8 minute read
A digital revolution
from WI Winter 2021
by MediaEdge
An alternative pathway to innovation
By Patrick Christie, TWIG Organizer and Wood Design Consultant
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The pathway to innovation today cannot only be driven by faster/ sharper/thinner/lighter/less. We have to let go of the dominant narrative leftover from the Industrial Revolution and look more widely at what factors impact people, the environment, culture, and the economy. As we know, the Industrial Revolution was very mechanistic - components laid in sequence to each other to perform a repetitive task. A thing was broken down into its different parts, and new methods were invented in order to make things at a higher rate and volume. Well, we got really good at that, and we are maxed out. The dial is turned well past 11, Old Growth forests have been decimated, and we are stuck in a mode of production from 100 plus years ago.
So how do we get out of this? Well, the post-pandemic world might start to shine a light on what’s possible. Within 100 years, there has been such an explosion of new technologies that have created new product categories altogether and vastly improved the capabilities of the machines birthed in the Industrial Revolution. Many of these technologies are completely invisible to the human eye and only experienced through touch screen technology and operated via a distributed computing network. Before the pandemic, only a portion of interactions took place via Zoom; now, it’s part of human nature. Because we were forced to do things differently, we have an industry that can connect with more competence using today’s technology. We have heard numerous stories from our community on how this has positively impacted their way of doing business. At TWIG, we agree, as we now can meet monthly with folks from across BC and beyond, and people can prioritize family needs and still pop in for a couple of hours from the comfort of their homes.
In March 2019, the organizing team got together and asked ourselves how we might keep going, given that our primary function of OTB was to meet in person, eat food, have drinks, and listen to someone tell their story about wood. At this point, we had already started to try new things like the lead organizers Barbara and Ian moved on, and Jason and I stepped in to lead. We had one season of events in collaboration with the Emily Carr Material Matters lab, highlighting people working at the intersection of digital technologies and traditional materials - or New-Craft. We decided to reconfigure OTB by first rebranding as TWIG and to move everything online, including a purpose-built website, establishing groups on LinkedIn, and creating monthly events through Zoom.
This pandemic has shown that we can do things differently, and when we all got together to talk about the future of TWIG, our conversation was more about a longer-term vision and not just until the pandemic was over. With this transition to an online format, we have been able to keep connected and have increased the connections in the industry. As the Industrial Revolution invented new ways to convert raw materials into goods, the Digital Revolution brought new ways to connect over distances and through networks, platforms, and interfaces.
The pathway forward is more about how we work with what we have and the efficiencies that come from an overall utilization of resources within a network or a cluster of people working together. Innovation, in this case, is not something you drive towards but a result of the right conditions. Ones that foster relationship building, new connections, learning, and skill-building and that support people with budding ideas to produce new growth in the industry.
Businesses connecting through the TWIG network.
This article is the second in a fivepart series exploring how TWIG offers an alternative pathway to innovation that values humans, resources, and the economy.
Custom cabinetry and furniture by Arbutus Furniture & Closets
Chris Cornish purchased Arbutus Furniture & Closets in 2018. This 35-yearold company offers the design, manufacturing, and installation of custom furniture and storage and storage solutions in the residential, commercial and institutional markets. Currently a staff of 16, they are actively recruiting to add more members to their production and installation teams to help them meet the growing needs of their customers.
The company has a fairly evenly distributed market between their Interior Design and Homebuilder partners, direct to consumers and contract work with Developers and Landlords on large multi-family projects.
WHAT IS ARBUTUS KNOWN FOR?
Cornish will tell you that Arbutus has built a reputation for delivering innovative custom designs and quality products at fair prices. But Cornish firmly believes his company’s primary strength is its people. Between this and their innovative storage solutions, we asked Cornish to share more about his company.
MAKING THE MOST OF SPACE
IF YOU WANT IT, ARBUTUS BUILDS IT
By Sandra Wood
CKCA: What are your strengths? What do you think your company is known for?
CORNISH: We produce a high-quality, competitively priced product delivered with care and attention. We have team members who care about the products we deliver, and they genuinely care about our customers’ satisfaction. We stand by everything we build and pride ourselves on pleasing our customers. As a result, we have tremendous loyalty from our team, some of whom have been with us for 20 years. The same can be said for our loyal customers, in some cases spanning three generations in the same family.
LIVING IN PLACE
CKCA: With the trend towards Living in Place, people are improving their homes, and storage is increasingly important; what trends are you seeing, and how is this impacting your business?
CORNISH: Living in Place is a term that is coming up more frequently. Our designers provide simple solutions for customers looking to improve their living spaces’ functionality, convenience, and efficiency. We have an incredible array of tools, devices, and technologies to help our clients live more comfortably in their spaces: integrated lighting in storage areas with motion detectors or remote control, easy to use blind corner solutions, servo-assisted drawer slides, push-to-open mechanisms, and flap stays with gas springs, to name a few. We also provide clients with motorized blinds and solar shading solutions to increase their spaces’ comfort and energy efficiency.
TRENDS IN STORAGE
CKCA: What other trends are you seeing? CORNISH: The unexpected “working from home” dynamic we saw in 2020 and the focus on spending more time at home sparked a surge in projects creating home gyms and hybrid spaces to accommodate studies and hobbies, in-
Custom walk-in closet by Arbutus Furniture & Closets
cluding recreational areas. Many clients finally tackled their garages, improving their storage for off-season items, tools, yard maintenance equipment, sports gear, bikes, skis, and adapting these spaces into multi-purpose rooms.
One of our favourite recent projects was in Whistler. Our clients created custom personal storage for each family member - racks and hooks for all of their sports equipment - plus an “après lounge” with a clever secure bar with a fold-down table concealed in one of the cabinets. Immediately, their garage became the envy of the neighbourhood, and the obvious destination for postmountain libations.
CKCA: What is the most popular storage system requested from clients and why?
CORNISH: By far, our most frequent request is for converting a spare bedroom into a multi-purpose space with a wall bed, custom storage units, and a desk for a work-from-home setup.
MAXIMIZING SPACE
CKCA: What do you think kitchen cabinet manufacturers should consider building that can help them adapt to the new demands in storage?
CORNISH: We have always had compact “convenience” desks in kitchens; however, building more robust and functional workstations adjacent to kitchens has become more common. They integrate charging stations, under cabinet lighting, grommets, pull-out mechanisms for printers, whiteboards, and tack boards, utilizing every square inch. As customers demand more functionality and efficiency out of their homes, we have to maximize all the rooms in the house.
CKCA: What challenges do you face as a business?
CORNISH: Looking forward, we are facing multiple challenges. Staffing is becoming more complex, particularly in Vancouver, where the cost of living is very high, causing wage pressures. We also see mounting price increases from suppliers all across the board. Just last week, one of our TFL suppliers advised of an overnight price increase of 30%. We are still feeling the effects of supply chain disruptions, and we expect to have continued shipping issues over the short to medium term in the future.
As a company, we are proud of what we have achieved, and we are excited to continue on our path of customer and employee satisfaction.
OUR INDUSTRY KNOWS THEIR SPACE INTIMATELY
CKCA is pleased to have Arbutus Furniture & Closets as a member. In the kitchen cabinet industry, many manufacturers build far beyond just the kitchen space and create many other functional rooms in the home. One could say that our industry gets to know the area they work with intimately. The trend towards better storage and multifunctional space presents unique opportunities to keep our industry innovating and driving forward.
We wish Arbutus Furniture & Closets continued success!
CKCA Members strive for quality, professionalism, and innovation. For more profiles like these and many other benefits, consider becoming a CKCA member!
February 24-26, 2022 | International Centre | Mississauga (Toronto), CA
WMS is the professional woodworking show for all of Canada WMS has connected Canada’s professional woodworking industry with the world’s most prominent machinery manufacturers, material suppliers, hardware companies and other services and products for more than four decades.
Can’t miss WMS 2022 features: • WMS Live – On-the-show-floor presentation stage offering free education sessions to attendees on a range of timely manufacturing, technology and other hot topics. • Bustling Expo Floor - With more than 65,000 square feet filled with major machinery manufacturers, distributors, and materials, software and supply companies, you are sure to discover something you could use for your shop. • Happy Hour Events – The first two days of the show will conclude with an opportunity to unwind with a drink and talk shop with fellow attendees.
NOTE TO PARTICIPANTS: Effective September 25, 2021 capacity limits were increased in many indoor settings where proof of vaccination is required including conference and convention centers. Audiences will be increased to up to 50 percent capacity or 10,000 people (whichever is less) for indoor events.
Register Now
February 24-26, 2022 WMSCanada.ca
To reserve exhibit space: Rich Widick | WMS Sales rwidick@heiexpo.com (630) 929-7918 For general conference and show information: Harry Urban | Woodworking Network harry.urban@woodworkingnetwork.com (708) 373-4344
