the type and amount of coverage. Read the fine print of the vendors’ damage/repair/replacement policy, and ask the important questions: what steps are taken and what coverage do you offer should an incident occur while my office items are being moved?

Reading the Fine Print:

When it comes to the safety and protection of your office items during a move, it’s crucial to go beyond the surface-level requirements and scrutinize the fine print, or reading between the lines, of your office moving company’s insurance coverage. While a certificate of insurance may demonstrate that the necessary general liability coverage is in place, it’s essential to understand what actual coverage is extended to you as a client in the event of damage or loss.

Replacement or repair costs are an important factor when analyzing the insurance coverage offerings and will vary from company to company.

Below is a general summary of two main types of typical coverage offered for items that may be damaged or need repair due to a mishap during relocation or moving.

Per Pound Coverage:

The minimum required replacement or repair based upon legal requirements in Canada is a dollar value based upon weight. This is more commonly used and found amongst residential movers as opposed to corporate moving companies. This coverage typically offers reimbursement for damaged or lost items based on a specific amount per pound. The reimbursement rate can range anywhere from $0.60 to $2.00 per pound. However, it’s essential to consider whether this valuation accurately reflects the true value of your office items.

An example to use as a reference point could be a piece of art. Think: how much does art usually weigh, framed or unframed? Does the offer of a per pound replacement based on the weight match the full-replacement-value of that piece of art if you had to replace the piece? A framed piece may only weight a few pounds, but even at fifty (50) pounds, the range of value you’re receiving as a customer would be: $30.00 (at $0.60/pound), up to a maximum of $100.00 (at $2.00/pound). At CSS, we’ve moved many pieces of art for our corporate clients, and we can almost guarantee that a per pound value for coverage would never come close to the value of the art!

The one clear advantage of this type of coverage is the standardization of knowing what to expect. As the vendor or the client, if you know the weight and the value ($0.60 or $2.00/pound), then there’s no question about the amount of coverage.

A word of caution!

There are only a handful of items that would have a matched value with their weight, that would fully compensate to the customer having to replace at item damaged during an office move.

There are moving vendors that offer this type of coverage and offer customers to additionally increase the value of their items – but of course, this comes with an added cost. Be weary and ask the questions upfront!

Full Value or Replacement Value Coverage:

Alternatively, some office moving companies offer coverage based on the full value or replacement value methodology. This approach assesses the actual worth of the damaged or lost item, taking into account factors such as its market value and condition. This method ensures that you are reimbursed for the full value of the item, regardless of its weight.

This ensures that as a customer, you’re able to have that item replaced or repaired without question, without using a valuation method that creates comfort and piece of mind!

Understanding the Difference:

The disparity between the per pound coverage and the full value or replacement value methodology is significant. When evaluating the replacement value of any office items, it becomes apparent that majority of items their worth extends beyond their weight. Consider items such as desks, whiteboards, monitors, or computers—how much are they truly worth when examined from a per pound value versus a full replacement value perspective?

Your items matter to you, and they should matter just as much to your office furniture moving company.

In conclusion, when selecting an office moving company, it’s crucial to prioritize insurance coverage and how repairs and replacements are handled. Asking the right questions upfront will help establish the coverage and method used to determine the value of each item. Also knowing that the certificate of insurance only confirms types and amount of coverage, but not the valuation or methodology used to determine repair/replacement values is a great tip.

Understanding the extent of coverage and the methodology used to evaluate the value of damaged or lost items can make a significant difference in ensuring a smooth and stress-free move.

CSS, Always Going the Extra Mile:

At CSS, we go above and beyond to provide our commercial clients with top-notch customer service, including comprehensive insurance coverage.

We also recognize that the full value of an item cannot be measured solely by its weight. We firmly believe that should an item be damaged during transport or installation, it should be restored to its original state without compromise! This is one of the reasons why we offer full value coverage, ensuring that our clients have peace of mind during the moving process. We prioritize our clients’ needs and work diligently to find the best outcome, guaranteeing that damaged items are replaced based on their true value, not their weight.

To learn more about our insurance policies and how we prioritize client comfort and peace of mind, reach out to our office today. Trust us with your office move, and we’ll handle the rest with utmost care and professionalism.

DYK: CSS Office Solutions has a YouTube Channel!

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

Although it isn’t the newest news, we thought it worthwhile to reintroduce that CSS Office Solutions Inc. has its own YouTube Channel! You can say you heard it here first, unless of course you’ve been to our channel or are a follower of, in which case we applaud and appreciate you!

Interestingly enough, CSS Office Solutions debuted itself on YouTube with its first video over six years ago! Yes, six years ago which seems like a lifetime when you consider what’s gone on since then!

You’ll find our YouTube Channel here: CSS Office Solutions’ YouTube Channel

Our first videos published were demonstrating to clients how to construct our moving boxes. A simple concept that led to a brilliant idea!

Not-so-fun-fact: if the moving boxes aren’t assembled correctly, you run the risk of damaging your items being moved, or worse hurting yourself during the process. For instance, if the side sections of the moving box are assembled incorrectly, the bottom of the box will literally flap wide open the moment you lift it. If you’re picturing a gif with a person lifting a moving box, and the contents fall out of the bottom, that’s exactly what would happen if the box isn’t constructed the way its intended to be.

Our moving boxes are delivered flat to our customers, and let’s be honest no flat items are easy to make work easily unless you know exactly what you’re doing!

Often CSS would ensure that all boxes delivered were assembled on-site for the client, or show a client contact how to construct them so that person was able to instruct others.

For the times where a client wanted to assemble the boxes themselves, we would often receive calls asking us how to build the boxes, along with an expectation of being able to walk someone through the assembly instructions over the phone. Imagine trying to build anything flat-packed, on the phone with someone giving you the build instructions – exactly, not so much, right!?

What did we learn from this: we needed to create a better way to instruct our customers that want to build the boxes themselves, with an easy how-to guide.

The idea lightbulb went off, and so started the beginning of our YouTube first appearance.  

YouTube is a great way for CSS to be able to share our knowledge and inform our customers of pertinent information that’s available at their fingertips!

We’re proud to keep these initial videos in our channel today for a couple of reasons: they are still used by our clients (although they could use a refresh!), and it reminds us at CSS where we started. We may not be experts at creating videos, but we’re certainly experts when it comes to office moves, services, and installations – so that’s what we’re showcasing to our audience with our YouTube Channel.

From our first videos to now, lots has changed – in our industry, in our offerings, in our clients’ needs, etc. One thing has remained the same, CSS is constantly looking for ways to deliver more value to our customers. Putting customers first has always been at the core of our business, from day one in 1984 when the founder started CSS. We’re a company that views each client as more of a relationship that matters and we’re invested in, vs. strictly transactional.

While seeking to assist our customers grow their knowledge, answer their questions in a better way while positioning the company on a variety of media platforms, it was only a matter of time before we looked to YouTube to continue building our video library.

Over the last bit, we’ve learned a lot in-house about video editing options, captions, and flow of images, plus content – it has certainly been an interested ride especially knowing that offices these days are not advertised in the same way as ‘back when’…. Just the other day we joked that it doesn’t seem that long ago when all you needed to advertise was to have a great, large Yellow Pages ad – now we’re making videos and snippets to entice business!

YouTube has long since been a contributor of information, knowledge, and verification. As we’ve seen other platforms grow their audience, we appreciate the ability to upload and share videos from YouTube through to our other media platforms.

As CSS Office Solutions has continued building the library of available videos on our channel, it has always remained of importance to ensure clients, potential and current, find value within the content we share. At the time of this blog, we have published a total of seven videos, plus the first couple from six years ago.

We’re proud to share a little bit more about CSS and the services we offer through our YouTube Channel, as a challenge we often encounter is having our clientele know about all the exciting offerings and services we’re capable of completing! CSS is more than your average office moving company, we take it further and ensure that there is more substance delivered beyond the outstanding service we provide.

Interested to learn more about CSS Office Solutions corporate values? Or perhaps you want to see the transformation that can take place with furniture repairs completed by our incredible experts? You’ll be able to find this and so much more on CSS’ YouTube Channel.

We plan on adding in more as the years go by so if there’s a topic or area of interest that you’d benefit from having published in a video, reach out to our office and share your suggestion! Call or email us today!

Our friendly staff are always available to take your calls or respond to your emails during our regular business hours. Reach out anytime and learn about the available office services and offerings available through CSS Office Solutions!

The CSS People That Make it Happen – Sudipta

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

Meet Sudipta, our outstanding Operations Assistant!

Today it gives me great pleasure to introduce one of CSS’ newer family members, Sudipta!  Sudipta completed her practicum through CIWA with CSS, and after a short period of time it became clear to us that she should be part of the CSS family – and she agreed because as soon as her practicum was finished, she was hired on full time!  She now occupies the title of Operations Assistant.

As you know now from reading previous staff introductions, we like to ask our crew a few “get to know you” questions and here is what Sudipta had to say:

Sudipta really appreciates the work culture and ethics that CSS holds.  She says the management and crew members are all so extremely warm, helpful, understanding, and supportive.  In her own words “I feel so blessed to be a part of the CSS Office team”.

As an immigrant to Canada, Sudipta literally had zero background knowledge of our industry so something she found interesting was that there is so much more to it than just selling office furniture.  It’s a huge industry, with many nuances that we’re pretty sure not very many people actually understand.

If Sudipta wins the lottery she would help others who are in need!  Although I’m willing to bet it would probably come after she takes her family on a world tour – that would be so much fun!  She loves Indian and Italian food – and even though she’s tried numerous different styles of cuisine she still considers herself not to be a foodie – and is definitely more inclined toward Indian cuisine.  Sudipta isn’t much of a drinker and there is nothing wrong with that!  She prefers a coffee…whether its hot or cold is totally dependent on the weather.  Occasionally she’ll treat herself to a soft drink – but the go to for sure is water.  Gotta stay hydrated!

Sudipta hasn’t spent a lot of time in downtown Calgary, so when we asked what her favorite building was…she was a bit stumped.  Ultimately, she chose Telus Sky, as it has a beautiful night view.  Agreed!  It’s stunning!  As far as a favorite place to visit is concerned, she has many!  She’s been to Waterton and greatly enjoys that atmosphere.  Lake Louise is beautiful (isn’t it!), Moraine Lake is mesmerizing, Kananaskis, Banff…the list literally goes on!  She admits she has lots left to explore in this wonderous province but, clearly, she’s off to a good start!

When asked if she wanted to share anything else, this was her response.  “It has been an amazing journey with CSS.  When I first started, not to lie, I was super nervous and excited at the same time.  I had no idea how things would go, where my path would lead; I still feel nostalgic looking back at my days when I first started my practicum with CSS with a positive outlook, eagerness to learn and avail the opportunity as much as I could.  But now it’s all history!  I am with CSS now, still a long way to go and lots to learn from the iconic CSS team.  For this I would definitely like to thank management and the rest of the team for being so welcoming, kind and wonderful to me.”

The Problems Solved by CSS Office Solutions

by Jaclyn Reid••1 Comments

CSS solves your furniture and moving problems!

At CSS Office Solutions we deliver the unexpected when it comes to all things related to office furniture. Sure, we’re known as office movers, furniture installers, etc. but it goes way beyond that!

We solve furniture and moving problems for clients, we assist with space adjustment needs and we take a load off the office furniture and your workspace to-do list!

CSS is known around the Calgary area for the extra level of customer service we provide, which means that on top of delivering outstanding office furniture solutions, we take it further… so far in fact that our clients that we’ve performed work for truly understand it when we say: pick up the phone and contact CSS, and in one call we’ll take care of it all!

CSS delivers office furniture solutions if your office is moving, whether you need office furniture for your space, or you’re needing to expand or condense the setup to accommodate the square footage you occupy. Whatever you may need for your office environment and furniture as a company, it is all handled professionally by CSS Office Solutions!

We created a simplified list of the common problems CSS Office Solutions solves for our clientele:

  • Incorrect furniture in the space or the furniture items not being used for the desired setup
  • Wanting to use the current furniture differently (reconfiguring the items)
  • Having a couple pieces of furniture, but needing more pieces or components to complete the space design (desks, panels, chairs, etc.) to complete it
  • Needing additional furniture parts to complete an office layout (going from a workstation pod of three to a pod of four, as an example)
  • Relocation of an office space in its entirety
  • Transitioning or organization of file room spaces or storage rooms
  • Converting offices to open spaces or creating more/fewer private offices
  • Furniture that’s in disrepair needing some TLC
  • Too many furniture pieces or items in the space that need to be stored elsewhere
  • Getting spaces ready for subleasing by setting them up in a standard layout
  • Decommissioning a space that’s no longer needed

To deliver the true one-stop-shop for all the office furniture service needs a corporation could possibly dream of, CSS has it covered with the right solution! CSS mainly supports large corporations that have staffing into the hundreds and thousands as we’ve found that the needs of this customer group match amazingly with our depth of offerings and partnerships.

We also enjoy collaborating with general contractors and designers. Ever think about what furniture moving needs there are while you’re doing an office renovation or a new build?! We think about those things all the time (we may even dream about them!), and that’s why we deliver solutions that put your mind at ease knowing all the little details are considered and covered. 

Delivering a solution in our world is having a handle on all the moving parts within a project, or any on-site visit and all that result in little to no deficiencies. And then making sure to consistently deliver on this execution!

This is what we strive for at CSS, the consistent delivery of outstanding customer service and outcomes that far exceed our client’s expectations. If you’ve been on the opposite end of the customer service spectrum with your office move provider, it will be worth your while to investigate other possible suppliers.

It’s important to realize that price doesn’t always win or provide you with what you may have expected as delivered results. This ends up costing you as a client more; more time, more money! More time to accommodate multiple deficiency trips back to the space, you may not be paying for the deficiencies with money, but you’re paying for it with your time.

Call our office today to experience the feeling of problems solved, tasks taken off your to-do list and all your office furniture service or moving needs vanished from your responsibility – poof, enter CSS Office Solutions! We’re looking forward to your call and showing the solutions that are available for your office furniture service, product, and moving needs! 

No Nightmare Office Moves Here!

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

You found out your office is moving, exciting news!


At least those were your initial thoughts until your agenda and checklists keep filling up and you haven’t even hired a mover yet!  Never fear!  Not only because I’m here to help you look like the professional, but because using these introductory straightforward tips when orchestrating an office move will aid in making your office move as smooth and efficient as possible!

My suggestion is simple: find a moving company that offers comprehensive move management services!  You’ll be laughing with joy throughout the entire move process, and well beyond move-in day!

Moving forward using these tips as a starting point will help alleviate undue stress and potential wasted energy when hunting for a competent mover.

  • Let’s Talk Insurance – Your mover should be able to meet, if not exceed, your building(s)’s minimum requirements; make sure of this even before asking for an estimate!  RUN, far and fast, if your mover cannot produce a current Certificate of Insurance listing required coverage amounts.  Also make sure your moving company has the ability to add, not only your company, but the building ownership entities as additional insured on the certificate.
  • Safety #1 – Obtaining a Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Clearance Letter from your mover will identify if the company (a) has a valid WCB account, (b) whether it is in good standing with the WCB, which includes (c) having their premiums paid to-date.

WOWZER FACT: did you know that if you hire a company, moving or otherwise operating within your workplace, and their premiums are not paid up-to-date, the possibility exists to hold YOUR company liable for not only the owed premiums, but also the associated claim costs should an injury occur on your site!  The WCB even suggests requesting another Clearance Letter prior to releasing final payment!

Thoroughly check your vendors’ references and credentials.

  • Full-service moving company or just the movers?  Hiring a company that performs more than just the physical moving of your office furnishings is crucial!  For instance, levelling the file cabinets, bookcases and desks when moved, more often than not is completely overlooked by “just movers”.  Any uneven furnishing can be a safety hazard!  And omitting this step can actually cause permanent damage to your furnishings!  It will also lead to reduced drawer functionality over time, lock mechanism wear, etc.

Also consider this, does the moving company provide after-move services, such as hanging artwork, adjusting keyboard trays and work surface heights to each worker’s preference?  Do they move file rooms including the shelving too?

  • Furnished?  Move with Furniture?  Do you move with your office furniture, get new furniture, or are you moving into a space already furnished?  Your moving company should be able to provide you with pricing options for all scenarios to help give you a realistic perspective on the decision at hand.
  • Got supplies?  Plastic moving bins/lids with security ties, labels, computer or map bags, packing materials, bubble wrap covers for monitors, various sized cardboard boxes, Masonite to protect the flooring, walls and door trim – your moving company should be able to supply all of these materials and so much more!  What about the moving company’s equipment they’re going to be using – are they stocked well enough for your move and is it maintained in a respectable, safe condition?  Are their trucks up to date with the annual inspections as part of Alberta’s CVIP (Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program)?

Plan ahead whenever and wherever possible!  For instance, booking of the elevators and loading docks can get very sparse depending on what else is happening in your office building.  As soon as you know anticipated dates, lock of the elevators and book the
loading dock at all required buildings (or if you have an awesome full-service moving company like CSS, we’ll take care of this entirely for you).

Bottom line is this: ensure you’re hiring a full-service moving company offering comprehensive move services, a company that know what they’re doing with your office furniture, files and assets.  These are important to you and your company and should be even more of a priority when being relocated by your movers!

These tips are merely tiny specks of sand out of the entire desert on guidelines to coordinate a streamlined office move.  I could write a book on tips on how to properly choose an office mover, so please feel free to contact CSS Office Solutions by phone or email to speak with one of our Account Managers directly if you have any questions regarding your office move.

Providing Office Furniture Solutions

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

Furniture solutions, for your office, the CSS way!

At CSS Office Solutions, we literally have the word ‘solutions’ incorporated into our name for a very good, directly implied reason.  Without a doubt, we downright consider ourselves a solutions provider that solves your office furniture difficulties, tasks, projects, etc. Some difficulties or problems you know you have (i.e.: office is moving, file room changes, etc.), and some problems you may not even know you have (i.e.: ergonomics, unlevel cabinets causing drawer issues, etc.).

Could we be considered the superheroes of the office furniture service world?  We just might be – in my biased eyes, we’re the total heroes (and at least I know for sure our staff are the real heroes!).

CSS is a solution provider that doesn’t ‘just’ provide moving services, or ‘just’ offers warehouse storage, or ‘just’ furniture repairs, or ‘just’ furniture sales.  CSS offers all of these services, and so many more to represent what a true solutions provider is.  We’ve created our business model around being able to offer office service and have multiple other offerings that are complementary.  This makes our job easier and aims to makes your job a whole lot easier too!

CSS provides all different types of solutions for office furniture and office services.  Before we’re able to understand what it means to provide different types of solutions, one must first appreciate exactly what a ‘solutions provider’ really is, and what it truly means for the customer’s overall experience.

As we’re referencing a solutions provider in this context, it would simply mean that you as a client of CSS’ are doing less to achieve more.  In most cases, the service provider steps up to handle most, if not all aspects of your needs, essentially taking the task or project off of your plate entirely!  A solutions provider is also a company that doesn’t just offer one piece of the transaction.  So, think about a company that sells just the furniture product, and has another company install or deliver the item(s), and then another company that you have to go through for the warranty.  Providing solutions to a customer base is all encompassing and brings everything together, all under one roof as much as possible.

This is obviously where I would make a reference to CSS being a true one-stop-shop office furniture solution provider.

Isn’t that what we all hope and wish for when we hire a service company?  We want it all with a cherry on top.  It’s all good to want the world when choosing a service provider, and that’s exactly what we try to deliver at CSS throughout all of our interactions and engagements.  There’s lots of truth that as consumers we want a great price, great service for the price paid and to have less responsibilities and stress completing this task or project.

What else is there truth behind?  The reason as to why we refer to CSS as being the only call you need to make: a true one-stop-shop, the dedicated solutions provider for all things office furniture related.  For our clients to be able to contact one business and have all their questions, projects, general inquiries and tasks taken care of with incredible levels of service, is a true rare find.  We’re happy to be that rare find.

We know what we know, and we’re truthful to admit to not know what we don’t know – or what lands outside of our own internal teams’ expertise or wheelhouse!  Examples of this would be if your project, move or task required electrical wire work, or your office/renovations needed a general contractor for infrastructure changes, or design assistance, etc.  You know, the stuff we/you shouldn’t touch unless you’re THAT kind of expert!  In CSS’ case, these would be the times when we’re not able to complete the work ourselves but are able to rely on our trusted partners to assist.  CSS still coordinates and manages with all contractors and designers on your behalf, ensuring project success for what our clients needs are.

At CSS, we thoroughly enjoy being a part of the team, and when we’re all working towards solving the same solution, that’s a project or task well on its way to being successfully achieved!  Win-win for everyone!

The amazingness of this offering is that CSS’ clients receive the full depth of removing tasks off their plate while eliminating coordination on their part – leave it to us, we love this stuff!

A solutions provider will try to take as many to-do’s off your list and put it on theirs, all done to alleviate you from having to coordinate or manage them on your own.  Our Account Managers and everyone on our team is available to guide you in making the right decisions, for the right reasons.  We hope to welcome you into our long list of overjoyed clients who have been lucky enough to feel what it’s like for the real CSS client experience.

At CSS, we know your time is tremendously valuable and there’s only so much of it in one workday.  Let our team of experts allow you to take some of that back into your day.  Think of this as the time freed up that can be used for your expertise or genius, while you leave CSS to take care of all things that’s our expertise and in our wheelhouse.

Contact our office today to take time back in your day by having CSS manage all your furniture projects, coordinate office moves and handle your service needs.

The CSS People that Make it Happen – Brent

by Jaclyn Reid••1 Comments

Meet Brent – our extraordinary owner and President!

In this posting, it is my absolute pleasure to be able to introduce you to our incredibly talented leader and company owner, Brent Reid.  His official title is President, but if you’ve ever been lucky enough to know him, you know that he really does do everything imaginable in this business!  Brent is the true definition of an integral person, with a definite problem solving, get-it-done mentality.  He’s the driver of this business, and I can positively say the company wouldn’t be here without Brent.  He learned a lot from his Dad, but at his young age he already knows so much more than his Dad did at this age – that’s a great progression of success for any family-owned business.

Brent is definitely known as the office furniture expert, in all ways imaginable (yes, of course I’m biased – I married him!).

When Brent answered the question about all the best parts of being a member (and leader) of the CSS work family naturally it is the nature of teamwork and the staff comradery.  Brent has witnessed firsthand what great teamwork is and what it can accomplish.  Working hard to build a culture of teamwork and integrity has been an important part of Brent’s development of CSS throughout his years as an owner.

No two days are the same, for anyone at CSS.  You’ll hear this a LOT from us, our staff, and our clients!  This is what Brent finds interesting about the industry – the variety of what your day can hold!  Brent could be seen on-site doing a walk-through with a client to quote for an RFP (request for proposal), or be in the back shop completing a customer repair to a chair or desk, or driving and loading a truck – without a lie, we really do mean that no two days will ever be the same working at CSS or in our industry.

Spoken like a natural woodsman, Brent would spend his lottery winnings on an incredible hunting trip and a fly-in fishing trip – should I mention he loves any backwoods adventures, or did you get that already?

Which brings us perfectly onto the question he was asked about his favourite meal: a nice rare moose steak…I can also add he enjoys anything BBQ’d as Brent certainly masters this skill well too!  He’s the one who handles the best of cooking for our company camping trips, and our employee social nights.

Brent enjoys a good ol’ IPA beer, which of course goes along well with everything that can cook on a BBQ.  His go-to easy-to-find brand is Keith’s if you’re ever wondering what to surprise him with, that’ll be the winner-winner!

When Brent isn’t hustling and wearing all the hats possible for CSS, you will find him escaping to the forested woods west of Calgary, or anywhere that there’s mountains to be enjoyed.  With lots of travelling on the backroads and forestry trunk roads, Brent is always a person who’s up for family time in the mountains, especially when it is outside of cell service!

As our staff spend lots of time in buildings, we like to ask the question: what’s your favourite building in downtown Calgary?  Brent personally enjoys Jamieson Place, why?  For obvious reasons that any office furniture company desires and longs for in all buildings: the best loading dock and direct access to the freight elevator!  Always a solutions seeker, I’m not surprised that Brent’s building favourite is one that helps make CSS’ jobs and tasks easier.  Something as simple as having indirect access from the loading dock to the buildings’ freight elevator can cause significant upset in a project.

Brent has been around to witness the company overcome many challenges, satisfy a whole lot of clients, supersede expectations, move thousands of people and manage office services for clients well beyond the Calgary area.  Brent is in amazement when he steps back and takes a moment to realize the sheer volume of work that our talented crew has achieved.  Not just in CSS’ 35+ years of business, but on any one project or service call.

Brent leads our team with distinction and courage, making sure our clients’ best interests are always taken care of.  The volume of work that CSS can achieve as a crew is a direct reflection of Brent, the devoted leader of CSS.

The CSS Office Solutions Inc. Staff Spotlight series of introducing the world to the people behind the CSS scenes has been rewarding.  Without our people, we aren’t a service company.  Especially this time, writing the spotlight has been absolutely wonderful for me to showcase a little bit of who Brent Reid is, as a leader, as a company owner, and as a member of the CSS work family.

Want to connect with Brent on LinkedIn? Click here

If you’re interested in learning more about Brent’s expertise as it relates to his client relationships and services, furniture repairs or usefulness of such, don’t hesitate to contact our office to get in touch with him directly. 

 

 

Digitally Moving Forward with Jobber

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

Advancing and innovating is what we’re striving for!

One thing I have noticed in my years of business, either in the position I’m in now or when I worked in retail customer service many moons ago, innovation stops for no one!  Not one single person can stop innovation and the incredibleness that can come from it!  And that means WE can’t stop innovating.  At CSS, we cannot stop looking for ways to be better, how to do the work better and smarter while still delivering the same level of customer service we’re known for.

I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying: if you stop innovating, you die (from a company perspective anyways, don’t get all morbid on me).  If you know me, then you know I’m a think-tank of ideas and my hamster wheel is constantly spinning and thinking of betterment and the “what if’s”.

CSS as a business has overcome challenges of change and adaptation as we’ve seen our industry evolve and holding on to what the Calgary economy has thrown us in the last 10+ years.  Some of our competitors have updated their ways from past outdated practices, while others haven’t, plus the everchanging compliance and regulatory requirements we need to meet.  Considering all this, and knowing innovation doesn’t slow, at CSS we’re constantly looking at ways to make doing business with us easier, better and more efficient for everyone!

In the last year, we’ve changed drastically internally even though it may look the same on the outside.  All the changes have been for the good, and all targeted around ensuring we’re delivering the best customer service experience.  CSS is known for the amazing customer experience we already deliver, so as we constantly innovate and change for the better, it can only improve from here!

One of the biggest improvements our clients will interact with and experience firsthand is our transition to an online scheduling and booking software!  After much research and deliberation, we were happy to choose a company based out of Edmonton: Jobber; that meets the majority of our business operating needs within one software platform.  Our official debut for accessing the online platform and having it connect with our website, etc. is January 2022.

Utilizing Jobber allows CSS the opportunity to receive scheduling requests or jobs to book from new or existing clients, all through an enticingly accessible web link.  We’re managing our employees’ timesheets, daily schedules and receiving real-time updates from our sites, all within one platform.  We’re also able to send quotes directly through Jobber, have clients request changes if needed and send the approval all with the click of a button!  This, plus so much more is happening within this platform behind the scenes – we’re so thrilled to be able to advance CSS in this direction!  We’re happy for our clients who are along for the exhilarating ride and especially the ones who’ve provided feedback during our experimental stage to direct us appropriately to meet their needs more effectively.  We’re also able to use this software to keep detailed, digitally accessible records of site visits, pictures taken specific to each project, and organize notes made by all staff while they’re on-site.  If you’re a client, you may have already received a copy of a customized report we created, aptly named an Action Report.  With being able to customize and add forms to different areas of the platform, we can truly create a superior customer service experience all while observing any possible touchpoints and data gathered.

Have we mentioned how many buildings may have to access on any one day?  Or how many of our clients have multiple properties?  Another bonus of using Jobber is the ability to add as much detail as needed for each property and connect it with the specific client.  Items such as security check-in procedures, or where to obtain access cards if not obvious, etc.  This has been a helpful for our staff from an efficiency standpoint and created peace of mind for our clients to know we always have up-to-date building protocol information immediately accessible.

That’s likely enough about me geeking out on the coolness of this platform, let’s get down to the real fun, right?!  How do you access this incredible platform?  It is super-duper easy!

If you’re an existing client of CSS, you can use your email address to login to the Client Portal, using this link: EXISTING CLIENT LOGIN

If you’re a new client, and don’t yet have an associated email address with CSS, then you get to use this amazing link that will bring you right to our NEW CLIENT REQUEST FORM – just take a few moment to complete the details and you’re automatically entered into our queue.  We receive an instant notification and assign your request to the appropriate staff member who will get in contact with you shortly using your preferred method of contact.  Once your email address is registered, you now also have access to the CSS Client Portal.

It is just that simple for you, as a client or new potential customer to submit a move request, enter information about furniture needed or a repair you’re looking to schedule.  It can all be done online using either of the above links.

You’ll also find these handy links that connect to our online service request system on our website and our social media platforms. 

Always know, if you’re interested to learn more about the Jobber platform, the transition we experienced and our overall innovation in this department, don’t be shy to reach out.  I’m always happy to talk about reinventing and revolutionizing the world of office furniture services!

Let CSS show you the way of making doing business with us easier and transform the way you request work with us!  Contact us today to experience the real CSS customer difference!

CSS is Different. Here’s How.

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

What’s so unique about the CSS way?

At CSS Office Solutions we’re different than most industry providers in that we manage all aspects of what you could ever need from an office furniture service company!  Not to mention our high level of customer satisfaction and being true representatives of our corporate values.  Placing importance on integrity, collaboration, pride, and craftsmanship is what CSS is to everyone, you, our customers, our staff, and all of our stakeholders.  CSS is the Calgary-based company that’s been providing an unprecedented level of office services for over 35 years.  We know what we’re doing, and we’d love to show you what that means to us, and how it feels for our lucky clients.

When we say we handle everything to do with office furniture, we’re not joking.  This is where we pat ourselves on the back knowing that we’re constantly pushing ourselves to be the best with all the services, repairs, customizations, etc. we do!  We literally do it all as it relates to office furniture products and services.  Not all office furniture product providers, or movers provide you with a one-stop-shop company – that’s where CSS comes in and shines!

We can move your office furniture and whole operation to a new location, or maybe you’re just moving the staff’s office items or files within the office, we handle all of that too!  We offer multiple storage options, a variety of services for all your office furniture needs whether it be a sticky drawer, a drawer needing keys, installing a floor of furniture or a hanging one whiteboard or an entire floor of artwork installations.

Have furniture that needs repair?  You bet we do that too!  We perform all types of repairs and modifications for office furniture, various types of office furniture, chairs and seating, etc.  We have yet to come across any furniture repair or modification that wasn’t able to be entirely handled by CSS, start to end, because of our incredible staff and collaborations with other partners.

And if you have panels in your office environment, we work wonders in our shop being able to modify the heights, layout, fabric swaps, etc.  Have what you think may be an impossible office furniture task?  Just give us a call and let us wow you with our office furniture service magic!  We’re certain you’ll be impressed.

If you’ve ever spent time on our website specifically the services page, you would have seen the multitude of categories headlining the offerings we provide – and that’s just the high-level version so we don’t overwhelm with each little detail CSS can provide.

There are truly unique aspects of this industry, and the variances you’ll observe between the companies offering similar services.  One of the main reasons we offer so many services and offerings, is again quite simple: to keep your job/task/project as a client of ours as simple for you as possible!  We want to take the hard-work-for-you out of facilities management and office furniture moving and office services.  Read our testimonials to find out in our clients’ own words about the difference working with CSS Office Solutions can make.  The client experience is extremely important to each of us at CSS, that’s why we always go the extra mile to ensure our clients satisfaction is exceeded = mind blown with happiness!

At CSS we showcase the highest level of pride in our accomplished work and are always looking for opportunities to be the best, most trusted service partner in our industry.  This ties into our company’s purpose of providing the ultimate in office furniture services and products by exceeding customer satisfaction with superior expertise.

Without integrity in our business, we wouldn’t be who or what we’re known for.  We do things the right way, for the right reasons.  Held in high regard, of all our corporate values is first and foremost: integrity.  It guides us all in doing business the right way, not just in a way to get business.  This means we’ll be 100% honest with you, in all our dealings, in all our interactions as repeat loyal business is the best kind of customer a business can hope for.  We’re super grateful for our long-term clients that have been with us for so many years who all genuinely value a wonderful customer experience.  We’re always looking to add more amazing clients to our list.

Maybe this new amazing client is you, reading this right now?!

Interested in wanting to know what the CSS client experience feels like?

Give us a call or send us an email today!  We’re always more than happy to answer your questions and provide you with all the details you need to make the most informed choice of picking an integral office service and product provider.