A Look Back at Our 2025 Design Days Pop-Up Showroom

Fríant and CMAS: Opening Up More Contracting Opportunities

At Fríant, we have an extensive portfolio of state and government contracts to help bring our solutions to as many people and projects as possible. One of those contracts is the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS). What is CMAS and why is it important? Let’s talk about it. 

First Things First — What is CMAS? 

Generally speaking, CMAS enables businesses to sell to state and local entities in the state of California. Per the California Department of General Services (CDGS), CMAS offers a wide range of products and services “at prices which have been assessed to be fair, reasonable, and competitive.” There are three types of products/services contracts — IT, Non-IT, and Non-IT Commodities — and Fríant falls into the second. Businesses must have an active GSA Schedule to apply for a CMAS contract. 

When we submit a CMAS application, we use our GSA Schedule contract as our base contract. Why? Because the pricing outlined in our GSA contract has already been determined to be “fair and reasonable.” 

So Why Does CMAS Matter? 

Being on CMAS opens up more opportunities for our dealers and end-users. Dealers can recommend us to state or local entities looking for workplace solutions — without going through a lengthy bidding process. Agencies can also reach out to us directly, if they prefer. Either way, CMAS helps make it easier and faster for dealers and agencies to find and connect with manufacturers who can work with California state and local agencies. 

In fact, the CDGS makes the search even simpler: they have a directory of CMAS contractors that dealers and agencies can use to search for a CMAS supplier in their own time, at their own pace. 

I Have Questions About CMAS. Who Can Help Me? 

We’re glad you asked! Our very own Shannon Harris, Strategic Initiatives Project Manager, is your go-to person. Shannon is our resident contract pro and point of contact for all things CMAS, GSA, TIPS, and state contracts. She can provide detailed guidance and walk you through the contract to order process to provide a seamless experience. We think Shannon is pretty great. We’re positive you’ll think so, too. If you have any questions for Shannon, you can reach her at contracts@friant.com or 510-488-6072 ext. 219. 

Year in Review: Fríant in 2024

As the year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on our achievements and the great things that happened here at Fríant. Let’s take a quick look at some of our biggest moments of 2024! 

NeoCon 2024 HiP Award 

We were honored to receive our first-ever HiP Award from Interior Design at this year’s NeoCon for our Fala stool! For 11 years, the industry-leading publication, website, and events company has hosted their HiP Awards at NeoCon. These awards shine a spotlight on the products and people pushing boundaries and defining the future of design. On Sunday, June 9, our Fala won for the category of Workspace: Bench/Stool! 

Receiving a HiP Award was a huge honor and a significant milestone for us. Having the Fala recognized by the greater design community is a testament to its quality, and we’re thrilled that Interior Design felt it was the best of the best in its category. 

Following NeoCon, Interior Design featured the Fala in their 2024 Market Gallery, which is a collection of innovative, cutting-edge, and exceptional products at the forefront of design, from across this season’s top trade shows. We also gave away a few Falas in a raffle to a handful of lucky winners at our Iconic Office party in Chicago in June. They were a huge hit — check out some of the happy winners enjoying their Falas! 

The Fala made major waves in 2024. Have you checked it out yet? 

Investing in Leadership and the Future at Fríant 

We are constantly looking ahead to new opportunities for growth and advancement, and this year that meant expanding our team. In the fall, we were thrilled to bring on Eric White, Director of Digital Marketing to help take us to new heights and into the future of Fríant.

Eric brings with him a wealth of experience and leadership, with a career spanning years with the The San Francisco Examiner as a reporter and editor, and then four years at Zazzle as the head of acquisition and retention marketing. With his vision, we’ve already identified exciting new directions we’re heading in and are tackling new projects to bring you even more of the Fríant you know and love — along with some new things on the horizon.

Earlier in the spring, we added Angela Marrujo Fornaca, Content and Social Media Manager to the Marketing team to lead our content marketing and social media strategy and creation. Angela’s career began in PR, and after four years she moved into content marketing, working primarily at tech startups in the fraud prevention and anti-money laundering space.

Fall 2024 Product Launch 

From ReddiSpace to Dash to Novo and more, we launched a number of new products in the fall across many of our product lines. New offerings include: 

• Novo top glass: Create a sense of privacy and division without making your team feel cut off from everyone else. 

• Gallery panel expansion: Mid-run, L-shaped, new sizes and widths — we’ve got a variety of new gallery panels to help you create all sorts of workstation layouts that will work best for your team. 

• New Interra tile options: Laminate tiles for our Interra system are now a standard option in our pricebook and can be ordered in 24”H and markerboard. 

• Dash corner encasements: Everyone loves Dash, and now they love it even more because we’ve expanded the line to include corner encasements to fit snugly around the legs of our My-Hite desks for a clean, streamlined look. 

There’s a lot more Fríant to enjoy this year, so make sure to reach out to us if you haven’t yet explored our new solutions! 

Welcoming IIDA California State University, Sacramento to Fríant 

The future of our industry lies with the young designers, craftsmen, and salespeople who are either already doing amazing work in their respective roles or who are on the threshold of beginning a fruitful career. We believe in doing our part to help guide these young people to success, so we were happy to welcome students from IIDA California State University, Sacramento to our San Leandro HQ in November.

Our very own rep, Melanie Bixler, took the students on a guided tour of our showroom, warehouse, and manufacturing and distribution center to show them firsthand what the furniture manufacturing process looks like from end to end. The students were given the opportunity to ask questions and get insight from Melanie, who has a rich history in sales and marketing leadership in our industry. 

In addition, the students also got a look at our sustainability efforts and how we work to reduce waste in our production processes while ensuring the health and safety of our team. Again, we always have an eye to the future and wanted to give the students the info they need to advocate for greener industry practices. 

While we had an exciting 2024, we can’t end the year without saying thank you to every one of you that helped make it possible. Your continued support and partnership are valued and appreciated, and we’re looking forward to continuing our collaboration into the future. There’s even more coming from Fríant in 2025 that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to stay up-to-date! See you in the new year. 

Student Tour: Welcoming IIDA California State University, Sacramento to Fríant!

Here at Fríant, we recognize that the future of our industry doesn’t lie with us, but with the young designers, craftsmen, and salespeople who will one day take the helm. We’re happy to help guide and inform the next generation looking to enter this space, so we were thrilled to welcome students from IIDA California State University, Sacramento to our San Leandro HQ. 

This talented group was hosted by our rep, Melanie Bixler, who led a guided tour throughout our showroom and production center. The day started with some lunch and introductions, followed by a walk through our airy, sunny showroom. The students were able to touch, feel, and try out our furniture and solutions — including some of our yet-to-be-released pieces. They were also shown our samples bar, where our guests can pull fabric and finish samples to bring their customized furniture to life. This helped the students not just familiarize themselves with Fríant products, but better understand the importance of empowering end-users to customize solutions and preview fabrics and finishes before receiving the final product. 

From the showroom, Melanie took the students into our massive warehouse and production areas, where they got to see our incredibly hard-working production team in action. From cutting and sanding to measuring and painting, they went station to station watching our furniture coming to life under the careful observation of our team. They also got to watch our warehouse crew and the important work they do in organizing and inventorying our product, while getting it packed and shipped out safely.

Melanie was also able to explain our sustainability efforts to the group and show them in-person how we work to reduce waste in our production processes and ensure the health and safety of our teams. As younger generations continue to embrace and push for green manufacturing, it’s important for them to see what those efforts look like in practice, so they can advocate for them as they enter this industry and articulate what they should look like and how they should be implemented. 

As the tour wound down and the group returned to our showroom, the students were offered an opportunity to ask their final questions, and Melanie provided some valuable insight into networking and breaking into the industry. 

It was an honor to host the IIDA Sac State students here at Fríant and give them a look into our processes. It’s one thing to learn by studying and reading, it’s another entirely to get out into the field and actually engage with what you’re being taught. We hope this experience was informative and enlightening for this group, and we wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors. 

What’s New From Fríant! | Fall 2024 Launches

Change is upon us! As we step over the threshold of a new season, we’re also rolling out products and line expansions that we’re thrilled to share with you. We’ve been hard at work taking our solutions to the next level to give you more options for creating privacy, unique layouts, and collaborative spaces in the workplace. Check out what’s new from Fríant! 

Novo Top Glass

You asked, we listened: Our Novo panel system now supports top glass. Create a sense of privacy and division while enabling your team to easily communicate over panel walls and not feel boxed in. It’s the perfect solution for helping workstations maintain openness and airiness.

Gallery Panel Expansion

We’re introducing a variety of new gallery panels into our product line! From mid-run to L-shaped to new sizes and widths, we’re now offering so many more ways for you to customize your workstations. Provide privacy, encourage focus, even create breakout areas between workstation pods to enable collaborative work. You have so many options with our new panels.

Interra Tiles: Laminate and 24″H

Our Interra laminate tiles are now a standard product in our pricebook! And in addition to being available in 24”H, you can also get them in markerboard. Swap them in for a space to jot quick notes and reminders, swap them out for something else if you want to update your look. We’re making it easier for you to get creative in your workspace designs and build stations that are functional, smart, and scalable.

Dash Corner Encasements

If you love our My-Hite adjustable desks but want a clean look to your workstation, look no further than our Dash Corner Encasements. A new addition to our beloved Dash collection, these encasements fit snugly around the legs of our My-Hite desks to create a seamless, sleek silhouette. Turns out you can improve on perfection.

Whether you already love Fríant or want to start introducing our solutions into your workspace, we’d love to hear from you. Connect with us today so we can start bringing your vision to life. 

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Workspace Layout

When considering the best design for a workplace, the placement of the furniture is just as important as the furniture itself. The flow of foot traffic, the efficiency and comfort of workstations, and the overall feel of the environment all work in tandem to create a space that feels right — or wrong. Let’s explore five of the most common mistakes that come up when planning a workspace layout and the best ways to avoid them.

1. A Lack of Storage

Not considering where your team is going to keep their things is a more common oversight than you might think, and especially in open floor plans where benching is the primary mode of seating. However, it can even be an issue when planning cubicles and private areas, when only the bare minimum storage options are included in the design, often due to a lack of space. But if a workstation lacks storage, it can quickly become crowded, messy, and cramped, making it inefficient and unpleasant to work in.

There are so many solutions available to address this issue regardless of how much room a workstation provides, from overhead storage to credenzas, full-length cabinets, mobile pedestals, and more.

Our Dash line demonstrating just why it’s our go-to solution for storage options.

Even small spaces can be optimized for storage.

Consider adding overhead storage with either pneumatic lifts or sliding doors to make it easy for your team to reach what they need while keeping things off of desktops and out of sight. Open shelving is also a great option for easy, instant access to things without dealing with doors. Credenzas, towers, and hutches provide ample room for supplies, documents, laptops, books, and even coats and bags. And in workstations with benching, mobile pedestals are perfect for just the right amount of storage to keep desks clear and open.

2. Creating Break Rooms and Breakout Areas No One Enjoys Being In

Whether it’s time to dig into lunch or a brainstorming session, your team wants a comfortable, welcoming place to sit and chow down or collaborate. But when the chairs are hard, the rooms are sterile, or there isn’t enough seating to accommodate more than a couple people at a time, these spaces feel uninviting and become unused wastes of space that no one wants to utilize.

Introduce some color into these spaces, even if it’s just a pop with soft seating, for a much-needed boost of personality and style. Try cushioned chairs in the break room as an alternative to hard seating to help the space encourage relaxation and respite from the workday. Also make sure tables aren’t cramped — even better if they can seat 2-3 people to make socializing easier. Breakout areas should provide as ample seating as the area can provide without being too crowded to allow teams to gather, chat, and work together effectively without anyone having to roll over a task chair or sit on the floor. Mix things up with an assortment of stools, chairs, and a couch or smaller sofa to provide options. And don’t forget the greenery! It’s not only easy on the eyes, it helps make the space feel less rigid and cold.

3. Overlooking the Reception Area

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression, so don’t treat your reception area (if you have one) as an afterthought. Guests should feel welcome as they walk through the door and waiting areas should be comfortable, inviting areas to receive them. Coffee and end tables are a must for placing reading material. The desk itself is a statement, likely the first thing to draw your visitors’ eyes as they enter, so make sure it’s reflective of your design preferences and something you feel represents your business well. It should provide enough space for your guests to sign in, sign documents, etc. and for your receptionist(s) to work comfortably behind the desk.

4. Not Considering Noise Reduction or the Need for Privacy in Open Offices

Open offices are great in that they bring everyone together and make everyone easily accessible to one another. Open offices can also be challenging places to work in — because they bring everyone together and make everyone easily accessible to one another. Your team will need areas for calls, focus time, and private conversations, so design an environment that can accommodate the open flow of foot traffic while providing places for people to move to when they need some space.

Acoustic booths cut sound and provide privacy, whether for a short call or an extended period of work where alone time is necessary. Creating division with free standing storage options provides double the benefits, while breakout areas allow teams to meet and collaborate without disturbing their colleagues at their desks. Panel systems can create small, cozy spaces for work or lounge, while privacy panels at height-adjustable desks can make them feel more personal and enclosed.

5. Not Planning with Scalability in Mind

If you foresee significant growth in your company’s future, you’ll likely need to do some rearranging of your layout as you add new members to your team. If panels are part of your design, be sure to choose systems that are versatile, customizable, and easy to move around and reconfigure as needed. If you’re working in a small or multipurpose space, consider tables and chairs that are simple to roll around and set up when in use and stack and store when they’re not. Growing your team should be something to look forward to and simple to accommodate, and that starts with furniture and a layout that make it simple to change things up.

Our Interra system makes in incredibly easy to change up your workstations as your team’s needs change.

The Lune Training Table and Soleil Nesting Chair are perfect for small and/or multipurpose workspaces.

There are a lot of moving parts and both present and future concerns to consider when designing the layout of your workspace. But ensuring from the start that the small details don’t fall through the cracks will help you create a comfortable, welcoming, efficient workplace that you and your team will enjoy being in every day. Ready to start bringing your own vision to life? Let’s connect today.

Five Tips for Building an Ergonomic Workstation

For those of us that spend the majority of our days working from a desk, repetitive motion, poor posture, and inadequate physical support can take a toll on our bodies that can cause lasting damage. We hear and read about the importance of creating ergonomic workplaces all the time. But how do you do it? From chairs that support your back and spine to desks that enable you to get in some movement throughout the day, there are a number of solutions you can introduce into your workstation to create a space that supports your physical health.

Chairs That Got Your Back

Your parents were telling you to sit up for a reason: poor form can create or exacerbate back pain. And while advice varies when it comes to the best position to sit in (some say 90 degrees, others say slightly tilted back like in the driver’s seat of a car), the most important takeaway is that your task chair should be adjustable, provide full back and arm support, and most importantly, be comfortable.

Solution: The Ignite, Yele, or Tango Task Chairs

All of our task chairs here at Fríant provide the ergonomics needed to alleviate the longterm damage of sitting all day, but the Ignite, Yele, and Tango are especially great options. With the Ignite, you get lumbar support and the ability to adjust tension with the back tilt lock and tension adjuster. Plus, height adjustment is easy with its pneumatic lift. The Yele’s 3D adjustable arm rests enable you to set them to the perfect height, width, and position to ensure your arms aren’t creating tension in your shoulders while at rest. It also has great lumbar support and a synchronous tilt feature to find the right angle for your back while working. Finally, the Tango’s Flex-Adjust Frame provides a full range of motion, while key ergonomic points in the back of the chair provide sacrum support and maintain the natural curve of your spine.

Footrests That Give You a Leg Up

Kicking up your feet doesn’t just feel good, it does your body good by encouraging blood flow and reducing swelling. This is especially crucial for people with certain health conditions, those who are recovering from an injury, or pregnant women.

Solution: The Pog II and Fala Stools

Our stools are perfect for storing under your desk (without taking up too much valuable real estate under there) and easy to move around when you need them. Go with the Pog II if you want something that can double as a small tabletop next to your desk, and choose the Fala if you not only want a little whimsy, but want a unique seating experience that will get you out of your task chair for a little while.

Desks: They’re Not Just for Sitting Anymore

On the subject of getting you out of your chair, height-adjustable desks are one of the key solutions for introducing movement into your workday and preventing you from remaining static for too long. Go from sitting to standing in a brief moment and as often as you want (or need).

Solution: My-Hite Height-Adjustable Desk

Our My-Hite collection of height-adjustable desks was designed specifically to promote healthier workplaces to get people moving. Our My-Hite 3 Stage, for example, enables you to save three preset heights so your desktop is always in the position you need it to be with the push of a button. And since standing for long periods of time can be just as damaging to the body as sitting for too long, this feature makes it easy to go from one to the other and back again.

Let There Be Light

Feeling a little fatigued or bleary-eyed while you’re working? That could be because low light levels can cause eye strain that can lead to dryness, blurry vision, and headaches when you’re trying to focus. If it’s dim in your workstation, it’s time to start viewing it in a new light.

Solution: LED Tasklight

If you have overhead storage or some sort of overhang above your desktop, our LED Tasklights may be the solution you’re looking for to shed a little light on your space. Designed to attach to the underside of overhead storage, hutches, and more, these LED lights have optional motion sensors, can pivot, and are one less thing cluttering up your desk. (Talk about being easy on the eyes.)

Monitors Don’t Have to Be a Pain in the Neck

For those of you who work with more than one monitor, it can be uncomfortable sitting with your neck turned at an unnatural angle because your monitors are too far apart or static and unable to adjust to the height you need. Flexibility is key for your workstation to be comfortable and supportive.

Solution: Single Monitor Arm and Dual Monitor Arm

Our positionable monitor arms are critical for reducing neck stiffness and strain and ensuring your work is at eye level. They pair especially well with height-adjustable desks, so no matter whether you’re sitting or standing, your monitors can follow along.

You’ve only got one body — so treat it well throughout the workday with solutions that will reduce the pain and discomfort that often accompany desk jobs and keep you healthier in the long run.