A Matter of Space: Rethink Your Workspace

By Carl Gerhardt

When was the last time you remodeled your office and lobby space? First impressions are critical to wowing clients. And our employees are more productive when they have workspaces that fit their needs. In many, if not most firms, our workspaces have not kept up with the times. Is it time for some new thinking?

Former Quick Printers
Some firms started out as quick printers with the typical walk-in lobby and production area in the rear. With growth, owners fell out of love with walk-in business as they transitioned to commercial printers. The lobby became useless space and was often re-purposed as production area or as a makeshift conference room. Sometimes, the production area expanded by leasing space next door and taking it as it was. The result is often a less than professional and dated environment.

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Carl Gerhardt Author's page Carl Gerhardt is the chairman of Alliance Franchise Brands LLC, the parent company of Allegra Network LLC and Sign & Graphics Operations LCC, and a world leader in marketing, visual and graphics communications, linking more than 600 locations in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. The company’s Marketing & Print Division, headquartered in Plymouth, MI, is comprised of Allegra, American Speedy Printing, Insty-Prints, Speedy Printing and Zippy Print brands of marketing, printing, mailing and Web services providers. Its Sign & Graphics Division, headquartered in Columbia, MD, is comprised of Image360, Signs By Tomorrow and Signs Now brands of sign and graphics communications providers.

Carl and his wife, Judy, owned and operated their own successful Allegra franchise for nearly 20 years before selling the $2.3 million operation in 2003. He is a PrintImage International/NAQP Honorary Lifetime Member and was inducted into NAPL’s prestigious Soderstrom Society in 2010 in recognition of his contribution to the industry.