We are right in the middle of a sporting cauldron, which has just given us Wimbledon where the press, after the semi final, changed Andy Murray’s nationality from British back to Scottish. Lots of sobbing in English pubs, but you know the saying, “what did the Romans ever do for us” and Fabio did his best and now understands that sometimes you are the tree and sometimes the dog. Either role provides an interesting bark. Shame the Dutch forgot to swap their clogs for football slippers, but at least we can all now engage in that new pastime ….. learning Spanish, just the thing for Majorca. “El neerlandés debe pegarse a la fabricación de queso sin sabor, el uso de zapatos incómodos y dejar de patear nuestros futbolistas Hermosa”. With thanks to Google Translate, guaranteed to get you into trouble.
The oil in the Gulf of Mexico continues to gush and boy wasn’t Obama angry, eager to flex his muscles and demanding compensation. Truly a man on a mission, and if my translation is right he was “looking for some British bottoms to kick”. If only he was around when Union Carbide had a problem at Bhopal 26 years ago then he could have exercised his footie skills on bottoms closer to home.
The menu this month Includes:
Joint Statement from the IDA and BIID
The IDA Website
Diary of Events
What Are You Doing in September
98% Turnout for Summer Networking
Party in Scotland
IDA Preferred Suppliers List
Lifetime Achievement Award for Cherrill Scheer
Site Visits
Exhibitions
New Designers
How is the Market Performing?
And Finally
Joint Statement from the IDA and BIID
You will recall that the IDA was set up to build the recognition of Interior Design as a profession and to do this in a formal way. The announcement below is an important step in this process.
“The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) and the Interior Design Association (IDA) have agreed to collaborate on the development of a Pathway for Professional Interior Designers. For the first time, there will be a scheme for all areas of the interior design industry that will recognise and certify educational achievement and experience at all levels”
Statement in Full
The IDA Website
Members can promote their services free of charge. Go to www.theida.co.uk to see who is there already.
If you have a vacancy to fill then recruitment is free on the IDA website for members. Contact mary@theida.co.uk for more information.
Diary of Events
For a review of what’s on and where to see it, then follow the link below. If you have an event of your own and wish to publicisie it then let us know.
Diary
What Are You Doing in November?
Just a reminder about the annual lunch At the Dorchester on 4 November this year, sponsored by; AMS Group, CreditLook, Grohe, Kesterport, Panaz, Solk Furniture, Vescom and Walker Greenbank . BCFA members will be inviting key designers and suppliers to attend over the coming months. It is where many IDA members come to meet and network and should you wish to purchase tickets this can be done via the link below.
Annual Luncheon Link
98% Turnout for Summer Networking
There were just short of 150 attend the BCFA summer party at Home House in London. From the accepted guest list, only four people failed to turn up. That must be a record. Guests included many leading design practices and end user clients; ARA Design, Benjamin West, Conran & Partners, Dexter Moren, EPR, Foster & Partners, Fox Linton, GA Design, Gensler, Guoman & Thistle Hotels, Hilton, IHG, Jestico & Whiles, KCA, Malmaison Hotels, Populous, RHWL, Richmond International, RPW, Tonik Design, Trevillion Interiors, Wyndham Hotel Group. See
Summer Party Review
Party Time in Scotland
We are looking at additional late summer networking events for design practices and their clients, including one in Scotland. If you would attend an event north of the border, please contact mary@theida.co.uk
Lifetime Achievement Award for Cherrill Scheer
Cherrill Sheer, to her great surprise and delight, was presented the Mixology 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. Cherrill was born into the design industry, and following her studies at the Architectural Association and Kingston School of Architecture, she joined Hille International becoming the Director in charge of Marketing and PR. Cherrill still serves the design industry with energy and distinction today.
News Story
Site Visits
We have taken more than 50 Interior Designers to site visits this year, at Scottish Leather Group, Renfrewshire; The Rafael on the Left Bank Hotel, London; Intercontinental Hotel Group, Denham and Kings Place, London. After our summer recess, this will continue with interesting new locations.
Our arranged visits have been open to the interior design industry in general but will now be a members benefit or by special invitation.
Visit to the Rafael on the left bank
visit to the InterContinental Hotel Group HQ in Denham
Visit to Scottish Leather Group
VISIT TO Kings Place
Exhibitions
- Clerkenwell Design Week. As a first event, it was encouraging and points to the area around Clerkenwell growing in popularity as a place to have your London presence. The event seemed to capture the interest of the design industry.
- Contract Focus for 100% Design London. The IDA will be teaming up with 100% Design this year for a 3-day programme of seminars covering key sectors including hospitality, retail, education and healthcare with a major emphasis on sustainable interiors. Opportunities for speakers are available and for more information see
News Story
New Designers
The IDA were delighted to sponsor an award in Week One of the New Designers Exhibition at Business Design Centre Islington and as they say, “the prize went to” Lois Norman from Bucks New University, which she received from Sophie Conran and myself at a ceremony on 30th June. The reward included a four-week placement at Brintons London Design Studio.
The Judges were Colin Watson, Managing Director BCFA and IDA; Carolyn Mitchell, Contract Sales Director Walker Greenbank and BCFA Director; John Bain, Global Design Director Brintons Carpets Ltd and Mary Fox Linton, Managing Director Fox Linton Associates and IDA President. See more at
New Designers
In week two Stephan Oberwegner from Max Bentheim spoke to a cross section of students, press, educators and industry about sustainable interior design. One startling point, which I am sure we are all aware of and where there should be a focus as important as saving energy, is that we flush our toilets with fresh, purified drinking water. Outrageous really and rainwater gathering and wastewater recycling systems should be a priority, certainly on new builds. Stephan can elaborate stephan@maxbentheim.com or see the write up about the Scarlet Hotel at
Scarlet Hotel
How is the Market Performing?
It is generally rather difficult to get good information on trends and if you would like to consider being involved in a simple scheme that takes about two minutes a month and tracks market activity that is not “old data”, then drop me a line. We have considerable experience of doing this and with sufficient support we will set it up.
And Finally
Michael O’Leary has a book out which is full of good business tips, like how to improve customers service with love and kindness, while including the occasional naughty word.
Here are some examples.
On customer service: "People say the customer is always right, but you know what - they're not. Sometimes they are wrong and they need to be told so."
On apologies: "Are we going to say sorry for our lack of customer service? Absolutely not."
On refunds: "We don't want to hear your sob stories. What part of 'no refund' don't you understand?"
Or if that doesn’t work
"You're not getting a refund so **** off."
You can find out more at
‘Plane Speaking: The Wit and Wisdom of Michael O'Leary’
Kind regards and have a great summer
CCW
Colin Watson: Managing Director