(((Left) Subaru’s new facility “really makes a statement.” (Right) Photo shows Subaru of Bend’s new three-story, 150,000-square-foot dealership | Photos courtesy of 9 to 5 Office Furniture)
“I’m local, I’m fast, and I’m responsive,” said Christine Limburg in explaining why diverse Central Oregon clientele — including Mid Oregon Credit Union, Subaru of Bend, Central Oregon Radiology Associates (CORA), and other local businesses in the bio-science and financial industries — have chosen her company over the competition.
Before founding 9 to 5 Office Furniture in 2019, Limburg spent seven years learning the ins and outs of designing comfortable and functional workspaces while representing a Haworth dealership in both California and Oregon.
(This office furniture manufacturer, founded in 1948, has 7,500 employees, and dealerships in more than 120 countries. It became the first in its industry to achieve zero waste to landfill in all U.S. manufacturing facilities.)
Limburg credits her Haworth experience for “cementing my passion for helping people thrive in their work environments.”
In the next chapter of her career, Limburg spent 18 years in the media industry in Central Oregon, “helping local businesses grow by connecting them with new customers and crafting strategies to support their success.” She described her marketing approach as “well rounded,” and utilized avenues ranging from call-to-action advertising to community events, and print publications. “I understand how to reach people where they are,” Limburg said.
“My marketing background is a strength that has served me well,” she added, “culminating in the decision to start my own business. I knew it was a risk — and, in fact, started by cold calling potential clients — but also believed that it would be more exciting.”
Characterizing the growth of 9 to 5 Office Furniture as “a lot of fun and very rewarding,” Limburg said that one of her “favorite projects” was the three-story, 15,945-square-foot headquarters of Mid Oregon Credit Union. (She had previously worked with the client on its offices in Sisters, Madras, Prineville, and Redmond.)
“It was a special building to begin with,” Limburg said, “consisting entirely of mass timber from a Pacific Northwest local manufacturer, and my challenge was to create furniture that complemented it by pulling off a beautiful look that was both sleek and professional.” The scope of the project, which took 18 months to complete, included 22 private offices, three shared offices, three meeting rooms, three breakrooms, a patio, an exercise room, a wellness room and a locker room. (She credited designer Kalinda Carnahan of Steele & Associates as her collaborator.)
“I’ve heard that Mid Oregon’s headquarters employees, who recently moved into the new space, are very happy with the design of the furniture,” noted Limburg. “I’d describe the pieces as substantial and beautiful — as spectacular as the building itself.”
Another client, Subaru of Bend (one of the oldest Subaru dealerships in the country), chose 9 to 5 Office Furniture to design the interior of its new three-story, 150,000-square-foot dealership in Bend. “The multi-generational family-owned and operated business leveled its previous structure, which was tiny in comparison, in order to house both vehicles and employees,” said Limburg. “The new facility really makes a statement.”
Further demonstrating her ability to understand a company’s specific objectives for an optimal work environment, Limburg was hired by Central Oregon Radiology Associates (CORA) to come up with customized desks for its radiologists. “As I learned, they have to read patients’ charts on multiple monitors — right-left, up-down, and forward-backward — so I created a split-surface, custom prototype that accommodated this need.”
Limburg’s marketing acumen has proven equally effective with small business clients. As she related, “a financial advisor, who was moving into a modern building I was familiar with, wanted to order conservative, old-school furniture. I strongly urged him to let me select beautiful, mid-century modern pieces that would far better fit the space, and appeal to his 40+ age clientele, and he was extremely thrilled to have listened to me.”
This anecdote underscores Limburg’s greatest professional disappointment — “not having a satisfied client” — and her greatest sense of fulfillment — “making a client happy.”
Limburg’s son Matthew, who earned a degree in marketing and business, has now joined the family business and “brought a fresh perspective and energy to 9 to 5 Office Furniture,” she said. “Together, we’re committed to creating spaces that inspire productivity and collaboration, while continuing the legacy of service and excellence.”
