Our adventures take us South of the Border to beautiful Mexico. Ideoli continues to establish key client partnerships around the globe. “We are back in Mexico and we’re really excited. Last time we were really here to establish our footprint was on the manufacturing side,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. With continued growth, Ideoli is expanding throughout Latin America. “On the client side, in actually moving our lighting products into the country, today is a first. We’re meeting with some key developers here in the retail and commercial space. We’re really excited to get some of our LED lighting products into their spaces throughout the country,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. We have meetings with potential clients here to supply their commercial spaces with our high-tech LED lighting fixtures. “Mexico is the gateway to the south, to really get to the Latin America and South America. This is the gateway we really need to get our foot here, present well and trickle it down,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. Ideoli is motivated to take its business to the next level and establish the footprint needed to penetrate Latin America.
When you walk into a beautiful mall or shopping center, every store is fighting to get your attention. At Ideoli, we’ve inspired several projects for our clients in the most prestigious malls located around the world. We just wrapped a very productive day here in Dubai. We did three different mall visits, looking at five different projects in the retail and restaurant space. We’re super excited to see how our products look and enhance the clients space. From spectacular lighting to custom furnishings and fixtures, Ideoli takes our client’s vision and makes it a reality to invigorate their space. It’s very promising seeing what we’re doing over here and the reaction our clients have. Makes it all worth it. Next time you walk through a mall, chances are, Ideoli has helped invigorate that store you are shopping in.
Our travels take us to the booming city of Tokyo, Japan. Ideoli continues to embed itself in markets around the world – to establish key partnerships. “We are in Japan for the first time as Ideoli for a couple reasons. We are working with some new power supply companies that are based here and their technology is phenomenal. And, we also have some key meetings over here with some end users. Getting into the Japanese market with our lighting products which is also very exciting,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. Japan is a country with tremendous technology and efficiencies. The business practices here are a gold standard internationally and we have a lot to learn and share with our partners here. “Really exciting to know that Ideoli is going to be in several locations throughout Japan, primarily in Tokyo. It’s an immaculate place to be,” says George. Ideoli is entering the local Japanese market with our advanced LED lighting products – a significant step for our growing business. Join us on our next market-penetrating adventure.
Ideoli’s Co-Founders have established a strong manufacturing footprint in key markets around the world, allowing for a targeted approach when producing and creating custom products. China is strategic to Ideoli’s business model because China is the manufacturing center to the world. Ideoli has offices and an assembly factory in Shanghai with a strong network of subcontractors. When it comes to manufacturing, two of the biggest concerns are the quality of the product and making sure you can deliver the product on time. Chris has been embedded in Asian manufacturing for nearly a decade, establishing strong relationships with key people, setting up dozens of factories and overseeing the efficient production for hundreds of thousands of products. Ideoli has an experienced team here in Shanghai. This allows us full control over everything from incoming component inspection to final quality control. Ideoli’s revolutionary approach to custom manufacturing has decreased the overall production turnaround time – from start to finish. We pride ourselves on how quickly we can take a new product idea, generate physical samples, obtain client approval and move into full production – all in a matter of weeks.
Hey Guys – Ideoli is on the road again and we are glad you can join us. Take a guess where we are at? Just south of the border in historic Mexico. George & Chris are thrilled to have established a manufacturing footprint in the heart of Mexico – servicing the expansion plans of its national account clients. Mexico is a strategic location for ideoli and its clients because of its close proximity to the United States, its advanced manufacturing capabilities and a design flare second to none. We have established a strong manufacturing footprint here in Mexico along with a powerful network of subcontractors. We work with “best in class” subcontractors. Alvaro is based in Guadalajara, Mexico and is a specialist in manufacturing components for Ideoli’s quality products. Alvaro says, “Mexico is a country that can compete world-wide. Our quality is excellent. Ideoli is a competitive company, a visionary company. They have the capabilities to achieve any contract. We manufacture everything from furniture for large restaurant chains, fixturing for hotels to decorative lighting for large international retail brands.” As our clients continue to grow in North and South America, Ideoli needs to be in Mexico to help support their expansion goals. Ideoli has helped make the world a smaller place for its clients by understanding key international markets and establishing a business presence that matters.
Ideoli is racking up some serious air miles in search of the perfect international markets to manufacture its products in. We are in beautiful Thailand, gaining a better understanding of their booming manufacturing industry. Ideoli’s founders are constantly pushing the envelope of manufacturing excellence – assigning its various product offerings with the best international market needed to support it. We have spent some time here – working with several manufacturers and local contractors needed to support our growing furnishing business for national account restaurants. The size and expertise found in the furnishing space here gives us the peace of mind needed to establish our manufacturing footprint in Thailand. Bon is an expert in the furniture design and production arena here in Thailand – working closely with Ideoli’s founders to support their client’s custom furnishing needs. Bon says, “We have a long history of the craftsmanship. We have a good design and we like good quality. This is what we are trying to do. We try to offer the client with European quality product with competitive price. Not only in labor but we also invest a lot in high end equipment. We appreciate a good design, we try to learn and adapt. We also try to create our identify on design with our own products.” Ideoli’s is always looking for new markets – and being in Thailand is an example of its dedication to doing so.
As Ideoli continues to grow internationally, so does the Ideoli team. Our team spans from around the globe. Our team is full of different cultures, meet the team who makes Ideoli shine. From born and raised in Mexico, to Long Island, New York with parents who were born in Ireland. From Athens, Greece, to Bayamon, Puerto Rico. What a diverse team – but wait, there’s more! From Kavala, Greece, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. We are loving the international culture at Ideoli. Can’t wait to see where the team expands to next!
Welcome to another installment of Chris’ Tech Corner. Where Chris showcases a new product, feature or technology from the world of Ideoli. Take it away Chris! “Our new LED Cylinder is a phenomenal design we’ve been working on for months. We’ve been focused on every single detail possible down to the: 1) razor edge of the reflector; 2) different beam angles you can have and 3) all different options you can have with our standard package,” says Chris Hartswick, Ideoli CPO and Co-Founder. Leading-edge technology with the end user in mind – always. “We’ve developed a brand new technology called VAZI TECH™. It’s a dual mounting technology that allows you to change from a pendant mount to a surface mount in the field without any special tools required,” says Chris. And there you have it – something new about our products.
We recently visited India on business and fell in love with the local cuisine. With so many flavors and colors in Indian food, the tastes are unbelievable. From Biryani to Tandoori, and Samosas to Dosa, the list of offerings is large. Mouth watering is an understatement. Indian food, whether eaten in India or abroad is always a good choice.
We are beyond thrilled to announce our next chapter of INVIGORATE YOUR COMMUNITY – where Ideoli embeds itself in local communities to help make a difference. Our latest project takes us to Michoacan, Mexico. A part of the world surrounded by beauty and beautiful people. Ideoli is on site, working with local schools that lack the basic essentials needed to create an invigorated environment to learn in. We are helping to fix this, and we are documenting the journey along the way. Stay tuned as we invigorate this community.
In our everyday lives, we take for granted the ease of navigating through major cities using google maps. In China, we recently started using google maps where it was previously banned. And by doing so, we found out to stay the heck away from it. “These are the joys of being in a country with a different language. GPS is totally off. We go to many other countries and GPS will register where you are at but here in China specifically you put in a location and it’s completely different,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. In between meetings in Shanghai, we had major issues of local addresses appearing in different locations throughout the city. Causing delays and frustration. “The GPS English doesn’t register to Chinese. Nobody one can help you. I’m about 12 minutes late for a meeting. Luckily the client is aware and understands. The joys of running around and being late,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. The solution? Use Apple maps or Baidu maps instead. You will thank yourself for listening.
As the sun sets on a Sunday night, we get ready to board a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New York…On a weekly basis. Today consists of bouncing around the city for several key client meetings. To maximize the day, we jam pack meetings into a perfectly orchestrated chaotic agenda. “I’m meeting Chris and then we have a series of back-to-back meetings in Manhattan. Then we have to head out just north of Manhattan to a condominium project we’re working on with our partners. Very exciting stuff happening,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. From taxis, to subways to cars – whatever it takes to get from point A to B to Z. Best way to top the night off before heading back to the airport for a 6-hour flight home? A basketball game, of course. That is how we do our weekly 24-hour trips to New York to stay connected.