Leominster, Mass. | Non-Stop growth was the overarching message from AIS as the company welcomed visitors to its new showroom on the third floor of THE MART for NeoCon 2024. After more than a decade on the tenth floor, the new space signals an ongoing commitment to the location, but more importantly, its non-stop commitment to its dealers.
The redesigned showroom features nine distinct areas starting with the welcome area’s ‘front porch,’ showcasing the company’s new Outdoor Collection coming later this year and culminating with casegoods concept products inspired by midcentury modern design. Sprinkled throughout the showroom were standard products shown in new ways with updates and refreshed materials. Mixed in were new pieces from the forthcoming Outdoor Collection and preview products for which the company is finalizing details.
“Dealers, designers, and guests were excited to see the space, try out the products, and experience the new fabrics and finishes that created a warm, welcoming palette with a distinctly upscale feel,” stated Brianne Devine, vice president of product management, design, and strategic partnerships. “My team was thrilled by the positive responses we heard. Their feedback validates the work we have put into research, design, and the curation of our product offering to ensure we provide market-relevant and current solutions for today’s workplace.”
The offerings are fueled by what the company refers to as ‘non-stop ideas,’ that are designed to respond to today’s needs while supporting future requirements with versatile and reconfigurable products that can stand the test of time. Defined areas with architectural elements, textures, and a variety of colors were designed to feature products that offer a wide range of uses including private offices, formal meetings, informal and remote collaboration, social interactions, private conversations, and spaces for quick touchdowns and focused work. AIS teams worked with Fitzgerald Architecture | Planning | Design and contractor JC Anderson to design an inspiring, experiential space that highlights meaningful product applications in a working showroom.
According to AIS President and CEO Nick Haritos, “We are proud of our showroom and product lines which are ripe with ideas that offer a full spectrum of solutions for all kinds of spaces and needs. We know our growing portfolio of solutions translates to greater efficiencies for our dealers and that’s important.”
“When we offer a new line, we make sure that it will integrate with what users already have – both from an aesthetic viewpoint and from a functional perspective,” he added. “As we work to launch our Outdoor Collection later this year, we took into consideration its compatibility with our current offerings, users’ changing ideas of what a workplace looks like, and of course functionality. With our thoughtfully expanding lines, AIS dealers can find practically everything their customers need right here, stated Haritos.”
The Outdoor Collection, which consists of three product lines and marks the company’s first foray into outdoor furniture, is expected to be available to order in the fourth quarter of this year.
AIS SOUGHT FEEDBACK ON CONCEPT PRODUCTS
In an exploration of new ideas for the commercial office furniture marketplace, visitors to the AIS showroom got an early look at, and offered feedback on, product concepts in development. CaseWorks from AIS offers modular cabinetry, similar to millwork but without the expense and extended lead time, that can be paired with Corian, plumbing elements, and more. AIS CaseWorks is designed to be flexible, adaptable, and easy to install and will be available for cafés, kitchens, mailrooms, storage areas, and educational spaces. This laminate-based, modular casegoods line will be orderable in 2025.
“We continue to innovate with laminate, exploring new ways to leverage our vast manufacturing expertise and capabilities to provide dealers with options their customers are looking for. Feedback at the show for CaseWorks was extremely positive as many projects have a need for this and we can do it well,” stated Bill Stewich, executive vice president of design and innovation.
To cap off opening day of NeoCon in the new showroom, AIS held a party to celebrate its dealers. Passed appetizers, cocktails, music, and lively conversation were on tap as was re-connecting with old friends.
With beautiful and accessible lounge furniture, new and standard products shown in new inspiring ways, and many opportunities to blend and integrate solutions in open plan applications, AIS continues to grow and evolve. The company is branching out in new directions every day in their non-stop desire to meet market needs and serve their dealers.