SJBiz_CloseOfBiz_7_19_CloseOfBiz 7 / 18 / 19 12 : 53 PM Page 1 CLOSE OF BIZ How to Use Your Office Space to Reflect Your Brand [ By Anthony Bellia , president of Bellia Office Furniture ] ments — to not only inspire them , but create a feeling of belonging . usinesses today understand that company culture and Telling your story through design elements will communicate that branding have become critical components to the success of your company stands apart from the rest and subtly remind clients their organization . The physical environment should not be B and employees what makes your company uniquely you . overlooked as an important part of culture and brand . Employees spend much of their time in their offices , so a workspace is more Office Design to Leverage the Power of Your Brand than just walls , desks , chairs and technology . Your workspace has Your mission and values shape and support your brand . The goal the potential to be a motivator for your employees , a recruitment behind good branding and design is to create an experience for tool for top talent and retaining your current employees . By thinking everyone that enters . When people walk through your door , they outside of the cube and using your space to shape your brand and will immediately receive your message . What is the feeling they culture , it will create positive outcomes that will lead to the overall get from your workspace ? Are your brand , mission and culture cre - success of your business . ating connections and a positive experience ? Office design including your logo , paint colors and furniture is part of the expe - Your Brand Starts With Your Employees rience , but effectively connecting your brand with your mission and Your employees are your brand messengers , so it is important to culture is much more than that . Once you have established your make sure that your employees believe in your brand and culture brand , understand your employees are what defines your brand and feel connected to it . The workplace should be a positive expe - most and your brand should reflect your organization’s core values rience for all of your employees because they spend a lot of time and mission , and you can then use office design to leverage the there and are invested in their jobs . If your employees feel a strong power or your brand . emotional connection to your brand and culture , your clients will feel it as well . When you create a branded workspace , it is a con - Here are a few ways to use the power of your brand in the work - stant reinforcement that your company believes in its values and space : is committed to the well - being of all your employees . It will con - • Use pictures , timelines , art and décor to tell the story of your stantly reinforce to your employees that you care about them as company . much as you care about your clients . Studies have shown compa - ? Signage : Your company name , logo and colors should be dis - nies that have a branded workspace increase employee engage - played for all to see . ment , and when employee engagement increases , so does pro - ? Colors : Use colors that reflect the uniqueness of your brand . ductivity . ? Comfortable spaces : Create comfortable seating areas for your clients and employees to work in to increase employee Establish Your Brand engagement and happiness . Your brand isn’t only just about your fantastic logo and vibrant com - ? Use breakout spaces to increase flexibility and mobility , and pany colors . Before designing to reflect your brand , you first must encourage collaboration . define it . Think about all of the people who experience your com - pany including employees , recruits , applicants and clients . All of these When your workspace is well - branded , it will enhance and sup - people play a role in defining your brand , so consider their expe - port your brand and culture . If the design reflects your brand and rience when they enter your workspace . Telling your story is a great culture , it will serve as a reminder to employees and visitors about way to establish your brand . Let all who enter your space experi - w what you do , who you are and what your company believes in . ence your story , your history , your milestones and your achieve - 48 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 9 ISSUE 7 | SouthJerseyBiz.net