The air is getting cold for many parts of the United States and people are beginning to spend more time indoors. As a result, more people are getting colds and the sniffles, which means a lot of people going through a lot of tissue. If you have an office lobby or waiting room, you probably offer customers tissues. Rather than putting a tissue box out on a table, in all its horrible flower décor glory, consider using a wood tissue box holder or cover. Your customers, clients and patients will be impressed.

Wood tissue box covers and holders provide a secure and professional way to display otherwise ugly tissue boxes. This allows the tissue box to blend in nicely with a wood table, wood seating and other wood furniture. It helps provide protection to the tissue box, while adding a professional element to the ambiance.

Our tissue box holders look great and come in dark red mahogany, light oak or medium oak. These wood tissue holders can be set out on a table or they can be mounted to a wall (mounting hardware included). These boxes are made out of oak, so they are designed to hold up well with continuous use. They can also be used in doctor’s offices, hospitals and medical facilities to hold latex or rubber glove boxes.

While these tissue box covers may commonly be found in lobbies and waiting rooms, they are also popular in schools, churches and even in homes. Choose from a single, double, triple or a quadruple wood tissue box holder design. These boxes are made by Wooden Mallet, so you can expect the utmost in quality.

While the quality is excellent and the finish is extremely professional, I think one of the best features is the great low price! You can find our entire selection of wood tissue box covers and holders here.

While you definitely want the inside of your office building looking good, it is also a good idea to promote a clean outdoor entrance as well. One great way to do this is by using an outdoor trash can. These waste bins are designed to stay put, look good and withstand the elements. Many of these outdoor waste bins look great, add to the overall building decor and even include ash collectors for smokers.

There are three types of outdoor trash cans that are especially popular. This includes metallic trash cans, neutral waste bins (brown or black) and natural garbage bins that usually feature organic elements such as stone or rock patterns. The can you use will depend a lot on the outdoor landscaping and the architectural design of the building.

An outdoor trash can should be durable and solid. You don’t want something that is top heavy or features a small base. Remember, these garbage cans will be impacted by the elements, animals and even some people. A garbage can or bin that can be blown over by the wind doesn’t deserve to be outside. A tipped over garbage can creates a mess and can be environmentally damaging. An outdoor garbage can should also be covered, preventing rain from pooling in the bottom.

At ABC Office, we offer several great options for outdoor trash cans. Here are 2 types of outdoor garbage bins that have become classics with our customers, totaling 8 different models.

Best Outdoor Trash Cans:

Canmeleon Outdoor Trash Can – This line of trash cans (4 different versions) feature a fluted panel design that, which has a highly professional appearance. These trash cans are molded from high-density polyethylene as well as UV inhibitors for optimal outdoor use. The design of these trash cans hides the bag. The Canmeleon line of garbage cans are some of the most popular available and we can ship these cans to you in a matter of days. Place 1 or 2 outside the entrance of your building.

Canmeleon Stone Outdoor Garbage Bin – The Canmeleon Aggregate Panel outdoor garbage bins (4 different versions) are extremely durable and feature a design that blends in with the natural environment. The molded-in stone aggregate looks classy and is especially nice in front of buildings with a stone or concrete design. The telescoping base helps hide the contained back. The recessed bottom looks great, yet does not detract from the stability of the bin.

Both of these options are reliable, high-quality options for your building. Both of these lines of outdoor trash cans are Greenguard certified. You won’t be disappointed.

You can find our entire selection of office, lobby and outdoor trash cans here.

Binding machines, whether it be comb, wire or coil, are wonderful to have, but they do pose a problem to many businesses. “What problem is that,” you might ask? Desk space. Many of us are strapped for desk space. Heaven knows my desk is stacked with magazines, papers, monitors and other stuff. The last thing I need on my desk is a binding machine. There is, however, a great piece of furniture that should help you out. It is commonly referred to as a binding workstation.

Binding workstations, often called binding desks or tables, are designed with the sole purpose of making binding more organized and saving space. Two of the most popular binding workstations we offer are the Akiles Utility Station and the Tamerica WS Workstation.

Akiles Utility Station – The Akiles Utility Station is designed from the ground up to be portable, easy to use and is perfect for organization. The bench height is placed at an ideal height for using a comb, wire or coil binding machine. The bench is wide enough for most machines and can even be used to support electric punch machines. It has a combined supportive weight capacity of 550 pounds.

Below the bench are 3 shelves that can be used to hold boxes of supplies, binding covers or even paper. An additional top 2 shelves can be used to hold additional supplies. Everything is easy to access and organize. The four supportive casters make this cart easy to wheel around the office.

Tamerica WS Workstation - The Tamerica WS Workstation is smaller than the Akiles Utility Station and is perfect for limited office space. This workstation is at about desk height and can be wheeled up to a desk for easy book binding from the convenience of a chair. A total of 7 wire (transparent) drawers can be used to hold binding supplies of every diameter and color. These drawers are easy to pull out, easy to access and keep everything in one easy-to-find place.

The Tamerica WS is also easy to move around the office thanks to 4 locking casters. This binding station, unlike the above-mentioned Akiles model, only has a weight capacity of 50 pounds. That makes this station excellent for most manual binding machines and some electric binding machines.

We offer a great selection of other binding stations including other models from Akiles, Tamerica, Alvin and other manufactures. You can find our entire selection of book binding workstations here.

If you work in an office environment, like I do, chances are pretty good that you spend at least 8 hours or more per day sitting. Sitting over extended periods of time can really takes its toll on your body. Sitting in a cheap or non-ergonomic chair can lead to bad posture, back pain, neck pain, headaches and much more. So what features should you look for in an ergonomic office chair? Here are a few tips.

I have sat in a lot of different office chairs over the past several years, some very comfortable and others that led to daily ibuprofen use to relive aches and pain. Prolonged use of dysfunctional office chairs can lead not only to short term, but often long term back pain and other ailments.

While the chair you use will depend on the job you perform at work, I have come up with a list of ideal features for typical computer office use.

Height Adjustment - A chair that sits at an improper height can cause you to tilt your head at unnatural and strange angles, which can in turn lead to neck pains and headaches. I highly recommend using an office chair with height adjustment. This will allow you to keep the chair adjusted to where the monitor is at about face level.

Lumbar Support - If you suffer from back pains and aches like I do, a lumbar support can be a lifesaver. While you can buy after-market lumbar supports for existing office chairs, they can often shift around and cause a lot of hassle. Buying an office chair with adequate lumber support is the best option.

Posture Support - When sitting in a flat-backed chair, it is very easy for the spine to begin to slouch one direction or another, which can quickly lead to breathing issues and back pain. Many office chairs now mold the seat backing to provide posture support by keeping the back straight and aligned. This is often done by providing a deeper channel along the back of the chair where the spine runs and more padding on both sides of the chair to keep you upright.

Armrests – This feature isn’t critical unless you type all day long like I do. Having used chairs with and without armrests, I can’t go without an armrest. For me, armrests help keep my arms supported while typing, allowing me to type faster and putting less strain on my wrists, arms and hands. I have suffered the early effects of carpal tunnel syndrome and sincerely feel that armrests have really helped me out. Adjustable armrests are especially nice as they can keep your arms and hands at keyboard level.

Casters – This may seem like a no brainer, but casters are very important for an office chair (combined with a chair mat). This allows you to make fine-tuned positioning of the chair and is far less hassle than lifting and re-positioning the chair.

These tips will all help you find a better office chair. While these tips cover traditional office chairs, there are also non-traditional chairs that many people claim to love. One of these chairs is what’s known as a knee chair or a kneeling chair.

Kneeling chairs help promote posture by eliminating lazy slouching and put the body, according to some experts, in a more natural position. I have used these chairs and have to say that I really like them, however, I think they are best suited for home office use rather than long-term 8+ hours a day office use. That is my opinion. Many people use and love them for daylong use.

Another non-traditional office chair is an exercise ball. We have a couple of people here that use them and claim that they provide very comfortable seating along with the ability to build inner core strength. This option is not for me (actually hate it), but again is a huge hit with many people.

At ABC Office we carry a large selection of ergonomic office chairs designed to provide comfortable and affordable seating throughout the day. You can find our entire selection of ergonomic office chairs here, ergonomic drafting chairs here and our entire selection of office furniture here.

If you have a waiting room or a lobby, chances are pretty good that your customers are going to need a place to sit. There are several factors to take into consideration when furnishing a waiting room or a lobby.

At ABC Office we offer:

• Office Chairs
• Stackable Chairs
• Linked Chairs
• Lobby Chairs
• Padded Benches
• Bariatric Chairs

Here are a few of the most common questions you will want to ask yourself prior to making a purchase.

How Long Will People Be Waiting?

• The amount of time people will be waiting may determine whether or not you need padded furniture or not. If people will only be waiting for 5-10 minutes, a simple plastic or non-padded chair may be fine. If a customer will be sitting in excess of 15 minutes, you may want to consider a padded chair. You don’t want your customers grumpy from discomfort when you see them.

How Many People Will Be Waiting?

• If you have a dozen or more people waiting in a room at any given time, you may want to consider a sled-style bench, linked chairs or heavier wooden seating. This will help keep furniture from falling into disarray.

Is The Floor Carpeted Or Smooth?

• If the floor is carpeted, chairs should be able to stay in place without much movement. If the floor is smooth, you may need a heavier chair or a chair with floor pads to keep it from sliding around the floor.

Will Children Be Around?

• Children by nature can be very messy. If there is a chance of food or other messy products being around furniture, you may want a plastic non-fabric chair that is easy to wipe down and clean up.

What Type Of Existing Furniture Do You Own?

• If you already have furniture in your lobby or waiting room, you will probably want a chair that matches or blends in. Wooden chairs typically blend in well with existing furniture.

Is Space An Issue?

• If space is an issue, you may want to consider using stackable chairs. This makes putting chairs away easy and can make cleanup easier as well.

Answers to these questions should help point you in the right direction. In the meantime, you can find our entire selection of waiting room and lobby seating here.

Are you looking for a podium that has class, a professional look and is made from high quality wood? If this is what you’re looking for, you may want to consider the Executive Wood Presidential Podium. This is my review.

They don’t call it the Presidential Podium for nothing. It has a very similar look and feel to the podium presidents have used at the White House for years. This podium is ideal in professional environments for giving speeches, lectures and presentations. Here are a few things you may not know about the Presidential Podium.

To begin with, the Presidential Podium is made from solid hardwood materials. This wood is available in a selection of Walnut, Cherry or Mahogany finishes. The fabric finish is a available in black, red or blue. The blue fabric is designed to match the look and color of the podium the President of the United States uses. For comparison, I am including a sample picture of President Obama using a similar Presidential Podium in this article.

The Presidential Podium is not just designed to look good. It is also very functional. The back of the podium features a shelf for added storage. The compartment inside the Presidential Podium is very roomy.

The base of the podium conceals a couple of hidden rear casters. This makes the Presidential Podium easy to tilt back and move around. It weighs in at 250 pounds shipped, so the casters are definitely a huge plus.

The top of the Presidential Podium has a dropdown surface. This allows the speaker to adjust the surface from an angled to a flat surface. This is especially ideal for people who want to use a laptop on the podium. The podium itself measures in at 50 ½” high, 26 ½” at the widest point and is 23 ¾” deep.

If you are looking for a podium that is well built and designed to easily last for years, this may be a good option for you. I certainly consider it to be one of the highest-quality podiums around.

You can find the Executive Wood Presidential Podium here. You can find our entire selection of wooden office podiums here. The Presidential Podium is also available with a built-in speaker, amplifier and microphones as the Presidential Evolution Podium found here.

Often times the simplest things can make work so much better. This may be the way an office looks or how it is used. One thing I recommend doing is using a stylish trash can. This may sound a little silly up front, but the environment an individual works in often affects efficiency, moral and energy.

The type of wastebasket you use depends on the profession, business and architecture of the building. Just as clothing needs to match, so does office furniture. At ABC Office we offer a few different options for disposing of trash. This includes indoor and outdoor trash cans.

One of the most popular indoor office wastebaskets we offer is the Onyx mesh-style trash can. This type of wastebasket features a crisscross netting of metal that blends in nicely with existing furniture, especially with wooden and dark furniture. You can find our Onyx mesh office trash can here.

A popular option for use outdoors is our Safco Canmeleon outdoor trash can. With a recessed panel design, and four designs to choose from, these cans are often placed at building entrances or in busy lobbies. Aside from looks, these trash cans are especially popular due to their durable design that can take a beating and still look great. You can find our Safco Canmeleon outdoor trash cans here.

A third popular option is our recycling bins. With people more environmentally conscious, many businesses, schools and organizations want to recycle bottles, paper and aluminum cans. This is made easier, and much more convenient, by using a recycling bin. We offer several different recycling bin options. You can find our recycling bins here.

Whether you need a wastebasket, are building a new office or simply need a replacement, you should stop by our site and take a look at our entire selection of trash cans found here.

A customer recently asked me a question about whether or not wooden fire extinguisher cabinets complied with fire code. Initially I didn’t know. I assumed that they did comply with fire codes or they wouldn’t be made in the first place, but I wanted to check to be certain. This is what I discovered.

After speaking with Wooden Mallet, a prominent manufacturer of wooden oak fire extinguisher cabinets, I discovered that there are no fire codes preventing the use of wooden fire extinguisher cabinets.

I was informed, however, that cities can impose their own building and fire codes. It is recommended to check with the local fire marshal if there are any concerns.

Also take into consideration as to where the fire extinguisher cabinet will be mounted. Wooden fire extinguishers are mounted to a wall and do protrude. Some locations, such as halls, require that fire extinguisher cabinets be recessed into the wall regardless of whether they are wood or metal.

To date I have never had a customer complain about one of our wooden fire extinguisher cabinets or an issues with codes. You should be in the clear when it comes to using wooden fire extinguisher cabinets.

You can find our entire selection of wooden fire extinguisher cabinets here.

Are you looking for a cute and creative way to display books and magazines for kids and children in a reception lobby or waiting room? Here are a few great magazine racks made by R WIREworks designed specifically for use by kids.

To begin with, R WIREworks makes some of the best wire frame magazine racks around. The wire used in these racks does not bend or break. They are made from heavy-gauge wire that can easily withstand wear and tear without looking worse for wear.

One advantage of using a wire magazine rack for children is because crumbs, paper scraps, crayons and other things children use won’t end up in cracks and crevices. Simply put, wire magazine racks are EXTREMELY easy to keep clean.  Most of these racks come in different colors.

Here are some of our customers’ top picks for children’s magazine racks:

1. R WIREworks Buddy the Wire Dog Children’s Book Rack
2. R WIREworks Elmo Wire Book Rack
3. R WIREworks Eleanor Wire Literature Holder
4. R WIREworks BBE Children’s Wire Book Easel

You can find our entire selection of magazine holders and book racks here. Don’t see what you want? Feel free to call 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our magazine rack experts. They may be able to track down exactly what you need.

We are proud to announce that we have just added two new models of Dakota Wave wooden bariatric chairs from Wooden Mallet. Both of these new models feature a wide variety of fabric patterns and wood stains. Here is what makes these chairs so special.

To begin with, these chairs are designed to hold up to 800 pounds. This is made possible thanks to a durable one-inch thick wooden oak frame that has been reinforced on the back and bottom. The padding on the chair, found on the seat and back, is designed to also provide added support and comfort.

Wooden mallet doesn’t hold back on their furniture, and this includes their line of bariatric chairs. Wooden mallet furniture is known for holding up for years and is specifically designed to be used on a daily basis.

These chairs have been widened for extra comfort and are designed for use in lobbies, waiting rooms, conference halls, churches, schools and more. These chairs are comfortable for use by children, teenagers and adults and can be placed next to a wall, can be lined up in rows or can be used in the middle of the room.

New Wooden Bariatric Chairs

1. Dakota Wave DWBA1-1 Sled Base Bariatric Chair
2. Dakota Wave DWBA3-1 Standard Leg Bariatric Chair

We are excited about this new addition. We will continue to add more furniture to our site as we continue in our effort to provide you with durable, high quality office furniture. You can find our entire selection of comfortable office seating here.