Market Report 2021: How we found ❤️ in uncertain times.
Shooting a newly staged rental at V Marina, Puerto Vallarta MX.
In this year of massive global shifts, every small business has been pressured to pivot, put in more hours, plan for the unplanned and put customer needs ahead of profit and normal protocols. Every industry on the planet has been affected by supply chain shortages, freight delays and unexpected substitutions. From auto parts to grocery store shelves and the entire home industry, everything has been impacted by factory closures, staffing shortages and the rising cost of raw goods and materials.
Our homebuyers, investors and clients have been extraordinarily patient this year as we struggled to meet our long-tenured 8-week turntime, complete our legendary White Glove Installs and surprise and delight our customers with move-in ready residences for their arrivals to paradise.
Throughout this unprecedented year, our labor and freight costs doubled and our contractors worked harder and longer hours than ever before. We survived a team-wide outbreak of the Delta variant, covered PCR testing and medical expenses for installers and their families while absorbing Covid surcharges upwards of 7-11% accessed by vendors and still holding our prices for our clients as long as we could.
Here are the Top Six Ways we adjusted to changing times:
By streamlining our furnishings program and focusing on vendors with realtime inventories we were able to overcome staggeringly long lead times and continue delivering and completing our White Glove Installs. Our vendor base was remarkably helpful in accommodating our needs.
We invested in our own on-hand inventory to provide substitutions, loaners and temporary replacements so owners arrived to completed homes whenever possible.
We doubled up on order tracking, increasing the hours spent each week following up with suppliers, requesting shipper updates and proof of delivery on our inbound freight.
Our freight forwarder updated its system to provide visual scans thru video and photo files so we could personally identify boxes in transit for upcoming installs from our San Diego and Guadalajara receiving facilities.
We expanded our trades and contractor base, extending opportunities to new technicians on our team. Some made the cut and others did not. Overall we dramatically improved key services like appliance and electronics install, sanitary deep cleanings, carpintery, tilework and more so we can be responsive to owners needs.
Our local install crews were on hold each week pending freight arrivals, to shorten delivery times to each location around the Bay of Banderas. For this reason, they voluntarily worked thru all the Mexican national holidays, celebrating USA days off instead. For this we are enormously grateful to our dedicated crews and their more-than-patient families.
In these ways we committed to staying in step with best-in-class strategies employed by the interior design industry at large to complete our projects in the most proficient way possible. Some days we were heroes, some days we took the heat and yet everyday we held onto the privilege we have to live, work and play in paradise.
As we close this game-changing year, we extend a heart-felt thanks to all our realtors, suppliers, clients, family and friends for candid feedback, challenging us to do better - and above all committing to new projects in 2022. Home is the ❤️ of our business and we thank you for trusting us with the most sacred space of all!
Read how the interior design industry is adapting to changing times:
The Future of Interior design, Architectural Digest
ASID Covid Pulse Survey, American Society of Interior Designers
Designers Share Thoughts on the Global Impact of the Pandemic, DEZEEN
