The PR of Office Space

Is there such a thing as the PR of the office space?

I like to think so.

I've been told by a colleague about a meeting they went to at a client's offices. The client wanted to position themselves as a European company, yet their office reception suggested nothing of the sort. My colleague suggested a few simple changes that would get this message across clearly and effectively - hang clocks on the wall showing the current times in the major European cities and have copies of the main European national newspapers (Le Monde, El Pais, etc.) available for clients to browse while they are waiting.

Simple and easy changes. Clear and effective results.

There is an office that I walk past often on my way to work, and I have to say that due to its surroundings and not in any way its own fault, it suffers from bad PR just by being positioned where it is.

On one side of this office, there is a lovely little passage between two streets that offers a dichotomy of styles as you wander down it - the passage itself is constructed of steel and marble, yet small gaps along the way offer glimpses of the original London Wall. What really spoils the pleasure of walking down this passage way is the army of smokers intent on clogging the passage (and their lungs) with their smoke.

On the other side of the office in question is a Post Office, complete with its almost daily queue of 20+ miserable workers having to queue for at least 20 minutes during their lunch break to get their post sent.

Overall, it paints a pretty grim picture.

And the office in question between a rock and a hard place?

A branch of Northern Rock.

As if they don't have enough trouble already with out having to worry about their office PR.