Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Serious Update
Well, it's been AGES since I last posted. I can't really remember what was said, so I might just give an update on some highlights for Ego Squared this year.
Ego Squared started it second year rather quietly - not too dramatic as the commercial fitout industry is 'generally' reasonably quiet in January. A lot of the trades don't come back from Christmas break until well into January. We were working on some small jobs around the local area (small jobs are intensive - not complaining at all!) which is a nice way to start the year (not ideal, but nice none the less).
As we moved through February, the projects gradually became larger and more consistent. Our alliance with Diverse Shopfitters (DS) strengthened to the point where we were either spending more time at the factory or one or more of their staff were at our one room office - something had to give. Our office lease was up in mid-Feb and it was decided that it would be best for both companies that we should move in next door to DS. We checked out their existing 'store-room'. Lucky it's our job to spot potential in spaces and we designed up our new office (as well as some alterations to DS's existing office space). We went from 23sqm to 45sqm - further away from home and the wonderful cafes of Subiaco, but for the same rent.
As is typical with our industry things take longer than expected and we moved our office home temporarily (3 weeks!). Eventually we got in and haven't really looked back. Things started moving pretty quickly with lots of work coming through DS as well as our own projects.
We got so busy during the year that we put out at "Help - we need help" in May. We got a call from a girl recommended to us by David Heymans (one of our interior design lecturers). Amber started with us in late May after moving to Perth from Bunbury (infact I went to the same high school as her - small world, especially in Western Australia! And we like it that way!)
We were particularly proud of ourselves for winning a large dental surgery in Rockingham for Dr James Wong - 275sqm - 6 surgeries - brand new building shell. It was constructed by Dentpro (huge thanks to Bill Elsegood!) and equipment was supplied by West Coast Dental (thanks to Joe Minervini!) Construction was finished in October and the grand opening party is next weekend (I must admit that is my favourite part of the project!).
Typically things start slowing down for designers (especially for retail) getting closer to Christmas as the design part needs to be finished weeks ago, if the retailer has any chance of getting opening in time for this Christmas trade. Not so this year - it has be particularly hectic (maybe moreso as we have more contact with the construction side being so close to DS).
So we continue on and my 'New Years Resolution' starts now (at the end of November!) with getting this blog happening!
Will keep you posted on how things are going in the Ego Squared world!
Ego Squared started it second year rather quietly - not too dramatic as the commercial fitout industry is 'generally' reasonably quiet in January. A lot of the trades don't come back from Christmas break until well into January. We were working on some small jobs around the local area (small jobs are intensive - not complaining at all!) which is a nice way to start the year (not ideal, but nice none the less).
As we moved through February, the projects gradually became larger and more consistent. Our alliance with Diverse Shopfitters (DS) strengthened to the point where we were either spending more time at the factory or one or more of their staff were at our one room office - something had to give. Our office lease was up in mid-Feb and it was decided that it would be best for both companies that we should move in next door to DS. We checked out their existing 'store-room'. Lucky it's our job to spot potential in spaces and we designed up our new office (as well as some alterations to DS's existing office space). We went from 23sqm to 45sqm - further away from home and the wonderful cafes of Subiaco, but for the same rent.
As is typical with our industry things take longer than expected and we moved our office home temporarily (3 weeks!). Eventually we got in and haven't really looked back. Things started moving pretty quickly with lots of work coming through DS as well as our own projects.
We got so busy during the year that we put out at "Help - we need help" in May. We got a call from a girl recommended to us by David Heymans (one of our interior design lecturers). Amber started with us in late May after moving to Perth from Bunbury (infact I went to the same high school as her - small world, especially in Western Australia! And we like it that way!)
We were particularly proud of ourselves for winning a large dental surgery in Rockingham for Dr James Wong - 275sqm - 6 surgeries - brand new building shell. It was constructed by Dentpro (huge thanks to Bill Elsegood!) and equipment was supplied by West Coast Dental (thanks to Joe Minervini!) Construction was finished in October and the grand opening party is next weekend (I must admit that is my favourite part of the project!).
Typically things start slowing down for designers (especially for retail) getting closer to Christmas as the design part needs to be finished weeks ago, if the retailer has any chance of getting opening in time for this Christmas trade. Not so this year - it has be particularly hectic (maybe moreso as we have more contact with the construction side being so close to DS).
So we continue on and my 'New Years Resolution' starts now (at the end of November!) with getting this blog happening!
Will keep you posted on how things are going in the Ego Squared world!
# posted by natego @ 8:12 PM 
