PROFILE
RICHARD MINES
ASPIRING ROCK STAR
TO FURNISHINGS MOGUL
When young Richard Mines graduated from college with a degree in music, he dreamed of being a rock-n-roll
musician. Instead he channeled his creativity and determination into growing WB Wood into one of the most
successful office furnishings dealers in the nation.
GLASS WALLS
Seventy percent of offices are now designed with open
floorplans—a contrast to the days of cubicle clusters and
segregated C-suite offices. But communal spaces now
have their own critics, forcing businesses to consider
the connection between office design and employee
performance. Glass walls in the office merge the benefits
of both floor plans, while solving common drawbacks
presented by each.
� NATURAL LIGHT. Access to natural light has been linked
to a 15% decrease in absenteeism and up to 20% increase
in productivity. Glass partitions allow natural light to flow
throughout the office, regardless of proximity to exterior
windows, improving employee sleep quality, mood, and
even blood pressure.
�
NOISE REDUCTION. Sixty-three percent of employees in
a recent study stated noise pollution in open concept offices
has a negative effect on satisfaction and productivity. Glass
walls offer the feel of an open floor plan, while providing
much-needed quiet spaces for privacy and concentration.
�
EMPLOYEE COLLABORATION. Interactive employees tend
to stay on task 60% longer than their segregated peers, but
in the absence of spatial boundaries, collaboration actually
decreases by as much as 70%.Glass walls provide spatial
definition to work areas, while maintaining employee
sightlines and encouraging teamwork.
�
TRANSPARENCY. Nearly 50% of employees seeking new
employment cite the lack of transparent leadership as the
reason for leaving. Glass boundaries promote an openness
that reflects physical and psychological transparency.
20
EARLY IN LIFE, Richard Mines was so determined to break
into the music industry that he took a position at the advertising
agency that represented MTV. There, he thought, he would be
well-positioned to slip his demo to music insiders. Despite his
resolve, the native New Yorker accepted he would have to redi-
rect his energies into more lucrative ventures.
The Right Investment at the Right Time
Over the years, as he earned his MBA and started a family, one
opportunity opened to another for Mines. A corporate catering
position initiated a stint in a major New York City auction
house, which led to a marketing position and subsequent
ownership of an upscale furniture company. Just when Mines
was looking for his next venture, he learned that a former
competitor was for sale.
WB Wood had been in operation since 1905, and Mines sensed
he could apply his diverse business experience to increase
its sales and drive growth. Today WB Wood is a top-grossing
distributor of Herman Miller products and has added 300
additional manufacturers to its suite of products. With offices
in Manhattan and New Jersey, the company offers a full range
of procurement and project management services to organi-
zations nationwide, helping business owners, architects, and
design firms plan and execute enormous transitions.
A Trusted Financial Partner
As a critical component in Mines’s business success, Sterling
National Bank assisted him in the purchase of WB Wood, the
acquisition of two New Jersey branches, and a buy-out of his
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