PHANOMEN/design President Loree O. Everette newsletter series, Profitable Commercial Space

"I like work: It fascinates me. I can sit and look
at it for hours"
- Jerome K. Jerome

While the current challenges of today’s economic climate cause some businesses to cut back or halt spending, many see this as an opportunity to think smarter to make their current resources work better and last longer. Beyond primitive spend-less thinking; small, meaningful steps to maintain and renovate can be taken to reduce costs now and down the road, preparing your company for long-term financial security. In today’s business jungle, innovation is the word of the day.

This is certainly not a new way of thinking. There is no better time than now to take advantage of ever-prevalent below market material and labor costs. Forget about buying new cubicle partitions for your facility. Give worn out furniture new life with new cradleto-cradle upholstery that not only treads gently on your bottom line, but is also good for the environment.

Taking advantage of available technologies is another wise decision business owners are making to stay at the head of a highly competitive market. Running a lean business has never been more important. One area for improvement is the often the most overlooked but may be the most important: Lighting. According to the NGLIA (Next Generation Lighting Industry Alliance), 22% of the nation’s electrical energy is used for lighting, an expense of $55 billion in electricity expenses. Additional costs are laid upon businesses when space cooling is taken into consideration due to the use of inefficient, heat producing lamps. Although they are initially less expensive, lamps with shorter usage lifetimes will cost you more in the long run.

The use of fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) is a step in the right direction. In comparison to incandescent lighting, fluorescents have longer lifespans, use fewer watts to achieve the same number of lumens (amount of light), and give off less heat. However, keep in mind each lamp (or bulb) also contain a small amount of mercury.

Investment in technological evolution is not only smart, but provides a competitive edge. LED (Light Emitting Diodes) offer even longer lifespans, use even fewer watts, and give off even less heat than their counterparts. Additionally, they are comprised of electronic parts that can be recycled much like a computer or cell phone. LED lighting may very well revolutionize lighting in the years to come (Energy Star).

Lighting Science Group has several notable LED lighting systems including a replacement lamp for halogen lighting. They recently announced a LED replacement lamp for the most standard incandescent A19 lamp. The lamp is dimmable, fits into existing standard sockets, and expected on the market in the very near future. These new replacement lamps are…

6x more efficient than incandescent equivalents

20% more efficient than comparable CFL replacements

20x longer lasting than incandescent

6x longer lasting than CFL

Free of hazardous materials

UV ray emission free

(for more information contact:
Richard Byard, at Light Source, )

Replacing inefficient lighting is just one of many potential ways to improve the flow of cash out of your business. Seeking out innovative solutions and making small adaptations can help a business to thrive, not just survive while the market recovers. Creating less waste is not so bad, either. Take the time to evaluate all aspects of your profitable environment, even those that may not seem immediately gratifying. Don’t let something as seemingly basic as lighting drain your dollars and weaken your link in the economic food chain.

"People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who really do."
- Unknown Author

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PHANOMEN/design was enlisted by the Crawfordsville, IN Board of Aviation Commission to elevate the design of their new long-awaited terminal. City representatives wanted their terminal to be a reflection of their rural community while at the same time emphasizing their modern attitude, presenting the city as a progressive gateway. They weren’t looking to be trendy, but to have an aesthetic that would remain fresh and current through the years.

PHANOMEN/design wove their vision into a contemporary, casual environment with a design that is enduring and sincere.

The custom control desk was designed to handle decades of wear and tear without showing a scratch. The body is constructed of Trespa homogeneous thermo set resin panels, the solid surface countertops with wing shaped lines provide subtle reference, and the front of brushed stainless steel is not only timeless, but highly durable. Flooring mimics the surrounding terrain with running line carpet tiles by Shaw Contract inspired by topographic maps. Furniture, provided by The Binford Group, was carefully selected to remain cohesive with the building’s clean line architecture, while proving the occasional visual pop. Many of the details of the terminal, open to the community, can best be experienced in person. We welcome you to come try out the custom cabinets, whose hydraulic lift hardware mimic airport hangar doors, next time you’re in the Crawfordsville area!

“I can't thank you enough for your ideas and "pop" colors! I think the building will be stunning for the public and visitors. You have been wonderful to work with and I am so pleased that that we called you. It has made the difference between "mundane" and "WOW".”
- Myra Dunn


Photos provided by Paul Abbott
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“Some say the glass is half empty, some say the glass is half full, I say, are you going to drink that?”
- Lisa Claymen

We, PHANOMERS, are always looking for ways to have a good time while supporting the community. On February 19, 2009, PHANOMEN/design again sponsored the Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame, an annual Junior Achievement of Central Indiana event established “to honor the champions of free enterprise and to present business role models to the youth of our community.” The event honored the 2009 Laureates who are nominated for their leadership in the business and education community of Central Indiana. We believe in Junior Achievement’s philanthropic purpose and plan to continue to give our support in this and coming years. For ourselves and our guests, the evening was an opportunity to catch-up, laugh out loud and celebrate – punctuated by a memorable toast to “nothing!” (sorry, inside joke)

DuJuanna London (PHANOMEN/design), Sue & John Lerchen (Catalyst Construction), Sharon Hoog & Kenneth Remenschneider (Remenschneider Associates, Inc.), Melissa Hopper (Eli Lily Corporation), David Nijhawan, Esq (Old National Bank), and Loree Everette (PHANOMEN/design)