You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October 2008.
The AIA has created the Navigating the Economy Web site, bringing you the latest resources–podcasts, articles, financial tips, best practices, and economic reports–to help you and your firm through these tough times.
A link from the site will send you to this article from SmallBusinessNotes.com:
Mark Vitner, a senior economist with first Union Corporation has been quoted as calling the belief that small businesses fare poorly in economic slowdowns, “a common misconception” that is not true. He believes that solidly run small businesses actually hold their own during downturns. While we all like to believe our businesses fit the definition of “solidly run”, let’s take a look at what are some commonly cited best practices for all businesses to be following during a time of economic downturn.
Revisit Your Business Plan
The number one recommendation, across the board, is to reexamine your business plan. Your business plan should be the working base for your company. Have you strayed from it in any way? Does it need revision in light of new information? Should you be considering whole new directions that are not included in it? Sit down and read it from the perspective of someone about to invest in your business – and make any revisions that seem appropriate. You may even identify additional information you need to know in order to make decisions about the future of the company.
Seek Supporters and Advisors
If ever there is a time to network, this is it. Many companies set up advisory boards that include a wide spectrum of professional expertise that they can draw on for advice. Such board members often are attorneys, certified public accountants, civic club leaders, owners or managers of businesses similar to yours or whom you do business with, and retired executives. The latest jargon for these types of boards is “Power Circles.” An apt name because the members should be power connections for you – knowledgeable about the environment in which you do business and able to connect you with the information you need to make good decisions. The purpose of the board is to offer you objectivity. They should be people you can be truthful with and who will keep your disclosures confidential. Most groups like this discuss specific business problems you have, using the meeting to brainstorm possible solutions.
If you don’t belong to civic and professional organizations, do it. Here are groups of people facing similar challenges to you. Their joint expertise and resources can be a powerful support mechanism when times are tough.
Make Customer Satisfaction Your Priority
Your customers are your lifeblood in any economic climate. In a downturn they are what keep you in business. Treat them very well. Spend time listening to your clients to hear what they like and do not like about the services you offer. Change those that you can. Take time to be innovative in meeting your customer needs. Perhaps taking the time to computerize customer information would allow you to more easily access their particular preferences and respond quickly to their needs. Perhaps taking time to call special clients to discuss how you could serve them better would be productive. Maybe an extra telephone line would speed the service time. Do whatever you need to do to keep your current customers loyal and to position yourself to win new customers.
Google the name “Gregory La Vardera” and you will view years and years of hard work listed on one page.
These days most architects have a website. Some have even started to blog, but few have an Internet presence equal to La Vardera.
A principal of a small firm located in Merchantville, New Jersey just minutes from Philadelphia, Greg has been developing and selling modern architecture home plans since 2002. He posts to his blog on a regular basis with progress on homes located throughout the world built using his plans.
Thanks to the sustainable green buzz and an increasing interest in modern design, there many sources for modern home plans and prefab houses. Greg was one of the first and today, he’s still one of the best.
From LaMiDesign.com:
Our mission is to fill the void in the house plan marketplace by offering modern home designs. Our designs are flexible and allow different people to use them in different ways. It is possible to build our designs with conventional methods familiar to any builder, or to introduce unique materials. If you always wanted a modern home, but thought a custom design was beyond your reach, then we think you may really like what you find here. We don’t know of anything else like it.
In addition to posting to his blog, Greg is also a regular at the CORA and LiveModern forums. His work has been posted on blogs throughout the net and he has been featured in several articles, both print and web.
More recently La Vardera teamed up with EcoSteel, manufacturer of contemporary building systems.
From LiveModern:
EcoSteel steel building systems are complete steel shell packages, ready for your interior customization. The pre-engineered and pre-fabricated EcoSteel building package includes a complete Insulated Steel Building System along with exterior doors, windows and trim.
EcoSteel’s program is the undeniable leading force in steel prefab construction. EcoSteel leverages an existing manufacturing network of 13 primary shipping points across the U.S. The pre-engineered and panelized steel systems are easily built by a commercial contractor. All of the steel components of an EcoSteel system are pre-cut, pre-drilled, and are clearly labeled which virtually eliminates mistakes and confusion typically associated with wood homebuilders venturing into steel construction.
EcoSteel is teaming up with Greg La Vardera of LaMiDesign to modern home designs, all built with steel. Pricing starts at $135/sf, complete.
Greg La Vardera… Entrepreneur Architect.
Michael Kaufman is a life long friend. We grew up snowmobiling and racing cars. Today, he’s a successful real estate broker in Manhattan… and he’s still going fast.
This past week he was featured on New York Residential on the WB11 (WPIX-NY). Once you click the link above, scroll down to “107 – The Style Sheet”.
What do you do for fun?
