Hospitality Design - July 2012 - 65

purchasing pov

perspectives
By Alia Akkam

all together now
Recently, Russell Haber, president of Sonoma, California-based Royal Oak Purchasing, ordered light ﬁxtures for a client. But there was a problem: the harps for the shades had to be adjusted, and the mistake, he realized, was his. “I once worked for a guy who had a ‘No Surprises’ sign on his desk, and I have tried to follow that advice throughout my career,” Haber says. “If something is amiss, you don’t hide it. Honesty is really key.” In the expansive role of hospitality purchasing agent, collaborating with myriad parties on multiple projects is an everyday reality. So as Haber points out, a truthful, open dialogue with colleagues is essential. Lori Patten, principal of Patten Purchasing in Yorkville, Illinois, and president of ISHP, offers another spin on communication. “It’s about getting along with all your entities, getting all the groups together to keep [the project] running smoothly. You don’t have to be best friends,” she says, adding that she views her job as that of a middleman. “I don’t overstep. I don’t design. I suggest and offer solutions if something is going to work.” One resource that has proven particularly helpful to Patten is the purchasing software program, Lojik Design Systems, making it easy for purchasers and designers to streamline their efforts. According to ISHP’s Town Hall survey, unveiled at the Owners’ Roundtable during HD Expo in May, there are signiﬁcantly longer product lead times on a larger overall budget. For 2012, purchasers are also spending more money on items that take longer to ship. Efﬁciency measures like Lojik can help move a project forward. “Now more than ever, we have to go through many approvals. It’s not just the owner anymore,” Patten points out. says that time and money can be saved in the long run if collaborators with hospitality experience—those who understand the industry’s unique interplay—are brought on board. “Designers who are inexperienced in the hospitality industry, in conjunction with loose speciﬁcations, allow for greater interpretation of the design by vendors. In addition, if the designer tries to design during the shop drawing process, it can not only add three to four additional weeks to the lead time, it can also increase the cost of the item if design details were not originally quoted,” she explains. Starck speaks from recent experience on several projects where the general contractor, warehouse, and FF&E installer did not have hotel backgrounds. “The general contractor’s bid was initially the lowest, but then charged the client for things a contractor who has hospitality experience would include in their base bid,” she recounts. “In another instance, we had a carpet installer install the meeting room axminster carpet in the back of house area. The general contractor didn’t catch it, and it went unnoticed until the owner’s rep walked the property.” Beyond working with people who understand the nuances of hospitality settings, Patten advises that deﬁning the scope of the project, as clearly and as early as possible, is wise. For one project in which she did OSE work, Patten says there were ﬁve different budgets, but no cohesive one. “Most of the time was spent sourcing items that should have been in an approved budget, looking for product, and asking questions,” she notes. Ultimately, though, says Haber, products secured for each project are “only as good what the vendor tells you.” Years ago, he remembers, his boss made him visit an LA factory to ensure the owners were telling the truth about its manufacturing processes. It’s as simple, he says, as doing “business with those you trust.”

You’re Approved
To navigate today’s long-winded approval processes, Jennifer Starck, North America director for Lafayette, Colorado-based Benjamin West,

What Else is New?
In past HD coverage, we’ve noted how purchasing agents are seeing a resurgence in U.S. manufacturing, as well as a greater interest in eco-friendly products, thanks to more measured results in sustainability practices from the likes of MindClick. But we asked Russell Haber of Royal Oak Purchasing, Lori Patten of Patten Purchasing, and Jennifer Starck of Benjamin West to weigh in on other industry trends. “Thousands of Chinese factories have closed over the years, which gives the U.S. an advantage. Prices in Asia are increasing,” Haber points out. A China-based manufacturer of reclaimed wood recently approached Haber, prompting him to say, “That’s all well and good, but don’t I have to bring that across the ocean? There’s a continuing effort to produce green products here. It’s a wonderful goal to strive for.” But despite a surge in sustainable initiatives, he warns, “owners rst look at cost. Although they may talk about buying within ve hundred miles of the property, or only American, then they realize the budget doesn’t allow.” According to ISHP’s Town Hall survey, more than 75 percent of projects are renovations of branded/ chain hotels. This burst of activity is good news for purchasers, says Patten. “Three jobs that were lagging are now being rushed quickly because there are more on the horizon,” she says. In terms of design, Patten sees attention being lavished upon the lobby, particularly in the form of warm, natural tones (“more residential, nothing ultra-modern”) as well as the addition of interactive seating areas. Meanwhile, in guestrooms Starck notices a more simpli ed look: “less overall cost, more streamlined designs, not complicated.” Existing xtures tend to remain, with a replacement of shades becoming a priority. However, she recommends “sending sample shades to con rm the harp ts prior to ordering hundreds.” While there might be fewer pieces of artwork, Starck points to the headboard’s growing prominence in rooms: “[It] is now larger and acts as the focal point.”

www.hospitalitydesign.com

July 2012

http://www.hospitalitydesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - July 2012