The news is out and the Reader's Choice Awards have been released in the March Issue of Rancho and Coast Magazine published in San Diego Country. Our firm has been annouced to be the Reader's Choice for an Interior Design Firm for 2010......WOW....what an honor. Check out the article that was publsihed in Ranch and Coast.
http://www.ranchandcoast.com/INDULGE/25/home/1565/BEST-2010-HOME-GARDEN/IMAGE/3240/
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A New Year To See Change or Not?
Well we are in the new month of the New Year and the word is out that change in our professional world is coming and in due time. January stared with a slow and yet interesting start as last week there were two call for new work and some business with existing clients. Then the earth quake in Haiti made us realize how real the world is and how fortunate we all are to be in a first world country even with these problems.
This week was evidence of false starts of new business as both potential clients turned out to either be the clients of pyscho land revisited or just dumb and stupid and ignorant of what design is, should be or would be and never will get past their own road blocks in creating something special. Wow, it feels good to get that out. Where are all the good clients; what world have to gone to and will they return. Projects are creative and hard work with teams of creative experts guiding and educating and caring for resources. The clients that make the most noise and try to get the most involved end up with less value in the end other than some quick fix for personal gratification.
We are all looking forward to a good year ahead but I wonder if this is a time for re-inventing ourselves to be able to utilize our resources and gifts as artists to create a living and keep our creative teams in tact. The way it was is in the past as it seems that there needs to be a new format that will work in the long haul.
This week was evidence of false starts of new business as both potential clients turned out to either be the clients of pyscho land revisited or just dumb and stupid and ignorant of what design is, should be or would be and never will get past their own road blocks in creating something special. Wow, it feels good to get that out. Where are all the good clients; what world have to gone to and will they return. Projects are creative and hard work with teams of creative experts guiding and educating and caring for resources. The clients that make the most noise and try to get the most involved end up with less value in the end other than some quick fix for personal gratification.
We are all looking forward to a good year ahead but I wonder if this is a time for re-inventing ourselves to be able to utilize our resources and gifts as artists to create a living and keep our creative teams in tact. The way it was is in the past as it seems that there needs to be a new format that will work in the long haul.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OR OF SOMETHING NEW?
For the last year I have seen the news and heard the reports of the economy and how it is effecting many industries. As the stock market is improving it is becoming obvious that companies are working more efficiently with fewer workers. I know this is true with my own firm. The pace is slower and the bodies are less and it is comfortable if we can still keep the firm in tact and successful. Thus is where the doubts begin.
Last week I had a talk with a veteran contractor who confessed his concern about where all of this is going. On one side of the market place, word is out that engineers are being contacted for new high end residential projects as well as soils engineers; both the first to be involved with the architects. But the concern is the timing that is required after such consultants do their due dilligence and the architects get started with their plans and proposals to the agencies and review boards that get involved. It is estimate that a minimum of 15 months is required before a contractor has an opportunity to bid on the project. And it could be 12 months before an interior design firm is hired to work on the same project. From experience these are conservative time frames as some projects are in the planning stage for more than 2 years and then in the construction phase fo at least 18 months before completion.
All that being said, if we are starting to see an economic up turn in the custom home market, which I truly doubt, it could be 1 year before our firm will have new work on the boards. In the meantime, I guess one has to begin to end the outlay of capital to stay afloat and re-invent themselves as new businesses. You can cost cut only to a point and then you start to change the visual, functional and practical form of your firm. Thus a new idea must be born to carry you into the future. Has this happened in the past; of course. 1970, 1982, 1991, 2000 and now 2009. Oddly it seems more scary now as our ages are now in the higher numbers and the effort of reconstructing our firms and staff is more exhausting. I thought we had paid the price of success from our hard work of the past!
So what is the future! Stay tuned as it will be a positive blog as we have to leave our fears and belly aching behind us. Life is good and knowledge is grand. When one has both, success is eminent. Read on and enjoy the ride.
Last week I had a talk with a veteran contractor who confessed his concern about where all of this is going. On one side of the market place, word is out that engineers are being contacted for new high end residential projects as well as soils engineers; both the first to be involved with the architects. But the concern is the timing that is required after such consultants do their due dilligence and the architects get started with their plans and proposals to the agencies and review boards that get involved. It is estimate that a minimum of 15 months is required before a contractor has an opportunity to bid on the project. And it could be 12 months before an interior design firm is hired to work on the same project. From experience these are conservative time frames as some projects are in the planning stage for more than 2 years and then in the construction phase fo at least 18 months before completion.
All that being said, if we are starting to see an economic up turn in the custom home market, which I truly doubt, it could be 1 year before our firm will have new work on the boards. In the meantime, I guess one has to begin to end the outlay of capital to stay afloat and re-invent themselves as new businesses. You can cost cut only to a point and then you start to change the visual, functional and practical form of your firm. Thus a new idea must be born to carry you into the future. Has this happened in the past; of course. 1970, 1982, 1991, 2000 and now 2009. Oddly it seems more scary now as our ages are now in the higher numbers and the effort of reconstructing our firms and staff is more exhausting. I thought we had paid the price of success from our hard work of the past!
So what is the future! Stay tuned as it will be a positive blog as we have to leave our fears and belly aching behind us. Life is good and knowledge is grand. When one has both, success is eminent. Read on and enjoy the ride.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Are banks freeing up money for clients to remain as clients?
Possibly some good news this week as one of our 'wealthy' clients in California received approval from a local bank for funds to do a construction loan for a 10 Million plus residence. Wells Fargo had rejected this clients terms and then a smaller and more personal bank made a proposal and the deal was set. So this ends the series of conversations I have had with clients that they are waiting for banks to loosen up to build the dream house they have been planning for years. Unfortunately our office has completed our work for this particular client as he wanted his plans 100% complete before applying for the loan.
But there are others out there that we have not started that have had the same issues that banks are not intersted in supporting the wealthy in their desire to build a final dream estate. Banks will make the deals but on their terms which apparantly are harsh and not business like for savoy clients. The programs being spoken about are for average income folks and not for multi millionaries who support designers like myself. Well let's all watch what happens in the next month or two. I am skeptic but then who isn't these days.
But there are others out there that we have not started that have had the same issues that banks are not intersted in supporting the wealthy in their desire to build a final dream estate. Banks will make the deals but on their terms which apparantly are harsh and not business like for savoy clients. The programs being spoken about are for average income folks and not for multi millionaries who support designers like myself. Well let's all watch what happens in the next month or two. I am skeptic but then who isn't these days.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A Blog Site is Born
Finally after many discussions with great friends I am guided to create this blog site to share my past and the future with the cyber world. Paul Schatz, Interior Designer and Importer blog site is born. The last 33 years of being an independant interior designer and importer has been a great and inspiring experience worth sharing. I remember years ago when I asked my accountant if he thought I would have be able to save money to retire, he said probably not as you are an 'artist' and not a corporate business man but you live an 'enchanted' life style through you work. Well that has never changed!! Still not able to retire but still living an enchanted life style through my work.
My first design position was in 1970 in Long Beach California where I was the 'shopping bag' carrying assistant for a remarkable designer by the name of Elizabeth Hodgin. Now when I have my assistants carry my bags, mainly because they are filled and too heavy for me to tote, I think of those early days when I proudly made $ 50 per week and was very happy with my achievement. But in 1976, I moved to the San Diego area and within a year started my own firm with one client. Since then there have been many relationships built from hard work and great inspirations.
Interior Design Imports............a name created out of desperation in the 70's was based on a description of exactly what I wanted to do; 'interor design" and "importing". My first import experience was in Mexico with my dear friend Jose Luna where we traveled in a combi bus throughout central Mexico with his then wife " Anabella" and I purchased a few dozen items that I brought to the USA. Since then there have been trips to other parts of the world where 40' containers are filled and brought to the USA for specific projects or to just be held as found objects until the right home is found.
Since moving to San Diego in the 70's, there were some detours such as opening 3 retails stores in Sedona Arizona and living bi-state between Arizona and California for many years. The idea of being a shop keeper never really took hold although our shops were trend setting as well as cash depleting...hahaha. Who ever said a store in a tourist area could make money with an absentee owner! And 3 stores means three times the same result.........got the picture??
Now that some background has been set, I hope to post some interesting blogs of the past, present and future as the inspiration arrives.
My first design position was in 1970 in Long Beach California where I was the 'shopping bag' carrying assistant for a remarkable designer by the name of Elizabeth Hodgin. Now when I have my assistants carry my bags, mainly because they are filled and too heavy for me to tote, I think of those early days when I proudly made $ 50 per week and was very happy with my achievement. But in 1976, I moved to the San Diego area and within a year started my own firm with one client. Since then there have been many relationships built from hard work and great inspirations.
Interior Design Imports............a name created out of desperation in the 70's was based on a description of exactly what I wanted to do; 'interor design" and "importing". My first import experience was in Mexico with my dear friend Jose Luna where we traveled in a combi bus throughout central Mexico with his then wife " Anabella" and I purchased a few dozen items that I brought to the USA. Since then there have been trips to other parts of the world where 40' containers are filled and brought to the USA for specific projects or to just be held as found objects until the right home is found.
Since moving to San Diego in the 70's, there were some detours such as opening 3 retails stores in Sedona Arizona and living bi-state between Arizona and California for many years. The idea of being a shop keeper never really took hold although our shops were trend setting as well as cash depleting...hahaha. Who ever said a store in a tourist area could make money with an absentee owner! And 3 stores means three times the same result.........got the picture??
Now that some background has been set, I hope to post some interesting blogs of the past, present and future as the inspiration arrives.
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