Another day, another country for us. We are in spotless Singapore. Singapore’s openness to global trade and investment has attracted Ideoli’s founders to this impeccable city state. We have met with key manufacturing partners and several factories in Singapore. Singapore serves as a strategic location for conducting business throughout Southeast Asia. What it lacks in its manufacturing infrastructure, it makes up for in its ease and ability to conduct business throughout the region and globally. When it comes to international business, the world is truly small place. This is why we make the effort to experience as much as we can when evaluating our international expansion strategy. If you don’t see it for yourself, it is hard to draw your own conclusions. That is why we are here in Singapore. Ideoli is always searching for vibrant international markets and exploring Singapore is an example of its dedication to doing so.
Ideoli is back on the road again and this time we are in the exciting city of Dubai. Dubai is known around the world for having world class skyscrapers and when you’re here and walk the streets, you can’t help but look up and be impressed with what they have done. And despite what we hear about the economy slowing down here, there are still several hospitality and retail projects going on – and that’s why Ideoli is here. Ideoli’s clients are international. Which means that ideoli is international. Wherever they decide to go, Ideoli is behind them, supporting them with the right lighting, furniture and fixturing that is customized to local market needs. That’s why we are here in Dubai supporting an international client and their expansion across the United Arab Emirates. We’re going to the Abu Dhabi port today to receive an order for an international restaurant chain we are doing business with. It’s not a matter of just getting a purchase order, making the product, shipping it on a container and then calling it a day. For us, we are involved with every step of the process. In the next episode, we’re actually going to be onsite at the location showing you the finish and how beautiful the restaurant looks. Were truly excited to be working in the middle east with our partners here and very excited for the future and what it holds.
We made it across the pond again for meetings in Germany. A country not only known for great cars and beer…but also a global hub for some of the world’s biggest trade shows in lighting and retail spaces. Ideoli’s founders treat Germany as a central hub to its operations in Europe – meeting with clients, strategizing with partners and learning from the latest and greatest trade shows around the country. We visit Germany frequently to see the best in class manufacturing techniques and to engage with suppliers from around the world. By working with our peers over here, we are able to expand our operations easily across Europe. If it means George and Chris can progress Ideoli and support its clients’ needs, there is no destination too far for them to integrate into their business.
When you make incredible products, you need a freight partner that is just as incredible. Our freight partners help us navigate the overwhelming geographical, political and economical landscape on a daily basis. Lauren (Freight Expert) – You want to work with somebody you trust because at the end of the day, this person is in charge of your livelihood. You want someone who cares as much about your cargo as you do. And is able to: Advise you with their expertise and recommend the best ways to go about bringing your goods in. To avoid issues when shipping, what are some mistakes to be aware of? Lauren (Freight Expert) – I think the top mistakes are just being unaware or ignorant of rules and regulations at origin countries and even at destination countries. You want to educate yourself on as many different aspects about importing as possibly you can. Any other advice you want to share with us? Lauren (Freight Expert) – Planning is everything. You want to know the: national holidays and the peak seasons at your origin countries and to avoid extra costs and shipping delays. Knowing all the details and planning accordingly is what helps keep things seamless for our clients. With large freight containers shipping daily from Ideoli’s factories, we need experts to make it happen.
Sometimes you have to chill the f**** out and put work to the side. We pride ourselves on being able to disconnect wherever we are or with whatever we are doing, to recharge and stay connected to what is happening in the urban pop-culture world. While on their latest international adventure, George and Chris challenged themselves to the newest “Kiki Challenge” dance-off to Drake’s hit single, “In My Feelings”. Challenge accepted. George and Chris are off on their next adventure…
Hey guys, we’re back on the road again and this time we are in Vancouver, Canada. This is the first time we will be doing an install on Canadian soil and we are super excited. Vancouver is a bustling seaport in British Columbia and is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically-diverse cities. We are here to oversee a high-profile install for a large international client using our products. The retail location is taking transformation – pushing through the demanding construction schedule. Ideoli’s high-quality LED backlit mirrors are being installed today. They will be the focal point in the fitting rooms, enhancing the customer shopping experience. Another example of how Ideoli can invigorate your space.
So much confusion on the tariff war between the USA and China. This is where we stand on the topic. “So you’re hearing a lot of commotion about what’s going on between Trump and Xi Jinping and China, the USA and tariff this and tariff that. Tit for tat. Is it affecting us in our industry? Absolutely but we can’t do anything right now. We’ve got to let everything settle. See what they want to do and then from there, we need to adjust,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. How is this affecting Ideoli specifically? “So in the meantime, we are eating a lot of these added costs but one thing to note is this is affecting our whole industry. Even local manufacturers in the USA are being affected because they’re still importing components. We just need to sit back, let things happen and from there we’ll re-evaluate and discuss with our partners and clients and just take it from there,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. More updates to follow as things progress.
Shanghai is China’s largest city with a population of over 24 million. Visitors come for the city’s energy, business opportunities, chic fashions and design. Here are five great hotels that appeal to multiple preferences and budgets from the experiences of the Ideoli team. Here are five great hotels that appeal to multiple preferences and budgets from the experiences of the Ideoli team. 1. The Peninsula Shanghai. This five-star wonder on the Bund marks the return of the famed hotel chain to its birthplace, in Shanghai. 2. Fairmount Peace Hotel. Another five-star stunner, this exclusive hotel is among the world’s most romantic-getaway destinations. 3. Cachet Boutique Shanghai. A more budget-conscious option, the hotel is located in the city center, close to hundreds of dining establishments. 4. Langham Shanghai Xintiandi. If you’re looking for a good place to conduct business, this ultramodern hotel is one of the best. 5. Le Royal Méridien Shanghai. Part of the chic French chain, this value hotel has one of the city’s best jazz clubs. Ideoli loves these five hotels, but there are many more – you gotta come to Shanghai to check it out! Tell them Ideoli sent you.
We see a lot of glitz and glamour online regarding entrepreneurship and running your own business. But is it all that it is portrayed to be? Possibly… but our CEO keeps it real with a story of the hardships faced on a daily basis with balancing family and a growing business with no borders. “The joys of entrepreneurship. So just leaving the house now and I was trying to get out while my daughters were sleeping. The shitty part is my four year old wakes up and she sees me sneaking out. Even though it’s a day trip to another country with 15 hours travel time there and back for four hours of meeting time. She breaks down crying, daddy please don’t go. It’s just devastating,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli CEO and Co-Founder. That must be the really hard part of being an entrepreneur. “You know this is the side of it that everyone says they are an entrepreneur and they have their own business and they are running it. And you see all this shit online that it’s glamorous. Yeah, it’s got its pros and cons but it is definitely a grind,” says George. Thanks for sharing your story George. I’m sure many entrepreneurs out there can relate to your story.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Perhaps. But what happens if the “beholder” is not even given a fair chance? You ever find yourself looking into a mirror in a retail changeroom… a hotel bathroom… or an office setting and think to yourself, “DAMN, I LOOK SO UGLY, I’M FUGLY!” While DNA may have something to do with that feeling, a major contributing factor is the actual mirror and the lighting in that space. You are not to blame for being ugly, the people who created that space are to blame, actually. Designers and owners of these spaces often overlook the importance and influence the mirrors in the changerooms and bathrooms have on their clients and visitors. How so you may ask? Well, to cut costs and keep budgets low, many designers and owners simply slap a mirror on the wall and a standard downlight above it, and call it a day. These are crappy conditions. What happens when your customer gets into the poorly lit changeroom to try on that special outfit? The lighting is horrible and casts unforgiving shadows on their body… or the mirror quality is so poor that they can barely see what they are looking at. The result? The customer runs out, feeling horrible about themselves, leaving the clothing behind. The solution? Ideoli’s customized LED backlit mirrors. Perfect for retail, restaurant, hotel, fitness and office applications. We have integrated highly-efficient LED lighting into the mirrors in hundreds of different variations, allowing the lighting to properly light the subject in front of the mirror. Depending on your space requirements and preference, we can customize the size… the lighting configuration… the light quality… and several other items. Allowing for clean, consistent and complimenting lighting for your customers. Clients who are using Ideoli’s LED backlit mirrors in their spaces are extremely satisfied in doing so and reaping the benefits as well. Ideoli is not only a kick-ass manufacturer, we also help people look prettier in front of our products. For more information on Ideoli, and our LED backlit mirrors, please get in contact with us.
Are you ever in the kitchen at home and look over to your spouse and think… “holy sh*t, he looks horrible in this lighting”? Are you ever in a bathroom looking in the mirror and think, “f*ck, this bathroom is disgustingly dirty and I look like death?” Chances are, your husband is not that ugly and your bathroom is not that disgusting. It’s a matter of having an aesthetically appealing light fixture installed with the right lighting quality. Studies prove it! That is why we developed Ideoli’s LED round pressed glass light fixtures. Inspired by European design, our fixtures are so sleek and unassuming, they fit in perfectly in your residential and hospitality environments. Our fixtures incorporate latest LED chip technology and the highest quality drivers, all within a thick layer of high-performing frosted glass. Allowing for the perfect light output and distribution in your space. Our standard fixture size is a rounded 11” diameter fixture, perfect for most applications. You can also customize our fixtures depending on your specific requirements. Our fixtures are used to light some of the most prestigious hotels and high-end residential buildings around the world. When your client demands the highest-quality light fixture with a perfected glass finish, our product is what you need. Let us know how we can get a test install going with you so you can experience this for yourself.
Did Ideoli’s CEO really share his political views on Fox News’ national broadcast? Kinda, not really, but maybe yes. While cruising the busy streets of Manhattan, New York with the Ideoli team, George was randomly stopped by Fox Network’s TV host Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery of the show, Kennedy. Asking people outside of the studio whether they support Capitalism or Socialism, George gave a neutral response that left host Kennedy speechless. Take a look.