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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.

Our Company Values

by Jaclyn Reid••0 Comments

Ever wonder what values are of importance to CSS?

Craftsmanship – Integrity – Support – Collaboration

These words on their own stand for quite a bit, combined all together they represent everything that CSS Office Solutions Inc. is and fully represents.

As we reframe the mindset and understanding of the moving and office furniture industry, it is important to comprehend that there’s a difference in the professionalism and sense of care shown when a company truly lives up to the values they showcase.  Thinking about a company that not only talks the talk but walks the talk they speak of.

This is why a couple years ago, the owners, Brent and Jaclyn, did some hard work and brainstorming on what the company values should be and how they would represent what CSS is known for, recognized for, and how we’re different than our industry competitors!

The exercise of developing and capturing company values into a word is only one part of the equation.  It is equally important to define what the values mean and how they’re physically showcased in the workplace.  This is the part that helps everyone understand how we demonstrate these values vs. just saying them out loud or publishing them on our website.

When CSS rebranded from C.S.S. Office Furniture Systems Service Inc. to CSS Office Solutions Inc., we thought this was the perfect time to refine our company values and present them in a way for our staff, clients and suppliers to easily grasp.

We proceeded to create a chart that listed each company value in one column, the next column clarified how we express the identified value and the last column recognizes the outcome of living and showcasing this value in the workplace.  It is a brilliant chart and has certainly guided the conversations with our staff about what each quality or value is meant to be, and how they contribute to the company values every day they put the green CSS shirt on.

Craftsmanship, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?  For us this is pretty clear: we do the right things right!  We’re all about the quality of work that’s produced, not the quantity.  At the end of the day, our employees, clients and suppliers know that we’re doing the right things right and that represents extreme pride in the work performed and the outcome of that work.

Integrity was at the top of the list during the value exercise that was completed.  If you’re not integral, what are you?  If you’re not going to do what you said you were going to do, what does that make you?  At CSS, we wholeheartedly appreciate what having an integral business and operating practices actually represents – so much more than just doing what we say we’re going to do.  Having integrity at the forefront of our values and represented in each day means that as a client, supplier or employee you have a feeling of confidence in having a business partner that’s entirely integral.

Collaboration is a word that we all hear so often but sometimes get swayed in the true meaning.  At CSS, we collaborate in all aspects and in all roles of our business.  This means going the extra mile to ensure everyone knows what’s going on, and being all on the same page.  When collaboration is represented in proper form, the benefit of that is effectiveness.  Effectiveness is the communication, the relationship between client and supplier plus everything that is in between that.

Another way that CSS represents collaboration in the workplace is through cross-functionally trained staff.  All of our staff take on many more roles than just one, not a single person at CSS has just one function.  At work, we collaborate as a team to be all effective members of the company.  We truly do what it takes to get the job done, so it is a win-win for everyone!

Last of the CSS corporate values to cover, but certainly not the least is: support.  If you’re not supported, you don’t feel very supported.  Yes, that is a lot of supports in one sentence, but seriously, how many times have you felt truly supported at work as an employee, as a client, or as a supplier? Providing support for all interactions we encounter is a wonderful thing, and it is sometimes neglected in our industry.  When you’re feeling supported from all sides, you feel as if you’re part of the trusted team, the trusted support of everyone around you.  Having the right support allows you as a client to make the right decisions, knowing you have the right information at your fingertips.

We know these values can read as just words on paper, but at CSS we’ve managed to improve our business practices and processes by using these values to guide our decisions, evaluate opportunities and choose better over the same old.

Choosing corporate values isn’t something to take lightly, and they’re surely not created overnight.  Identifying important values takes a deep look as how you want your company to be talked about ‘behind your back’ and what you want your staff to think of when they put on the company uniform.

Which by the way, in CSS’ case is a green company shirt, which is why you’ll hear us mention coming over to the green side – just a little tidbit I thought was relevant.

Each time our staff put on the green CSS uniform, they show up to represent collaboration, integrity, support and craftsmanship.

Values are important to share amongst your team, your client and any stakeholders in your company.  But don’t just share them, live them and represent them!

If you’re interested in learning more about CSS’ values, how they came to be, or what it feels like to be a client that experiences these components of our business, feel free to contact our office anytime via phone or email!

We’re always happy to help and provide a valuable working relationship that’s built on so much more than just getting the work done.

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.

A Clients’ Magical Experience with Office Moves

by Jennifer Eriksson••0 Comments

Does your office furniture magically appear or set itself up?  The short answer, no!

Picture it: you walk into your place of work – it could be an office/bank/school etc.  You sit down at your desk and begin your day: answering e-mails at your desk, working on projects, whatever your day entails.  After about an hour or so, you raise your standing desk so you can stretch your legs while you continue working.  You return to sitting in your comfy chair.  You collaborate with team members on the white board or around the boardroom table.

Do you ever wonder how those items got there?  Did they magically appear?  It seems like they do.  Like the fairy tale – the Shoemaker and the Elves.  These elves though, are the members of the office furniture moving industry.  These hardworking people of all genders make your office space as comfortable, clean and appealing as possible.  Paying attention to the smallest details.

While it seems these office transformations happen overnight, there are many days, weeks or even months that go into the planning and execution of an office move or set up.  The first contact comes through to CSS via a Google search, a referral, or by someone clicking the “contact us” area on our website www.cssoffice.com.  Our diligent Account Mangers ask all the questions to understand what you require.  They ask the details of where you are moving, what’s moving and gather all the details in between!  They measure, then measure again, to be sure they know the fit and space requirements.  They assist you in the design of your new or rearranged space.  They help plan out what your space will look like, including assisting with individual office layouts.  They plan out the route and finally, they help you plan the day or days of the move (and the days leading up to the move and days after your move too!).  Your team will have filled, labeled, sturdy, and strong moving bins with their personal items, and their specific office chair – because we are all very particular about our chairs and of course that’s important to us, because it is important to you!

Then the real magic happens.  This is where CSS shines and brings life to your office space!

The CSS team of installers and movers arrive on scene.  The installers begin to disassemble the desks for easier transport, because you likely know the famous “PIVOT” scene from Friends, the smaller the surface to move, the better (but CSS could have moved that couch, no problem).  They take down whiteboards, artwork, wall-hung overheads and anything else on the walls that’s moving with you.

Meanwhile the movers are organizing the bins by person, moving the chairs out of the space, manoeuvring the filing cabinets onto dollies for easier transport, wrapping computers and monitors with all the cables and cords in special computer bags with your name.  They load all the other effects of the office – bulletin boards, artwork, white boards, fridges, coffee makers, you name it! – onto dollies, panel carts, tubs or file carts, taking care to wrap items with moving blankets when needed to prevent damage.  On to the trucks we go!  In, one, two, ten trips, your office is off to the new location.  Then the reverse happens.  All the items that came out, go back in.  When you and your team come back to the office on your next workday, it will be like you’ve always been at that location.  

Keeping in mind that the above is a simplified high-level overview of what steps could take place to get your office space set up properly and entail only a few of the moving pieces as seen by our clients and/or their staff.

We pride ourselves on making our clients’ moving requirements, service needs or furniture purchases as simplified as possible.  We know first-hand that what the client sees is not always the whole picture.  If you’re every wondering all the steps that are taken care of by CSS, don’t be shy to ask one of our Account Managers or qualified staff about all the coordinated steps necessary to ensure a seamless and uninterrupted moving/service/furniture experience.

Moving an entire office is one of the more intricate services we provide, but it is just one of the many services offered by our company.  To see the full list of the services CSS offers, check out this link to our services page!

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but your office sure could be!

At the end of the day, if you arrive at your new office space without skipping a beat in your workday, we call that a success and a move gone well!  If you’re interested in knowing what that feels like, call or email our office today!