Cutler

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and President of KEY Marketing, a values led, high performance team of high performance, multi-family real estate design, marketing and sales professionals. I’m primarily accountable for ensuring we have the best people, clients, projects and resources to exceed client expectations.

For what projects/services did your company hire Cutler, and what were your goals?

We bought an architecturally significant, waterfront, heritage office building with the goal of making the interior as beautiful and impactful as the exterior so we could brand the building related to our business brand, thereby uplifting the business brand.

We hired Cutler to completely redesign the common areas and top floor to an award-winning level, manage the construction budget and project, source and procure the furniture.

How did you select Cutler and what were the deciding factors?

We chose Cutler because of their reputation and track record and the reputation of their principal.

Describe the engagement and overall scope of work in detail, including the stages of the partnership.

First, I shared my business goals for our decision behind buying the building and our goal to create an amazing work and meeting space on the top floor. Then I shared our vision for the look and feel of the space and rough ideas around budget. Cutler found a real world example of the look and feel we wanted to achieve on their first try and then we got into the budget and timeline.

They sourced and managed the GC approved all the POs, managed the budget, sourced and procured all the fixtures and furnishings.

What were the terms and the value of the lease, and what percentage did Cutler take in commission?

It was a million dollar job in total and their fees including time and procurement charges were about $100K.

How many resources from the Cutler team worked with you, and what were their positions?

We had a senior designer lead the project, a junior helping out and constant access to the principal as needed.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the engagement or general feedback about the services?

They went over and above when necessary to complete the job on time and on budget. Employees love working in the office and visitors are blown away. We can now brand the building to coincide with the business brand to achieve our original business objective.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They communicated with us via calls, email, Google docs and sheets, meetings and reports as needed.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What was most impressive about this company was the quality of their people and their commitment to a positive outcome no matter what bumps in the road we found along the way which is typical when restoring heritage buildings.

This was also my first time doing this so they were patient with me as I learned a lot during the process. We were extremely happy with the overall outcome.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

There was some miscommunication in the beginning about the budget but that was resolved to my satisfaction and I’m happy with the end result.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Goodlad Clothing.

What challenge were you trying to address with Cutler?

We needed help with creating a unique retail space. Specifically, our goal was to combine a cafe, a barbershop, and a retail clothing store into one store.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cutler helped us build our ideal retail store. First, we had an initial consultation with the team, where we discussed the potential layout and design of the store. We worked on Pinterest to create a mood board to give them an understanding of the mood and feel we wanted for the space. They then introduced various options for color schemes, lighting, and floor coverings. Eventually, we ended up with a cohesive design and color palette. From there, Cutler did some research and listed our options along with price estimates. Based on their ideas, we decided what to do and moved forward.

Additionally, Cutler helped us get the necessary permits to run our business, which was challenging due to the nature of our space. The store underwent several inspections before opening.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two people.

How did you come to work with Cutler?

I had known Jeff (President) for several years. We looked at a few design companies but decided to go with Cutler because they were a local company that specialized in retail. I’d also seen some of his work and thought his style was a good fit for us. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent somewhere between $25,000–$50,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from March–July 2018. We opened the store in August 2018.

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Cutler delivered designs that were innovative and modern. They allowed us to open on time, which was critical because we ordered our merchandise in advance. If we hadn’t opened in August 2018, we would have had to get rid of around $300,000 worth of seasonal or perishable goods.  

Additionally, the Cutler team excelled at the government side of the process — we had zero delays because of problems with acquiring a permit. The team helped us overcome a huge obstacle and met our expectations.

How did Cutler perform from a project management standpoint?

In terms of project management, they performed very well — the team was organized and communicative. They met timelines and completed their tasks when they were supposed to, and we never had to chase them down. Cutler was a professional team who really knew what they were doing. We communicated primarily through email, but we also had phone calls when necessary.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their help in getting permits was as valuable as their design work. Their expertise in dealing with bureaucratic matters alone was worth the price of their consultation. Had we attempted to navigate that on our own, we might not have been able to open on time, which would have cost us more than we spent on their services.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They stretched the budget a few times, which was frustrating because they would offer options that we simply couldn’t afford. I wish they didn’t show them to us in the first place. I understand that they just wanted us to look at our best options, but they could’ve considered the budget that we gave them. However, we didn’t have any major issues with the team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend consulting with them and not attempting to save money by setting up a store on your own. They’re a great team.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a Beauty & Cosmetics firm.

For what projects/services did your company hire Cutler, and what were your goals?

We engaged Cutler for design and project management in developing our flagship store, and retail expansion.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We searched for professional design consultants and project management team, and after meeting with a number of candidates chose Cutler based on their past projects, their design and management team, and cost estimate.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Cutler on-boarded our specific design criteria, and created the design plans. They assisted us in selecting a General Contractor, and managed the construction/installation. They understood clearly the ambience we were striving to attain and the results speak for themselves.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The project manager was our main point of contact as well as the architectural design team.

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Our store launched in April 2018, and there was an immediate buzz about the design and feel of the store experience which continues today despite the difficult times through the pandemic.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

The project manager communicated with us regularly to ensure that all plans and timelines were followed. This mitigated any delays in the construction.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The professional approach towards the initial and secondary projects bringing their experience and advice in the technical areas of city zoning and bylaws.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the VP of Store and Community Development for a national retailer. I lead our business in the creation and expansion of new store growth across Canada.

For what projects/services did your company hire Cutler?

Cutler was (and is) hired to assist in the project documentation and design phase of each project. They have been involved in over 10 projects with us to date.

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We selected Cutler as our design firm based on their experience with other cannabis retailers, other exciting and cool projects they have worked on, and their team who are personable, fun, and knowledgeable.

Describe the project in detail and walk through the stages of the project.

Once we secure a location for our store, we work with Cutler to provide programming, design, and brand requirements to assist in their design process. Cutler provides us with a Design Development package that illustrates our vision and requirements via Floor Plans, Layout Options, and 3D Renderings. Once the DD package is approved, Cutler works to produce technical drawings for Development Permit, Building Permit, and Construction.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

In total, we work with about 2 people. One lead Interior Designer, and one business Development/ Project Manager. The lead Interior Designer is our main point of contact throughout the entire project.

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our projects with Cutler are highly successful and the outcome always goes above our expectations.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The team at Cutler are easy to work with and between calls and emails, we ensure communication continues to happen and deliverables are being met.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Cutler is no stranger to the retail industry. They have completed high profile projects that are attractive, functional, and memorable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

We have managed to solidify a great process for how we work with Cutler on our projects. Some retailers or clients don't have this expertise completely nailed down on how to complete projects so they must rely on design firms like Cutler. It would be great for Cutler to provide their process of design to clients to understand timing, stages of a project, and establish overall clear deliverables and milestones.