TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT
usually between ‘ the office ’ and ‘ the partners ’. Non fee-earners are rare , often only a practice manager . The RIBA benchmarking reports show us that most architects firms spend less than the 2-5 percent recommended minimum on marketing . And sales people ? Don ’ t make me laugh !
But seriously , these differences can help us understand how we can better get what we want out of product companies when it comes to sourcing construction product information .
Click here to download RIBA benchmarking report
Product sourcing is changing One reason construction product manufacturers are finding it harder marketing to us , is the changes in how our practices work . Architects practices have always been small ( 76 percent fewer than 10 staff , 58 percent fewer than five , according to the RIBA ) but since the recession new ways of working have developed .
People who were made redundant or became disillusioned during the recession left larger practices and set up on their own , often without a traditional business address , preferring to work from home and online . Some of these practices set up joint ventures with other individual
professionals , in different locations , collaborating online and rarely meeting in person . Sales representatives can no longer doorstep your practice and offer to update your construction product information or deliver a CPD if you don ’ t have a doorstep . Indeed they may have lost touch with you altogether .
What is more , the conventional times to contact us no longer really make sense . The new RIBA Plan of Work logo is a never-ending circle of interaction for a reason . A product manufacturer wants to be on your radar all the time , so they contact you . All the time . Pretty soon you ’ re getting someone else
8 January 2016