In the wake of CVS announcing that it will phase out sales of tobacco products at its stores, one of the country’s largest office furniture retailers, Cubes ‘R Us, has announced its own plans to stop selling office chairs.
Several weeks ago, CVS announced it would ban sales of tobacco products in its stores. CVS cited concerns about promoting unhealthy habits among customers and the contradiction of selling tobacco products at the same time as it sells smoking-cessation products. Similarly, Cubes ‘R Us says it can no longer, in good conscious, sell a product that is so unhealthy.
“Too many people are using office chairs excessively,” said Phil Stander, President of Cubes ‘R Us. “There is so much research now on the negative effects of sitting all day. Office chairs are the gateway to sitting all day. We do not want to be responsible for selling people into an early grave.”
As Stander noted, evidence has been mounting for years that prolonged sitting can increase the risks of developing chronic diseases and shorten life spans. For many people, office chairs are where they spend most of their sitting hours.
Stander explained that effective now, Cubes ‘R Us would remove all chairs from its inventory. Surely the company will endure a revenue hit from its decision. But Stander said that the bottom line was not the company’s focus right now. “We want to send a strong message that sitting all day in an office chair no longer is acceptable.”
A public relations expert, Sally Markethis, explained that any losses in revenue sustained by Cubes ‘R Us likely would be offset by the goodwill it will generate. “Public awareness about the dangers of sitting is at an all time high.” said Markethis. “People are starting to demand standing and adjustable desks in their offices. They know how much better it makes them feel.”
Cubes ‘R Us has become to first company to ban chair sales, but it may not be the last. “I’ve spoken with other executives at furniture companies and many are feeling the pressure to end the sales of office chairs” reports Stander. For now, Cubes ‘R Us is happy to stand alongside CVS as a leader in consumer health.
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