How to Choose the Right Haworth Office Furniture for Your Team: Soji Chairs, Standing Desks & More

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for office furniture

If you’re shopping for Haworth products—whether it’s the Soji chair, a standing desk, or a whole office refresh—you’ve probably noticed the options can be overwhelming. The truth is, the best choice depends a lot on your specific situation: team size, budget timeline, and even the culture of your company.

I manage purchasing for a mid-size company (about 200 people across two locations). When I took over in 2020, I learned the hard way that what works for one team can be a disaster for another. So instead of pretending there’s one perfect solution, let me break this down by the three most common scenarios I’ve seen, and what makes sense for each.

Scenario A: You’re scaling up fast and need chairs now

If you’re adding 20+ people in the next quarter and your desk budget is tight, this is a classic “speed vs. cost” tradeoff. Brand-new Haworth Soji chairs from a dealer will cost you around $700–$900 each (depending on options). But if you need them yesterday—and your finance team is grumbling about spend—open box Haworth Soji from Crandall Office can be a lifesaver.

I got burned on this once: in 2021 we ordered 30 chairs from a discount online vendor. They came with mismatched armrests and missing tilt locks. Crandall reconditions Haworth chairs properly (they even offer a warranty), and I’ve used them twice since. Seriously, the quality is way better than I expected for a refurb. Just check that they have the right cylinder height and casters for your floor type—parking brake casters cost a bit more but save your ankles.

One thing to watch: open-box inventory moves fast. You might find a great deal on Soji in “Cool Grey” or “Coal” but not in your preferred upholstery. If color uniformity matters, order a sample first (note to self: always ask for a fabric swatch before committing 40 chairs).

Scenario B: You’re upgrading to standing desks—and need the manual

Standing desks reduce sedentary time, but they only work if people actually use them correctly. When our office switched to Haworth standing desks in 2023, I thought it would be plug-and-play. Turns out, the height memory programming is a bit fiddly. That’s where the Haworth standing desk manual comes in—and yes, you can download it directly from Haworth’s support site.

The manual explains how to set the move-up/move-down limits and program presets. Honestly, half my colleagues never bothered to read it, and they ended up using the desk at the same sitting height all day. What a waste! I printed a one-page quick-start and taped it under each desk. Game-changer.

If you’re buying open-box or used standing desks, double-check that you get the control box and cable clips. I’ve seen desks arrive without the controller—then you’re stuck waiting for a $50 part and losing morale. Put another way: ask the seller upfront, “Is the controller included and working?”

Scenario C: Small office / home office—flexibility matters

Running a small team (or your own solo business) means you’re the one assembling furniture and fixing the printer. For you, the best office desk isn’t necessarily the cheapest—it’s the one you can set up without calling IT.

I’ve been there: in 2022 I outfitted a satellite office for 12 people. I picked Haworth’s entry-level fixed-height desks because they’re sturdy and come with a simple assembly guide. The Soji chair is also a strong choice here—it’s lightweight enough to move alone but still ergonomic. If budget is really tight, look for a returned or open-box Soji from a reputable reseller (like Crandall) and pair it with a manual crank standing desk for under $500 total.

One tip: don’t forget about remainder calculator if you’re trying to split a large room into workstations. Measure the room width, subtract walkways (usually 48 inches for ADA), and divide the remaining space by the desk width. I messed this up once and ended up with four inches of wasted floor—basically a dead zone. Do the math before ordering.

Quick tips for the other office headaches

Where to find the WPS PIN on an HP printer?

If you’re setting up a new HP printer for the office and the setup wizard asks for a WPS PIN, it’s usually printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of the printer. If that sticker is missing (or worn off), you can often find it in the printer’s network settings menu under “Wireless” or “Wi-Fi Direct.” On some models you have to print a network configuration page (hold the Info button for 5 seconds) and the PIN will be listed there. I keep a screenshot of the path for the most common model we use (HP LaserJet Pro M404) in our internal wiki—saves me calls every other week.

The total cost perspective

“Total cost of ownership includes: base product price, setup fees (if any), shipping and handling, rush fees (if needed), and potential reprint costs (quality issues). The lowest quoted price often isn't the lowest total cost.” — from industry best practices

This applies to office furniture just as much as printing. A cheap chair that breaks in a year costs you more in replacement and lost productivity. The Soji, even at full price, has a 12-year warranty and the parts are modular. If you factor that in, the “expensive” chair often wins on total cost of ownership.

How to know which scenario you’re in

If you’re still on the fence, ask yourself:

• Timeline: Do you need everything in the next 2 weeks? → Go with open-box or used (Scenario A mindset).
  If you have 8+ weeks → new from dealer with full customization is fine.
• Growth plan: Adding people every quarter? Standardize on one chair model (Soji is great) to simplify maintenance and spare parts.
  Static headcount? Focus on ergonomic upgrades for existing staff.
• Who assembles: Do you have a maintenance team? Then full standing desks with motor control are fine.
  It’s just you and a screwdriver? Stick with simple designs and manual options.

Bottom line: there’s no magic formula. But by matching your buying approach to your real constraints, you’ll avoid the trap of “pretty good for everyone, perfect for no one.” And if you’re not sure, start with a small pilot—order two Soji chairs (maybe open-box) and try them for a week before scaling up. That’s what I should have done back in 2020 instead of over-committing to a single vendor. Live and learn.