Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
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Market Pulse { Readers' opinions on industry-related issues } Designers Discuss Potential Plans For Adding New Staf Kitchen & Bath Design News recently posed the question to dealers and designers in the kitchen and bath industry. "Are you planning to add any staf within the next six months? What are the keys to fnding good designers, salespeople and other staf members?" W e are planning to add staf. I wish we knew how to fnd the best people. Presently we are trying ad boards and craigslist. Their advantage is that we can give candidates questions to answer to screen them." Paul McAlary, president Main Line Kitchen Design Narberth, PA O ur market is currently growing very slowly, so we will hold with our current staf. We truly research references and rely a lot upon what past clients say and think, but hiring great designers and great staf is a combination of luck and skill. Unfortunately there are many great designers who can design well but cannot put a project together through to accounting completion. We are also in a market that has a lot of interior design schools that are putting out students who have false expectations for entry-level positions and pay." Lynne Hawthorne, president/owner Contract Design Group, Inc. Indian Shores, FL W e are not planning to add any staf in the next six months. However, we believe the key to fnding good salespeople is to fnd people who are truly interested in the products and who truly believe in the products they sell, as well as people who can relate to the end user with personal experience." Stacey Orkin, partner/mgr./sales Atlantic Bath & Brass, LLC Rockville, MD W e are not adding any staf members within the next six months, however, we plan to maximize W our staf according to their strengths and utilize training to reach our goals." Dawn M. Waksmacki-Maggio CGC, ID, GAC Broward Custom Kitchens, Inc. Pompano Beach, FL W e are getting so busy we can't handle the workload with our current staf. The key is fnding someone who works well with the team but also brings a fresh take on design. We are looking at using independent contract designers and architects in the future to work as needed so we can keep our overhead in check. We will also be looking at bringing on commissioned salespeople, but that will be down the road." Tiare Noelani Pinto, Allied ASID, CKD, CGP, president Archipelago Hawaii Kailua, HI W e will not be adding any staf members in the next six months because we just added another installer and a project manager. The key to fnding a good salesperson is to fnd somebody who has a good mixture of sales skills and design ability. In my experience, it has been much harder to teach somebody to sell than it is to bring in somebody with strong sales skills and teach them how to design. For installers, you have to fnd somebody with the skills needed to do the job but also be professional in the customer's home. Each person in any position must have the same view on customer service that we hold our company to." Brad Merritt, owner/member Kitchens By Woody's Barboursville, WV e have recently expanded our operations to add another showroom. Because of the strategic planning and positioning, we do plan to hire at least two new designers in the near future. As for the right candidate, those who we've interviewed tend to be afraid of the high level at which we work and while they aspire to it, they quickly learn there is a big disconnect between what they know and what they need to know. It's a difcult process. The rest of the staf is invaluable. They all treat this business as if it were their own." Kathy Cvetkovich, sr. designer/owner Willowbrook Design, LLC Venetia/Sewickley, PA W e just added a designer. We have been extremely busy and want to train and develop someone to be a design assistant frst, and then train them to design. I interviewed many people and hired the one who had a 'passion' for design and who I felt would be a good people person." Cynthia M. Dufour, k/b manager S.W. Collins. Co Caribou, ME W e are expanding with another 4,000-sq.-ft. showroom so we do plan to add staf members. They have to be experienced, well versed in 20/20 and be able to deal with a fast-paced environment." Eliza Marton, k/b designer C&R; Building Supply Philadelphia, PA R ight now we are maintaining a good turnaround with the staf we have now. I think it's important to fnd staf who love what they do. Most importantly, you have to appreciate each one for his or her abilities, and tell them…it makes a diference." Naftali Landau, pres./chief designer Exclusive Cabinetry and Design Far Rockaway, NY WARNING: For Professionals Only! 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