The Costs of Poor Office Furniture: How Investing in Quality Refurbished Options Is the Smarter Choice For SMEs

Ida Gorecka • March 17, 2025

If you're running an SME, every spend counts. Whether you're launching a startup, expanding your team, or updating your workspace, office furniture plays a key role in daily operations. But here's what you should know - not all office furniture is created equal.


Cutting corners on furniture might seem like a smart way to save money upfront, but poor-quality pieces can cost you far more in the long run. In fact, substandard office environments cost the UK economy approximately £4 billion annually in lost output. Investing in high-quality refurbished office furniture is a smarter, cost-effective solution. It's better for your budget, enhances productivity, supports employee well-being, and aligns with sustainability goals.


Let's break down how cheap new furniture silently drains your budget, while quality refurbished pieces deliver returns year after year.

The Hidden Costs of Cheap Office Furniture

1. You’ll Spend More on Replacements


The ‘fast furniture’ trend promotes cheap, disposable products, creating endless buying cycles. Many low-cost office items use cheaper materials like particleboard and low-grade plastics from unsustainable sources. These aren't built to last, resulting in wobbly desks, cracked chairs, and peeling surfaces within just a few years-sometimes even sooner.



What seems like a bargain initially-like a £80 office chair-often leads to frequent replacements, ultimately costing more than investing in quality refurbished or modular alternatives. Higher-quality, sustainable office furniture features replaceable components and recyclable materials, reducing both long-term costs and environmental harm.

2. Productivity and Employee Health Take a Hit


Your team spends 35+ hours per week at their desks. If their chairs are uncomfortable or their desks are too small, it directly impacts productivity and well-being. Uncomfortable chairs, desks at the wrong height, and poorly designed workspaces cause real physical strain. 


According to Forbes, workers using poorly designed chairs experience a 17% drop in efficiency due to discomfort and back pain.

Investing in ergonomic, premium refurbished office furniture can improve employee well-being, reduce sick days, and boost efficiency.


Stop settling for less-reach out to our team at Coggin SOS for affordable, premium refurbished furniture that keeps your team at their best.

3. Your Brand Image Suffers


Imagine bringing a new client into your office. If they see wobbly desks, peeling veneers, and mismatched chairs, what message does that send? 


Your office space reflects your business. Clients, partners, and even potential hires take notice of worn-out, mismatched, or cheap-looking furniture. If your workspace looks neglected, it can send the wrong message about your professionalism and attention to detail.


Refurbished office furniture allows you to create a stylish, professional space without breaking the bank.


Find out why now is the perfect time to upgrade your office furniture and how your business can benefit from premium refurbished office chairs and desks.

Why Refurbished Office Furniture is the Smarter Choice for SMEs

1. Save 50-80% Without Compromising Quality


Refurbished office furniture allows you to access top-tier brands at a fraction of the price. Instead of overspending on lower-quality, mass-produced furniture that wears out quickly, you can invest in durable, expertly restored pieces that look and function like new-without the hefty price tag.


At Coggin SOS, we specialise in sourcing and refurbishing premium office furniture from leading manufacturers, ensuring you get long-lasting, high-quality desks, chairs, and storage solutions. Get in touch with our team to explore your options.


2. Customisation to Fit Your Brand


Unlike generic budget furniture, refurbished pieces can be tailored to match your company’s aesthetics and needs.

At Coggin SOS, we offer:


  • Desk resizing - Need a perfect fit? We resize desks to your exact measurements, maximising your space.
  • Fabric & finish choices - Match your brand with a wide range of colours, materials, and styles.
  • Reupholstery & refinishing - Refresh chairs, partitions, and storage to look as good as new.


Still not sure if refurbished office furniture is right for you? Read this article to find out more.

3. Scalability Without the Stress


If you’re growing, refurbished office furniture offers flexibility. At Coggin SOS, we make growing your workspace simple and stress-free:



  • Bulk availability - We stock large quantities of high-quality refurbished furniture, ensuring consistency across your office.
  • Modular & reconfigurable solutions - We provide adaptable workstations and storage that evolve with your business, reducing future costs.
  • 10-Day turnaround - No long lead times. Our refurbished pieces are ready to go, helping you scale quickly to meet demand.

4. Sustainability Matters (And Your Customers Care)


ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors are now essential business considerations. Today's consumers, investors, and employees expect companies to demonstrate genuine commitment to sustainable practices.


Your office furniture choices directly impact your environmental footprint and reflect your company's values. By choosing refurbished furniture, you demonstrate a visible commitment to reducing waste and conserving resources-something that resonates with clients, partners, and team members.


At Coggin SOS, we don't just touch on sustainability, we help you quantify it. Every sustainable choice with us is captured in an exclusive savings certificate, showing:


  • Items kept from landfill
  • Carbon savings
  • Material recycling rates
  • Money saved versus buying new


You can use this certificate to show customers, staff and stakeholders your commitment to sustainability, strengthen tender applications, and prove your green credentials.

Make the Best Choice for Your Business and Start Saving Today

Can you afford to keep losing money on disposable furniture? Investing in quality refurbished pieces elevates your workspace, performance, and ESG credentials all at once. 


At Coggin SOS, we're committed to helping SMEs like yours create productive, professional workspaces without the premium price tag. Our refurbished office furniture delivers the quality, durability, and style your business deserves-all while supporting your sustainability goals and protecting your budget.


Want to stop paying the hidden tax of poor furniture choices? Get in touch.

Reworking Workspaces: How Refurbished and Resized Office Desks Save Money and the Planet

By Ida Gorecka • June 2, 2025
Our approach to workspace design is evolving as organisations recognise the enormous waste and environmental impact of the traditional "buy new, dispose later" furniture cycle. Every year, organisations across the UK retire thousands of perfectly usable office desks-not because they’re damaged, but due to layout changes, branding updates, or relocations. These desks often end up in landfills , despite being made from valuable materials that require large amounts of energy and resources to produce. This disposable mentality is costing your business money AND damaging the planet by wasting valuable resources. But what if there was a solution that saved you money while reducing your carbon footprint ? By choosing refurbished and resized office desks, you can make smarter, more sustainable choices that help reduce waste , cut costs , and create premium-quality offices - all without the lengthy lead times that accompany new furniture purchases. If you've never considered refurbished desks before, you're in the right place to learn why they should be your obvious choice for your next project. But even if you have, keep reading for valuable insights into how refurbished and resized desks can improve sustainability initiatives, maximise cost savings, and support long-term business goals. Curious to see what’s available? Browse our current inventory of high-quality refurbished desks-updated daily and ready for fast delivery.

Finding the Balance: Quality Seating Without the Environmental Cost

By Ida Gorecka • May 25, 2025
Did you know that the average office worker spends around 1,700 hours a year sitting in their chair? That's a staggering 70% of your working life spent in a single piece of furniture. Yet many organisations overlook the importance of quality seating, either settling for cheap chairs that quickly deteriorate or spending a fortune on brand new premium options. Refurbished office chairs offer the perfect balance of comfort , quality , and sustainability that today's offices need. At Coggin SOS, we've helped hundreds of organisations discover that you don't need to compromise on quality to make environmentally conscious choices. In fact, opting for refurbished office chairs can provide high-quality seating at up to 80% less than the cost of buying new. In this article, we’ll explore why refurbished office chairs aren’t just a good option-they're often the smarter one. From environmental impact that can tick off your ESG targets to ergonomic design and cost savings, this is your guide to finding the perfect seat. Our warehouse is stocked with top-brand refurbished chairs - ready to deliver in days, not weeks. Get in touch to check availability.

Closing the Loop: How Office Furniture Can Drive the Circular Economy Forward

By Ida Gorecka • May 19, 2025
Ever thought about how your office furniture connects to sustainability ? Probably not. But perhaps you should. The circular economy isn't some distant concept only relevant to manufacturing giants or packaging companies. It's a practical model that directly impacts how you furnish, update, and clear your office. At its heart, the circular economy challenges you to keep materials in use. It's your chance to reject the standard "buy, use, discard" approach that has dominated the industry for decades. It's your opportunity to turn office furniture from a recurring cost into a lasting asset. At Coggin SOS, we partner with organisations like yours across the UK, helping you transition to a circular furnishing model: refurbishing , reusing , and responsibly recycling your office furniture. Our mission is straightforward: help you make your furniture last longer, cost less, and waste nothing. Explore our wide range of refurbished office furniture in our inventory . You'll find quality, sustainability, and value, all waiting for you in one place.