It’s time to turn the page

It has been an up-and-down year for businesses, so perhaps now is the time to change lanes, seek new inspiration, be bold and get out more. Our editors and correspondents scoured the globe for stirring stories, captivating case studies and entrepreneurs on-the-up: 100 of them to be precise.
Forward thinkers

How are industries changing now? Our interviewees offer their predictions on what the future holds in their industry, from our need for convivial restaurant spaces to a profitable private media company in Vietnam and a start-up incubator with faith in bricks-and-mortar offices.
Banking on it

From investing exclusively in ethical causes to helping small businesses access emergency funds, these three socially conscious lenders are helping businesses to succeed with a human touch.
Little by little

You need to be at the heart of a metropolis to sniff out an opportunity, right? Wrong. What these compact cities lack in size they make up for in entrepreneurial flair. We meet the folk whose big ideas have taken root in smaller cities.
How to get out of a tight spot

The past few months have put a huge strain on businesses but also presented them with a unique opportunity to shake things up. We meet five firms that have shown an ability to think on their feet.
Who’s open for business?

Those looking to get their start-up off the ground with the minimum of fuss will be scouring country rankings for good business regulations, a solid labour force and financial transparency. And the nations that come out on top might not seem obvious at first. Here we report on two places in which to put down business roots.
Window of opportunity

When competition is rife and industries are slow to evolve, it takes a smart business leader with a strong vision to reposition their brand – or come up with an entirely new take on a ubiquitous product. We meet three brands that have come out on top thanks to their unique offering.
Fair traders

Nolan Giles reporting from London: Byron and Dexter Peart have taken a stand against disposable design by providing a global shop window for sustainable, ethically sourced homeware. And theirs is a model that the retail industry is finally having a conversation about.
How to get a job

Nic Monisse reporting from London: In an increasingly competitive labour market, applicants must find more inventive means to stand out among stiff competition. So we’ve enlisted some of the best in the professional sphere to offer their practical tips for finding gainful employment in a company you actually want to work for.
If you do one thing...

It’s probably a safe bet that you know all about the product you’re launching but forming a firm that’s destined to thrive requires additional focus. Three business leaders share the key lessons they learnt on the route to success.
Put your own stamp on it

From takeaways that arrive in biodegradable sugar-cane-pulp packaging to perfume in an ice-cream van, here’s how to create an impact while a product is on the move. After all, it’s all in the delivery.
Remote working

Entrepreneurs relocating to rural outposts have been welcomed with a community feel and desirable living and working spaces. Whether it’s Upstate New York, the Basque Country or a Norwegian archipelago, inspiring under-the-radar creative hotspots are providing an altogether higher quality of life.
Perks of the job

Entrepreneurial leaders need to focus on their staff too. Here are our tips for how to make the nine to five a pleasure rather than a chore for your team, from making the commute an attractive prospect to welcoming furry friends in the office for a bit of playtime between meetings.
Words of wisdom

Chiara Rimella reporting from London: Lessons about how to run your firm more effectively don’t always come from straight-up business books: enlightenment and inspiration can strike at any time and be gleaned from even the least likely of tomes. Here we meet successful company leaders and entrepreneurs who share the takeaways that have helped them to achieve their career goals – with a little help from Karl Marx and Frodo Baggins.
Notable purchases

Hester Underhill reporting from London: For those requiring a stationery-cupboard reboot, these brands elevate the humble pencil, rubber and stapler to great heights. Whether you're after an elegant steel hole punch or a chic airmail envelope, this kit is top drawer.
The homely office

If you’re contemplating scaling up or sizing down, or simply working from home, smart design should be at the forefront of your plans. Why? Well, whether you’re running a one-man show or piloting an ever-expanding corporate headquarters, a comfortable workplace will enhance the work that’s produced there – and a welcoming office reflects a brand that’s ready for business. So if you’re kitting out a home office or an office that feels like home, here’s our round-up of the items you should employ.
Space exploration

Creative businesses need studios where people come together. These three companies show how you can create inspiring projecs and still have money left in the bank. Steal their ideas.
The view from here

An open, shared working space can promote creativity and open discussion within teams. But as a CEO, how do you foster collaboration with the rest of your office? Here, three company leaders in different fields let us into their unconventional set-ups.
Go go gadgets

Our working life is going through changes and that’s partly down to the advancements in technology that just keep on coming. From noise-cancelling headphones and wireless chargers to portable speakers and an electric bike to ease a hilly commute, we size up the latest gizmos and gadgets surfacing around the globe.
That’s settled then

As the world gets moving and deals continue to be struck, we profile a handful of new openings and time-tested hotels that still mean business. From a decadent affair in a former bank in Washington to a private residence turned hotel in downtown Mexico City, these stopovers are ideal settings for talking shop – and having a good kip when you’re done.
Make a meal of it

We trade video calls for the dining room in a hungry homage to the joys of the business lunch. Great that the company’s paying, of course, but more than that there’s no better place to get to know a business partner or scope out a new one. Deal? We’ll drink to that.
Three getaways

In search of a place to take stock? Find inspiration with a swim in the Danube, on a French-inspired break in Menorca or exploring what it means to run a small and meaningful business in Japan’s Hiroshima prefecture.

Office furniture / Global

The homely office

If you’re contemplating scaling up or sizing down, or simply working from home, smart design should be at the forefront of your plans. Why? Well, whether you’re running a one-man show or piloting an ever-expanding corporate headquarters, a comfortable workplace will enhance the work that’s produced there – and a welcoming office reflects a brand that’s ready for business. So if you’re kitting out a home office or an office that feels like home, here’s our round-up of the items you should employ.

Writer: Nolan Giles

Illustrator: Giacomo Bagnara

54 /100

Fritz Hansen

Little Friend

(denmark)

This dainty adjustable side-table has enjoyed a surge in sales this year thanks to its flexibility. It’s equally useful as a spot on which to plop your laptop as you work from the sofa as it is a place to keep your coffee close while you pore over the papers.
fritzhansen.com

55/100

Kann Design

Strat Long Storage

(france)

With its workshop in a Lebanese mountain village, Kann Design is an increasingly global player in the contract-furniture market. Its elegant steel-and-timber pieces fit equally well in a commercial or a domestic setting. This storage unit adds a touch of refined taste to the books, objects and documents arranged atop and inside it.
kanndesign.com

56 /100

V-Zug

RefreshButler

(switzerland)

A blazer hung for a few hours in this closet-like device is gently cleaned and steamed to remove all germs and bacteria. The result: a more hygienic office, ever-fresh employees and a true treat for sharp-looking staff members.
vzug.com

Ideal for impressing visiting clients

57 /100

Magis

Plato

(italy)

Your collection of wipeable, stackable and portable Plato chairs from UK designer Jasper Morrison can grow alongside your staff headcount. The powder-coated aluminium indoor-outdoor seats come in many colours too.
magisdesign.com

Ideal for spaces with a small footprint

58 /100

Vitra

Compas Direction

(switzerland)

The simple construction and cleverly angled metal legs of French mid-century designer Jean Prouvé’s 1953 Compas Direction desk have remained popular for almost 70 years. It’s produced by Vitra in a variety of finishes.
vitra.com

59 /100

Takt

Plint

(denmark)

Designed by Copenhagen’s Cecilie Manz, this piece packs practicality and portability into one of 2020’s best furniture releases. It can serve as either a bench or a coffee table and, if space needs to be saved, it folds down quickly and easily.
taktcph.com

60 /100

Lintex

Area

(sweden)

Who says a whiteboard needs to be white? This Swedish take, with its light beige screen, is more canvas than notice board and is made from tempered low-iron glass with a solid-oak frame. We hope that the ideas you post on it are equally smart.
lintex.se

61 /100

Loehr

DL1 Tangram

(germany)

German furniture-maker Loehr is known for bringing both class and colour to the office through designs that don’t tend to date (or break) over the years. This practical tangerine-coloured side table will turn heads no matter your style of working environment.
loehr.co

62 /100

Modernica

Case Study Canine

(usa)

An office dog can increase staff wellbeing while melting the heart of the steeliest visiting client. Such a prized pooch deserves the perfect spot to rest. This daybed, with its plush, beautifully upholstered cushion upon a modernist-style teak-hardwood base, is the best in show.
modernica.com

63 /100

Wagner

D1

(germany)

The minimalist D1 from German designer Stefan Diez stripped away all that was superfluous about the traditional desk chair and earned Wagner a raft of awards in the process.
wagner-living.com

64 /100

Mox

Kant

(switzerland)

With its zigzagging holding compartment and sturdy steel exterior, Kant is an ingenious stand for soggy brollies by Nigerian-born, Zürich-based Charles O Job.
mox.ch

65 /100

Kata Coat Stand

Ariake

(japan)

The balanced proportions of this Japanese coatstand reference the Asian nation’s traditional kimono stands and make for a fine talking point as guests are welcomed to your workplace. For those home offices that are shooing away footwear, Kata has a platform that’s fit for shoe-storing purposes.
ariakecollection.com

66 /100

Kokiri

Railshelf

(south korea)

A well-stocked office library can inspire and entertain. This South Korean shelving system provides the perfect platform to build one with. Its oak and birch timber elements are cleverly joined, allowing space for go-to titles to be creatively displayed with their covers facing out, while multiple shelf sizes mean that books of all dimensions will look good here.
theelephanttrade.com

67 /100

Gubi

Bestlite

(denmark)

Many a good idea has been penned under the soft glow of the stylish Gubi Bestlite – an office favourite in the UK – which celebrated its 90th birthday this year.
gubi.com

68 /100

Vipp

Table

(denmark)

Vipp, known for its uber-functional pedal bin, is establishing itself as an original player among Denmark’s furniture-makers. This table exemplifies the simple tone of its sturdy designs and is a fine platform for a cosy (but serious) home office.
vipp.com

Editor’s Letter

Sunny outlook

It’s time to turn the page

Forward thinkers

Banking on it

Little by little

How to get out of a tight spot

Who’s open for business?

Window of opportunity

Fair traders

How to get a job

If you do one thing...

Put your own stamp on it

Remote working

Perks of the job

Words of wisdom

Notable purchases

The homely office

Space exploration

The view from here

Go go gadgets

That’s settled then

Make a meal of it

Three getaways

Work in progress

Business class

The new business playbook

The Monocle shop

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