A comfortable enough office guest chair.
Guest chairs actually say a lot about the state of your business and the office you work in. Guests, clients and other business associates need to wait somewhere in the lobby to meet with you, and the quality of these chairs is important to their comfort and the image your company exudes. That said, these chairs are only going to be sat in occasionally so the less money you can spend on these items--especially for a small start-up company--the better.
Comfort vs. Price
When looking to buy guest chairs for your office waiting area, the first things to consider are comfort versus price of these chairs. Obviously, you want your guests and clients to be comfortable while they wait, but spending three to four hundred dollars on a guest chair that's only going to be sat in a small percentage of business hours may not be in your company budget. Then again it all depends on what type of business you are in. If the people you are regularly dealing with expect a top-notch, high-quality feeling to the work you do or the work they hire people to do, then those guest chairs may be integral to your overall business strategy.
What to Look for
In terms of style of chairs, they should match the decor of your office or business. If you own a company that, say, leases out commercial real estate space for bars, clubs or restaurants, then an expensive comfy leather armchair may be perfect for the decor of your waiting room and the message you want to send to your guests and clients about the type of business you run. Or say, if you run a fast-paced, creative company then a colorful, ornate guest chair may be the way to go. Now the real skill comes at finding the guest chair which reflects the feel and decor of the company for a reasonable price.
Where to Look: Craigslist for Used Furniture
Craigslist.org is one of the best places to find inexpensive used furniture. Depending on the town or city you live in, log onto Craigslist and check its used furniture section for matching office chairs. Most prices posted on the ads that you might be interested in can be haggled and negotiated down. And depending on the decor of the office, the chairs don't even necessarily have to match, just be comfortable enough for clients and business associates to wait in a professional environment.
Where to Look: Modern Office
At Modern Office Stores you can buy simple guest chairs which can be purchased for very reasonable to cheap prices. It all depends on what you want for your waiting area. A simple steel and leather guest chair can be purchased for $100 per chair, while a full leather armchair can be purchased for $400 per chair, discounted from the manufacturer's list price of $1,000. Shipping is free nationwide, and there is a 30-day trial period so that you can ensure the chair is comfortable and works with your office, especially if you buy it online.
Where to Look: Everything Office Furniture
Everything Office Furniture proclaims that it is the Internet's best office furniture store, and they do have a wide selection of guest chairs at reasonable prices. There are so many chairs to choose from, in fact, that there are options to help you refine your search--materials like leather, metal, wood and vinyl; styles like executive, contemporary and transitional; and prices, ranging from under $110 to over $690. While these chairs are cheaper then most you will find online, you must pay for shipping.
Tags: guest chair, these chairs, Where Look, your office, business associates, comfortable enough