0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

20 ● 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business
every chair. “Some people think a $200 chair is expensive,” she said. “But
the chair is the most important part of the workstation.”
Boenigk said treating a minor carpal tunnel injury, caused by too much
typing or repetitive wrist movement can cost a company thousands of
dollars in medical treatment and physical therapy. A serious injury can run
into hundreds of thousands of dollars and may result in a lawsuit.
The market for comfortable office chairs is fueling the industry.
There are about 100 ergonomic chair makers, with big companies like
Steelcase selling more than $500 million worth of furniture and equipment
a year.
“We are never going to be as cheap as chairs from China,” said Boenigk.
“If you go to a big box store and buy a $99 chair, six months later you are
going to be throwing it in the trash can. We have 7,000 chairs that have
been at UPS for 16 years. We wish they would replace them.”
Being small and nimble helped Neutral Posture weather a 50 percent
drop in industry sales during the 2008 recession. They cut costs and worked
smarter but, rather than hunker down, hired a consultant to craft a three-year
marketing and growth plan. “We rebranded the company with a new logo,
new web site and new products,” said Boenigk.
It worked. At a major industry trade show, the company’s booth was
mobbed with customers. Neutral Posture, with offices in Bryan, Texas, and
Ontario, Canada, is a small player, but is considered a leader in its field.
How to Be More Ergonomic
• Hire an ergonomics consultant to visit and inspect your office.
• Determine what equipment you need to reduce back and wrist
problems.
• Start by buying the low-budget items: back support pillows, wrist
rests for keyboards, footstools, copyholders, and good lighting.
• Work your way up to buying new workstations and high-quality
chairs.