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Branch vs Poppin: Comparing Two Modern Office Furniture Solutions

Branch and Poppin are two companies that position themselves as the simple solution to your modern office furniture needs. If you're furnishing a office, this article will give you a (relatively) unbiased comparison of these two companies.



You’ve been tasked with furnishing your new office space. It might be your company’s first permanent space (congrats!) or maybe it’s a sign that your business has outgrown its old one (well done!). In either case, there’s a seemingly endless number of decisions to be made that have the potential to impact team collaboration, productivity and employee engagement.

On top of all that, you want to be sure that you’re not only meeting the needs of today, but those of tomorrow as well. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with so much hanging in the balance. But rest easy, the process of bringing your new office to life doesn’t have to be stressful once you’re in the right hands.

Branch and Poppin are two companies that have positioned themselves as the simple solution to all of your modern office furniture needs. From expert consultations to installation services, both offer the end-to-end experience consumers in the 21st century are looking for.

This article will (attempt to) give you an unbiased comparison of these two companies, considering 5 key points of differentiation:

  • Quality
  • Selection
  • Cost
  • Customer experience
  • Flexibility

 

If you’re the type of person who likes to skip to the end or listens to podcasts at 1.5x speed, this table gives you a concise summary of what’s to come.

Yes, we realize we are one of these companies, but we promise to be fair. While we’re happy to serve customers of all shapes and sizes, we want to make sure that you’re working with the company best suited to your needs. If nothing else, by the end of this article, we hope to remove at least one difficult decision from your plate.

Branch vs. Poppin: Product Quality

There’s no better way to consider the quality of a furniture line than by examining its most unassuming, but hardest working, member: the chair.

Over the years, the humble chair has become a symbol of our quickly changing culture and, quite literally, has always had our backs. And in today’s working culture, we spend a lot of time in our chairs. We spend nearly 6 hours a day seated, that’s almost as much as an average night’s sleep! Ergonomic office furniture plays an unmistakable role in promoting the health and wellbeing of your employees.

Let’s consider the flagship chairs from Branch and Poppin. Both chairs meet or exceed durability standards outlined by BIFMA, a non-profit focused on commercial use furniture.

Branch’s Ergonomic Chair $349

Our Ergonomic Chair embodies fine Italian-inspired design with its double layer mesh back and 7 points of adjustment for maximum comfort, including:

  • 3-way adjustable arm rest
  • Lumbar support
  • Height for optimal lower body comfort
  • Seat pan depth
  • Locking seat tilt for achieving good posture

The 5-star anodized aluminum base combines style and stability. Our ergonomic chair includes premium features like double layer mesh and a high-density cushion without the premium price tag. We believe that durable, adjustable and comfortable furniture can support hours of productive work and even outlive your lease. And just to prove it, we offer a flat 10-year warranty.

Poppin’s Max Task Chair High Back $349

Poppin’s standard chair is designed in New York and comes in both mid and high back variants. It offers 5 points of adjustment, including:

  • 2-way adjustable arm rest
  • Lumbar support
  • Height for all leg lengths
  • Tilt for natural leaning and posture

The base is made of reinforced fiberglass. In addition to meeting BIFMA standards, the chair has also achieved Greenguard Gold Certification which means it meets chemical emissions standards. Their warranty policy varies between 3, 5 and 12 years depending on the product.

Branch vs Poppin: Product Selection

Let’s face it, in some cases, variety is the spice of your office space. You might be looking for something that sits outside of the typical workspace, or perhaps you’re in search of products that can be customized to suit your brand.

When it comes to Branch’s product line, our approach is to offer premium, long-lasting office staples. We don’t offer you a selection of 100 desks, we offer you the best desk. While many of our products come in different colors, the colors are typically classic in tone.

Poppin’s product line is where fun meets functional. The majority of their products come in bold colors that are a good complement to younger work cultures. They have a larger selection of products, which includes everything from lounge furniture to monitor risers to PoppinPods.

Branch vs Poppin: Cost

Staying on budget is no doubt an important factor when furnishing your space, but the last thing you want to do is sacrifice quality by chasing the lowest price tag. This often ends up becoming more trouble than it’s worth when replacement costs start piling up.

Branch workspace

The good news is that Branch furniture typically rings in at 15% below that of Poppin. Let’s consider the cost of furnishing a typical workspace.

Branch offers packages that include a standing desk, ergonomic chair and filing cabinet for $1,520 including taxes.

Poppin offers the same workplace with items sold individually for a total of $1,610 including taxes.

What’s included in Branch pricing?

If you’re located in one of our 30 metro areas, orders over $500 include free white glove delivery and installation by a Branch Captain. Space planning is always free, whether you decide to order with us or not. You can also request free updates to your space plan as your team grows or your needs change.

Given we sell direct to our customers, you can shop with confidence knowing that you’re getting our best and only price.

What’s included in Poppin pricing?

For orders over $35, Poppin provides free standard shipping. Otherwise, shipping in the U.S. is a flat $5 rate. White Glove Installation is $175 for orders under $1,000. Beyond that, the cost for installation is a percentage of the total order, ranging from 15 to 17.5%.

Poppin sells their products direct to consumers and to authorized wholesale businesses. In the case of a reseller, you want to be mindful of any markup that might be included in the cost.

Branch vs. Poppin: Customer experience

Both Branch and Poppin offer exceptional support to their customers via email, phone and chat.

But let’s consider the entire process from concept to conference room.

With Branch, it all starts with a simple questionnaire that asks for key details like floor plan, team size and working style. From there, you’ll receive a free rendering and furniture ideas from a Branch Expert to make the most of your unique space. If you qualify for our white glove service, you can have your new office up and running in as little as a few weeks.

What’s more, we’ll continue to support you as your needs change with updated renderings, maintenance and our trade-in program, Branch Flex. If you happen to be in New York City, you can book an appointment at our showroom to meet with one of our industry experts.

Poppin’s process starts by booking an appointment at one of their 5 showrooms or giving their team a call. You’re then connected with an Account Executive so you can share your needs and your budget. Once you send them your floor plan, they’ll provide you with a rendering of the furnished space. From there, you can place your order and begin to outfit your space.

Branch vs. Poppin: Flexibility

For such an important and lasting purchase, flexibility can sometimes be the deciding factor. So we thought this might be a good place to end.

Our Branch Flex program lets you trade in used furniture for a credit towards your next purchase. We’ll assess your used Branch furniture in advance and, based on the age and condition, let you know if you’re eligible and for what amount. You can imagine this being especially helpful when it’s time to upgrade or expand. It can even come in handy if, once you actually spend time working in the space, you decide it needs adjusting (ie. less hot desks and more collaborative spaces). In the unlikely case that you change your mind altogether, Branch offers a convenient 30-day return policy.

Poppin’s flexibility stems from its tool-free assembly. Most of their pieces are designed to be easily taken apart and reassembled if ever you need to move to a new space or reconfigure your existing one. That being said, you’ll save yourself a struggle with the dreaded Allen key anyway by using Branch’s included white glove service for your initial setup.

Poppin’s return policy is 30 or 120 days depending on the product, however, custom and branded products can’t be returned.

Which company is right for you?

You’ve made it to the end and now have a better understanding of what sets each company apart, but you’re still left with the burning question, “What’s right for me?”.

Branch is the option if you’re looking for timeless, premium office furniture that’s affordable and adaptable to your future needs. We offer a smaller, well-curated selection to growing businesses of all sizes and from all sectors. While we don’t have a line of colorful desk accessories, we do premium office furniture really, really well.

Poppin is for companies looking to create a ‘fun’ work space while being functional. Their products are aimed at younger tech companies with product names like Series A and Pitch Sled. They also have a wider selection of niche products if ever you want your conference table to moonlight as a ping pong table or if you want to hold a bouncing brainstorming session.

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