There's no getting away from it, we spend a lot of time at work – a total of 11 and a half years over our lifetime, if a recent study is to be believed. It's little wonder, then, that our workplaces have a huge effect on our overall health and well being. 'An individual's emotional energy is constantly interacting with the energy of the environment around them,' says feng shui practitioner Simon Brown. 'That's why improving energy flow in the workplace leads to happier staff, better customer relations, enhanced creativity, improved concentration and, ultimately, bigger profits.

‘The trouble is that buildings, especially modern ones, can be deficient in terms of their internal energy and atmosphere. This is particularly true if synthetic materials such as plastics, laminated surfaces and nylon carpets are all around you, as they inhibit the flow of environmental energy. The key to a good working environment is to shift stagnant energy and maximise positive energy flow'

To put this to the test, we called in an expert to look at a workplace and see if he could solve the problems he found there.

THE EXPERT

The above article was published in Spirit and Destiny Magazine in October 2010

Crystal cures, feng shui fixes

and other ways to

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If there is anything you would like to know, please feel free to ask us.

Thomas Coxon is a feng shui master who uses the careful placement of objects to create a balanced environment. He also designates the best area for particular activities, so that the highest potential in harmony and production can be achieved.

`Our new building was feng shuied'

Would a change of office help to boost the profits for an online toy company?

THE PROBLEM

Jim Wells and his wife Lucy Pole run the online toy shop Millions of Toys. Six years ago, they decided to move into new premises on the upper floor of a Victorian building in Derbyshire. Before they signed the lease, Jim called in feng shui master Thomas Coxon.

'We're a specialist toy retailer, selling and shipping new, second-hand and collectible toys,' Jim explains. 'We started trading 12 years ago from a garage, then six years ago, we found a new set of premises we liked. I'd heard that in Hong Kong – the best place on earth for business – they use feng shui principles to improve energy flow for better luck and wealth, so before we went ahead. I hired a practitioner to assess the building.'

THE SOLUTION

Thomas Coxon advised Jim on which rooms were best suited for the different departments within the company.

'The huge arched window is very positive in feng shui terms, providing the main energy feed into the landing. The room nearest the window on the left had the best energy, so I advised Jim to make that his main office. The desk was placed facing the door, with a solid wall behind it, so anyone working at it would feel strong. The filing cabinets were pushed back against the walls to let energy flow freely.

'The first room on the right also had good energy flow, making it ideal for packing and mailing. The other two rooms were set aside as a storage room and a computer and file server room.'

THE RESULTS

'Two years after Thomas's visit, the lower floor became available, so we opened a shop downstairs,' Jim says. 'We've won several awards, and in 2007 we were nominated for Best Toy Shop of the Year, going up against some really big players. Over the past four years our profits have grown steadily, and despite the recession, 2009 was our best year ever.

'I'm sure that the good energy of the building and the set-up have contributed to our success, and the positive atmosphere has led to a low staff turnover as people are happy to work here. After this, I'd never take on a property without feng shui guidance.'

• Call 01283-240010 or visit www.millionsoftoys.co.uk

The Burton Mail Business Awards 2010 at a gala evening held on Thursday, October 21 at the Pirelli Stadium presented The Millions Group Limited with the award for Best Use of Innovation or Technology

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