Ideoli works with businesses using digital transformation by introducing IoT (Internet of things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the workplace. IoT sensors can monitor things such as occupancy and energy consumption in real-time and provide data for analysis. Artificial intelligence in cooperation with IoT sensors and smart appliances can use this data and make control adjustments to effectively help in reducing energy consumption. For instance, smart lights with IoT sensors can detect people in a room. In case a room is empty, lights would shut off and turn back on when someone enters the room. This data can then be shared with enabled HVAC systems to adjust heating and cooling accordingly. Business leaders are investing in these modern technologies and Ideoli is here help you reap their benefits and gain a competitive edge. Stay connected with #ideoli online at ideoli.com and on all our social media platforms – Facebook (facebook.com/ideoligroup), Twitter (twitter.com/ideoli), Instagram (instagram.com/ideoligroup/), Vimeo (vimeo.com/ideoli), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/ideoli). Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
Co-working office spaces are changing in a post-pandemic era. Professionals who previously commuted to work and were forced to stay home, need a safe workplace close to their homes. The new approach will be – one floor in ten cities, versus ten floors in one. Companies will have to move to multiple locations with flexible layouts. Increased hygiene measures are critical for employees to feel comfortable in these spaces again. Using technology to revamp your workspace is a no-brainer: think automatic doors, hands-free check-ins and smart lighting. Environments where people work shoulder-to-shoulder in poorly lit spaces with recycled air will no longer be attractive. Ideoli is here to help you build a stronger sense of community when we return to the ‘new normal’. Stay connected with #ideoli online at ideoli.com and on all our social media platforms – Facebook (facebook.com/ideoligroup), Twitter (twitter.com/ideoli), Instagram (instagram.com/ideoligroup/), Vimeo (vimeo.com/ideoli), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/ideoli). Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
Environmental consciousness is at the forefront at Ideoli. And helping in the development of smart buildings and cities supports this. Internet of Things (IoT) along with Power Over Ethernet (PoE) are technologies that can provide access to lighting, air conditioning, electricity and various sensors. These sensors can provide data and be refined into value-generating services like artificial intelligence, machine learning and energy optimization. Openness and flexibility of this data exploiting software can provide us with many new opportunities, results of whom we’ll see in the near future. There is a lot happening now in different areas towards efficiency and low carbon transmission and Ideoli provides intelligent LED lighting solutions to support these efforts. Stay connected with #ideoli online at ideoli.com and on all our social media platforms – Facebook (facebook.com/ideoligroup), Twitter (twitter.com/ideoli), Instagram (instagram.com/ideoligroup/), Vimeo (vimeo.com/ideoli), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/ideoli). Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
While at the office, you may have experienced headaches or felt eye strain. This could be an indication of inadequate workplace lighting. Ideoli is here to give you some lighting advice. The amount of daylight, shadows, ergonomic conditions in the workplace and the type of activity are factors that should be taken into consideration when designing an office space. The right artificial light reduces the strain on the eyes, reduces shadows and provides sufficient light for all tasks. One of the most important steps is to fine tune the light intensity based on the type of tasks being completed. Having both too much or too little light in the space can result in negative physiological effects and even reduce a workers efficiency in completing tasks. Whether designing a home office or a full size co-working space, Ideoli is here to share knowledge and technology to make you feel at home! Stay connected with #ideoli online at ideoli.com and on all our social media platforms – Facebook (facebook.com/ideoligroup), Twitter (twitter.com/ideoli), Instagram (instagram.com/ideoligroup/), Vimeo (vimeo.com/ideoli), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/ideoli). Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
Ideoli’s CEO, George Stroumboulis, was interviewed by the team at Startup.info to discuss how the pandemic has affected his company and what they are doing to fight through it. George shed some insight on Ideoli’s adapting business model and how he is dealing on a personal level as well. To read the full article, click here or read below. —– INNOVATORS VS COVID 19 George Stroumboulis CEO at Ideoli Tells Us How His Company Adapts to Shifting Manufacturing Landscape during the Pandemic Times By Kossi Adzo First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times? George Stroumboulis: Humans are resilient and adapt to most environments they are thrown in. This is no different. I have 2 young daughters that each had their birthdays during this was an experience. Learning what this is, what we need to do to adapt, and to stay healthy mentally and physically was an amazing experience to take with my family. Now we are ready to get back to normal with schools starting, and hopefully, the economy opening up. Tell us about you, your career, how you founded Ideoli George Stroumboulis: My background is diverse, and a long journey to get to where I am today, as the CEO of a global manufacturing company. My early exposure to business was in the family restaurant business, which we bought when I was 5 years old. Essentially from day one, my immigrant parents threw my sister and me into the business. To make sure we were at their feet daily. We learned about the economics of produce and food costs before I hit double digits in my age. Being exposed to so many elements was the greatest lesson to this day. From there, I studied and did internships abroad in France, Greece, Ireland, and the United States. Working for companies in the executive learning, lighting distribution, and tech start-up worlds. For my spare time, I produced a reality television program for the Greek market that landed me on the Wall Street Journal cover for my efforts – something not expected but a testament to hard work and dedication in the business and movement I was leading. Since then, I met my now business partner at a LED lighting start-up, where we were both part of the founding team. Since that company sold and went public on the NYSE, we both decided to team up and start our interiors manufacturing company, combining our expertise and global know-how. How does Ideoli innovate? George Stroumboulis: We work directly with the industry’s top designers, architects, specifiers, and providers of LED lighting and related products on a daily basis. We help our sophisticated partners design, prototype, manufacture, and bring to market the latest and most incredible designs and products in the lighting and furnishing environments. We have a global team of designers and engineers who collaborate simultaneously in different markets, pulling from everyone’s unique background and experiences, making for the most efficient and dynamic system in our industry. Within hours, we can design, engineer, and prototype a concept from our client’s head, or simply just manufacture better and at better price points on a global scale How the coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping? George Stroumboulis: The pandemic has crippled our efforts temporarily in the United States. In the first few months, while we were all trying to figure out what was going on in this country and the world, everything came to a standstill. As the weeks went by, we were able to push new orders to our partners in several international countries, helping to keep the team busy and pay the bills. Since then, we have been working heavily in strategic markets and industries, pushing past this standstill. Many factors now are influencing the next several months and years – politically, medically, and economically. We have been able to refine our team, our processes, and how we go to market via our channels. Every day is a transition and a challenge, but I personally thrive on barriers. They make it worth the effort and push me to want to get over it, or around it. And we have seen our fair share of barriers to date. Did you have to make difficult choices, and what are the lessons learned? George Stroumboulis: Many difficult choices with respect to operations, human resources, and compensation. That being said, going into this global shutdown, we were running a very efficient business with respect to how we operate, how we manufacture, and where we manufacture. Going through this, and still to this day, is an eye-opener that we are all connected in functions and how we operate across several industries. A shortage of face masks in New York City cased freight on my LED lighting products to increase 10x. Not connected to me, but connected in every way as well when freight affects us all globally. How do you deal with stress and anxiety? How do you project yourself and Ideoli in the future? George Stroumboulis: Personally, my 2 young daughters (ages 5 and 2) were and are the biggest stress relief. When I have pushed as much as I could for a given challenge, and I can physically do not more, I would shut the computer down, grad the girls, and go to the beach for an hour to forget the problems, even if only temporarily. They kept us busy and motivated to keep on fighting. And encouraged to try and simplify things for them while trying to explain why we had to do drive-by birthday parties for them and why we couldn’t see our friends daily. Strange times. Professionally, we are still figuring this out. I would be lying if I said I have the answers to this and making sure we are stress-free as a team globally, especially when colleagues have lost loved ones to COVID-19 on different continents. The saving grace so far is we have been extremely blessed to have been busy and working on projects. The team has loved being able
In addition to being a beautiful country that’s rich in culture, traditions and cuisine, Vietnam is a top producer of wood-based furniture and interior products. As such, Ideoli has established key relationships within the country to help us create exceptional products for our clients. Being a hands-on company, Ideoli’s team makes trips to Vietnam to check in on our manufacturing there, and we’re always amazed at the quality of local craftsmanship. “When it comes to wood-based products, Vietnam is by far the best country to manufacture in,” says Ideoli’s CEO George Stroumboulis. “The quality is unbelievable, the responsiveness and the ability to take custom designs and to implement them with what the client is looking for has been an easy process for us.” Vietnam is such a great market to manufacture in because of a combination of factors including a skilled labor force with manufacturing know-how and access to several quality wood products from around the region. “Vietnam has built an expertise over the last 20 to 25 years and has become maybe the most competitive producer in the wood industry,” says Thomas, an Ideoli partner. Vietnam is a perfect place for Ideoli’s production needs, and we’re fortunate to have found such great partners that can help us create products of the highest standards. We look forward to taking more trips to Vietnam to create even more amazing products for our clients. And stay tuned for more content giving you a first-hand look at our production runs in Vietnam! Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
Ideoli understood the beginnings of retail and what it transitioned to today. The concept used to be just selling items and meeting customer needs. But that concept changed over time. In “Retail Design: The Key to it is Communication,” by EuroShop.mag,Professor Rainer Zimmermann explained, “In previous decades, retailers had taken no interest in design, and – to be honest – designers had shown no interest in the retail trade, either.” Zimmermann should understand this subject. He’s noted to be a strategic communication teacher and a co-founder of a Retail Design course. But what is Retail design? According to “What Is Retail Store Design?” by Chron, the concept developed was strategizing a selling plan. It allowed the retailer to set up an organized area to sell a product or products. According to Chron, “Retail store design factors into window displays, furnishings, lighting, flooring, music and store layout to create a brand or specific appeal.” How did the lighting industry intertwine with Retail design? According to “The Impact of Lighting in Retail Design,” by Designing Buildings Wiki, consumers were attracted to the way in which products being sold were staged. Lighting became an important player in setting the stage. Lighting, not only introduced the potential consumers to the display, it also pleaded to the feelings of the potential consumers. Lighting, combined with the other elements, such as music or sound, created a mood for the potential buyer. Ideoli understood that communication was key to meeting consumer needs. We had the responsibility to our clients from day one to shine the light on their industries. Contact Ideoli with your needs so we can shine the light on yours. Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
In Hollywood, lighting is everything, and we’re extending that adage to a new residential project in the heart of Hollywood. A luxurious condo complex is being built off Hollywood Boulevard, and Ideoli is helping light the 500+ units in this state-of-the-art space. For these residences, we designed and developed a custom LED light fixture with the latest LED technology and the highest-quality glass finishes and aesthetics needed to enhance the living spaces. While the project is still underway, we’re excited to be a part of this development and wanted to give you an early glimpse of what’s to come. Stay tuned to see the finished project upon completion! Stay connected with #ideoli on all our social media platforms – Facebook (/ideoligroup), Twitter (@ideoli), Instagram (@ideoligroup), Vimeo (/ideoli) and LinkedIn (/ideoli). Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
At Ideoli, we understood that the retail industry was changing.
Ideoli recognized to sell any product, upper management needed to understand what the consumer was shopping for in their market. According to “Big Disconnect Between Senior Execs and Consumers on this Issue,” by Marianne Wilson, she explained the current breakdown between these two parties. According to Wilson’s article, “Nearly 40% of consumers ranked pricing as one of the most important factors in purchase decisions, compared to only 20% of retail executives in a new survey by global technology company First Insight. Both groups, however, named quality as the most important factor (about 50% on both sides) in the purchase decision.” But how did upper management come to understand what consumers want? It seemed old fashion communication was key – the spoke and LISTENED to consumers; they found out their needs. On a broader scale, Wilson showed that the upper management used information collected from surveys. Another beneficial suggestion of the past – read, read, read. Articles such as, “The 15 Most Common Types of Customer Needs (and How to Solve For Them)” by Allie Breschi explained direct clues on how to start to understand your customers and their specific needs. According to Breschi’s article, five of the “15 Most Common Types of Customer Needs,” were similar to those Wilson mentioned: for “Product Needs: 1. Functionality, 2. Price, 3. Convenience, 4. Experience and 5. Design. Okay, so you, as the upper management, spoke and listened to consumers. You’ve collected information through surveys. And you’ve read as much as you can. Now what do you do with this information? What will work for your specific consumer of today? Remember the way you’ve reached customers in the past – was it by their mobile device or within a brick and mortar store? Wilson touched on the importance of discounts or coupons – remember, next to the quality product is the importance of product price to consumers. At Ideoli, we learned to listen to our consumers’ needs and act on them so that we’ve stayed on the same page. Ideoli recognized to sell any product, upper management needed to understand what the consumer was shopping for in their market. Contact Ideoli so we can talk and LISTEN to your needs. Stay connected with #ideoli online at ideoli.com and on all our social media platforms – Facebook (facebook.com/ideoligroup), Twitter (twitter.com/ideoli), Instagram (instagram.com/ideoligroup/), Vimeo (vimeo.com/ideoli) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/ideoli). Facebook-f Linkedin-in Tumblr Envelope
When we say we go above and beyond to grow our business and serve clients, we mean it, even when that means spending 15 hours traveling for just a few hours of client meetings. Recently, we took a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City, connecting through Houston. But even though we spent more time flying than being on the ground in Mexico City, it was worth it to meet with important clients in this key market for Ideoli. “Mexico is a big market for us. We started here from a manufacturing standpoint. And now we’re actually coming back here from a client facing standpoint and getting our products into various locations,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli’s CEO and Co-Founder. Even though we didn’t have much time in Mexico City, we still appreciated what we saw of this vibrant city. We were lucky enough to get a great vantage point during one of our meetings in one of the tallest buildings in the Paseo de la Reforma area of Mexico City. Soon enough though, it was time to head back to the airport. Hopefully on our next trip to Mexico we’ll have more time to explore this great city and other areas throughout the country as we expand our distribution. Viva Mexico! Stay connected with #ideoli on all our social media platforms – Facebook (/ideoligroup), Twitter (@ideoli), Instagram (@ideoligroup), Vimeo (/ideoli) and LinkedIn (/ideoli).
Ideoli believed political views were something to share. Recently George Stroumboulis, Ideoli’s CEO and co-founder, recently shared his political standpoint on socialism and capitalism. Stroumboulis was recently interviewed on the street by Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery, Fox Network’s TV host. When Montgomery asked which he viewed – socialism or capitalism – his response surprised her. Without hesitation, Stroumboulis answered, “Totally neutral.” With a quick response Montgomery asked, “Really? What are you Switzerland?” “I’m Canadian,” said Stroumboulis. He then elaborated on his choice, “Show me a fence and I will sit on it – is my stance.” But should a CEO or companies, for that matter, have shared their political choices? According to “The New CEO Activities,“ by Aaron K. Chatterji and Michael W. Toffel, companies have followed and supported political views that they believed in for a long time. In addition, they’ve been publicly open about their choices and financially supportive to them. Also mentioned in “The New CEO Activities,“ Brian Moynihan, Bank of America’s CEO told the Wall Street Journal, “Our jobs as CEOs now include driving what we think is right.” He went onto say, “It’s not exactly political activism, but it is action on issues beyond business.” But can your opinion kill your business? Is it good not to tell everyone about everything your thinking? Is it good to keep people guessing? Is it safe that you haven’t confirmed or sided with a view? Or is it even right to stay neutral to political views? Either way. Ideoli believed political views were something to share and Stroumboulis did. Stroumboulis knew his belief and spoke quickly on his feet, able to back up his point of view. Ideoli believed that communication about political views was not only allowed, but accepted. Lesson learned – Stroumboulis shared to know your view and be quick to share. Political views by CEOs and companies are not new concept and was alive today in this interview. Stay connected with #ideoli on all our social media platforms – Facebook (/ideoligroup), Twitter (@ideoli), Instagram (@ideoligroup), Vimeo (/ideoli) and LinkedIn (/ideoli).