Images courtesy of CORT
CORT is the nation’s leading provider of transition services for both home and office, from event furnishing procurement to apartment touring. As companies continue to grapple with the consequences of the pandemic, Furniture as a Service has become an in-demand option as employees head back to the workplace.
By choosing Furniture as a Service, clients can rent the furniture they need, with a range of lease times available. If a customer decides that ownership is a better fit, they can purchase the pieces they want — flexibility is of the essence in a rapidly changing work landscape. “Our clients used to work on five-year planning cycles, and now they’re working on 12-month planning cycles,” said Todd Simpson, managing director of strategic business development for CORT.
Furniture rental has traditionally been regarded as a measure for temporary settings or pop-ups. Yet with projects upended and more delays anticipated, Simpson explained that provisional solutions have added appeal now. “We’re finding that our Furniture as a Service offering is no longer just a short-term, six-month solution. In the commercial real estate sector, we’re having a lot of success with those firms that have two- or three-year leases.”
With ongoing speculation about what the office of the future will look like, or how many days a week staff will be at a desk, designers agree that less space will be utilized. Business owners not only have to update their procedures, but also rethink their furniture selections as priorities shift.
“There’s no question that working from home will be part of the strategy going forward, and I just don’t think occupancy is going to be as high. The good news, though, is that people believe in the power of in-person interaction. Furniture that supports all kinds of activities will certainly play an important role. It’s not a new idea, but we are seeing more of it,” Simpson noted.
Indeed, as we modify the type of furniture used and its layout, evaluation will take place regularly. Simpson added that experimentation with arrangements and zones allows teams to have a trial-and-error period vital to achieving the desired result.
“One of our clients created six pilot areas, each with a different configuration within the space. They are testing and measuring usage to make future decisions. That’s beneficial because an investment isn’t required until they know what’s best. This type of exploration highlights how Furniture as a Service makes sense in today’s environment.”
As leaders contemplate creating interiors to attract and retain workers, they are focused on using furnishing to enhance the user experience. “People are looking for ways to make the workplace more attractive, a space that people want to come back to. They don’t want to sit at the same desk in the same cubicle. We’re hearing the conversations about making the office a destination again, and furniture is an essential component,” Simpson said.
Some managers are still resistant to renting versus owning, with cost often cited as a concern. There’s a perception that renting furniture is more expensive over time. Simpson aims to dispel this notion. “I do think the concept of ownership is the default for the majority of us. We are all aware that used office furniture doesn’t have tremendous value. If I can get my clients thinking about Furniture as a Service and really doing the comparison, I find that a lot of people are opting in.”
Proprietary tools by CORT include an online calculator designed to facilitate a review of access and ownership. “It helps our clients to understand that owning furniture actually creates additional costs in terms of moving, reconfiguration, and storage. I recommend that they do the analysis at the beginning of a project, so that they are better informed,” Simpson noted.
A new budgeting and visualization platform, CORT Space360 Powered by FastOffice, features advanced technology that enables users to virtually assess their office space. While the space-planning process can take several weeks, Simpson explained that this system offers a faster, more affordable solution.
“Once we have a completed floor plan, we can share a 3D walkthrough of a space. We are using it with our workplace and commercial real estate clientele. Instead of showing someone an empty room, we can give them a better understanding of total cost and what a project is going to look like when it is fully furnished. That gives the landlord a competitive advantage, and will ultimately help them capture more business.”
For Simpson, Furniture as a Service brings a practical framework to the forefront, and transformed furniture rental. “We buy in large quantities, so the companies that use our service tap into that. We maintain our own warehouses, our own delivery and installation teams, our own fleet of trucks. It is a complete, end-to-end offering that continues to gain attention, because it is an efficient model.”