by Ryan | Dec 18, 2017 | Branding, Design News, Hospitality Design, Interior Design, Procurement and Purchasing
Apartment complex developments depend on their leasing office and shared amenities to give their customers a sense of their brand and values. Those spaces also say something about the company’s aesthetic. Hidden Lakes Apartments in Kentwood, Michigan initiated a two-year remodeling of their clubhouse, game room, leasing office and outdoor pool in 2015.
Wolverine Building Group project manager, Landon Jones, contacted r.o.i. Design to design the interiors. The project celebrated its grand reopening in November 2017.
In addition to selecting all finishes, r.o.i. Design selected all art and furnishings, supplying many of them. The clubhouse lounge furnishings look amazing! Great job, thanks to Ronda Geyer, our Procurement and Purchasing Manager.
Some other favorite elements of the remodeled space include:
- Large format wall tile and a wall hung credenza in the Lobby
- New LED chandeliers in the Clubhouse Lounge
- Recessed wall fireplace and built-ins in the Leasing Office
- Wall finishes in the Restrooms
by Ryan | Sep 13, 2016 | Design News, Procurement and Purchasing, Project Management
So much of what r.o.i. Design does is deliver the products that complete the design. We want to fulfill the promise we make during the design process. That is a full-time job for a patient, persistent, inquisitive and organized person.
Ronda Geyer joined us this year in the role of Products and Procurement Manager. She describes her job as the “Manager of Stuff”. She comes to r.o.i. Design with experience in product sales, interior design, landscape design and project management. Her challenge is to juggle the totally unique nature of each job and their corresponding variety of suppliers and vendors. No two jobs are alike, nor use the same resources, or have the same budget.
“Last month I was shipping product to Virginia, Indiana and Michigan,” Ronda described. “I want to make our customers happy and we work very hard not to disappoint them, which most often comes down to managing expectations and real time communications. I am getting better and better at it.”
by Mary | Oct 13, 2015 | Hospitality Design, Interior Design, Procurement and Purchasing, Project Management
With the increase of new hotel and resort projects, as well as robust remodeling, owners and construction project managers are re-examining how they fulfill the millwork and casegood category of their building projects.
r.o.i. Design describes millwork as casegoods that are fixed to the architecture. Casegoods (typically described in the furniture category) and millwork are amortized differently on the balance sheet and quite often supplied by different sources. This area of procurement is a challenge but also an opportunity.
Aside: The debate about buying US or non-US continues, but the more foreign manufacturers merge their offering with state side distribution, the point of manufacturing is becoming less of a political, economic issue. We all need each other, globally to make our businesses work, within reason. Logistics and the chain of ownership continues to be the defining component to value and control.
r.o.i. Design can contribute to this dialogue with these observations:
- Understanding: When the customer understands that the total cost of a product includes, freight, handling, staging and delivery-the criteria may change. The age old mantra, “you can have 2 of the 3 – 1. design, 2. price or 3. schedule” still holds true.
- Flexibility: And when the project team is willing to look at qualified suppliers outside their list of typical vendors, value can be realized.
- Cost Analysis: Overseas products may show up with a reduced unit price, but the cost and risk to get those products to the site, as designed and on time is not always as manageable. We see this situation being improved incrementally and by situation, but as of October 2015, we don’t make price or lead time promises on overseas product without considerable confirmation and agreement.
- New Materials and Technology: While process and manufacturing styles for US manufacturers are consistent, their emerging ability to use new materials and technology are offering a value that competes with the “all in costs” of overseas manufactures.
- Design-Assist: When project budgeting can take advantage of qualified suppliers, early in the process, value is realized. Sharing the designing of products with the makers of the products only makes sense to our customers.
Textured Melamine
New Materials
In the last few years, r.o.i. Design has specified “new materials” with great success.
- Textured melamine panel products offer a huge advantage for larger projects.
- The big names in laminate (Formica, Wilsonart, Pionite and Nevamar) have done there homework and laminate, an affordable option, is becoming a more viable option to wood or stone in today’s designs.
- And the combined use of solid surface veneer with laminates has created options for look and feel not available even a year ago.
- Upholstered casegoods are a viable option. Technology and design has created a category of fabric that defies wear, responds to robust cleaning and is easily replaceable. Fabrics are merging with hard surface options.
r.o.i. Design has it roots in manufacturing for hospitality and while we only have a sample shop today, our interest, relationships and experience in casegoods and millwork continue to bring value to our customers.
We negotiate with our customers and their contractors to determine how we best can bring value to their millwork and casegood procurement.
by Mary | Oct 6, 2015 | Design News, Procurement and Purchasing
Traci Pelton, Customer Services and Procurement
Welcome Traci, our new Customer Services and Procurement Professional at r.o.i. Design.
“Runs Towards Fires” is the opening line of Traci Pelton’s resume. r.o.i. Design likes to avoid fires and emergencies, but finding someone who is willing to address them if they show up is a wonderful attribute, especially for someone who’s job is to provide customer services.
Traci joins us with more than 10 years experience in project management, product estimating, engineering and wood manufacturing. Her background resonated with our team since r.o.i. Design also has roots in manufacturing and a “get ‘er done” attitude.
In her first week with us, we asked Traci to work in the field receiving over 900 pieces furniture and accessories for Black River Elementary School in Holland, MI. She checked, sorted, moved, investigated, and even in some cases, assembled. Thank you Traci!
A more typical week for Traci will include researching products, writing proposals and purchase orders, managing the logistics, receipt, and delivery of products that our customers purchase from us. She also can create renderings of products we design!
Traci also knows how to finish wood. We have already got her spray finishing some custom furnishings!
Welcome Traci to the 2015 r.o.i. Design Team.
L to R: Mary, Traci, Mary Jane, Ryan and Julie
