Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2020 - 34

BETTER BUSINESS

What's Next on the Horizon

Even after overcoming the most critical pandemic
challenges, operations will inevitably change

SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT, the way business was conducted around the
world changed. Social-distancing restrictions aiming to stem the spread
of the novel coronavirus shut down most entities deemed "non-essential,"
including many independent retailers and showrooms, and in-person client
contact with designers and remodelers was at a halt. And while all states are
in various stages of reopening, it's hard to predict how eager consumers will
be to resume normal commercial contact - or how quickly. It's also likely
that businesses will retain some dramatic changes in the way they operate
and connect with customers.
The broad realization that many businesses in the K&B industry can
fulfill at least part of their operations efficiently while working in a remote
environment means they will continue to do so. It saves time and, until there's
a resolution to the pandemic, keeps personal contact to a minimum. Many
people became adept at using tools like teleconferencing, remote project
management and sampling services in a hurry to continue operating through
the shutdown.
On a number of recent episodes in NKBA Live's "Brave New Business"
online series, experts offered tips and tactical strategies for harnessing the
potential of e-design, managing projects with minimal on-site contact and
virtual showroom operations.

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ABOVE Illustration by

apinan/Adobe Stock

By DIANNE M. POGODA

E-DESIGN AND REMOTE PROJECTS

"The first thing to remember about e-design is
that it's electronic communication with your
customers," said Jenna Gaidusek, founder and
CEO of eDesign Tribe in Gainesville, Fla.,"so you
have to think about your website - which must
be beautiful - adapting your existing workflow
process to an online environment and using social
media tools to drive traffic to your website. And
make sure all the links work!"
The communication with customers is important, but equally critical is communication with
contractors. Frequent check-ins during all stages
of the construction process - after rough-ins, to
ensure plumbing is in the right place and measurements are correct, before cabinetry or after drywalling, for instance - is all crucial, according to
NKBA members Jeremy Bauer and Jason Clifton,
partners in Bauer/Clifton Interiors, an interior
architecture and design firm in Juneau, Alaska.
"We tell all our contractors at the outset not
to make any decisions without getting us on the
phone," said Bauer. "And we can do most of it
through Facetime."
The panel discussed other online tools, including project management software like Asana for
internal task management, 2020, Chief Architect
and Sketchup for renderings, AutoCad and Pow-

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Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2020

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