I wouldn’t tell this to just anyone, but I love working in excel. It is such a powerful tool that is too often underutilized. In the design industry it can improve your business no matter what purchase order management program you use.  If you are struggling to make your spreadsheets look just right look, then look no further but here for three easy excel formatting tips.

Now that the New Year is upon us, we find ourselves cleaning up the holiday leftovers and formulating resolutions.  This year instead of pledging to improve your life through diet, developing your tennis serve, or organizing your travel photo’s, I challenge all of you to look around and see what compels you.  Think about what inspires you, give yourself a list of goals and once you are able to narrow that list down, then you will have a positive constructive vision on which to live by.

So look around yourself and soak in the little things.  Find the inspiration that made you who you are today.  Chances are if you surround yourself with positive and creative sources you will be the best version of yourself.

Last night one of our clients left this life too early.  As a vivacious and healthy woman, we were shocked to learn of her stroke, coma, and then passing.

While I want to delve deeper into the business side of this, I would rather write today that we should instead think about the things that truly matter–in life and in business.

Let those that you love know that you love them.  Let your employees know that they are important to you and your business.  Enjoy your clients not only as important people to the life of your business but also as the people that they are.

Many will argue that there should be a strict line between client and friend.  We do not support that.  We are happy to call many of our clients also friends.  We are sad to have lost a friend today.

I’m off to Los Angeles on Friday, May 29th through Monday, June 1st!  While in LA I will be meeting with some business associates but also have openings.  Let me know if you need to see my smiling face while I’m out there!  Send me an email at alexandra@gibsondesignmanagement.com.

On Monday, June 1st, I fly to Denver and will be there until Thursday, June 4th.  While in Denver I will be doing a social media workshop for some of the lovely ladies at Southern Living at Home and then will be presenting on social media for interior designers at the Denver Design District on June 2nd at 5 pm.  Thank you to the Denver Design District and especially the Whitney Evans showroom for hostessing.  If you’re interested in the presentation and are going to be in Denver, click here for more information.

It came to my attention this morning that another company in our industry created a knock off of our social media starter package for interior designers.  I must admit that I was appalled that 1. someone would have the audacity to use our title, our pricing, our process, and some of our wording and that 2. this person was someone who had misled me and had phone conversations with me under false pretenses.

In response, I did what any social media maven would do, I tweeted about it.  I posted the two links to show the comparison between what we advertised as our package on our website, starting in February 2009, and what this person is now advertising.  As many said, the similarities were uncanny.

Upon confronting this person via telephone, I was told that there was no way that he would ever copy anyone.  When asked what I would like him to do, I merely said that if he felt like he had done nothing wrong, then he should leave the page up as it stands and he had nothing to worry about.

Needless to say, the individual’s page came down, the pricing for the package was changed to FREE and the individual began a Twitter crusade to align his troops against us.  I did not participate in this nor will I.   This is not how we work.  We work collaboratively internally and externally.  We can sleep at night.  We are not okay with imitation and plagiarism.  The Gibson Design Management team works too hard to have someone copy and paste, change a few words, and then call the work his own.

Below is a screen shot of the page that was put up as this person’s own “original idea”.

To see the description of our Social Media Starter package, please click on the box on the right of our blog entitled, “Introducing our New Social Media and Networking Starter Package”.  You too will recognize the “uncanny similarities”.

Our company’s stance on this incident is that we are disappointed that someone would not use his own ingenuity to develop a better mouse trap.  We are also very disappointed that he is now trying to smear our good name when we have done nothing more than let him know that we will not stand for this type of unprofessionalism.

The interior design industry does not stand for knock offs.

Be sure to follow our CEO, Alexandra Gibson, on Twitter April 28th-30th as she visits High Point Furniture Market.   Follow her at twitter.com/gibsondm and get all the details and scoop from her adventure!  For our Gibson Design Management  members, you’ll soon be receiving our High Point Report that outlines new resources and updates from current vendors.   

A sampling of Alexandra’s Tuesday “tweets”

-Chocolate vignette from Pearson. #highpoint http://yfrog.com/37fsvj

-French seam on upholstery is becoming more prevalent. #highpoint

-Dransfield & Ross- great resource for tabletop access., pillows, & accent tables. Whimsical & fun. #highpoint

-Sofa in Sunbrella fabric. Pearson also has monogram pgm & will closely stitch-match ben Moore. http://yfrog.com/e9qspxj

-New curved sofa from Pearson. 102″ continuous front rail (very rare). 52″ deep. #highpoint

-Pretty new case piece from Pearson. Circular design across glass front. #highpoint http://yfrog.com/5sqh8j

Stay tuned for more High Point Adventures through Thursday, the 30th.

In our current economy it is more important than ever to think outside the box.  Many designers are using this time to redefine themselves and position their design firm in new markets.  Recently, we were approached by a young designer in New Jersey looking to target a more upscale clientele.  She feels her current portfolio doesn’t lend itself to the types of projects she would like to work on.  After seeing the realistic quality of Gibson Design Management’s 3D renderings, she decided to do some renderings of a few fabulous designs that illustrate her talent and capabilities.  She feels this will enable her design firm to attract clients that might not have otherwise been interested in her work based on her current portfolio. 
 
Maybe you would like to attract commercial projects or work with real estate agents to stage their properties.  Whatever the new market you’re ready to target, our 3D renderings can help you gain some valuable attention and recognition.  Contact our CAD Services team for more information.

3D Rendering, Gibson Design Management

Time to try this month’s martini from The Gibson, our monthly eNewsletter…click here to receive The Gibson.  We chose The Silver Pear Martini this month, something a little different than your average martini!  Let us know what you think about the The Silver Pear Martini – and make sure to sign up for our monthly eNewsletter so that you don’t miss out on all the great martini recipes to come.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ oz Patron Silver
• 1 Lime wedges
• 2 oz pear nectar
• Ice

Preparation:

1. Wet the rim of martini glasses with a lime wedge and then dip in sugar, set aside

2. Combine Patron Silver, lime wedges, and pear nectar over ice in a cocktail shaker

3. Shake well and strain into cocktail glass

Enjoy!

Do you ever wish there were more hours in the day, like about 24?  If so, you’re not alone!  We can’t increase the actual number of hours in the day, as much as we’d like to, but we can help you spend your time as effectively as possible. 

-Yes, Gibson Design Management can help you with Purchase Order Management: pricing, proposals, ordering, tracking & arranging for shipping/receiving…

-Yes, our CAD Services team can draw the plans and create the renderings to help your clients visualize the end result of your stunning designs…

-Yes, with our Accounting Services, you have the benefit of a full-service accounting team to complete all financially related tasks within your design firm…

What about Project Sourcing?  Finding the right materials for your design projects take time; time you don’t always have.  So, we’re introducing a new service to our members, Project Sourcing!

With Project Sourcing, you’ll have someone available who can pull and price all products within your parameters to meet the needs of your design project:

• Fabric
• Wallcoverings
• Drapery Hardware
• Furnishings
• Artwork
• Accessories
• Tile
• Lighting
• Plumbing & Hardware
• And more…

We can source by color, price point, vendor, etc.  Members will submit a Project Sourcing Request Form and work with a trained sourcing professional to find what they need.  Our team is very familiar with their local Design Center and has developed strong relationships with the showroom management.

If you would like more information about Project Sourcing, please contact Kay Alessi, Director, Sales and Marketing.  We would love as much input from our members in shaping this service and welcome your questions about how Project Sourcing can assist you with your next design project.

Is your firm up to date with the latest CAD drafting and rendering technology?  As with most things “Hi-Tech,” it can be exhausting and expensive to stay current with the latest software available, not to mention the skill and expertise necessary to utilize it.  Not only does our CAD Services team allow you to increase your efficiency and profitability, we also make it possible for you to offer your clients the most up-to-date, current technology available without having to invest in software upgrades, equipment, and continual training.  Utilizing GDM’s CAD Services allows your design firm to offer the very best to your clients, without the hassle and expense of keeping up-to-date with the latest in drafting and rendering software. 

For more information, please contact us at CADServices@gibsondesignmanagement.com