OUR STORY

“As long as we are erring on the side of serving others, I think we can’t go too far wrong.” – Rodney Lover

Lovers atWork Office Furniture is solidly established as the leader in office design and furnishings in Southwestern Ontario. Having designed and outfitted complete office spaces for some of the most recognizable companies and organizations in the region since 1983, Lovers atWork has a reputation for excellence in their field, both anticipating and meeting their clients’ needs.

The Lovers team aspires to stay on top of the trends in office design. A coming trend is ‘resimercial’ spaces, which combine the benefits of residential comfort with commercial efficiency. An additional trend atWork is driving is the creation of movement-based office spaces. The available research on sedentary workplaces clearly demonstrates the resulting health crises for employees. Lovers is committed to anticipating their clients’ future needs and designing spaces appropriate to those needs.

Rodney Lover, Director of Sales and Marketing, recognizes how the current business stands on the work and example of the previous generation. His grandfather, Robert Lover, came to Canada as a 12-year-old orphan in 1915. With a positive outlook and an incredible work ethic, Robert worked as a farmhand and, over time, made an excellent life for himself.

Years later, Rodney’s father, Dale, worked with his family in the village general store over which they lived and the pattern of family-based, entrepreneurial endeavours began. The current atWork family started after the closing of a small chain of department stores that Robert and Dale ran together.

Dale Lover & son Rodney washing first truck 1983

Rodney looks back on the example set by his father and grandfather with an eye to duplicate the work ethic they modeled: “I think working hard honours both the opportunity we have been blessed with and the people that we get to meet. This deep belief in the intrinsic value of each person extends to our team and our clients.”

With an appreciation for the family history successes of young and diligent workers, Lovers atWork has focused on helping youth to develop and to execute leadership skills, both in the atWork business and in the community. Not only are high-level positions at Lovers entrusted to young business leaders (some beginning to work at Lovers in their teens), but opportunities for youth in the community are sponsored by Lovers atWork (including scholarships and training and mentoring initiatives for interior design college students).

The Lovers New & Used team – Mid-90’s

Merely having good furniture solutions in stock is not enough to keep customers satisfied for over three decades. Lovers atWork is also known for their first-class customer service. A values-based personnel sets them apart from the rest of the field. From individual consultations, personal on-site evaluations, and on-going phone and email conversations, the Lovers atWork design team ensures that the client is heard and that their needs are met. From the showroom staff to the designers to the installation team, every atWork team member takes time to get it right for each client.