3D renderings are still a very strong tool to use in client and potential client presentations.  However, for those design firms that truly want to set themselves apart, Gibson Design Management recently started offering animated walkthroughs.  This is a true “Wow” factor for your clients.  They are not inexpensive, but they are very powerful.  As we rolled out this new service, I took a step back and put myself in the design firms’ shoes.  I asked myself, “How can this help our members’ and clients’ businesses?”

Rendering by Gibson Design Management

Here are three main ways:

1. Sell emotion. When your client is able to see what their space is going to look like before it is even built or remodeled, they are going to bond.  They will bond with the space.  That bond will extend to their bond with you as the design firm.  Often it is difficult to communicate a visual to a client using words.  Eliminate the need for words and show them exactly what you mean. (more…)

Thank you so much to Todd Wickersty at Business Bullpen for inviting me to guest post on their blog today.  See the full post on their blog by clicking “read more” below!

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Those who are not active on Twitter (or have never signed up) frequently ask: “What’s the point?” or “Is this really going to help my business?”

The short answer is: yes.  I know that it works because it has worked for our business in 6 very distinct ways.  The holy grail of social media still leaves the question of how to effectively analyze social media efforts.  It seems that John Lovett and Jeremiah Owyang, from Web Analytics Demystified and the Altimeter Group, are on the right track for creating a framework.  Until then, the list of 6 will have to be statistics free.

Creating leads. Twitter helps foster relationships if used properly.  It’s a way to engage in conversation and offer answers when asked—without expecting anything in return.

Click here to read more…

If you aren’t able to travel this summer, the French Martini might be a winning substitute for any foreign culture cravings (or, at least it will satisfy your taste buds).  This particular recipe was served as a part of last week’s Denver May Market at the Grange Showroom where Alexandra spoke about the importance of company blogs while the audience enjoyed delicious French fare and martinis. Wish you had been there? Luckily, you can create your own French martini and enjoy it wherever you might be on the globe.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Vodka
• ½ oz Chambord
• 2 ½ oz Pineapple Juice

Preparation:

1. Back a shaker full of ice and add all ingredients
2. Shake or stir (Note: the pineapple juice makes the drink cloudy anyway, so the shaking gives a nice light texture because of pineapple juice’s tendency to froth!)
3. Strain into a martini glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.
5. Enjoy!

If you haven’t already signed up for our monthly newsletter, The Gibson, add yourself to the list and a new martini recipe will be yours every month.

A guest blog post by Gail Doby, ASID, Design Success University

I’ve been an interior designer for over 20 years, so I’ve had plenty of time to make these mistakes.  Here’s a startling statistic (and I’ll bet it is higher during this recession) – 62.8% of all new businesses fail within 6 years according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and 96% fail within 10 years.  That means you’re lucky to be one of 4 out of 100 to make it past 10 years…or is it luck?

What if you could avoid the mistakes that these business owners made?

I’d like to see you avoid them, and if you’ve already done a few of them, now you can learn what not to do so you don’t waste your valuable time and money:

1. Not having a written “ideal client” profile – If you don’t know who your ideal client is, how can you tell other people who they can refer to you?  If you’ve ever had the client from &%$&, (or more than once) the key is to know what you don’t want in a client as much as what you do want.
2. Not knowing the lifetime value of your client – If you’ve been in the business even a few years, you can add up your billings and divide by the number of clients to get your current lifetime value.  You should also look at how long they stay as a client.  These two metrics are critical in your business planning and if you have this data as part of your Business Dashboard, it will help you grow your business. (more…)

Good evening, I’m Ron Burgundy, and this is what’s happening in your world tonight.  What you’re about to see is a Channel 4 Social Media News exclusive.

Part of the Channel 4 News Team.

Residents have spotted a turquoise lamp traveling from one Charlottesville location to another.  It’s quite phenomenal, to say the least– a lamp traveling.  How about that?  Does it have feet?  Channel 4 has received reports that this mobile lamp is a part of a contest involving local businesses and Gibson Design Management member, the Shade Shop.  Meteorologist Brick Tamland has responded with: “I love lamp,” offering no further comments when questioned about his devotion to this mysterious lamp.

Authorities have noted that this Shade Shop’s cheerful turquoise lamp has moved to a new temporary residence every Wednesday, waiting for curious Charlottesville locals to stop by, take photos, tweet (@ShadeShop’s #TravelingLight Lamp Giveaway), or respond to the weekly question posted on the Shade Shop blog– all of which were ways to enter to win.  And the outcome? It looks like the word has traveled about this lamp and a lucky winner will bring this charming lamp home at the end of this very week!

Unfortunately this means the lamp will not be gracing our studio with his presence – but hey, I can’t even be mad. That lamp is amazing!  At least someone will be able to enjoy him in his glory.   When I am finished reading this teleprompter, you should go read the Shade Shop blog to learn more about this breaking news story and find out what lucky son of a bee-sting gets to take him home.

For all of us here at the News Center, I’m Ron Burgundy.

You stay classy, Charlottesville.

We work with many design firms that utilize 3D photorealistic renderings to show clients their design vision.  This is a great way to communicate and sell your vision through imagery instead of words, but why not use renderings in your business for other purposes as well?

Design by Gibson Design Group | Rendering for Upcoming Charity House Show

Here are 3 ideas for using 3D renderings that you might not have thought about previously:

1. Work backwards. If you have a great project in your portfolio that you have already completed and photographed, why not render that project as well.  This will beef up your portfolio by showing potential clients what they can expect as a “before” (the rendering) and “after” (the photograph).  The similarities will be astounding to the potential client.
2. Project never built, but design done. Unfortunately, given the economy over the past two years, many large projects never got off the ground.  However, you may have done great design work for these spaces.  If you have a project that was not ever completed, or the client pulled the plug for budgetary reasons, why not render your vision and add that to your portfolio?
3. Substitute for traditional photography. While professionally photographing your best work is extremely important for your portfolio, there are some projects that might not be quite worth the thousands of dollars to photograph.  As a less expensive alternative, you can take photos of the spaces with a point and click camera and then have photorealistic renderings done to mimic them.  This is also an opportunity to add the window treatments, art, accessories, or additional pieces that were part of the design, but not purchased by the client.

Conventional or non-conventional uses aside, utilizing photorealistic 3D renderings in your portfolio is a great way to win that next client, and set yourself apart from your competitors.

A salon in our hometown of Charlottesville is doing a great job with promoting its business on Facebook.  They have tremendous fan interaction and loyalty, and you can really see the personality of the salon, without even stepping foot in the door.  In fact, I was so impressed with their company after being a fan on Facebook for the past few months I even considered scheduling my next hair cut there…until today.

I am a fan of their page on Facebook.  A week ago, they posted on their wall that if they got to 1,000 fans (now “likes”) by the end of May, one of their fans would receive a giveaway.  This is clearly against the Facebook Terms of Service agreement which now prohibits contests being held on a Facebook business page unless offered through a third party vendor or approved by Facebook directly.

I felt a bit like a little kid saying “my mom says that you’re not supposed to do that”, but I wanted to make sure that this salon did not get in trouble and have their hard work on Facebook be for naught.  I commented on the giveaway post by the salon and diplomatically told them to be careful about offering contests on their page.  I also said that I was not sure how actively Facebook was enforcing these guidelines, but I wanted to be sure that they knew.

What did the salon do???  They deleted my comment.  They have then proceeded to post more on their wall about this giveaway, even weekly contests to their “likes” group.  (more…)