Theo’s Thoughts: Pragmatic Reliability
Industry insights from our CEO
When people ask what our clients value most about TFX, my answer is simple: pragmatic reliability.
You see it in very real ways:
We do what we say we’re going to do, on time and on budget
We take sustainability seriously, working to divert as much as possible from landfills during decommissioning
We focus on circular solutions, extending the life of furniture through resale and remanufacturing instead of letting it go to waste
For more than 25 years, our business has been built on a straightforward promise: no matter the challenge, you can count on TFX to focus on the details, meet deadlines, and find solutions that save time and money.
That level of accountability has always mattered, but lately, it matters more than ever. What is evident in 2026, is that facilities and real estate teams are operating with little to no room for error.
Seeking Certainty in Uncertain Times
Uncertainty has become part of the reality of managing office space today. A Bisnow article from late last year put it plainly for tenants and facilities teams.
As demand for office space starts to return, availability in desirable Class A buildings is tightening, pushing rents higher. Even reducing your footprint may no longer be enough to control overall costs.
At the same time, build-out expenses keep rising. Labor shortages and tariffs on materials like lumber, steel, aluminum, glass, and furnishings are driving prices up. JLL reported in 2025 that furniture, fixtures, and equipment can account for up to 16% of a total build-out budget.
Tenant improvement allowances are still part of the equation, but many landlords are hitting their limits, and in exchange, they’re often asking for longer lease terms.
Technology adds another layer of complexity. As AI adoption reshapes headcount, many organizations are asking tough questions: How much space do we actually need? And how should that space be designed and furnished to support employees we retain without overspending?
In its report on fit-out costs, JLL encourages teams to stay flexible, closely monitor changes, and engage with project partners early and often. Put simply, uncertainty requires smarter planning and stronger partnerships.
What Does it Mean to You?
At TFX, we look at certainty in an uncertain world through three very pragmatic lenses.
Preparation: Dwight D. Eisenhower said it best: “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” The reality is that in any decommissioning project, something unexpected will happen.
That’s why experience matters. A nimble partner who has seen it all and knows how to adjust quickly can be the difference between a minor hiccup and a costly disruption.
Support: You shouldn’t have to navigate these challenges on your own. Your office furniture management partner should be creative, flexible, and ready to solve problems that don’t have obvious answers.
Here’s a real example: a client recently came to us ready to walk away from an office refresh because the budget just wasn’t there. Instead of pushing a full renovation, we proposed a smarter option, just replacing worn seating with newly remanufactured Aeron chairs from our resale inventory. The result? Employees were thrilled, and the client stayed on budget. That’s the kind of practical support we aim to provide every day.
Assurance: Is it unreasonable to want certainty in an uncertain world? If it is, we’re comfortable being unreasonable.
We’ve been delivering projects on time and on budget since the day we opened our doors. Our remanufactured furniture comes with extended warranties, so you can feel confident in both the value of your investment and the longevity of what you’re purchasing.
We can’t eliminate uncertainty, but our commitment to our clients hasn’t changed. As your partner in circular, sustainable office furniture solutions, pragmatic reliability is what we promise and what we deliver.
If you’d like to talk about how we can help you feel more prepared, supported, and confident, reach out anytime at inquiry@tfxfurniture.com.
Theo Silverberg
CEO, The Furniture X-Change