Monday, October 27, 2008


One of the few TV shows that I try to watch is “The Big Idea” with Donny Deutsch. He always seems to interview entrepreneurs who often have “rags to riches” stories to tell. Donny always has had inspiring and encouraging things to say about the economy and about how the American dream is still alive. Since it is filmed in NJ, I even sat in as part of the studio audience during one of his shows.

Not so now. Since the crash in Wall Street and the demise of several banks and brokerage firms earlier this month,

Everyone is in a panic. Recently, Donny interviewed another CNBC show host, Jim Cramer, to get his take on the current changes in the economy. Jim Cramer has a television show where his call-in audience greets him with a hearty “Boo-Yah from …..”

Donny called this time, “The Great Freeze.” Jim called it a “Dawn of a new age,..fortune,…trust.” Jim admitted that the fear is all consuming. “We are fearful because there are reasons to fear.”

In this “New America,” we are to stop living and consuming in excess with the foods, trips, and frivolous shopping. Instead, our standard of living will be much more like our parents. Stay home and watch the play-offs instead of flying to the stadium to see it in person, eat home cooked foods, and play board games with the family members instead of going on expensive vacations. These are drastic times that will cut to the bone of our spending habits. And it is to last for several years.

In the business arena, corporations will be laying off people. They will be restructuring their office facilities. Perhaps out-source more to contract laborers instead of taking on the higher overhead and (semi)permanent staffing.

Nothing is as dangerous in architecture as dealing with separated problems. If we split life into separated problems we split the possibilities to make good building art.
Alvar Aalto - architect

It is very difficult for corporations to make intelligent staffing changes without keeping good accounts of where the staff people’s desks, conference tables, files, chairs, bookcases,… exist. Also, they need to know what condition the equipment and furniture is in. Can some departments be relocated and reuse some of the furniture from a different department? What can be done with the existing furniture and equipment that the corporation no longer needs?

As the famous architect, Alvar Aaalto, discussed in the quote above, it is dangerous to deal with separated problems.

Our office creates an “asset management tool” that helps our clients by creating a “snap shot” of your staff members’ locations and your furniture and equipment locations. This brings the separated problems into a well organized package that will help your company stay out of danger’s way. Our clients end up having a floor plan with the furniture locations shown and with a printout of all the employees’ names, office names, furniture, equipment, and the condition of the assets. With this tool, our clients have an easier time at restructuring and reshaping their office facilities to meet these “fearful” times.

Don’t try to restructure your office without this “asset management tool.” You cannot afford to overlook this step. KATZ Communication has used Larry Lane’s services so they can keep track with all of there various company’s that are located throughout the country. He has also helped many other corporations such as Giro Centrale Vienna Bank, and Provincebanken in New York City. Call us at 212-594-2007 to have us begin this for your company today.