News

Draftsman's Chairs

Draftsman's chairs were traditionally fairly basic with limited design and adjustments. Whist these versions still have their place, now those with bad backs and posture problems have the choice of draftsman's chairs which offer further support.

The Steelcase Let's B Draftsman's chair for example has a softer foam at the lumbar area which provides an extra cushioned support, whereas the upper back is supported by a firmer foam. The back shell itself is also flexible to mimic your every move. Castors or glides can be used depending if you need the chair to move or stay in a static position.

The Task version of the Let's B can be seen and tried within our large showroom which has the same seat and back as the Let's B Draftsmans version.

To view the Let's B Draftsman's chair Click Here

Coming soon....

We will soon have a new range and style of furniture which has features and styles which differ from our other ranges. There is also a varied selection of different colours to choose from which include Black Ash, Havana, Bleached Oak and Wenge as well as old favories like Beech Maple and Cherry. The leg styles are also differentwith silver grey or white frames which can blend or contrast with your desktops. Some colours will be available within 7 days making this range ideal for short deadlines.

watch this space.....

Jolly Back Chair ...relieving the pain

The Jolly Back™ chair has been ergonomically designed by a paediatric physiotherapist highly experienced in back pain prevention.

Throughout June we gave three local schools the oportunity to test and try the chair which allowed us to receive 'real' feedback. Comments were positive with teachers and support staff finding the chair easy to use ans supportive.

The Jolly Back™ chair (UK patent pending) has been ergonomically designed to provide a practical, comfortable solution for adults who work with young children. Adults are required to communicate with and assist children at their low height, but unfortunately this compromises the health of the adult's spine, as repeatedly poor postures are adopted. The Jolly Back chair helps to reduce the risk of adults acquiring back pain.

How has the Jolly Back chair been developed?

The development of the Jolly Back chair is the result of months of direct consultation with front-line education staff and risk assessment, combined with a research-based professional knowledge of human anatomy and movement. Current health and safety legislation and guidance have also been considered. In particular, The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: regulation 11, BSEN1729 (parts1 and 2), HSE – seating at work 2002 and NUT Health and Safety Briefing – Seating, Posture and Ergonomic: A Teacher's Guide to Good Practice 2006".

Detailed Description of the Jolly Back Chair

The JollyBack Chair is available in 3 heights. All fabric is waterproof and breathable - this allows spills to be mopped up quickly with the chair remaining in use and importantly, it is a pleasure to sit on! The chair is made entirely within the UK using processes to minimise its carbon footprint. It has a static weight limit of 16 stones.

The Dimensions of the Jolly Back Chair enable users to:

• Move close to and often position their legs under low children's tables to prevent bending/reaching over when assisting and communicating with children at their level (e.g. reading, baking, supervising snack/lunchtimes etc);
• Stretch out their legs whilst maintaining thigh support;
• Position their feet flat on the floor to allow safe, controlled manoeuvrability between tables/individuals when seated.
• Promote natural spine posture by being able to have feet flat on the floor.
• Sit more comfortably with support provided by a seat base wider than a child's chair.
• Compact size enables close access (to tables and children) and practical use within the limited educational space.
• Use also prevents children straining their necks by looking too high up.

For more information on the Jolly back Chair Click Here

Staff wellbeing in the workplace

It is vital employers do all they can to ensure the work environment is safe and comfortable for employees. This is particularly important for office workers who spend hours sitting still and carrying out repetitive tasks. We know from a UK-wide survey* that 32% of people who work in offices experience physical pain at work at least once a week, with back pain reported as the most common physical problem (65%).  Harts of Maidstone recognizes the importance of good ergonomics by supplying office furniture which is manufactured with end users health and wellbeing in mind.

Research shows that employees who work within supportive environments where, for example, they are seated comfortably and ergonomically, are more likely to feel valued and less likely to suffer from emotional and physical problems that can result in absenteeism and reduced productivity.

A growing number of employers see a clear connection between supplying workers with ergonomic furniture and the wellbeing of their staff. Not only are they absent less, but they are also more productive. High levels of wellbeing mean that people are more able to respond to difficult circumstances, innovate, and constructively engage with other people and the world around them.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as back pain are one of the biggest causes of sickness absence on any given day , and are estimated to cost society and employers around £7.4 billion a year . Provision of good quality, well designed office furniture is an essential factor in helping to avoid pain and discomfort at work.

But it does not stop there. By staff sitting and working  ergonomically in the office, they themselves are starting to see the connection between working comfortably and staying healthy. This means they are also investing in quality furniture and seating for the home which in turn benefits employers during the working day.

Employers can help this cycle not only by supplying quality furniture, but by making sure their staff are aware of how to use it most effectively. As they old saying goes...prevention is better than cure.

* Sources of surveys can be supplied upon request.

Harts of Maidstone are Kent Trading Standards Buy with Confidence approved traders.

Our customer Feedback Report from October 2010 - 1st April 2011 was encouraging and we thank our customers for their feedback. Customer feedback forms are supplied on completion of an order and are sent directly back to Kent Trading Standards Buy with Confidence. Every comment has been listed and results are as follows:

Quality of Work

Value For Money

 Level Of Service 

Comments

• Great company to do business with- friendly and knowledgeable
• Excellent Service- friendly and efficient
• Friendly and efficient as always. Thanks
• Excellent Service
• Harts always treat us well
• Excellent Company
• They were friendly, professional, prompt & delivered on time as promised
• Good service. Good company
• Superb as usual
• Friendly, helpful, nothing too much trouble
• Very friendly and efficient service
• Excellent service
• Staff always helpful and knowledgeable
• So professional, helpful and friendly. wonderful service
• Excellent all round service from a local company
• Nice delivery man- very polite
• Good service
• It was a pleasure to deal with the staff at every stage
• Very thorough & friendly pre-sales advice. Especially helpful when buying a product one is not familial with
• Excellent all round service and products
• We always usu Harts for our office furniture supply and have always received excellent service
• Staff were friendly & helpful over and above the call of duty!
• Quick and efficient
• I am happy that i chose to shop at Harts
• Helpful staff and quick delivery. Will use again.
• They go the extra mile. extremely courteous and enthusiastic
• A very good company to deal with!
• No problem at all, very helpful
• Very good
• Very helpful, friendly staff, extremely professional

Focus on Screens

Screens are much more than space dividers. On desking they provide the user with their own space for thought and freestanding they can section off an area, create separate departments or indeed create an office with doors.

But that is not all. Certain ranges can also:

• House monitor arms
• Can be pinable  
• reduce noise
• incorporate branding
• hold work tools (e.g. letter trays)

There are many from budget to high grade. Finishes range from fabric & vinyl to laminates and acrylic.

Almost all ranges can be retro fitted.

Click on the images to be redirected to the individual product page or Click Here to visit the Screen Home Page.

Straight, Curve or Wave

Straight, Curve or Wave

Straight or Wave

Can be Fabric, part glazed, full glazed, with slatwall, perforated steel mesh or laminate

 Straight, Wave, Angle or Curve

Available on castors for mobile requirements.

Straight or Wave

Can be Fabric, part glazed, full glazed, with slat wall, perforated steel mesh or laminate

High Level Office Screens

An alternative to partitioning High Level Screens can incorporate doors and glazing which can also include blinds

Soft Seating

Gone are the days when reception areas were just for 'taking a seat'. Now they are recognised as the first impression a client has of your company. Whilst budget is always a key factor when starting a business, we urge you to give a little extra thought to your welcome area. Clients should of course be comfortable but must certainly not 'sink in' to their seats. The quality foam inside an office furniture style sofa or chair will create user comfort but will hold its shape over many years ensuring great value for money.

As well as reception areas, soft seating is now used in breakout areas, staff rooms and conference rooms as well as directors offices. There are so many styles to choose from to suit the look and applicaton you are going for.

Rather than choosing plain black, why not consider using company colours and splitting fabrics to add interest and show you pay attention to detail? It costs little or no extra to use two different colours on seats and backs within the same fabric type and can make your area come to life.

We supply from 10 manufacturers who themselves have numerous styles to choose from. You will find many listed within our Soft Seating section but these are just a selection of the styles we can offer.

Within our showroom we have a multitude of fabric swatches to view, so no matter if you are starting your first business or looking to freshen up your existing area we have the perfect choice for you. We give our time freely and will work with you to create something special.

Please click on the images below to view them within the website.

Closure of Manufacturers

Unfortunately last year saw the closure of numerous office furniture manufacturers which has been extremely sad for the industry. We have seen companies who have been in the industry for many years finally admit defeat and close their doors for the last time. We know they fought long and hard to keep things going and and avoid all the casualties that closure brings. Our hearts go out to  the owners, directors and employees we have had the pleasure of doing business with over the years and we wish them the very best in the future.

Because of these closures, as well as general sale items we have new items which have been reduced to clear as they are now discontinued.

SALE ITEMS 

Please Click Here to view our current Sale Stock to Clear

December was a really busy month for Harts. Our customers range from those with home offices to corporate clients and education. It seemed as though every sector needed furniture before the close of business on 24th December!

 We found there were a few reasons for the panic buying. Private customers of course were looking to make their purchases before the January VAT rise to 20%. On larger purchases you could hardly blame them- every little counts as they say! Whilst VAT was a concern for businesses, most of course can claim the VAT back and it is just a question of cash flow. Again, not so important on small purchases but on larger purchases it can make a difference. Then of course were the Christmas presents. Every year we have last minute buyers of office chairs. More and more people are working from home or spending hours of an evening researching, surfing or social networking on the net. For instance we had a grandad who purchased two chairs for his grandsons to 'game' in, a lady who wanted one for her husband which would also blend in with her existing furniture and one for a guy who had a bad back and used Christmas as a excuse to give himself a well earned treat. Seating is now used for diverse applications and we can accommodate every budget and requirement.

With bad backs on the rise, ergonomics are considered more often now rather than the old perspective of 'it's a chair and it works' attitude! We look after many clients who now understand the necessity of preventing back problems.  We specialise in posture and ergonomic seating as well as chairs for heavy and bariatric users.  Fabric is also a passion of ours and it is amazing how different seating can appear with a careful choice of fabric and colour selection.

Competition Winner

Congratulations to Mr David Shaw who won a mobile CPU Holder in our October Newsletter Competition. These little helpers allow easy access to your CPU whilst enabling you to set the angle of the unit also. A bargain at only £24.99 each + Vat- you will wonder how you ever managed without one! For a full list of accessories please Click Here .

Newsletters are sent to our existing customers and those who we have had contact with. If you would like to receive our newsletters please contact us.

 Mobile CPU Holder

Have a Giggle!

If you are looking for informal reception seating, or quirky side chairs for your office, the giggle is the perfect choice. Singe or two tone fabrics can be used and it is available with a 4 leg static, 4 leg swivel frame or a wire sled style base.  Priced at £243.00 after discount these cheeky seats will keep your clients comfortable create the right impression every time. 

Giggle with Glass Table

 Afternoon Tea at The Dorchester

Reception areas were traditionally used for waiting visitors. These days companies are making more use of this space by using them for informal meetings. The Dorchester Sofa is comfortable, yet firm, spacious yet compact. Ideal for sharing tea, coffee and ideas with customers or indeed staff. Available in single, two and three seats. Leg finishes can be Beech, Walnut or Chrome.  

Steelcase Westside

The Westside is manufactured from polypropylene and steel and is fitted together without screws. These materials are 98% recyclable at the end of their life.

In The Office

Westside’s ergonomic shape and high quality finish are good for short meetings, training and learning

Out The Office

Westside works well in spaces like canteens, universities, medical facilities and welcome areas because it is easy to clean, store and move around. These chairs can be stacked up to 8 high independently or up to 15 when using a trolley. A fastening element allows them to be fixed together in rows and they come in 4 fresh colours: White, Orange, Green & Coffee. Padded seats can also be added if required.

Westside Breakout AreaWestside Colours

How do you Collabotate?

Traditionally meetings were carried out in one place– the Boardroom.This usually consisted of a boardroom table where a group of people would discuss topics and make decisions.

Today meeting areas have changed.  They need to adapt and be flexible. Today’s workers need areas where they can quickly collaborate and share information.

Modular tables can connect together for meetings and split for training. Or, if you still prefer the appearance of an executive style table, it can be fitted with data appliances to make your meetings more informative and constructive. Your space can then support training and presentations as well as board meetings.

Items such as pop up power modules, cable outlets, data outlets, wire management  etc can make all the difference. To view various options please visit the Boardroom, Conference & Meeting Table section.