The Best Banana For the Buck

The best in fresh fruit delivery for D/FW

An office fruit delivery company’s value proposition keeps them lean and hungry.

Richardson-based ORCHARD At The OFFICE started in October 2010 with a single and simple concept: delivering fresh fruit to businesses in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex. It’s proved to be a winning idea and we’ve long been the largest office fruit delivery service in north Texas. Our hundreds of clients have staff sizes ranging from two to two thousand, and we treat each of their regular deliveries with the same care we’d show our best friends.

As the Operations Wiseapple, I’ve gotten to see firsthand what’s worked for us, and thought about what might be useful for other small businesses in any industry. It would be accurate to say the keys to our success have been “perseverance”, “focus”, or “determination”, but these generalities do not inherently guarantee longevity. Many businesses founded on good ideas fail. The entrepreneurs involved had loads of determination and focus, and persevered until the bitter end. What’s been the difference for us, in a practical sense?

While there are many answers, some of which I’m too involved to divine, a primary principle I can share involves responsible use of budgets. In our office, we call it getting “the best banana for the buck”. Quite simply, when dealing with any expense, we ask ourselves “will this improve the quality of our customer’s experience?”

A question like this can cause one to be either miserly or extravagant. It can result in spending an exorbitant amount of time and dime attempting to quantify the effects of spending. (“Did customer’s perceptions of our service increase or decrease when our representatives wore salmon-colored collared shirts as opposed to navy?”) I can’t speak to what’s right for every business, but I can freely share our own experience, based on trial-and-error, that’s helped us walk an acceptable middle path.

Aesthetic Value: A Modest-But-Inviting Workplace

During the boom-and-bust of the “dot.com bubble” in the late 1990s, one trend stood out to me more than any other: given a tremendous amount of speculative seed capital, startup companies would rent lavish office space, often laden with sleek Scandinavian furniture, and spare no expense to make their working environment impressive to customers and inviting to talented employees. Of course, most of these web-based firms hadn’t actually worked out monetization, and the predictable result, as history illustrates, was that most went belly-up, sooner than later.

Our takeaway from this was to make sure we found the line between an overly-Spartan and ostentatious workspace. To give a few practical examples: do we need to spend money hiring professionals to stencil our logo on the walls? Not for us. We’re fairly certain our employees know where they are and who they work for. Do we really need nice furniture or fancy artwork? To these, we answered: yes, to a point. We do want our employees to feel comfortable – simple amenities like a couch to relax or healthy snacks (including the fresh fruit we supply) have been shown in studies to create more productive employees. But we have found no added value in buying expensive new furniture, and at the same time we didn’t want to chuck some smoky craigslist abomination of a sofa into a dimly-lit “break room”. Instead, we simply brought surplus items from home and encouraged staff to do the same. It’s created a cozy, eclectic environment that makes hours seem easier and lets dollars go farther.

Driven by Principle: Spreading the Word

On the one hand, a family business must be realistic about its budget. On the other hand, if it only spends like – or thinks like – a family business, that’s all it will ever be. ORCHARD At The OFFICE wants to make sure people are aware of who we are and what we do, but how do we best accomplish that?

This is where the “quality of experience” yardstick comes into play. It would not, in our estimation, help existing or prospective customers enjoy our fruit more if we invested in wraps for our delivery vehicles. Instead, that money is invested in making sure the vehicles we own work, and reliably. Money spent on maintenance goes much farther than money spent on décor, though of course, the two are not mutually exclusive. Additionally, ORCHARD At The OFFICE made the decision many years ago that it would make more sense to pay for someone else’s well-maintained vehicles than try to own a fleet of our own, and so we rent vans as needed throughout the week. We’ve found it works better than asking drivers to put mileage on their own cars (to which they may not apply the same maintenance standards), while keeping us from having to pay for an abundance of vehicles that don’t need to be in service on a daily basis.

So this frees up some money – but where to use it? Our goal isn’t just to have minimal expense, and we still need to promote it. For us, there’s been a variety of methods, but one that’s been of benefit to us (and would be to many others) has been to look to contribute to civic organizations with goals similar to our own.

A primary example is our partnership with the Dallas Running Club, who host a race nearly every month. We’ve been supplying bananas for the athletes to enjoy at the finish line for quite some time, and the exposure has been invaluable. It’s an obvious example of a win-win, and we’re happy to know that regardless of the outcome, we’ve helped contribute to a healthier Dallas! After all, that is the bedrock upon which ORCHARD At The OFFICE was built.

These specific instances may be unique to us, but they are again meant to be illustrative of how the principle of “best banana for the buck” (or “best product for the dollar”, or “best service per cent”) can be applied to all facets of a business, great or small.

Use the Entire Apple

I cannot verify if any group of people, indigenous or otherwise, made use of every bit of any animal they hunted. I can only say that for our business, the idea of repurposing as much as possible has helped us control costs and aided in budget decisions.

To give one example: the Jazz apples we use arrive in cardboard boxes. Obviously, we sell the apples, but what to do with the boxes? The answer was quite simple: for those who wanted a greater quantity of fruit but didn’t require the aesthetic appeal of our trademark baskets, we offered the Office Select Box. The produce is all still hand-selected to guarantee quality, but we don’t spend the money on presentation in a fancy box emblazoned with our logo. This helps us keep the cost down, and instead put the packaging money into buying the baskets for those who want them.

This idea holds true with all our fruit boxes – we use them, as is, for shipping and distribution wherever possible. We let the quality of the product be our brand, and in that regard, we spare little expense. The aforementioned Jazz apples cost considerably more than the thick-skinned Red Delicious doled out to you in the school cafeteria…and with good reason. They’re objectively better quality, and thus meet our criteria of “best banana for the buck”.


 

Perhaps your organization operates under an entirely different premise. You may read every sentence I’ve written and think “we would do the exact opposite”. If that is your reaction, I will still feel I have done a service as my goal is not to seek agreement, but to get small business managers thinking. Considering the “how” and “why” of success allows us to continue down the right path while perhaps taking corrective steps. I certainly encourage other entrepreneurs (or those who work alongside them, as I do) to put their own thoughts and ideas to paper, ideally after enjoying some fresh fruit from ORCHARD At The OFFICE!

To inquire about fresh fruit delivery for your office, visit http://orchardattheoffice.com, e-mail getfruit@orchardattheoffice.com or call 972.295.9091.

Take Five! Make the Most of Your Break

happier healthier office

We all need a brief respite during a busy workday to recharge, mentally and physically. With that in mind, here are some simple, practical suggestions for making the most of those office breaks:

ENJOY SOME FRESH FRUIT

Taking a few minutes to enjoy a banana or an apple not only satiates any oral fixation and keeps blood sugar and vitamin levels well-regulated, but it actually makes a person feel happier! Of course, it’s not easy to remember to bring fresh fruit with you to the office, so you might want to suggest to your HR department that they look office fruit delivery. It makes sense from a company standpoint, as healthy employees are more productive. And you get to enjoy your favorite fruits in the break room!

delivering wellness to offices

SIMPLE EXERCISE BREAK

A brief, positive expenditure of energy does wonders for the endorphin level. There are dozens of exercise routines that can be performed quickly and without the need for equipment. Here’s just one that can be done in five minutes or less:

TRY THESE TODAY

  • Marching in place. 60 seconds will accelerate the heart rate without causing the average person to break out into an inconvenient sweat
  • Calf-raises. Next, with your back straight, stand on tiptoe for 1-2 seconds, then exercise break calf raiselower your ankles again. 20-30 of these will take about 60 seconds, and it’ll increase your capacity to endure stilettos if that’s your fashion inclination.
  • Wall sits. The Cooper Clinic of Dallas reminds us this is an example of an isometric exercise, meaning we don’t move once we’re in position. You rest your back against the wall and slide slowly down until your knees are at a 90° angle. Hold this position 20 seconds if you’re a beginner, anywhere from 30-60 seconds if you’re more confident in your abilities.
  • Side bend Stretches. Stand tall with feet together and reach arms up overhead. Lower your right arm down the right side of your body and exhale as you reach the left arm over the head, bending body gently to the right. Inhale and repeat on the other side.

     

    WALKING MEDITATION

Meditation is a simple practice that works for all kinds of people. Don’t think of it as an effort to eliminate all conscious thought from your mind, as this is impractical and would make you an ambulatory hazard. It’s more a reminder not to sweat the small stuff; to elevate perspective and reframe your day. Here’s a simple variation of walking meditation that you can step outside and do in just a few minutes:

  • As you begin your walking break, take notice of any sense-object: any sight, sound, smell or feeling that leaps out at you. It could, for instance, be the sound of a car’s engine revving.
  • Walk while taking your mind through the process of how that sense object came to be. Our automobile engine was borne of raw materials, mined from the earth, then shaped into a multitude of individual parts to be assembled into a vehicle, then transported, distributed, and sold, eventually to its current owner.
  • Consider your connection to the sense object. To the earth that provided the raw materials, the process of assembly, distribution, and consumption. The number of people working to a common purpose, each with their own unique vested interest in a positive outcome.
  • Now, as you complete your walk and return to your own job, you can reflect on how what you do fills a role in society as well. How many people are positively impacted to some degree by the work you do daily? With this outlook, you can all take pride in our daily work and imbue the seemingly mundane tasks with some semblance of meaning.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Taken individually, these suggestions won’t revolutionize your life. However, they’re all components of creating a healthy break– enjoying each moment in the knowledge you are living well! If you’ve already got a nutrition plan and a fitness plan, these actions are supplemental. If you’re looking for a way to begin to take steps down the path of wellness, these suggestions provide a convenient way to get started. Live well!

 

Work/Health Balance: Tips for a Fit Office

Create a culture of wellness in the workplace

It is surprising to think now that the concept of work/health balance in the workplace is a 21st-century one. It seems self-evident these days that work environments should be geared toward maintaining the health of its staff. There are still some companies that consider healthy office initiatives as perks to be cut in lean times, instead of means to a more productive end.

work/health balance boosts productivityWhether you’re part of a small business or Fortune 500 company, you can contribute to a culture of wellness in your workplace. It needn’t involve rustling a tribe of yoga-friendly goats or trying to organize team triathlons. Fundamental changes can be made incrementally.

SIMPLE EDUCATION

You don’t have to have the title of Wellness Director in your organization to help share basic fitness tips. Many of our friends-in-wellness, whether they’re part of the International Association of Administrative Professionals or Human Resource professionals, have success with passing along simple e-mails or putting up informational flyers. These can be infographics about nutrition, or shared articles on exercises that can be done in the workplace.

Another effective method is to start a private social media group, where those interested in the concept of work/health balance can share ideas. Whether it’s recipes that can be prepared in a company kitchen, or simple breathing exercises while working at a desk, using the “hive mind” to gather ideas to forward along to colleagues is ultimately rewarding for the company’s bottom line.

The information doesn’t need to be conveyed in an evangelical method – if one is told, in effect, “you’re doing it all wrong” by a work colleague, the message will be lost.  At the end of the day, the enthusiasm you feel from your own success in adopting work/health habits will persuade others to join in.

HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES

Many studies have documented the correlation between healthy eating and happiness. The concept of “healthy alternatives” can extend far beyond nutritious snacks. Ergonomic office furniture, comfortable work environments, and inclusivity are all fundamental shifts in corporate culture. The money spent to paint an office interior so that it becomes an inviting place to work can imbue employees with a sense of physical and emotional well-being.

THE RIGHT METRICS

Many companies have soured on the phrase “wellness initiatives” because they feel they were promised a bill of goods they never received: a staff with fewer sick days and lower insurance costs. The assumption was that if the company paid for gym memberships or flu shots, all would quite literally be well. So it’s important that when we think of a work/health balance, we understand the goals. Increased productivity and improved office culture are goals worth pursuing!

WORK/HEALTH BALANCE 

 

Does Kenneth, in Accounts Payable, get his reports done with greater accuracy now work/health balance boosts productivitythat he has fresh fruit to snack on, a more comfortable work environment, and is taking part in some fitness challenges with his team members? Now that Audrey in Marketing has a “Wellness Room” for twenty minutes of personal time in the afternoon, is she more productive the rest of the day?  

Quite simply, the link is this: a workplace environment conducive to the physical and mental well-being of the staff creates a positive atmosphere. Employees are willing to work longer and with greater efficiency, because they become task-oriented instead of “watching the clock.” The real key is to see the long-term benefits of incremental nudges.

Happiness May Be The Key to Productivity

What makes a company one of the “Best Places To Work”? The metrics used to compile these lists will do their best to quantify a variety of intangibles, but we’ll focus for now on the concept of happiness. A corporate fruit delivery service can lead to a happier, more productive workplace.

HAPPY STAFFERS BOOST THE BOTTOM LINE

Studies have verified and quantified the link between employee happiness and productivity. One such study was conducted by the UK’s Social Market Foundation. In this experiment, tests were devised to increase the happiness of participants, with everything from presentations of comedy clips to providing snacks, including fresh fruit. Productivity increased an average of 12%, and the snacks, in particular, were even more effective. Therefore, companies can achieve this for very little money as well.

FRESH FRUIT: A FLAVORFUL KEY TO HAPPINESS

It is certainly true that one feels better after eating fruits and vegetables
because we know we’ve made a healthy choice. But there’s a more direct correlation than that. Multiple studies have linked fruit consumption with happiness. This exhaustive study published in the American Journal of Public Health utilized 12,000 participants. It examined the correlation between fruit and vegetable consumption and an individual’s feeling of well-being and happiness. The study found that “Increased fruit and vegetable consumption was predictive of increased happiness, life satisfaction, and well-being.”

HAPPINESS DELIVERED TO YOUR OFFICE

ORCHARD At The OFFICE is the largest and best source of fresh fruit to offices, as that’s all they do. They’re Texas-based and will work with you to determine how to best supply your staff with the fresh fruit they need to keep everybody happy. With a variety of products, they can work within any budget.

Maybe you’re an office of ten. There’s a small basket of 25 pieces of fruit happiness boosts productivityincluding the ever-popular clementines that would be ideal for you.  If you’re a large organization, with a hundred or more on-site, you’ll find many options available. You can get nearly 200 pieces of premium-quality fruit including bananas, apples, citrus, pears, and seasonal items, all for roughly 65 cents apiece. That’s a value that fits into nearly every budget! Additionally, the returns in morale and productivity are measurable and substantial.

Ultimately, happiness is a self-fulfilling prophecy. While none of us can make each other happy, we can make small gestures to improve the conditions of one another. Sometimes it’s as simple as the ability to say, “There’s some fresh fruit in the break room!”

Fresh Fruit Delivery Makes A Happier Office

Fresh fruit delivery is a simple way to achieve a happier, healthier office. As Ron Friedman says in the October 2014 Harvard Business Journal: “If you’re serious about achieving top workplace performance, making intelligent decisions about food is essential.” He goes on to cite a study published in the July 2014 British Journal of Health Psychology that states: “fruit and vegetable consumption predicted greater eudaemonic well-being, curiosity, and creativity at the between and within-person levels.”

Despite the complex wording, the message here is simple. A company that is committedhappier healthier office to wellness and worker happiness can easily provide healthy snack alternatives for its staff.  Setting up fresh fruit delivery from ORCHARD At The OFFICE produces results that are immediate and tangible. Employees are happier and healthier. It’s that straightforward!

Providing Healthy Incentives

There are a variety of tools available to Metroplex business looking to literally trim the fat. In its worksite wellness manual, the Texas Department of State Health Services lists a variety of measures that companies can take to improve the fitness of their workforce. Among the most achievable on the list is “healthy food.” Cathy Ross, facilities manager for ORIX, saw fresh fruit delivery from ORCHARD At The OFFICE as the ideal means to achieve this. Ms. Ross says, “We wanted to provide a healthy incentive for our employees, instead of deferring to the vending machines.”

The ORCHARD At The OFFICE concept is simple and companies of any size can visit the website to get started. “In my experience, wellness sells itself,” says Kevin Long, the Chief Banana. “We provide the means to make it easier for everyone. People love fresh fruit, and it’s wonderful to see how excited people get when we show up with a basket.”

Happier, Healthier Workers

Their customers can attest to the satisfaction. “ORCHARD At The OFFICE has been a huge success! The employees appreciate the fresh fruit,” says Tammie Hufstettler, who made fresh fruit delivery a part of their corporate wellness initiative last year. Cathy Ross concurs. “There is usually a line to get to the fruit as it is amazingly fresh, and the selection is wonderful.”

happier healthier office

To join the happy, healthy office movement in the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex or Greater Houston, visit the ORCHARD At The OFFICE website or call 972-295-9091.