Chances are good that you are not familiar with the term “teamsourcing.” While outsourcing professional services is nothing new, we feel the word outsourcing doesn’t quite capture the innovative essence of what Gibson Design Management is all about. Our goal is for our members to view us as a part of their team. Traditionally, when most people think of outsourcing, there is a lack of personal connection. Our team genuinely feels excited to help our designer members grow and prosper in their business; our members are not just another client that we process a job for.
We’ve come up with our own official definition of our new word – Webster’s hasn’t quite caught on yet to our cutting edge way of thinking…so straight from the “Gibson” dictionary:
teamssourcsing (noun) teamssourcsing [teem sawrssing] the innovative, strategic utilization of a fully staffed team of professionals to increase a design firms’ efficiency, profitability, expertise and versatility.
Now that we all understand just what Teamsourcing is, let’s talk about some of the ways teamsourcing can help you run your interior design business.
Technology – Recently my daughters were moaning and groaning while using our family computer because it is “so ancient and slow!” Since my husband and I both have our work laptops we don’t end up suffering the perils of this 3 year old computer very often; therefore, we haven’t felt the need to upgrade yet. It seems like with anything in the technology realm you are constantly feeling out of date and under equipped. With Teamsourcing, you have the benefit of an expert team who are continually learning the latest and greatest, while investing in the necessary equipment to deliver it. You are able to offer your clients the most up to date technology without large expenditures on equipment and training.
“Thanks so much for your team’s work on our project. The kitchen designs were immaculate,3D work was stunning and the client is now very happy.” -David Bassett-Parkins, CEO, Ava Living
Time – The commodity most of us are probably most lacking in today’s world is time. Try as we might, we haven’t figured out how to invent a 30 hour day. However, by teamsourcing some of your responsibilities and tasks you are able accomplish much more with the 24 hours that are in a day. Delegating tasks to a team that can handle them quickly and proficiently allows you the time necessary to focus on the aspects of your business that you enjoy. We can’t create more hours in the day, but we can certainly maximize each hour we do have.
“I was at a conference all day on Friday. When I returned from the conference I had all of my proposals ready and waiting for my next client meeting thanks to Gibson Design Management. If I wasn’t a GDM member, I either would not have been prepared for my client meeting or I would have had to miss my conference to prepare.” - S. Lee Wright, Allied ASID, Holistic Designer New York, NY
Expertise –Let’s face it, we can’t all be experts at everything. To be honest, I wouldn’t even want to be an expert at everything because quite frankly there are jobs out there I would not enjoy. A major benefit to teamsourcing is the ability to call on your specialized teams that have the expertise (and passion) for what they are doing. In our own homes most of us don’t try to take care of everything. We have trained professionals we call on for assistance with at least some of those tasks (plumber, electrician, handyman, landscaper, housecleaning, etc.) My landscaper and his crew take really good care of my yard! Yes, I am capable of doing it myself, sort of, but it sure doesn’t look nearly as good and takes me at least twice as long. Teamsourcing affords your design firm the advantage of expert teams available to take care of those areas of your business where you lack the proficiency and enthusiasm.
“There is no task too large or too small that the friendly Gibson Design Management staff cannot assist with. The team at Gibson Design Management has made the entire project as effortless & seamless as possible. -Matthew B. Quinn, Air Sea Packing Group Inc., Long Island City NY 11101
Profitability – One of the most significant benefits to teamsourcing is increased profits. With most of our services our members can easily mark up our service fees and pass it directly onto their clients, making a nice profit. Additionally, you also have those hours available to generate revenue yourself, at your hourly rate. And if you decide you want to celebrate your new profits by taking a trip to the Bahamas, you won’t need to worry about keeping an assistant busy. Our team is there when you need us; not a financial drain when you don’t.
“Gibson Design Management has taken a burden off my shoulders in a way that allows me to service customers in a timely manner and still profit…THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I look forward to doing more and more with you.” -Valerie Steil, A.S.I.D., Marc T. Nielsen Interiors, Valparaiso, IN
Flexibility – the ability to be nimble, to expand and contract as your projects require is a huge benefit to teamsourcing. The amount and complexity of projects you are working on is bound to fluctuate; it’s never any fun to have to turn down a project because you lack the team to handle it or to lay off employees because you lack the work to support them. Teamsourcing gives you the flexibility to handle bigger projects, take a month off in the summer to play with the kids or redefine yourself as a designer.
“Outsourcing to Gibson makes perfect sense because it gives you the ability to handle bigger projects with their help and expertise” -Laurel Quint, Q Interiors in Denver, CO.
Professional Networking – In any business, networking has always been of vital importance. In today’s culture it’s not only possible, but critical to network with industry contacts around the nation (and beyond.) When you teamsource to GDM, you have the ability to let our social butterflies handle some of the networking for you. We are always connecting with industry affiliates to form and strengthen relationships, keep up on all the latest trends and news, and stay informed about information our members need to know. Our team loves to connect our members with industry affiliates and contacts, open doors, and help our members get and stay connected to the interior design industry.
“I still can’t believe I have accomplished my social networking goals in just a matter of days. I would still be an “unknown” in the social networking world if I did not sign up” -Linnore Gonzales, Decor and You, Denver, CO.
“How often do I have to tweet?”
