Design Audit by Jesse Martini & Rambert Sin
Introduction
About Bolefloor Motto: “Life is not a straight line” Core Values:
“It wasn’t nature that created straight lines. It was the limitations of technology. In nature, there is no such thing as a right angle or a straight edge. Yet, when it comes to products, we work very hard to square off the curves, to correct the imperfections – because it’s easier, because it’s cheaper, because the products we create will fit with all the other squared – off things in our lives Beautiful materials don’t fit in a box. The uniqueness, the personality, the love that nature gave us should show through. Our mission is to break this cycle. Every product we produce, every project we participate in, every person we hire is a step towards this goal.”
Core Beliefs 1. Ethically Sourced 2. Sustainable Manufacturing Processes 3. Unique and Personal 4. Customizable to suit the needs of the individual client
Design Output Operates on lowered wastage than traditional flooring. Through this scanning of thousands of tree they have brought out the core eight shapes that occur in nature. From that they created a modular flooring system, that takes these 8 common shapes and creates a cheaper more viable flooring system with less waste. Curve8 floor reduced the cost of Bolefloor by roughly $30, allowing for a greater population to have the sustainable flooring. Decking with same principle for continuity within houses. Iroko wood is used for protective properties against the Sun, as well as rain and snow.
Production 1. Globally sourced exotic woods 2. Cut and milled into boards 3. Primary scan (for cataloging) 4. Trimmed and planed down 5. Final scan for cutting 6. FLoorplan is sent in where software finds suitable pieces 7. Wood is cut and ID’d then sent with a guide to perfect layout
Guidelines Try to have less than 3% waste product when creating floors, Of course it fluxuates based on the type of wood and the way the tree grew. This number is the lowest waste product percentage of any flooring product or manufacture, allowing them to be FSC certifed.
Market
Bolefloor Focuses on a mid-upscale market demographic that is going for a trendy, funky, and unique interior. Because it is located all around the world, the market exists wherever flooring is required. It competes on a local and worldwide scale with other kinds of flooring businesses, especially hardwood flooring companies.
Competitors Within the Canadian market it’s direct competitors are : Satin Finish, Wickham, Vintage. (Offers a similar product that is FSC Certified but creates more waste)
Products Bole Custom
Bole Modular
Bolefloor (flooring) Boledeck (decking) Boleform (surfacing)
Curve8 Deck6 Thermory
Under development: Varvage by Bole
Visual Analysis
Webpage Simple, neutral, elegant
Clean and cohesive
Still okay...
Beautiful...except for those PLASTIC chairs!
Deep Analysis
To gain a visual understanding of the company, the information is synthesized into a SWOT compass
Strengths Cost effective
Customization
Identifiable form
Unique Design
Positive Brand Image
Materials
Leverage on flexibility
Threats Brand difference
Opportunities
Niche Market
Lots of competition
Small Scale Element of bespoke
Singular product Site navigation Long processing
Weaknesses
Complex assembly
A clear understanding of the potential threats leads to the creation of value in becoming opportunities...
In addition to internal analysis, external factors can also be insightful and aid in the creation of value...
Social
Political
Environmental
Technological
Economical
Rise of Smart Products Wood Flooring continues to be in style( 2017 trend forcast)
Parquet going back in style
Favouring larger wood planks
Rise in luxury living spaces
Time
Social Local over imported
Rise of wood-looking floors as cheaper alternative
New materials for flooring growing popular
Unique modular system Increased manufacturing efficiency Patent protection in multiple countries
Innovation towards more accessible versions (curve8) New transportation for greater accessibility
Technological Disposable Culture
Time
Potential replacement for wood flooring Overseas fraudulent replicas
Rising economics resulting in greater purchasing power Strong trade partnerships
Variety of price points based on material finish, quality, and system Value alternative to custom flooring
Time
Economical Many cheaper Housing prices soaring alternatives Small niche market
Minimal job prospects
Growing fascination towards local and rare varietals of wood Mazimizing yield per tree
Positive image amongst competitors for environmental innovation
Different grades at different price points means less wastage of suboptimal
Time
Environmental Promotion of detrimental practice
Disposable culture creating waste wood
Growing consiousness of depleting natural resources
Increased competition with other companies (local) Potential job creation Stabilization of economy Instabillity of local gov’t
Feasible business model for similar countires (Canada)
Time
Political Growing preference to locality Legal process in importation of foreign woods
Increasing price of labour
Heavy taxation on foreign goods
Through this analysis of future trends that can affect the company, we can combine the research, along with the maps to create new opportunities...
Potential Opportunities 1. Diversification of Material Sourcing 2. Greater Exposure through Marketing 3. Potential Inclusion of Technology for Future 4. Exploration of different layouts 5. End-to-end Sustainable Solution
Thank You