The ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has seen a number of rounds of tariffs imposed by both countries. For example, in May 2019, the U.S. started imposing a 25% tax on imported goods from China on items such as furniture and lighting products. New tariffs could take effect in the coming months, but the situation has been very fluid and unclear. For our industry, tariffs have had an impact, “but we can’t do anything right now,” says George Stroumboulis, Ideoli’s CEO and Co-Founder. “We’ve got to let everything settle.” George notes that for now, Ideoli is absorbing a lot of the additional costs that come from paying tariffs on imported items for our clients, and we’re not alone in this regard. Many companies have global supply chains with important items coming from China, and even some local, U.S-based manufacturers have to deal with these tariffs because they import certain components to aid their overall production. However, because the situation keeps evolving rapidly, we don’t want to make knee-jerk decisions like changing our pricing or supply chain practices. Instead, says George, “We just need to sit back, let things happen and from there we’ll re-evaluate and discuss with our partners and clients.” We’ll provide more updates as this situation progresses. Stay tuned!
In our view, being a successful global business doesn’t just mean invigorating spaces so we can please clients and grow our revenues; it also means doing our share to give back to the communities that contribute to our business and help shape our company. As such, Ideoli gets involved with a number of charitable causes through our “Invigorate Your Community” initiative. One of those causes recently involved preparing lunch for the homeless at a church in downtown Manhattan. “At Ideoli we really want to venture out into the community; we want to have a community footprint the same way we have an international footprint,” says Chris Hartswick, Ideoli’s Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer. “Getting out there, especially as a team, bonding as a team and giving back, there’s nothing better than that.” In addition to this initiative in New York, we’ve gotten involved in a number of other great causes and projects over the years, such as giving back to schools in Mexico. We are also actively working on some projects where our products will help invigorate local communities. We look forward to giving back in more ways!
We’re not perfect, but we’re pretty damn close. And when we do run into roadblocks, we use our passion, determination and creativity to come up with solutions. For example, for a recent order, when a client requested a vital component be added after the order left our factory, we had to think quick. So when we received the shipment, we decided to make the adjustments to the hundreds of custom furniture units on site at the client’s warehouse, even though it meant hunkering down indoors and missing out on the California sunshine. With our superhero team on hand, we were in and out within a couple days. Making sure the client had what they needed was our top priority, and thanks to a quick repsonse they were able to proceed with their operations. Whatever it takes to please clients, we find a way to get it done!
At Ideoli, we are passionate about all aspects of the brand we are building and what it stands for, which includes a commitment to quality, beautiful design and world-class service. While we have the ability to move quickly when needed, the products we make can take several months to go from concept to market, because we want to be sure we get every detail right. And the packaging we place these products in often takes just as long to develop, because we want to ensure that the first look at our products speaks to our values. But our packaging is not superficial and our marketing is not a gimmick: they’re what we use to express who we are and what we make so well. We are extremely proud of what we are bringing to market, and our packaging represents our products accordingly. While we could save time and money by placing our products in plain, standard packages, our clients deserve more. We want to make it clear exactly what they’re getting, which includes not just great physical products but also the top-notch service that comes from working with Ideoli.
In just a few years, Ideoli has become a global company with clients, partners and associates in every imaginable part of this planet, and we owe much of our success to having such an amazing team full of creative, dedicated, fun professionals. And we want to keep that momentum going by adding more great team members! We have associates working with us around the world, from the US to Vietnam, Argentina to Greece, Ireland to Mexico…and everywhere in between. So no matter where you’re located, if you’re looking to join a progressive team full of energetic, passionate professionals, then get in contact with us to discuss. We look forward to working together!
Being an international company, the Ideoli team is always on the go: flying to different countries around the world to meet with our clients and partners. With our frequent trips, we’ve learned a lot about the items you should bring with you when flying.These include: 1. Echinacea: Being in close proximity to so many people in a confined space, many of whom are coughing or sneezing, can cause anyone to worry about getting sick while traveling. So having echinacea on hand to take as needed helps us feel a little bit better about the strength of our immune systems. 2. Hand sanitizer: Similar to why we pack echinacea, we recommend traveling with hand sanitizer too. Whether you’re worried about spreading germs or touching something icky on a plane, hand sanitizer can get you out of a jam. 3. Magazines: It’s always good to have your own entertainment on hand in case your TV isn’t working on the plane or if you just want a break from screen time. Bringing your own magazines on board helps ensure you’ll have something you enjoy to get you through the flight. 4. Your own beverage: It’s important to stay hydrated when flying, so it’s good to bring your own water on board. And if you want to indulge in a treat like a soda, you can bring that onboard too. Either way, having your own beverage on a plane can make your flight more comfortable, because you don’t have to wait for the beverage cart and you have more control over your drink options. 5. A pack of gum: Gum is a classic airplane essential for a reason. If your ears tend to get uncomfortable when flying, try chewing gum, especially during takeoff and landing. 6. Headphones: Don’t rely on the airline passing out headphones. The quality might not be very good and you might have to pay extra for them. Instead, bring your own pair so you know you’ll have good audio quality whether you’re listening to music or watching TV or movies during the flight. 7. Your electronic devices: It’s often smart to have some combination of your phone, tablet or computer easily accessible if you want to take advantage of the time on the plane to catch up on work. These can also serve as a backup entertainment option in case your plane doesn’t have screens in the seatback. What a list! Think of us on your next flight and pack your bags accordingly. Have any travel tips of your own? We’d love to hear from you on social!
Ideoli’s core team members often travel to Shanghai, China, to meet with key clients and partners, but we don’t always have a ton of time on these business trips. Still, we manage to fit a lot of productive work into our days in Shanghai, while also squeezing in some time for fun and taking in the local culture. Here’s an example of a recent, typical day for us in Shanghai. The day starts off with corporate meetings at Ideoli’s Shanghai office, and then it’s off to client meetings downtown. From there, we head about an hour outside of the city to check in on a factory that’s undertaking an important production run of custom LED lighting fixtures. Lastly, it’s time to head back to the city to relax and close out the day with some cocktails with our partners and clients. Our work trips to Shanghai can seem hectic, but we’ve found a rhythm that works!
Have you ever visited Japan during cherry blossom season? If so, then you know what a craze this season can be, but it’s a phenomenon that lives up to the hype! If you have never been, we highly recommend it! Recently, we expanded our business to Japan to work with extraordinary suppliers and clients, and while we were there, we took some time to experience these gorgeous blooms. Cherry blossom season is a time when the entire country is littered with the most stunning trees and colors, including vibrant flowers in all shades of pink. In Japan, the appearance of cherry blossoms, known as sakura, signals the beginning of spring. The arrival of these flowers is an annual event so significant that there are forecasts pinpointing exactly when and where the flowers are expected to bloom. Ideoli is thrilled to have experienced Japan’s cherry blossoms firsthand, and we look forward to taking in more amazing sights in Japan as we expand our work in this wonderful country.
In the city that never sleeps, Ideoli’s team makes sure to get the most out of every minute during our time in New York. For example, take a look at this jam-packed schedule of our CEO George Stroumboulis from one of his recent 24-hour trips to New York, something he does on an almost weekly basis: Sunday, 9:30 PM: Take a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Newark Monday, 5:00-5:50 AM: Land in Newark and drive into New York City Monday, 6:30 AM: Meet up with Ideoli Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Chris Hartswick in Tribeca for a team meeting Monday, 7:30 AM: Have our first client meeting of the day in Tribeca Monday, 9:00 AM: Get up to Herald Square for our second client meeting of the day Monday, 10:30 AM: Have our third client meeting of the day in Midtown Monday, 12:00 Noon: Drive just north of the city to Westchester for an on-site meeting at an exciting new condo building where we’re supplying light fixtures Monday, 3:00 PM: Head back to the city for our fourth client meeting of the day in Chelsea Monday, 5:00 PM: Cross into Brooklyn for our sixth and last client meeting of the day Monday, 7:00 PM: After a full day of meetings perfectly orchestrated to fit into this one-day schedule, it’s finally time to relax and enjoy some NYC entertainment by taking in a basketball game at Barclays Center Monday, 10:00 PM: Time to head back to Los Angeles with a six-hour flight from Newark As you can see, we fit a lot into one day in New York. But we’re happy to do it to stay connected to clients, team members and partners, and we look forward to more invigorating trips to New York and beyond.
As Ideoli’s business grows, we continue to embed ourselves in new markets around the world, such as with our recent expansion to Japan. Our CEO and Co-Founder George Stroumboulis recently traveled to the booming city of Tokyo to meet with power supply companies based in Japan, as well as to meet with some key clients. Ideoli is very excited to gain access to phenomenal suppliers in Japan, as well to get our advanced LED lighting products into invigorating spaces within the country, primarily in Tokyo. Overall, Japan is an exciting country with tremendous technology and efficiencies. The business practices here set an international gold standard, and we have a lot to learn and share with our partners here. “It’s an immaculate place to be,” says George. Our expansion to Japan marks a significant step for our growing business, and we’re excited to expand within the country as well in other markets around the world.
St. Louis, Missouri is a city known for baseball, the Gateway Arch and…barbecue! While many cities in the US have amazing barbecue joints with their own regional styles, St. Louis is definitely toward the top of the list of the best places for barbecue, if not number one. Wherever and whenever our team travels for work, we like to also get a taste of the local culture, and that often literally means a taste of the local cuisine. So when Ideoli’s Co-Founders George Stroumboulis and Chris Hartswick were recently in St. Louis, they decided to try the landmark Sugarfire Smokehouse, which offers an amazing array of barbecue meats and side dishes. Sugarfire, which received the accolade of having the best sandwich in the world from the 2018 World Food Championships, lived up to its reputation and definitely helps St. Louis’ case for being the best barbecue destination in the US. Needless to say, the boys needed a nap after this meal.
Ideoli’s team travels all over the world for business, and we’re lucky to get to explore so many wonderful, vibrant cultures. Recently, our Co-Founder and CEO George Stroumboulis took his first professional trip to Tokyo. Japan’s always talked about as a place full of productivity, organization, and efficiency. And boy they weren’t kidding! He found that these positive stereotypes about Japan were absolutely spot on. Plus, George found the people in Japan to be very respectful, and he was impressed with how clean and orderly the country is, especially in Tokyo considering it’s such a big city. “It’s unbelievably well organized with tens of millions of people functioning and respecting each other’s space. It’s pretty phenomenal,” says George These positive stereotypes align well with Ideoli’s own ideals of having world-class efficiency and staying organized so that we can meet our goals and deliver the best products to clients. Keep being awesome, Japan! We look forward to taking more trips to Tokyo and other parts of Japan to explore this wonderful country and gain more inspiration.