News and Specials

2020 and the worldwide pandemic has had a profound impact on the way we live, work and learn. Technology now allows so many people to work productively from home, so there has been much discussion about the future of the office. On March 23, the Andrews Government announced a policy where its staff can work in the office or ‘satellite hubs’ three days a week and from home two days. Said Acting Premier James Merlino, “…. there is a permanent change that is happening in our society, given the events of the last 12 months. A lot of people want to have a work-life balance where they might work with their colleagues two or three days a week, but may have a day or two at home or closer to home in their communities”. The Age March 23, 2021

Workstations with privacy screens above and beside desks

Such a change to the way we work will see the office become more of a hub for engagement and connection where team members come together to collaborate. Fewer spaces for individual focus, and more meetings and discussion. A less corporate environment and more welcoming and aspirational. As specialist providers of workplace furniture, Watson Commercial is seeing a number of trends emerging, or being established, in the workplace.

The ‘hot’ desk

Is the hot desk dead? This has been hotly debated.…who wants to use a desk that someone else has just eaten their lunch at or sneezed all over? However, with the new part-time ‘rostered’ approach to office use, employers are cleaning desks and surfaces thoroughly in between shifts, and questioning the value of having a dedicated desk for every employee.

Seal Shield Silver Seal Medical keyboard is antimicrobial

So the hot desk is here to stay. And it has adapted to suit the different needs of users. We have seen an increase in the demand for privacy screens back in open-plan environments: upholstered in acoustic materials or antimicrobial fabrics where viruses can’t survive for long, or those made from acrylic to be easily wiped down. Desks are being equipped with flexible technologies: built-in charging facilities (traditional and USB) to allow the connection of a variety of different devices, and monitors with universal connections to allow people to just ‘plug and play’ their laptops or tablets with minimal fuss. Antimicrobial keyboards and mouses are beneficial in areas where these devices are shared, such as libraries, schools and medical facilities.

Flexible and easily adaptable chairs

People come in all shapes and sizes, and so do chairs. A traditional task chair with multiple levers and multiple settings to be set to suit an individual is not ideal in a flexible workplace. Chairs that are easily adjusted for height but with a back and seat that are intuitive and move with the user are fantastic in such an environment.

Hush Acoustic desk screen and Divi side screens

 Casual communal meeting spaces

Informal discussion areas, in the form of cafes and lounge areas are increasingly popular in office and education spaces. Ottomans, upholstered benches and banquettes, workbenches, large open tables with stools and even bean bags are popular. Furniture is comfortable, flexible and moveable to accommodate different groups. All with accessible or built-in power or charging facilities for work or study on the go. Tables with writable and erasable surfaces are  increasingly popular for brainstorming sessions.

Casual, collaborative discussion areas are increasingly popular          

Acoustic Furniture

Have you ever had to go to your car to make an important work phone call? Our workplaces have fewer offices and meeting rooms and therefore fewer places for private discussions, phone calls or to focus solo on a task. Even pre-Covid, there has been an increase in the use of quiet collaborative lounges with high backs  and sides that cocoon the user so sound is absorbed, fantastic for one-on-one discussion or small groups. These too have built-in tables and power.

Collaborative acoustic lounges at Woodside Design and Technology Building (Monash University)

Further, there has been an increase in portable quiet booths that are positioned in open plan offices. These cost-effective independent spaces have acoustic properties, built-in sensor lighting and ventilation and are perfect for solo focus work or meetings. They save organisations on infrastructure costs, too.

Hush Meet Open and Hush Phone Acoustic pods provide quiet areas for discussion or phone calls                                                                  

As we move back into the office post-covid, these changes are enabling a more dynamic, flexible and collaborative workplace.

To adapt your office into a flexible, collaborative space, contact our team, call us on 03 9873 8484.

Fabric selection is an important consideration when specifying commercial furniture. Not only for aesthetics, but for functionality, depending on the use of the space.

The importance of cleanable, antimicrobial and antibacterial upholstery fabrics in healthcare, aged care and hospitality settings is well known, but these fabric properties are also beneficial for commercial and educational settings where there are high volumes of traffic, a mix of demographics using the space, and the presence of food and drink.

Mister Low back Chairs in Warwick Tritan Gibbs Parrot and Tritan Lewis Cement

As specialists in the education sector, we often specify these types of fabrics in high-traffic, clinical or laboratory settings to ensure maximum durability and performance. Instyle and Laine offer a range of Crypton® fabrics suitable for the commercial environment that protect against stains, spills, and odours. Crypton® technology is engineered to achieve outstanding stain protection, durability, fire retardancy and microbial resistance. The Laine Crypton Collection features fabric designs with bold stripes like the 25747 2 Orange Red or more subtle pattern of the 25919 3 Navy and texture of 25511 1 Lime fabrics.

Similarly, Warwick offers the Tritan range of high-performance moisture barrier upholstery. These fabrics are easy to clean and have water repellent, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-dust mite properties suitable for commercial, educational, and healthcare applications. The Tritan range includes a large selection of classic plains fabrics such as Keywest and Lewis,  textures in the Fender range for added sophistication and a variety of patterned fabrics such as Anya, Coralie, Harmony and Josephine that added layers of colour and play.

Modular breakout lounges upholstered in InStyle’s Crypton Sonic Wave and Audio

Bleach cleanable vinyls are another ideal option for the healthcare setting. Applications include visitor chairs in doctors’ offices or chairs in a medical waiting room and hospital patient booths. Warwick’s Lustrell range and Instyle’s Zone Vinyl are both available in a wide range of colours. Laine’s Coated Fabric Collection includes Cotting Coated vinyls and have inherent sanitising and antibacterial properties. These vinyls (with one exception) are bleach cleanable.  It is important to always refer to the fabric’s care label for specific cleaning instructions.

In addition to fabrics with these inherent qualities, an alternative for consideration is fabric treatment. Treatments are applied by the manufacturer after the manufacturing process, and offer moisture barriers, antibacterial and stain resistant characteristics. Healthseal by Laine is a high-performance treatment that can be applied to most of their fabrics and has soil release, water repellent, breathable, antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Warwick’s OnGuard is another antimicrobial treatment that provides water and soil repellancy.  In addition, their HealthGuard treatment protects the fabric against dust mites, mould and bacteria and helps prevent odours.

At Watson Commercial we can assist with your fabric selection and specification to best suit your commercial application and visual aesthetic.

To contact our team, call us on 03 9873 8484

Learn more about Warwick’s range of  Tritan fabrics

Click to view Laine Crypton and Laine Coatings Collection  

In line with Victoria’s Stage 4 Covid-19 Restrictions, the Watson Commercial team continues to work from home to answer your inquiries, prepare quotations and manage your furniture fitout projects.

However, our showroom and warehouse will be closed from 6.8.2020 for  six weeks.

We are still able to help you with your commercial furniture requirements. We thank you for your patience if current restrictions affect our production and delivery lead times.  Some of our suppliers are closed, and some are able to operate with limited capacity in line with strict government criteria.

So, don’t hesitate to give us a call.  We look forward to talking to you. We recognise it is a difficult time for many, and our thoughts are with our customers and suppliers. Stay safe.

If you’re like us, you’ve been working from home for a few weeks now. If you don’t have a dedicated office or work space, you may be sick of your dining table. Or perhaps you have a sore back because of that kitchen chair? Or maybe you just need a more inspirational, productive space.  You may benefit from  a more ergonomic set up.

We can help

We have a range of ergonomic, cost-effective and commercially rated furniture that could help. View our WFH Range pricelist here and give our team a call to assist with delivery or collection.

Work from Home Pricelist 09.04.2020

Virtual Consultations

Our friendly team is here to advise you on the set up of your home work space or how you can improve its functionality – and we can do it over the phone or  online via Facetime.  Call us now on 9873 8484 to arrange a confidential consultation.

A 30 minute face-to-face consultation is $40 and includes:

• a scaled floorplan of your space, with suggested layout
• furniture specifications / recommendations
• ergonomic advice
• quotation for any recommended furniture
• The cost of the consultation will be taken off the price of any product purchased

Call us now on 9873 8484 or send us a line via our Contact page.

For some of us, the transition to work from home is easy. But for others, it is a whole new experience – especially when their entire team is transitioning to remote working. And thanks to COVID19, many of us now have children at home ‘online learning’ at the same time! These tips may also apply to them:

Humanscale Float height adjustable desk with Liberty chair

Communication

There are many ways teams can keep in touch, to avoid feelings of disconnection. Try to establish a means of communication with your teams, and how often. Online platforms that allow video/ web conferencing and team chats can help us keep in touch. Video conferences allow us to see eachother’s face and this assists greatly in the feeling of connection. Why not have virtual lunch meetings, allow time at the beginning of meetings for casual conversation, or even share Friday afternoon drinks online?

Some other considerations:

• Access to high-speed internet
• Access to information and resources and how they are stored and shared
• Access to webcam on computer / laptop – turn it on!
• Mobile phones with hotspots (for when the high-speed internet is struggling!)
• Treatment of secure information to ensure sensitive information is discussed in a private setting

Agile Electric Height Adjustable Workstation

Office and workstation Setup

When working from home, try to create an inspiring, ergonomic work environment.

• Ensure you treat the day like a normal workday – get up and exercise as usual, get dressed and start work at usual or agreed times. It’s hard to feel professional in your pjs!
• Avoid using your computer, reading or writing whilst slouching in bed, sitting on a couch or lying on the floor. If we hold incorrect posture for too long, our muscles can be overloaded and this results in pain.
• Try to take regular breaks – every 30-45 mins to stretch and get some fresh air
• Have a dedicated room or space at home that you can work in, away from distractions in your living spaces if possible. Ideally it should have good ventilation and a source of natural light.
• Consider your background – what will others see behind you while on video conference calls?
• Equipment you may need:
  • Additional monitor
  • Monitor stand to raise your laptop
  • Footrest
  • Table lamp for focused work
  • Cable management basket to remove clutter from your desk

If you’re like us, you will want your space to look good, be ergonomic and inspiring! Our very own Interior Designer, Lisa Houston offers her thoughts on creating the best home office:

” For me, the home office space needs to be free of clutter and well lit,  with elements of inspiration including plants, aspirational pictures or small personal decorative pieces. 

The space should be a reflection of both your personality and your work ethic. Colour plays a great part in our mood so I choose to keep the space light and bring in colour and texture using visually natural surfaces such as Oak and live plants.

Organisation is key.. so ensure you have adequate storage space which may include shelving units,  or a custom credenza.  My office should always be ready for a drop-in client or a virtual coffee meeting.

Correct Desk Posture

Whether you have a fixed-height desk or a height adjustable desk, it is important to ensure you maintain good posture. This will help prevent neck, shoulder and back pain. Be conscious of your posture and not falling into poor working or studying habits.

Correct posture for sitting at a workstation

Consider:

• Height of monitor – you should not need to tilt your head, but look straight ahead
• Height of your desk – your feet should be flat on floor and elbows at right angles
• Try not to slouch. Sit or stand upright and try to keep your head from bending forward
• If not, adjust height of your chair or use a footrest
• If you have a height adjustable desk – adjust the height accordingly.

If you are used to a height adjustable desk, a desktop height adjustable workstation may be a cost-effective solution for home. It could be used on an existing desk or table.

To see our range of these from Ergovida, Humanscale and Standesk, click here.

Correct standing posture with standing desk

For more information on the correct a standing desk use of task chairs click here and Height Adjustable Desks, click here:

Our friendly team is here to advise you on the set up of your home work space – and we can do it over the phone or online.  Call us now on 9873 8484 to arrange a confidential consultation or send us a line via our Contact page.

We’re excited to be a part of this episode by Architel.TV exploring the recent renovation of Monash University’s Caulfield Library. Jasmin Williamson, Project Architect of John Wardle Architects discusses how the inspiring learning space was the direct result of careful consideration of the building’s original Brutalist form, and the integration of specific materials and finishes to complement it. Watson Commercial supplied Leo Mesh chairs and 142 I.am tables from Thinking Works. The tabletops were customised for built-in power, Audio Visual and data to ensure a seamless learning experience for students.  To view the whole episode, click on the link below…

https://www.architel.tv/single-post/2019/04/29/Episode-148-Monash-University-Library-Caulfield

Our client came to us with a challenging brief:  a height-adjustable desk for a senior executive with high-end finishes and built-in credenza. Our Interior Designer, Lisa Houston worked with our joinery and HAD suppliers to design a solution that sets our client’s desk apart from the rest! Lisa complemented the new workstation with upholstered Isotta visitor chairs, a Laminate Oak conference table on a Thinking Works Incognito base and Design 4-Point chairs. For a customized solution to your next office fitout, give us a call on 9873 8484.