We recently worked with fellow Shropshire business Aico to redesign a welcome area for visitors to the county, demonstrating the value of strong local partnerships.
Oswestry-based Aico hosts regular events at its site and welcomes a large number of visitors every year. Until recently, a pop-up table had been used for many of those events.
Supporting Shropshire office furniture suppliers
“We realised that this setup didn’t reflect the professional and welcoming image expected of a market-leading company,” said Alex Garmston, Marketing Manager at Aico.
“With this in mind, we reached out to Chrisbeon for support. Chrisbeon have supplied much of our current office furniture, and we’ve developed a strong, reliable working relationship with them over the years. As a company, we always aim to source locally and support suppliers based in Shropshire, so they are a natural fit for us.”
Shropshire Chamber Patrons
Both Aico and our team here at Chrisbeon are longstanding Patrons of the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, and our relationship has been built over many years, strengthened through the Chamber network.
“As always, Craig at Chrisbeon was incredibly helpful, offering creative ideas along with a range of examples and design concepts for a new reception desk,” added Alex. “After reviewing the options and confirming our preferred design, the ordering and delivery process was seamless, with clear and consistent communication at every stage.”
Business culture and shared goals
From our perspective, the project is a strong example of why long-term supplier relationships matter, not just for convenience, but for understanding, trust and shared goals. Because we’ve worked with Aico for many years, we understand their culture, the way their spaces need to function, and the impression they want visitors to have.
To explore the possibilities, Aico used our 3D CAD planning service – a tool increasingly used by businesses looking to avoid the pitfalls of traditional furniture buying.
3D office design planning
“Many companies only realise something doesn’t fit, clashes with existing décor, or impacts workflow after it has been installed,” says Craig. “Mistakes that cost time, money and staff frustration. “CAD planning removes that guesswork by creating accurate digital models that allow teams to view, rotate and refine designs in a virtual version of their own workspace.
“The CAD planning process helped us explore a few different routes together before settling on the final design. Local partnerships like this really show what can be achieved when businesses support one another – something the Shropshire Chamber has always championed.”
Recognising the importance of investing in reception areas
The collaboration also highlights a broader trend we’re seeing: more organisations are recognising the importance of investing in their reception and public-facing spaces. As the first point of contact, reception areas shape perceptions before a word is spoken – and for many businesses, outdated or improvised setups don’t match their brand or ambitions.
Improving the visitor experience
The new desk, now installed at Aico’s Shropshire headquarters, underscores how modern design planning tools and local collaboration can use technology and local knowledge to elevate visitor experience while reducing the risks and costs of office refits.
It also reinforces the role of regional business networks like the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce in enabling partnerships that keep investment within Shropshire – something we at Chrisbeon are always proud to support.
Your office space
Looking to upgrade your office? Check out our range of office furniture and supplies to create a space where your employees love to work or visit our Telford showroom on Stafford Park 4 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
