This article was published in the Red Deer Advocate on May 9th, 2006.

OFFICE MAKEOVERS CAN BE SIMPLE AND CHEAP, WITH GREAT RETURNS
By HARLEY RICHARDS/Advocate business editor

     You may not need a sledgehammer or deep pockets to improve the look of your business premises. Sometimes simple, inexpensive changes can do the trick. Susan Vollman operates Enchantment Developments, a Red Deer company that does  commercial staging.’ Altering design elements like furniture placement, colours, lighting and artwork can improve the image a business projects, she said.

     “The days of going to the office and having it cold and sterile are over,” she said, adding it’s important to seek continuity from the reception area through to the boardroom and working areas. “Your office should flow from the time you walk in the front door all the way through.” The reception area is key, since most visitors form an impression within minutes of arriving. It should be kept tidy, and Vollman likes the idea of establishing a ‘brag wall’ where community contributions and achievements can be tastefully displayed. This can impress potential clients