School Furniture Blog

School furniture shopping has never been easier now that Worthington Direct has released the latest version of their website that includes an instant freight calculator, live chat and a PDF version of their catalog.

Worthington Direct (www.worthingtondirect.com), a supplier of school, church and early childhood furniture and equipment for over 11 years has launched a new version of their website that will make online institutional furniture shopping a snap. School purchasers, church committee members and daycare owners will save time, and as always save money, when they purchase their facility furniture online with Worthington Direct.

One major upgrade is real-time freight calculator that offers instant shipping rates for almost every item on the specialty furniture website. Worthington Direct’s technology director, Brian Heiland, says, "Today’s online shoppers are becoming more savvy and are expecting interactive websites with advanced features, like instant freight calculations. School procurement offices can now simply click to view their shipping rates and use that information to complete their requisitions in seconds flat."

Freight can be calculated on each item detail page for individual shipping rates, or multiple items can be added to a shopping cart and then rated for a combined shipping amount. Unlike some of the other school furniture sites, Worthington Direct does not hide any shipping fees inside their product costs. Some companies base their shipping costs on a percentage of the purchase total, but that is not an accurate amount for an item that is small with a high price tag, such as technology products.  This results in having some of the lowest costs in the industry and avoids the customer from paying an inflated shipping amount. Gas prices are steadily rising so every effort is being made to keep shipping rates accurate and to a minimum.

Another great feature found the Worthington Direct website is the ability to participate in live chat sessions with trained school and church furniture experts.  Although anyone that calls during business hours will never encounter an automated recording, some people just like the option to type over dialing. Live chat is a great way to get fast responses for questions that arise while shopping for school furniture. A full version of their printed catalog can also be viewed in PDF form on the web now.  Customers can view and print single pages or a range of pages that can be used in last minute committee meetings or to attach to their purchase requisition.

Some other upgrades to the institutional furniture website are larger images and a faster checkout process. Worthington Direct continues to focus on website improvements and to maintain their quality customer service from its origins as a direct mail catalog company. With all of the new and advanced features found on their online store, customers are still always to welcome to pick up their traditional catalog and call for fast friendly service. 

About Worthington Direct: Worthington Direct has been in operation for 11 years with an employee average of 13 years experience in the school supply, church and equipment industry, and knows what is important – selection, service, price and timing.

Our goal is to make your purchasing job easier. With competitive pricing, knowledgeable sales associates, and "In Stock" products for quick, efficient shipping, Worthington Direct is committed to be your furniture resource. Schools and churches look to Worthington Direct for competitive pricing for school furniture, church furniture, preschool furniture, early childhood furniture, student desks, classroom chairs, folding chairs, folding tables, seminar tables, AV carts, projector carts, science tables, stools, padded stack chairs, library furniture, desks, wholesale furniture, computer furniture, classroom furniture, dry erase boards, markerboards, chalkboards, office furniture, room dividers, partitions, cubbie units, storage cabinets, file cabinets, bookcases, lockers, classroom carpets, booktrucks, easels, display cases, cafeteria tables, activity tables, classroom desks, computer tables, desk chairs, lecterns, literature racks, office desks and risers among its large stock. Worthington Direct Launches New Website Packed with Advanced Features

Worthington Direct (www.worthingtondirect.com), a supplier of school, church and early childhood furniture and equipment for over 10 years has expanded their product line to include all of the quality booktrucks manufactured by Smith System. There are many styles available and every school department can find a use for these bookt rucks that go beyond just carting books.

School’s today are increasingly adding roving teachers that share classrooms and have to carry their supplies all over campus. With the aid of a Smith System booktruck, they can tote their lesson plans, reference books and teaching peripherals across campus in style. Available in 13 fresh colors, they can sport their school colors or choose different colors to easily identify a certain department’s cart. 

National Library Week is April 13th -April 19th, so go visit your local library and see some of these library booktrucks in their natural environment. Their sloped shelves are great for keeping books, DVD’s or other media in their place while in transit. Booktrucks are also available with flat shelves that allow easy reshelving of large picture books or maps. Smith System uses soft-tread, dual wheel casters that won’t shimmy like single wheels so the library will remain a quiet place for reading.

Worthington Direct is offering discount flat shipping rates for all of their Smith System booktrucks. Whether you need a new booktruck for the library with sloped or flat shelves, an Everything cart for the teacher who shares a classroom or the Gorilla Cart that hauls it all, buy from Worthington Direct and save! Order 1 or 2 book trucks and the shipping is $85, order 3 or 4 and the shipping cost is only $99! With gas prices on the rise, these flat-shipping rates can really add up the savings. 

Booktrucks by Smith System are all Greenguard Certified, which means that you can breathe a bit easier knowing that your students have proper indoor air quality. These helpful carts are all welded, fully assembled and are sure to be a teacher’s best friend for years to come.

Other great library furniture carried by Worthington Direct includes library tables, library chairs, library bookcases and library study carrels. Perhaps instead of outfitting an entire library, you want to create a reading area inside a classroom, well Worthington Direct can help there too. Browse their website at www.worthingtondirect.com for early childhood furniture that includes big book display cases, media book towers and the always-fun reading train station. 

About Worthington Direct: Worthington Direct has been in operation for 11 years with an employee average of 13 years experience in the school supply, church and equipment industry, and knows what is important – selection, service, price and timing. www.worthingtondirect.com Our goal is to make your purchasing job easier.

With competitive pricing, knowledgeable sales associates, and "In Stock" products for quick, efficient shipping, Worthington Direct is committed to be your furniture resource. Schools and churches look to Worthington Direct for competitive pricing for school furniture, church furniture, preschool furniture, early childhood furniture, student desks, classroom chairs, folding chairs, folding tables, seminar tables, AV carts, projector carts, science tables, stools, padded stack chairs, library furniture, desks, wholesale furniture, computer furniture, classroom furniture, dry erase boards, markerboards, chalkboards, office furniture, room dividers, partitions, cubbie units, storage cabinets, file cabinets, bookcases, lockers, classroom carpets, booktrucks, easels, display cases, cafeteria tables, activity tables, classroom desks, computer tables, desk chairs, lecterns, literature racks, office desks and risers among its large stock. Continue Reading

(PRWEB) February 28, 2008 — Worthington Direct (http://worthingtondirect.com), a supplier of school, church and early childhood furniture and equipment for over 10 years has new expert advice on making the right table purchase. If a worship facility or a school is looking for folding tables, classroom tables, banquet tables or a harder-to-find round folding tables, they may have questions about the many products available on the market. With 30 years in the school furniture industry, Worthington Direct President, Kevin Worthington, has addressed several common questions that arise when purchasing a table.

What do some of the construction terms mean?
Tables are available with a variety of tabletop and core material options. High-Pressure Laminate (HPL), blow molded plastic, ABS plastic, particleboard and plywood are the primary materials for the majority of activity and folding tables.

High Pressure Laminate: HPL tops are created by a two step method of bonding the finish and back layers to the core materials using glue under extreme heat and pressure. This process forms a table surface that is extremely durable and will not bubble up when exposed to water. Tables with HPL tops offer a variety of color choices and have a completely smooth finish. This is an added plus for classrooms, which would include writing and art projects. http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/tables/big_projects_planner_art_tables_by_smith_system.htm

Particleboard-Core: Particleboard is composed of wood chips glued together under pressure to create a high density board. Particleboard tables can range from ¾" to 1 ¼" in thickness and generally have a high pressure laminate surface. Due to their higher density, they weigh more that plywood-core or plastic tables and are best used in spaces that require little movement. Particleboard’s weight anchors them more securely in place and is a reliable standard for classroom activity tables.

Plywood-Core: These reliable tabletops have a plywood core at the center and can have a HPL or a natural stained surface. They are lighter than particleboard, which makes them much easier to set up and break down. The lighter the weight of the table, the less likely damage can occur from slight impacts or bumps that happen when moving the tables or during the initial delivery. Plywood-core folding tables are perfect for banquet rooms or fellowship halls that require frequent movement and offsite storage. http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/tables/rectangular_plywood_core_folding_table_by_midwest.htm

Blow Molded: The newest design to enter the production line is the blow molded plastic resin tabletops, which are extremely lightweight and can be easily set up and stored. Their plastic surface can take food spills and other messes and can be easily cleaned. Blow molded tables do have a slightly textured surface and this should be taken in account when placing these tables in areas that will be used for note taking or other writing exercises. http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/tables/plastic_resin_banquet_tables.htm

ABS Plastic: ABS is a thermoplastic that is lightweight and durable enough to be used to make football helmets. ABS plastic tables can either have a plywood-core or a honeycomb core made up of steel, plywood or more ABS plastic. These tables generally weigh a little more than blow molded plastic resin tables, but offer more stability and strength.

What are the various table heights?
Tables are offered in a fixed or adjustable height option. If a table has a fixed height, it is most likely to be 29 inches to 30 inches high for a standard adult height. Adjustable height tables usually move in one-inch increments for added flexibility when working with children or youth. Some adjustable tables offer a shorter height range just for smaller children. http://worthingtondirect.com/school_furniture/early_childhood_furniture/creative_colors_mix_and_match_tables_by_mahar.htm

What about the table legs?
When choosing a table, consider the standard four-leg classroom table, the T-Leg pedestal table, and the folding table. Each of these leg styles have unique footprints that take up space differently underneath the table. For instance, the T-leg pedestal tables have free space at the corners for leg comfort, but may prohibit someone from being able sit along the smaller ends of the table. The legs and frames of a table are often made of steel. Remember, the lower the gauge of steel, the stronger the table.

How do you determine the seating capacity of a table?
Choosing tables can be tricky. Since size is the most important factor, remember that the smaller the chair, the greater the seating capacity around a table. However, knowing how the table will be used can also determine the amount of room that each person around the table will need. http://www.worthingtondirect.com/school-furniture-fast-facts-for-table-buying-guide.htm

Seating capacity depends on the size of the person and the size of the chair. Full-size student stack chairs are usually 18 inches to 21 inches wide. If you are using a standard folding chair for seating, then plan for 18 inches of width per seat. Allowing for a liberal 26 inches per person gets the "comfortable" designation, while allowing a tight 20 inches per person gets you the "maximum" designation.

About Worthington Direct: Worthington Direct has been in operation for 11 years with an employee average of 13 years experience in the school supply, church and equipment industry, and knows what is important – selection, service, price and timing.

Our goal is to make your purchasing job easier. With competitive pricing, knowledgeable sales associates, and "In Stock" products for quick, efficient shipping, Worthington Direct is committed to be your furniture resource. Schools and churches look to Worthington Direct for competitive pricing for school furniture, church furniture, preschool furniture, early childhood furniture, student desks, classroom chairs, folding chairs, folding tables, seminar tables, AV carts, projector carts, science tables, stools, padded stack chairs, library furniture, desks, wholesale furniture, computer furniture, classroom furniture, dry erase boards, markerboards, chalkboards, office furniture, room dividers, partitions, cubbie units, storage cabinets, file cabinets, bookcases, lockers, classroom carpets, booktrucks, easels, display cases, cafeteria tables, activity tables, classroom desks, computer tables, desk chairs, lecterns, literature racks, office desks and risers among its large stock.

Children have been seriously injured and killed by unsafe products, dangerous situations, and improper practices in homes and childcare situations. Could your church nursery be at risk of causing harm to a child? The stakes are too high to take anything for granted. Use this up-to-date information to evaluate your nursery for often-overlooked dangers.

WorthingtonDirect.com features only the highest quality daycare and nursery furniture for preschools, churches and other institutions.

Cribs
Don’t accept secondhand cribs if they don’t meet safety standards. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more infants die each year in crib-related accidents than with any other nursery product. Here’s what to check for in any crib, new or used:

•No missing, loose, or broken screws and brackets.

•No more than two and three-eighths inches between crib slats.

•Firm, snug-fitting mattresses, with hangers secured by closed hooks.

•No corner posts more than one-sixteenth of an inch above the end panels.

•No decorative headboards or footboards with large openings.

•No cracked or peeling paint or splinters.