One thing we can say about the affordable living in San Francisco is that it has great architecture – especially downtown Mission Street, in the south market area. On the Minna Street side, there are 20 ground level lofts, with some great character. Check out this amazing reception desk in the lobby.

This desk was built by Robert Fukuda and Andre Caradec from Studio Under Manufacture. The black back-end has doors that open for storage and the front part seats one person. It just goes to show that a desk can be practical and very cool looking at the same time. You can find more of their great artwork on their website at http://www.sumarch.com.

Tags: Cool // 1 Comment »

One of my good friends owns a hair salon about 20 minutes from where I live called Salon Zion. It’s been getting some great reviews in the paper, so I decided to go check it out the other day to see what all the fuss is about. My buddy has a great eye for modern design, and that’s the first thing that struck me about the place as I entered. Sure, the colors and furniture were fresh and new, but his reception desk was what really did it for me.

It’s really strange because I’ve been preaching about the value of having a great reception desk for quite some time now — you know, if you have a desk that really “pops,” you’ll get more business, and so on, but it’s been a while since I’ve actually gone to a place where they actually put that idea into practice. His salon reception desk was what actually drew me to the store. I couldn’t believe it!

You see, just seeing that salon reception desk made me think. If he’s doing it, and it’s working for his business (top ratings in last week’s paper), then why can’t it work for everyone? That’s the thing. It can! The only problem is that nobody realizes it. Everybody is too focused on the great marketing scheme or the proper business model. No one goes back to the basics. And it’s right in front of their eyes!

It’s so simple, it almost made my ears pop. My buddy’s salon reception desk was the key. I think if more people started to act like my friend, we’d have more prosperous businesses and none of this “end of the world” crap we have going on.

Tags: Business, Guide // 4 Comments »

There are so many questions you must ask yourself before you choose a reception desk: which color will match the color scheme of your business, which size will fit into the space allotted for it, and where do you put it in general? But where on earth do you buy a reception desk?

Well, there are many different places online that you can go to find a reception desk. Simply type ’reception desk’ into the search bar on one of those websites. Sites that sell office furniture are a perfect place to start.

Go to your favorite search engine and type in ’office furniture’. That has always been my favorite method. Then, once you find an office furniture site that you like, type in ’reception desks’ or ’reception desk’ in the search bar. It’s as easy as that. A good office furniture site should have a wide assortment of different desks to choose from.

That is the most simple way to find a reception desk, but don’t be fooled by its simplicity — there are other ways to do this, though they aren’t as easy. You may have to contact a reception desk manufacturer and get one custom built for you. That is a good approach to getting a desk that fits your business perfectly. Type in ’custom reception desks’ or ’custom built reception desks’ into a search engine to find a manufacturer you like.

It’s also good to find a local office furniture store that is nearby. You can look at the yellow pages or search online to find one. This way, you can try out your desk before you buy it. It will also be easier to choose the color and wood finish (if you want a wood desk).

However you find your desk, don’t be too hasty in making a decision. Reception desks have been called the “face of the company.” Make sure your “face” is well planned before buying.

Tags: Guide // 2 Comments »