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Sometimes the office just doesn’t cut it when you’re trying to get to know clients better or participate in team-building exercises. By trying something a little unorthodox and adventurous outside the four walls of an office, you can build bonds while having fun. We took our clients out to the Mojave Desert around Las Vegas to ride some ATVs and do some team building. Starting off the new year in January, our Co-Founders, George Stroumboulis and Chris Hartswick, wanted to try something a little different to bond with our clients and strengthen our team. Even though Ideoli takes its relationships with clients very seriously in terms of designing and manufacturing quality fixtures, furnishings and lighting products, we also think it’s important to have fun. So after a night of enjoying drinks in Las Vegas, about a dozen of us headed into the Mojave Desert the next day to ride ATVs. Amid amazing scenery, we let it all out and had a blast. We’re passionate about everything we do with clients– including having fun with them! 

Connectivity has made the world a smaller place— as you can now do once unimaginable things such as ordering products from the other side of the world with the click of a button. Yet, for this to work, there must be reliability on the other side of that transaction. Even though it is easier and quicker than ever to interact with potential suppliers in international markets, there are some risks that should not be overlooked. Some companies think they can get by when they find cheap suppliers online that will sell directly to them, but too often this leads to getting burned on quality, lead times and warranties. “In reality, you need the right partner, using the right people, doing the right engineering, the right processing, using the right material to make the right product,” says Mark, who works in Ideoli’s Asia office. Because Ideoli has on-the-ground operations and partners in China, we can confidently deliver what our clients are looking for, without worrying about the unknowns that come with trying to conduct business purely online. “The diverse portfolio of resources we have access to in China allows us to better serve our client’s furnishing and decorative lighting fixture demands, quickly and on time,” adds George Stroumboulis, CEO and Co-Founder. Ideoli’s complete control over the international manufacturing process allows for complete product perfection. 

The internet is often the best place to start your search when it comes to finding and procuring new interiors for your commercial spaces, as it helps give you design inspiration, conduct price checking and become more knowledgeable on product specifics to help narrow down your options. But when you need to buy large quantities of fixtures, furniture and lighting products from international sources, you need a partner that can help you navigate this tricky process. When a reputable manufacturer presents their products and technology, procurement professionals often say they can buy the same things cheaper online, or that they already have a direct email relationship with a foreign manufacturer, or they even claim the manufacturer is simply buying from the same supplier and adding a markup. At Ideoli, when we are confronted with these comments, we always advise them to proceed with caution and wish them the best of luck. While these procurement professionals may think they’re avoiding excess costs, in reality they could wind up stuck in very expensive situations down the road, due to the following unknowns: 1) Quality Concerns: Is the product made with the safest and best materials possible? 2) Sight Unseen: Are you really getting the exact products you think you found online? 3) Shipping Unknowns: Will they ship with a major, reputable carrier or a freight forwarder that may damage your goods and have no liability? 4) Source Confusion: Is the company you are speaking with the actual manufacturer or simply a disguised reseller? 5) Warranty Challenges: Will product failures be covered by the manufacturer, and will they cover all shipping expenses to replace defective products? 6) Factory Review: Is the factory violating any international labor and pollution laws? 7) False Certifications: Is the product certified with a fake product’s number from another supplier? 8) Product Review Before Shipping: Who is looking into your products for quality assurance and accuracy before sending them? Our clients understand the risks involved with international procurement of fixtures, furniture and lighting, and they entrust us to do what we do best— design and produce high quality products for their vibrant environments. At Ideoli, we own the entire process from design to packaging, which minimizes risk and results in client reaching their desired outcomes within their budgets.