tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3461658247603905885.post1501400687231809643..comments2023-08-23T05:31:31.218-06:00Comments on Why Architects Drink: Good business or cutting off our nose to spite our face?Mile High Pixiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03276750909800945131noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3461658247603905885.post-31438612299852620332009-08-02T12:02:51.128-06:002009-08-02T12:02:51.128-06:00Bluearch: True dat. I hadn't thought about yo...Bluearch: True dat. I hadn't thought about your last point there--why was it a good idea to hire her when things were good but a bad idea to keep her when things are bad and we need more than ever to sharpen our presentation skills and set ourselves apart, what with so many other firms suddenly going after our types of projects?<br /><br />Kitteh: It does suck. In our efforts to reduce overhead, it seems like we're throwing out babies with bathwater from every window. Someone in our office commented recently: "If the higher-ups are supposed to manage, and there are very few projects in the office, then what are they managing? What are they doing? If the work suddenly comes back, are they going to draw everything? They don't draw, and they don't get work like the partners do..so why have only two of them been let go so far?"<br /><br />WG: Veronica's job responsibilities was a combo of marketing and strategic development. She would edit things that the partners wrote up for publication as well as create press releases for stuff we'd done and were about to do. She would help us think through and plan out presentations and RFPs to potential clients to make sure we were presenting ourselves in the best way and in a way that non-architects understand. No easy task, for sure.Mile High Pixiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03276750909800945131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3461658247603905885.post-16890157852778684702009-08-01T13:36:53.936-06:002009-08-01T13:36:53.936-06:00What does a marketing person do? I see people tryi...What does a marketing person do? I see people trying to sell things all the time. Salesmen trying to get a store owner to buy advertising on their radio station, or news paper. "The HomeToen Daily Fish Wrap is the premier paper in this part of (pick your state). You'd do well to advertise with us!" How do you advertise an archetecture firm? "We did the Twin Tower rebuild (translate: we got saddled with the ports authority)" "Our hospitals win awards, taste great and are less filling" "Acme Archetects Mommas wear combat boots. You don't wanna work with them." What ever works, eh?Wilderness Ginanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3461658247603905885.post-38363315947886105682009-08-01T07:56:17.818-06:002009-08-01T07:56:17.818-06:00It really does seem like the team's GM firing ...It really does seem like the team's GM firing the coach when the league is tough and the players are underperforming. <br /><br />Shitty situation for everyone. [sigh]Miss Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13210249894351503887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3461658247603905885.post-30693610684356644552009-07-31T21:36:57.873-06:002009-07-31T21:36:57.873-06:00In this architectural malaise that we are experien...In this architectural malaise that we are experiencing I'm not sure if letting go the one person dedicated to the office's marketing strategy was the best idea. If the partners have failed to agree on anything in the past it definitely seems as though Veronica was set up for failure.<br /><br />And in case Liz hadn't noticed, a lot of firms around the country are coming in second. To blame Veronica on the lack of business during the worst recession since The Great Depression is a little ridiculous.<br /><br />Obviously the partners feel that letting go the person in charge of marketing was in the best interest of the firm. I would argue that if they thought hiring a marketing director when times were good was a smart move then how could you possibly think that firing your marketing director during bad times will pay off for the firm? It comes across like a desperate move to save money in the short term.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com