Boush Street Offices

Friday, October 25, 2013

Expanding Market

IONIC has been busy on their growth over this past year with new employees to support projects we had coming in. Project growth in our office has increased nearly 40% this year from 2012 and last year was a record breaker for IONIC. 2013 will shatter that record. 

We were very selective in our selections of new staff understanding that we would need those individuals that could easily handle our current work load in RETAIL, RESTAURANT and CORPORATE clientele. However, the emphasis was to expand into markets that we have currently less presence in. If you know IONIC you understand that we have chosen to diversify across the spectrum of design services for a broad market. In short, we do a little bit of everything.

There are pros and cons to this approach. PROS: We are able to have a nice portfolio of varying accomplished works in just about every market. It keeps us fresh and focused on innovative ideas rather than regurgitating the same old thoughts. CONS: We cannot say that we have done two dozen libraries. Some clients want to see the full embodiment of work relating to THEIR particular project type.

Time will allow us to overcome the negatives. Right now we have only three library projects in our portfolio however over the next ten years we might have accumulated over a dozen. Likewise on other areas within the design industry. We will focus on our strengths which our clients are looking for: COMMUNICATION, DESIGN INTEGRITY, TIMELINESS and the ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

So what markets are we looking to expand into? Glad you asked! And we hope you can help us accomplish this.

MULTI FAMILY projects have been one of the markets that we have been working in for a considerable time. We have one active project currently on the design boards for the first phase of over 195 dwelling units. We also are waiting on several other apartment building projects that we have proposed renovations and upgrades to gain financial and corporate approvals. Two other apartments are seeking our concepts for upgrades to their clubhouse and other adminities including adding additional units. We would love to do more within this market including: MIXED USE, ASSISTED LIVING and CLUBHOUSES.

RESIDENTIAL is an odd market to focus on right now since our portfolio doesn't often highlight our past work in these areas. We are working on changing that. Additions to our staff now give us a stronger presence in this market and involvement in programs such as the PARADE OF HOMES and HOME A RAMA. Several of our past projects have won awards. HISTORIC RENOVATION has been an on going aspect of our work in Gloucester with preservation of an old home originally built in the late 1700s. 

MEDICAL field is an ever growing market and it continues to redefine itself. With limited design resources in Hampton Roads, IONIC hopes to make an impact within the MEDICAL OFFICE landscape and the smaller specialized private practices. We don't expect to be invited into the big hospitals just yet but certainly a possibility in the future. Individual portfolios within IONIC has a strong background in these fields. We are currently waiting approvals on a large development of individual medical office spaces.

EDUCATION has much promise with so many school districts looking to upgrade older buildings or expand due to their population growth. IONIC doesn't look to be a contender with some of the firms that focus on exclusively. However we feel we have much to offer when it comes to reuse and revitizing out dated buildings for HIGHER EDUCATION. We are currently at 75% construction documents on a small private Christian school on the eastern shore. We have a fond desire to direct our attentions to LIBRARY developments as well.

As always we are still working hard on the corporate resumes, retail centers, religious and hospitality projects that we can assist developers, contractors and real estate agents in all the new and renovated development work that may need. Please give us a call to talk or take a stroll through our website. We would love the opportunity to sit down and talk with you and share our ideas.

Seeking to make our relationship a foundation of development.
Ionic DeZign Studios, Inc
www.ionicdezigns.com


Monday, October 21, 2013

Work Emails On The Weekend

Some have the thought that you should never look at your email on your time off or over the weekends. It is your time and not work time. Personal down time is necessary. Yep, I have read these before and certainly respect peoples desire to their own time. Family time is family time and work time is work time......got it......except when you are the boss! At least for me as a boss.

I cannot help myself. I stay connected all the time. That is just what I do. I want to be responsive to my clients that reach out to us. I want to be aware of any issues the others in the office are having. I just want to feel the pulse of the work all time......for fear that it might slow or even stop......Economic Cardiac Arrest!

For me it gives me peace of mind. I can see where others may certainly need that downtime. If there is a problem, then I would to know what I need to do first thing Monday morning to fix it. Or even better, I love getting an email that says I have just been awarded another project......that makes my day no matter how small the projects are.

Just like this weekend. My Wendy's client emailed me Sunday morning. TWICE! The first email told me that another location had been approved for renovation and to submit my paperwork. Great news! And then the second email.......another had been approved as well......even better news!

Some may certainly not give much credit to those small projects but we feel we have been blessed this year by all the work. All those small projects have certainly added up. They have given us the opportunity to add more wonderful staff to the family. They have allowed us to expand and renovate the office. They have given us some comfort and security that we will continue to be busy.  Sure it may not be museums or schools or other high profile buildings that architects dream of. But right now they are a dream come true.

My goal as the principal of the firm is to never have to go back to that dreadful time a few years ago where everything fell apart and we struggled so much. Never. Never. So, if that means I keep answering the emails over my weekends or evenings.....then so be it. I will do it whether times are good or bad. I owe that to my staff to make sure we all have work.

So my friends.....test me and send me a new project over the weekend......I will be sure to answer you right away. Cause that's what I do.

Success and happiness are not a place but a direction.......and I am on that highway.

IONIC DEZIGN STUDIOS
D. Eugene Thompson, AIA
www.ionicdezigns.com