Meet Chris Harrison, Online Office Furniture Retailer

Chris Harrison is a UK online retailer specializing in white office furniture. For the past couple of years, he was run the hugely popular Kima Office Furniture website which sells high-quality office furniture to businesses in the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

In this interview, he talks about how he launched the website, marketing tips, and future plans.

1. Could you tell us a little more about your business and how you got started?

Thanks for the interview opportunity! I started up Kima Office Furniture a couple of years ago with the aim of providing low cost white office furniture to the UK market. It's a purely online business, and I don't actually hold any stock. I work with manufacturers to simply sell their items online, and then get them to ship, but all the sales go via my website. It's a method called drop-shipping.

I got started because I previously worked in retail and saw an opportunity to leverage relationships I already have, in tandem with my existing knowledge of the office furniture market. White office furniture is a growing trend in the UK, so it made sense to specialize in this particular niche (but with plans to grow).

2. How did you go about the launch of website as it looks very user-friendly and well-designed?

Initially, we were on an eCommerce platform called Magento. It did us good for a few months, but to be honest I found it quite complex to manage. Someone then recommended a system called Shopify, and we've been running on that for the last 24 months or so.

It was really easy to set up, and it means we can manage orders of white office desks, white bench desks, drawers, pedestals, chairs, and everything else that we sell very easily. It handles all the billing, invoices, and management like an absolute dream. I can recommend it to anybody else thinking about selling office furniture online!

In terms of design, we looked at other suppliers, saw what they were doing well, and then tried to improve upon that. We invested a lot of time in user-experience testing and ensuring that all the potential conversion points on the website were working as best that they could do.

3. You spoke earlier about trends in white office furniture; are you able to expand on that a little?

Of course, I love talking about this stuff! Over the last five years, there has been a move towards more minimal, clean, and modern looking design--and that's now being seen in office workplace environments. If you have ever walked into an Apple store, you will know the type of look that I mean.

White office furniture is very trendy at the moment as it complements this style very well. When you have clean looking white office desks in your workplace, with nice brightly colored wall art, it can create a great impression with clients (and employees). In fact, there is some research that points towards this type of office design even helping with productivity. Visit our website to see the whole range including desks with drawers.

4. So with that in mind, what are your top-selling white office furniture items?

At the moment, we are selling a lot of white cantilever and panel leg office desks. They are modular by design, meaning companies can buy in bulk and then arrange them into cluster or working spaces. Open plan offices and call center environments are the types of businesses that we often supply to.

We also find that white office desks are also popular with home office users, in particular those who use Macs. I guess these are the types of people who appreciate the aesthetics of white and the types of furniture that we sell!

5. I can kind of see how that would be the case! So what are your plans for the rest of 2017?

Currently, we are liaising with some new manufacturers who are based abroad. There are some great designs coming out from Germany at the moment, so we are looking to set those office desks up for sale on our website.

We are also looking to expand out from white office furniture collections to also include more traditional colors such as maple, oak, and walnut. We understand that not everybody wants a white item, so we need to try and satisfy the demand of both existing clients and potential new ones!

6. And finally, do you have any advice for anybody looking to set up their own online business?

Apart from never give up? My main advice would be to be customer-focused. It's easy to set up an eCommerce website these days with software such as Shopify, but the real business will take off if you focus on customer service and retention.

We offer constant telephone support and advice to our customers, as well as follow-up emails to anybody who buys from our website. We know that one happy customer can potentially be a referral point for multiple new ones, so we make sure that we take care of everybody who visits our website as much as we can.

Thanks, Chris!

Introducing Eco Friendly Wall Art by Barb

Not long ago, I posted about the coffee-themed art and gifts created by Barbara Miller, an artist who has an Etsy shop called Barbara's Design Solutions. I wanted to do a followup post to share more information about her original line of eco friendly metal wall art.

Barb's work emphasizes the triptych format, which allows you to get a large piece that is made up of three sections. It is a really cool looking way to display art and goes nicely in offices, waiting rooms, and homes, too. Basically if you want something like a mural or panel for a large wall, these pieces are great. You can purchase smaller format pieces as well. Barb is happy to work with clients and create made to order sizes and designs.

Her subject matter often focuses on nature and landscape, but she does abstract and still life pieces, too. When I asked her about her work, she said, "My interest in triptych art began a few years back. My artworks are inspired by nature's vast array of colors, textures, shapes, and forms."

Her eco friendly wall art is made from aluminum. She also offers pieces that are adhesive polyester fabric art that will stick to most any surface and can be easily removed without leaving sticky residue behind. Check out the art/home/office section of Barb's Etsy shop for more details.

One other way that Barb shares her art is through the form of fashion by creating wearable art, so if you're interested in unique t-shirts and other items, visit the fashion and accessories section of her Etsy shop.

I asked her about the different formats she creates in, and she said that she enjoys "experimenting with many media and styles--metal, glass, wood, and ceramics--and [her] love for fashion."

Barb works out of her studio/home in California. She said, "My art is an ongoing creative process." I think that by following her Etsy shop, we can all enjoy watching her work continue to evolve and expand into new formats and creative subject areas.

Meet Brooke Clifton, Founder of Illuminate Quotes

Brooke Clifton is currently studying web design and wanted to practice her online skills and thought what better way than starting her own e-commerce site. Through Illuminate Quotes, she works with an amazing hand-letterer to produce inspirational quotes that look great in a home office or can be a unique gift. In researching the market, she found that there were a lot of quotes available for sale, but none that would look great in a home, so she decided to design her own range. Keep up with Brooke and Illuminate Quotes on Instagram, and on her website, http://www.illuminatequotes.com.

1. What gave you the concept for your shop, Illuminate?

They say even the most successful people need a little inspiration to keep them on track, driving them towards their goals. Illuminate aims to provide that beautifully designed spark to inspire others to live life in a more purposeful way.

Experimenting with hand-lettering techniques, I fell in love not only with the simplicity and stunning design, but also with the way that no two letters are the same, which gives it that unique touch.

In furnishing my home after renovating it, I found a real gap in the market for this type of design. Starting Illuminate allowed me to create meaningful pieces to reflect my space and inspire me every day!

2. When I saw the name of your shop, a couple of meanings of the name came to mind--one being the illuminating nature of the quotes, and the other being hand-drawn illuminated manuscripts of olden days. What does the name of your shop mean to you?

To illuminate means to "light up," which captures the essence of the brand, that is, lighting up and inspiring individuals to be more creative, successful, and happy! I love that it also reflects a bit of history and can mean different things to different people.

3. How do you choose the quotes to feature?

I'm constantly blown away by those who achieve great success in their work, especially in creative businesses. My current collection has been created with the entrepreneur or successful go-getter in mind, aiming to motivate them to do their best work and not give up.

4. Do you have plans to expand to other products in addition to prints?

Absolutely! I am working on a collection of greeting cards at the moment. I am also developing the next collection of prints which will be in the same black and white simple style, with the subject of the quotes being something that is both playful and inspiring! Stay tuned!

5. Based on your experience so far, what's your advice for others with an interest in starting their own online store?

Get started as soon as possible, and experiment with different ideas until something feels right! Get to know your target audience inside and out, and look for gaps in the market that you can fill.

Starting an online store requires a good knowledge of web design that focuses on the customer experience as well as SEO and a targeted marketing strategy to drive traffic to your site. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, trust your gut, deliver an outstanding product or service, and you can't go wrong!

Thanks, Brooke!

Meet Gregory Clark, Owner of Clean Air Plus

Gregory Clark is the owner of Clean Air Plus, a company specializing in portable medical-grade HEPA air purifiers. The three brands that we offer (IQAir, Amaircare and Austin Air) are considered best in class, and provide optimal filtration of fine dust particles, allergens and microorganisms. Many of our clients (or their family members) suffer from allergies, asthma or other respiratory illness. In addition to residential clients, we sell to businesses, including medical centers and manufacturing facilities.

Follow Clear Air Plus on Facebook and Twitter for some informative posts about health and indoor air quality. The image below shows the company's most popular air purifier, "The Austin Air HealthMate Jr."

1. How did you first become interested in the topic of air purification?

I first became interested in the topic of air purification while living in one of the nation's most polluted cities: Fresno, CA. This city, located in California's central valley, is notorious for having some of the worst particulate pollution and ozone in the country. Unfortunately, most of the dirty air gets transported from the Bay Area, where it becomes trapped between the Sierra Nevada and Coastal ranges. For many of the Valley's residents, this negatively impacts their respiratory health. I remember growing up and seeing many of my fellow classmates with their inhalers. Incidentally, Fresno has one of the highest childhood asthma rates in the nation, with recent estimates indicating that one in every six children suffers from this disease. Thankfully, I never had any major problems, though always had some degree of sinus discomfort, as well as frequent bronchitis.

In 2002, while still residing in Fresno, I began my search for a quality air purifier for the home. Like so many people, I invested in an inexpensive store-brand model that really did not seem to produce any tangible results. I continued on with my search for an effective purifier, and visited a local dealer of higher-end HEPA air purifiers. After his demonstration of the various models, I wound up purchasing the IQAir HealthPro Plus and Austin Air HealthMate Jr. Within a week of use, I noticed a major difference in the home's air quality. For the first time in years, I could breathe out of both nostrils. In addition, my sleeping was much better with less instances of waking up during the night. I began recommending these products to friends and family, and was sending quite a few customers to the local dealer.

While this dealer served local customers only (at the time), I began to realize that there was a demand for such a dealer that could serve the entire country via internet. That's how www.cleanairplus.com was founded.

2. When it comes to choosing an air purifier for a home or business, what do you suggest that someone consider in figuring out what product might be a good fit?

Regardless of the situation, the most important factor when purchasing an air purifier is that it features a medical-grade HEPA filter and some form of activated carbon. Medical grade HEPA filtration means that the filter has a large surface area (usually over 30 sq ft) and filters particles down to .3 microns at the 99.97% rate. In addition, HEPA filters particles down to .1 microns at the 95% rate. HEPA eliminates airborne dust particles, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, and attached viruses. Activated carbon is specially treated to eliminate gaseous chemicals, tobacco smoke, and noxious odors. All models that we sell feature a medical grade HEPA filter, and all but three models (designed mostly for hospitals) contain generous amounts of activated carbon.

Another consideration is the type of contaminants that are in the air. Certain environments contain very high levels of particulates or chemicals, and therefore would benefit by the use of a model specifically designed for this purpose. Most models that we sell provide all-purpose filtration of a wide range of contaminants. However, if living in an environment with high levels of certain contaminants, such as formaldehyde off-gassing or airborne mold spores, it's always a good idea that the customer consult with our team of air purification experts to ensure that they are investing in a unit that will deliver effective results.

Certainly the size of the room is an important factor when determining which air purifier to purchase. For smaller-sized rooms (such as a bedroom), most environments would only require a small to mid-sized unit. For larger spaces (such as living areas), they would typically need a larger unit to ensure optimal air quality. The size of the unit also corresponds which the filtration capacity, as well as the CFM (cubic feet per minute). Smaller models typically feature less filtration per square footage, and utilize a fan that is not as powerful, while larger units contain a greater filtration surface area and a more powerful fan.

The mantra "you get what you pay for" especially applies to air purification. Lesser-priced models are simply ineffective as they contain minimal filtration. That's why our company exists--to offer only the top quality models that deliver genuine air cleaning results.

3. Why is indoor air quality so important--is it possible that many of our homes/offices have air quality issues that we're not aware of?

Indoor air quality is of utmost importance. According to a number of national organizations, including the American Lung Association and the EPA, studies have shown that the air quality in our indoor settings, including homes and offices, is more of a health concern than the air quality outdoors. With most of their time spent indoors, people can be exposed to high levels of pollutants, especially in areas with poorly designed, maintained, or operated ventilation systems, along with the presence of pollutant sources. In addition, there has been a large increase in the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, as well as household cleaning, personal care, and pesticide products that contain potentially harmful chemicals. To make matters worse, in recent years, homes, offices, and other types of buildings have been made tighter to save on energy use and costs.

Sadly, most people are unaware of the risks of living in such an environment. Just because you can't see or smell the contaminants in the air doesn't mean that they don't exist. Rather, it's something that usually exists at levels that are oftentimes undetectable. Nevertheless, exposure to allergens or chemicals for long periods of time can have a negative effect on one's health. The health effects of poor indoor air can result in many symptoms, including throat irritation, sinus congestion, red eyes, coughing, wheezing, and respiratory illness.

4. How much maintenance do your products require in terms of replacing filters, etc?

Our products are exceptionally easy to maintain. Most importantly, all air purifiers offered by our company utilize long-lasting filters. For example, the Austin air purifier features an all-in-one filter rated to last five years under normal residential conditions. The IQAir and Amaircare models contain HEPA filters that last an average of three to four years, and activated carbon components that need to be replaced every two years on average. These units have a much longer filtration lifespan as compared to store brands, which typically require filter changes every few months. For all of our air purifier units, filter replacement is very easy, and all replacements ship with pictorial instructions.

5. What are HEPA filters, and why do you recommend them?

HEPA filters were first introduced by the US Government during World War II. They were seeking ways to protect researchers at the Manhattan Institute from radiation particles. During the 1950s through the 1980s, HEPA filtration was primarily used for industrial and commercial purposes. By the early 90s, brands like Austin Air and Amaircare began production of portable HEPA air purifiers. Almost immediately, their systems became very popular, especially within the allergy and asthma community. Nowadays, anyone can benefit from the use of a HEPA-filtered air purifier; after all, most people understand the relationship between breathing clean air and good health.

As previously mentioned, all of our air purifiers feature a medical grade HEPA filter. This ensures complete removal of airborne allergens and irritants, including fine dust, pet dander, mold spores, pollen, soot, and microorganisms. In addition, all of our models are expertly produced in the USA, Canada, or Switzerland using the best components available. All models that we offer come with five-year warranties as well. Above all, the representatives at Clean Air Plus are familiar with all product offerings, and are always happy to assist others in their search for the right air filtration system.

Thanks, Gregory!

Introducing Swiss Cleaning Services in Los Angeles

Have you made a new year's resolution related to cleaning your home or office? For maintaining a clean home or work space, sometimes it helps to have professional assistance. Whether you want a regular cleaning service or an occasional helping hand, if you're in the Los Angeles area, Swiss Cleaning Services would like to talk with you about your cleaning needs.

Swiss Cleaning Services offers janitorial Services, cleaning Services, maid Service, office cleaning, and more. Their staff members are background-checked and professionally screened. Everyone at Swiss Cleaning Services follows the motto of, "We clean until you smile."

The company provides specialty cleaning services from construction clean up and document disposal to emergency services and medical waste disposal. They can help with cleaning for a special event. They also do window cleaning and pressure washing.

If green cleaning is important to you, you will find that Swiss Cleaning Services is mindful about the importance of using green cleaning supplies.

For more information and/or to schedule a free estimate, you can contact the company at Swiss Cleaning Services, 7119 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90046, (323)744-7170, http://www.los-angeles-cleaning.com.