We ask founder Fabrizio Constanza, what are the contract furniture industry’s present and future challenges?

Since we began operations in 2001, we have primarily served entrepreneurs, family owned businesses and private practitioners with their office furnishing projects. From custom furniture, furniture sourcing to space planning and distribution. Lately we have experienced an increased interest from corporate business for our services. It is no surprise as the corporate business environment is changing, from building offices for workers to developing working environments for collaborators.

 The shift is an evolutionary reaction to corporate individuals’ present lifestyle that differs drastically from corporate workers 20 years ago. Individuals are expectant to work on friendly and healthier environments.  Companies perceive them as collaborators instead of workers. This means that companies, to attract the best candidates, realize the necessity to offer a positive life-experience environment to the people working for them. Much like entrepreneurial, family, and professional practice businesses prefer. I refer to the current working force as “coffeeshop people”

 But as companies are evolving to the present trend, the future is already here; a new class of productive people is on the expansion. They are younger, ambitious, determined, and driven by social media instead of coffee time. This new generation is interested in developing instead of collaborating.  It is astonishing how the working environment has gone from Workers to Collaborators, to now Developers in the last 25 years.   

 I have experienced the future recently as I directed the development of a STEM innovation center for an international school and producing custom furnishing for call centers. The innovation center has environments such as: innovation labs, maker spaces, art studios, genius bars, media centers and virtual education to train kids to be innovators. Educator’s general furniture request was “make furniture flexible, mobile, fun and adaptable”.  Call centers realize the importance to provide spaces for individuals to identify themselves.  Their facilities include spaces such as gym, bar, chain restaurants and relaxation rooms. This trend is already impacting the contract and hospitality furnishing market. I foresee a new style of contract furniture that will eventually impact hospitality in the next five years. It will combine the human experience desires for comfort and the developers’ requirements for data connection and flexibility.