I asked Pat how she sees the market, from an interior design business perspective, over the next 90 day?
…. I see a slight improvement. We have RFP’s out on a number of new buildings so we are hopeful. NEW WORK is the most creative work – keeps our teams motivated and fresh.
Over the next 5 years?
…I am a big believer in cycles, and we seem to see substantial corrections at the end of decades. I see things flattening out by 2015. We see some firms taking their facility work in-house. I am highly passionate about the future of the full service stand-alone specialty service – independent interior design specialists.
What qualities distinguish your preferred colleagues, collaborators and suppliers?
… #1 attitude, # 2 working well with teams, #3 skills. People who keep an ongoing relationship (not just on a project), who consistently deliver on time/on budget, accuracy, detail. For a personal example, I have a fantastic dry-cleaner who knows his customers, takes care of details, goes the extra mile . . .
What distinguishes you that causes people choose you and what you are selling over your competitors, why did you get selected and retained?
… strong processes lead to good solutions. I, we, approach our work as long-term relationship business. Creativity. Service. We are moving from FM Space toward REVIT - important software tools to support managing the relationships between design and working drawings. What loses clients, for any business, is failure to maintain relationships, so we work very hard on that.
What do you lose sleep over, what do you worry about?
… keeping enough work coming in, keeping staff motivated. My kids getting going in their careers.
Who or what influenced you most – that has made a difference in your life, or that was a major turning point?
… influence of grandparents – on both sides of the family – they lost everything in the depression, they made the best of their situation and never gave up. Helping my mom plan and design ‘grand balls’ during those summers at the lake. Before coming to Calgary, after finishing school, traveling around Europe – seeing the real thing, not just art and theory. In the early 80’s I was laid off 4 times – best thing that could have happened to me, taught me survival skills. I recover pretty quick! Peter Rice, former employer and later a mentor on conceptual design and how he grew his firm inspired us to build a design firm run like any other business – not just a collection of creative types . . .
Work life balance?
… my husband and I are both workaholics. I work long days – take evenings and weekends off. Housework (we are between cleaning ladies). We have a 2nd house in Victoria – we get out there for 4-day weekends a few times a year. I took flamenco dancing lessons once. Weekend breakfasts out (1886 Café is a favourite) ...
What are you reading?
… lots of work reading, design publications, FAST Company
Her ride?
… 2008 Lexus IS 250