As part of my business plan for collecting job leads, I have maintained a revolving list of about 250 designers, builders, and related businesses in the residential construction sector, mostly in the North and Northeast valley metro areas. This includes Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Paradise Valley and North Phoenix. These areas contain a considerable number of mid- to large-size custom homes. Though the list lies idle for long spells, it periodically gets updated with tidbits of information pertaining to job possibilities and contact information.
In anticipation of completing this website, the list has been reopened, updated and evaluated. An attempt has been made to contact all list members to inform them of the launch of the new Artefino site. In assessing the results of these activities, it’s noted that between 2007 and 2010, approximately one out of every five businesses on the list has gone out of business (and off the list). Of the remaining bulk of business owners, a rough tally shows:
-40% consider their business to be slow, have scaled back, but are still “on the radar”.
-40% have redirected their activities to another target, mainly remodeling and/or commercial construction, and may have made some cuts and changes but still consider their business to be viable given the near halt of new residential construction.
-15% have continued with “business as usual” and while certainly not immune to economic woes, their pipeline still sustains them.
-5% seem to be almost gleeful in tackling an abundance of work; one design group even had a long wait list! Some of these folks have modified their business plan to achieve this level of success, but most are just busy because their work is well known and sought after.
This is my take on a very small slice of AZ construction. In my world of decorative finishing the work is still there. Having a dual license (residential and commercial), I am following the construction dust to more remodel jobs than ever before, and I have reignited the quest for large-scale mural work in high traffic areas such as restaurants, hotel lobbies, outdoor plazas, museums, etc.
If you are looking at this site because I brought it to your attention in the last few weeks, you are likely a surviving business in the somewhat battered construction industry of Arizona. Cheers to you and may your resourcefulness carry you onward!
