What Your Guests Really Think Of Your Office Chairs

They say that first impressions last. More importantly, in business, first impressions are sometimes the only impressions you get to leave. When it comes to office design, knowing this could help you to create an office space that shows you in very the best light - something which could do wonders for customer retention.   Creating the right first impression is not just about the big things. Being attended to on time in a well-decorated office by a representative with a warm smile and good listening skills will certainly be a great start, but if you leave your guests physically uncomfortable for your entire meeting, there is a good chance they will focus more on wanting to wrap things up than on the important information you hope to impart.   Chair Design   The benefits of ergonomic desk chairs have been talked about at great length over the past few years. Recent studies have shown time and time again that the wrong office seating can lead to everything from back pain to poor circulation, and in turn many bosses have started to look at what they can do to protect their workers’ health. However, when it comes to giving the best first impression to customers there may be even more to think about.   The design of your office chairs is likely to be just as important as their comfort and practicality. If you choose meeting chairs, desk chairs and sofas upon which guests can wait purely on the basis of ergonomics, you may not only leave them sitting in a position they are not used to, but you may also find that they get completely the wrong impression about your business.   Comfort   A recent Guardian article highlighted the major issues of certain types of chairs - namely hard-backed, backwards sloping seats that left those using them extremely restless, making two hours feel longer than “all five seasons of Game of Thrones”.   Guests want to sit in comfort both while they wait and during any meeting they have on your premises. If a potential client spends all their time fidgeting to get comfortable while you make your pitch, there is a good chance they won’t be fully focussed on anything you say. This doesn’t mean that you have to find the most plush and padded office chairs on the market though. Instead, balancing comfort and style will be vital if you want to give them a good overall view of your business.   By taking the time to research the many options available, it will be possible to find office chairs that suit your budget and your image while providing all the comfort needed to keep your guests’ attention. This will be as important in your foyer as your office too. After all, no one likes to wait, but if they have to, waiting in a comfortable and stylish seat, with some good reading material and a nice cup of coffee will make it far more appealing.   So what do your guests think of your office chairs? If they are bought solely on the basis of price, they probably think they are uncomfortable and potentially tacky. If they are bought with only comfort in mind, they possibly think that those plush leather wingbacks look totally incongruous in your ultra-modern boardroom. If they are bought merely for their looks, then your guests may wonder if your business opts for style over substance. As such, finding the right mix of all of the above will be the best way to help you create that perfect first impression.