Some business resolutions worth keeping - Part 2

Part two continued from the January 18th, 2013 Construction, Design & Engineering edition of the New England Real Estate Journal. "I have been using the term 'combined trade subcontractor,'" said Hodas. "To describe a process where we can install a finished solution without involving multiple trades. When our product is installed, it is complete and usable—as well as reusable. The floor is finished, the ceiling is finished, and the space is occupiable." These factors have created a resurgence and reinvention of the architectural wall industry, with numerous products available from both domestic and European sources. This creates opportunities for organizations to shift focus from furniture sales and installation to walls. "This is great for our business," said Ed Camuso, owner of East Coast Office Installations, a union furniture and wall installation company in Wilmington, Mass. "As office furniture becomes smaller and simpler, more of our business growth is due to installation of architectural wall products. It's much more specialized, and the product variety is growing every day. My Italian is getting a lot better," said Camuso, referring to the array of Italian products used in several large Boston construction projects. "The integration with the construction team is much more critical than with office furniture. We become part of the construction team." Furniture dealers are making big efforts to develop the expertise and offer quality wall products as another revenue stream and solution for their clients. And companies like Spaceworks, who focus solely on walls and the construction process, are also out there. "It makes a lot of sense, and is finally catching on here. Our business doubled in 2012, and there is a reason for that. The general contractors are a critical part of this wave, and we have to find ways to partner with them to make it a success for everyone," said Hodas. "It's a lot like LEED was at its early stages Once contractors understand the process, and suppliers can be counted on, the risks translate to cost savings." Lori Stewart Coletti is the founder of Big Bark Solutions, Boston, Mass.