Cat Bloxsom and Morgan Collins, the powerhouse founders of yarn craft brand Cardigang, know the importance of creating a space that inspires workplace productivity. Launching the business in 2020, during Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdowns, meant Cat and Morgan’s workspace looked like working from the kitchen table and storing supplies wherever they would fit.
As Cardigang grew to an international scale, their operations were in dire need of a workspace that would support the demand. “We moved into Cat's dad’s garage, then storage spaces and then our previous warehouse. They’ve all been stepping stones to where we are now,” says Morgan.
Though their new space gives them the room they need, Cat and Morgan found a few little changes to their workspace and tweaks in their workflow made a world of difference to their productivity. “Upgrading to a dedicated workspace with tech and tools that actually support how we work has been a game changer – not just for productivity, but for creativity and team morale, too,” says Cat.
Discover the seven changes Cat and Morgan made to their work environment that could help boost your workplace productivity and motivation.
Review Your Workspace and Processes
No matter the scale of your office revamp, from moving locations to moving furniture in your home office, a successful refresh should always start by pinpointing what needs to be updated. “[We asked ourselves] what isn’t working in the current space and what are some small changes that are easy to implement that would have a higher impact?” says Cat. The answer was full ergonomic desk setups. “Now, [our employees in the warehouse] have their own computers, a proper ergonomic setup and their own printer so they can work away uninterrupted, which was a really important upgrade,” says Cat.
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Invest in Ergonomics
It’s impossible to focus on your deadlines with a sore back or a hand cramp. Put your comfort first and ensure your upgrades are ergonomic ones. “Having an adjustable chair, having your desk at the right height and actually having your screen at eye level makes a huge improvement. We still work on laptops a lot, which isn’t always the best, but having things that are adjustable and at the right height has been really important,” says Cat.
Save Time With New Tech
You could be doing a lot of your daily tasks the hard way; consider new devices or upgrading tech to help lighten your workload and lift workplace productivity. “We’ve got a Dymo label printer, which is such a time saver for our shipping labels. We learnt how important it is to have a label printer; we used to print out and fold every shipping label and then tape it to a parcel,” says Cat.
Cat and Morgan say a dual-monitor setup is key to staying on top of everything from design files to spreadsheets and reducing tab-flipping chaos. But their biggest game changer? Upgrading their laptops to Lenovo Ideapads. These AI-accelerated devices work fast and offer automated features so you can work more efficiently. New devices also means access to smarter and safer operating systems such as Windows 11, which includes features like data encryption, AI tools, and optimised visuals.
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Add AI Into Your Workflow
“AI has been working away in the background for a while in a lot of the tools we already use, but now with things like [AI chats and assistants] we can use it for everything from, ‘help me write this policy document’ to ‘help me brainstorm some ideas for some social content’,” says Morgan. “We also use it to better understand our customers, looking at reviews and identifying pain points for product improvements. It’s really great because as a small business, you wear many hats, so it's been really, really helpful and beneficial in that regard.”
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Stay Stocked up on the Essentials
It pays to be prepared: keep your sticky note stash topped up and your paper tray filled to the brim. This small consideration will save you from many last-minute trips to the shops so you can stay focused on your to-do list. “We're always running out of printer paper, always running out of all the essentials, so I think it's just about making sure those things are visible,” says Cat. “[Finding] good storage solutions and being on top of how quickly people go through things like paper can have a big impact, otherwise you can't print off all your packing slips.”
Separate Your Work and Life Spaces
Whether you’re a hybrid worker or small business owner, it’s important to find ways to separate work from personal time (especially if you currently work from home). For Cat and Morgan, they’ve found separating their spaces to be beneficial in disconnecting at the end of the work day. “When you work for yourself, it's very hard to switch off. You’re always on and thinking about work, so it’s really good for both of our mindsets and mental health to actually have a space to go to so we can be present when we go home,” says Cat.
Identify How You Work Best and Reflect It in Your Space
Knowing the way you work best will help inform what needs revamping in your space. If you’re easily distracted, keeping a clear space might help you stay focused. If you’re the creative type, adding inspiring art and decor can boost your motivation.
“I think there’s something to say about having the right setup that puts you in the right mindset. Mood boards, writing things and putting them on the wall for visibility, using colour codes and making things look pretty helps us feel more motivated,” says Cat. “Having big sketch pads or whiteboards allows us to usually see what we're doing and keep on track as well, because it's very easy to forget the task that is really important that you're focusing on for this quarter.”
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Cat and Morgan’s Office Refresh Essentials
Lenovo 14 Ideapad 5 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC Snapdragon X 16/512GB: “We use our Lenovo Ideapads for everything from design to logistics. The built-in AI features help with creative ideation, writing and task automation. It’s boosted productivity across the board and helped us move faster without sacrificing quality.”
Lenovo 24" FHD 100Hz 1ms Monitor L24I-4A: “Our dual-monitor setup has streamlined our workflow – perfect for designing patterns on one screen while referencing tutorials or running spreadsheets on the other. It’s improved accuracy, reduced toggling [between programs or browser windows] and helped us keep our focus where it counts.”
Arlo Essentials Outdoor Camera 2K Second Gen 2 Pack: “They give us extra security for our stock and equipment, plus they’ve helped us manage pickups and deliveries more efficiently. A small upgrade that’s made a big impact on peace of mind and operations.”
JBL Encore Essential PartyBox Speaker: “We keep the vibes high with our portable speaker. From lo-fi beats to power ballads, music keeps our team energised, especially during long creative sessions or packing days.”
Brother PTD610BT Desktop Label Printer Black: “These are crucial for order fulfilment. Our label printers make shipping fast, neat and efficient – no more smudged ink or wasted labels. They’re a must-have in our dispatch setup.”
J.Burrows Cork Board 900 x 600mm Oak: “Perfect for pinning up inspiration, WIPs (works in progress) and to-do lists. It brings our visual planning into the physical world and keeps our creative chaos in check.”
Born A4 Bleed-Proof Pad 75gsm 30 Page: “These are where our ideas begin – whether it’s sketching new knit kits, visualising packaging or just doodling for fun. It’s old-school creativity that pairs perfectly with our digital tools.”
Copic Sketch Marker Set Primaries 6 Pack and Staedtler Double-ended Fibre Tip Pens 120 Pack: “Sometimes the best ideas start with a scribble. Our markers and pencils are used daily for planning, sketching and getting ideas out of our heads and onto paper.”
