When you think of branding tools for your business, your mind probably goes to digital assets like your website or physical branding materials like business cards and brochures. However, one of the most powerful branding tools for your business is right under your nose, and you might not even be using it to your advantage.
Whether you run a medical practice, real estate firm, or an accounting firm, your office serves as a reflection of your brand, even if you didn’t intentionally design it that way. In this blog post, we’ll offer a closer look at how you can leverage your office as a branding tool towards your clients and employees, so you can ensure that your company culture and values are always on display.
How Your Office Reflects Your Business
For anyone who walks through your doors, from clients to prospective employees to long-time staff members, your office makes a statement. It reflects the professionalism of your business, but it also expresses your company culture (or lack thereof). If your office features basic or outdated furniture, lacks eye-catching design features, or has a plain and generic look, it won’t leave a lasting impression. Alternatively, if your office truly feels like it belongs to your business, it can inspire creativity and collaboration among your employees, instill confidence in your clients, and make a positive impression on your vendors.
Creating a Space That Captures Your Brand Values
If you’re not sure how to use your office as a branding tool, there are a few key elements you can focus on to get you on the right track with your office furniture selections and décor.
- Client-Facing Areas – In spaces where you will welcome your clients, such as the reception desk, exam rooms, or employees’ offices, you should make it easy for clients to identify where they are. That not only means tastefully incorporating your logo in signage, window films, and office décor, but also weaving your branding into the overall design of the space. For example, wall paint and furniture colors are easily customizable, so you can match these elements to your company colors. You might also use artwork like photo galleries showcasing your company’s history or recent projects to welcome visitors to your lobby space.
- Design That Promotes Employee Collaboration – Branding isn’t just important for making an impression on your clients. It also determines how your staff and prospective employees perceive your company. Your brand is shaped by your company culture, so your office should make a statement about the kind of culture your business has. For example, if you are all about innovation, creativity, and disruptive ideas, your office space should forgo traditional cubicles and isolated workspaces, instead utilizing business furniture that promotes collaboration and eliminates the typical hierarchy of the traditional office layout. Modular office furniture can be configured in a variety of ways to create a stylish, functional workspace that coincides with your creative brand.
- Locally Sourced Pieces – Another important element of your brand is your local roots. Whether you are based in Tucson or Phoenix, your business should reflect your identity as a Southern Arizona-based organization that’s part of the local community. One simple way to build that connection is by sourcing your office furniture and décor locally. You might feature the work of a local artist or include statement pieces like bookshelves made by local craftsmen. Working with a local furniture supplier like Gibson’s Office Solutions also helps maintain your connection to your surrounding community.
Applying the Right Finishing Touches
Small details like potted plants, soft lighting, and artwork can bring your space together and further reinforce your brand messaging. Encourage employees to put their own touches on the space by bringing in their photos, artwork, or other items from home to incorporate into their workspaces.
If you are ready to redesign your office with a brand-forward vision, Gibson’s Office Solutions can help. Our catalog offers a wide range of office furniture solutions, including reception desks, filing cabinets and storage solutions, workstations, ergonomic chairs, reception seating, and more, all from top-tier office supply and furniture brands. Browse our selection of furniture and office supplies on our website or give us a call to schedule a design consultation in Tucson or Phoenix. Our local service teams offer fast, personalized support, so you can get customized solutions tailored to your business.