skip to main |
skip to sidebar
I've given quite a bit of thought as to where we head as a firm in the Aftermath of the Great Recession. And when I say Aftermath, I mean when things start on the upswing and clients are looking for architects once again. I don't really think we are there yet. New work is still pretty scarce and cash is flowing like thick mud.
But as we do move ahead into the Aftermath, things will be different. Kermit Baker, chief economist for the AIA states that "...architecture is a cyclical industry, with very rapid growth or steep declines. The steady state is never there." I have indeed noted that over my 25 years in the industry and it's never been more obvious than this time around. The recessions of 1984, 1993 and 2001 have nothing on this one. There was another bad recession in 1976 that I am too young to remember, but those that do say this is even worse than that one, too.
For us, things were crazy busy from about 2003 until 2007. We could not get enough work out the door. We could not find enough good employees because they already had jobs. It was hard to take vacations. We were making mistakes because we rushed things and clients were willing to overlook them because they had even more work for us to do. We even had to start outsourcing as a way to get work finished on time. Things were hectic.
Now things have changed. Clients are still demanding. Business is still hectic, but in a very different way. Every detail of every project is scrutinized by our clients as they attempt to make their thick mud spread as far as possible. Invoices are being rejected if every reimbursable expense is not clearly backed up with receipts. Hourly rates are questioned. Timelines are being stretched as clients wait for bank financing to pay fees. No one seems to be in a hurry. And to make things harder, the competition for new projects just got a whole lot stiffer. Large architectural firms are now going after work that they would not have even considered a year ago. Employees that have been laid of are striking out on their own.
So the simple formula is this; less work, more competition means more or less, no work!
But it's not the end of the world. For those firms that are creative and can see the big picture there are opportunities. Reinvention in the Aftermath is a must.
Next: Our formula for reinvention in the Aftermath.
As we sloooooowwwly start to come out of the Great Recession I think everyone is going to be just a wee bit cautious about jumping headlong in to things. Being prudent only makes sense. And with so many buildings left vacant it will be a while before full out construction of new buildings happens. Remodeling and fixing up what you have will be the status quo for a while.
Enter Curtis Architecture and the Curtis Crew. We have been remodeling and renovating from the start so this part comes easy for us. Many architectural firms that used to get big work are now searching for tidbits like this. And sometimes they just don't do it well. They try to run it the only way they know, like a big job; nice and tidy and official.........and expensive!
The Crew can get in there and get our hands dirty like no other. What's are secret? Well, I'll tell you outright what it is and no big firm is gonna copy this one, because they are scared to.
Big sissies!
What we do special is this: We, as architects, design our own mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.
"Oh!" you gasp, "can they do that?"
The answer, of course is yes. In every state we work in it is legal. But almost every architectural firm in the US refuses to do this. Because they don't know how, don't want to take the time to learn and are afraid of the insurance implications..........because they don't know how and don't want to take the time to learn.
I, Fearless Leader, learned to do all of that as a way to keep more of my fees during the early lean years. I then taught the entire Crew. So, with one meeting and one Crew member we can look at your space with a very different eye to remodeling and save you tons of cash at the same time.
Are you in the mood for a remodel? Call me direct: Dustin Curtis, on my cell phone: 602-620-4088 and let's have a little conversation.
Oh, did I tell you we're easy to reach?
