Find out how your dealership measures up with the Dealer Financial Comparison & Benchmarking Guide Survey. Prepared by Industry Insights, a third-party vendor for the Office Furniture Dealers Alliance (OFDA), a non-profit independent dealer association, this financial tool will provide you with the data needed to assess your operation’s performance. Most importantly, the revised survey allows you to compare your company’s financial performance to the industry’s best players, determine your operation’s strengths and weaknesses, and set goals for improvement.

2011 OFDA Dealer Strategies Conference Will Transform Your Business For Future Success

SAVE $50 when you register now through May 31st to attend the OFDA’s Dealer Strategies Conference scheduled  for September 25-27 in Tucson, AZ!

• Keynote Speaker Jaynie Smith
• Sunday Workshop Sessions featuring Gil Cargill, Paul Barr, Valerie Atkin and Debbie Junge
• Three General Session Panel Discussions
• Guest/Spouse Program Sponsored by The HON Company
• Welcome Reception Sponsored by Global—The Total Office
• Evening Events & Networking Opportunities
• Tabletop Displays
• 15 Breakout Sessions Including:
  • Customer Loyalty Management
  • Benchmarking for Higher Profits
  • Social and Local Media Marketing
  • Dealer Succession Trends & Experiences
  • Best Practices in Streamlining Operations 
  • Finding, On-Boarding & Managing Top Talent
  • Manufacturer Presidents Panel on Industry’s Future
  • ...and much more!

Visit www.ofdanet.org/conference for more information and to register today!

On May 24 the General Services Administration posted Solicitation RFQ567698 on its eBuy portal seeking vendor input on factors that contribute to success among multiple award schedule contractors.  The solicitation is related to GSA’s Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) Project.  Responses are due to Sandra Clerk Brown via email to GSA by 12:00 PM on June 10.

On May 24, the final rule implementing 2008 amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became effective.  According to the summary of the rule issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) on March 25 (76 FR 16978), the amendments retain the ADA’s basic definition of ‘‘disability’’ as an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment.  However, they make significant changes the way that these statutory terms should be interpreted and provides revised interpretive guidance in an accompanying ‘‘Appendix to Part 1630—Interpretive Guidance on Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act.’’

On Wednesday, April 27th, MOI, Vitra and Contract Associates hosted area designers, architects, commercial real estate brokers and project managers in our Washington, DC showroom in celebration of Vitra’s new ID Chair Concept. This chair, developed by Vitra in Switzerland by designer Antonio Citterio was part of MOI’s exclusive sneak peak at NeoCon 2011. This chair allows companies and their employees to define their seating to suit their own identity using an interchangeable kit of parts. MOI has multiple samples of the ID Concept Chair in their DC showroom.

Kimball Office and National Office Furniture, brand units of Kimball International, proudly announce that 100 percent of company-manufactured products achieve American National Standards Institute/Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (ANSI/BIFMA) level 2 or 3 certification, which includes casegoods, systems, tables, and seating.As a result, designers, clients, and government, healthcare, and education facilities that choose Kimball Office and National will benefit by selecting from the industry’s most eco-friendly product portfolios. Selecting products certified level 2 or 3 ensures sustainable choices that reinforce efforts for building healthy, efficient environments.

The SAYL chair from Herman Miller, Inc. recently received “Product Design of the Year” from the 2010 International Design Awards (IDA) jury. IDA was established in 2007 as a way to recognize and celebrate smart and sustainable multidisciplinary design. This year there were more than 400 entries in the Professional Product Design category, with designers from more than 76 countries submitting their work for consideration.

At an all-day event held Tuesday, May 17th Groupe Lacasse and its representative, Pringle-Ward Associates, launched the re-design of their joint showroom in the New York Design Center. On hand were top executives and key product specialists representing each product category under the Groupe Lacasse banner; systems, casegoods, and seating. The event was designed to facilitate one-on-one conversations. There was a clear business focus and an expression of accessibility as over 200 guests met directly with key corporate individuals.

Configura recently signed Dallas-based Connectrac for a CET Designer Extension. Connectrac develops, manufactures and markets floor-mounted electrical access systems and a growing line of accessories. These products are being used in almost every type of facility – corporate, government, education, airport, healthcare and casino. The CET Designer Extension will be for Connectrac’s entire line.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved the new edition of ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 General-Purpose Office Chairs - Tests standard, and copies of the new edition are available from BIFMA immediately.  The BIFMA Chair Subcommittee worked diligently to revise this new edition of ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 with improvements in test consistency, modifications to test loads, and one new test for footrests.

Office systems dealers can learn how to effectively assess the health of their dealership during an upcoming webinar presented by Prosperity Plus Management Consulting, Inc. The free event will be on Thursday, June 23 at noon (eastern), and will feature Jim Kahrs, President and Founder of Prosperity Plus.

Further expanding its comprehensive portfolio of marketing programs and services for furniture dealers, United Stationers announced today that it has added new automation functionality to its Visual Planner. This new turnkey enhancement will extend the tool’s usefulness beyond layout functionality and allow dealers to leverage Visual Planner as a furniture sales productivity tool to accelerate the quote process and ultimately win more business.

The new Ciji Lounge Collection from Gunlocke, featuring almost 30 different pieces and optional wood accents, synchronize Ciji with the existing, Gunlocke portfolio of occasional tables, casegoods and seating. Ciji can be specified as one-, two- and three-seat benches or lounges; low- or mid-back options can be utilized with lounge specifications.  It is available with or without arms and features optional wood arm caps.  There also is a corner unit available to allow for L-configurations and three types of legs – wood, metal or metal with casters.Ciji is available in the entire line of Gunlocke fabric offerings, including its Momentum and HBF textiles, Dani leather as well as the client’s own materials.  Specifying Ciji in two different upholsteries is standard and an available bench configuration – which is a new seating option in the Gunlocke portfolio – provides even more relaxed design solutions for a wide range of spaces.

www.gunlocke.com

Designed for understated elegance using quality, recyclable materials, the Waddell Visions Series of display cases offers an unobstructed view of fine artistry, merchandise or valuables from any direction. With the Visions Series, Waddell craftsmen bring together four clear, full-length tempered glass side walls and three clear, tempered glass shelves with durable powder-coated metal frames all in one case. Each Visions Series case has a sturdy base, and includes interior display case lighting.