Clay Squared to Infinity 

.

 Topic

The Secrets of Handmade Tile.   Josh Blanc, Carri Carlson and Lynn

Stryker will  Present

I.   What is handmade tile?

II.   Affordable - How to incorporate into any project and lower costs.

III.  Who works with handmade tile?

IV.  Where is handmade tile used?

V.   Why is handmade tile used?

Two years ago the NKBA did the similar program called "The End of White Tile as we Know it" and it was the most attended event ever for this chapter of the NKBA. 

The NKBA has a take away bag of goodies for all attendees. Any member of the Handmade Tile Association who would like to send or deliver one item to be put in the take away bags are welcome to. Please consider either your brochure or a small tile to remind these designers of who you are.  Each NKBA attendee will also be given a HTA directory and one each of the tile maps.

Please send or drop off you take away goodie by March 15th to

Clay Squared to Infinity

34 13th Ave NE

Minneapolis, MN 55413

612-781-6409 if you have questions

The NKBA is offering HTA artists free entry to the program. Artists are also encouraged to attend.

Non members  

$25 for members before Monday March 14; $35 after March 14

$35 for nonmember before Monday March 14; $45 after March 14

$15 for students before Monday March 14; $25 after March 14

RSVP Kristin Warner, MN Chapter NKBA Treasurer

kwarner@spscompanies.com 

952-920-1460  

Most businesses rent their space rather than own.  That means you have a lease. A few years ago by accident I met a real estate rep who asked me about when my lease was up and said she could renegotiate my lease for me and it would be no cost to me. She was able to get me three months worth of free rent for signing an extension to my original lease.  As well as streamline our lease so we had less liabilities.  Tenant reps are real estate professional and they know both sides of the operation  Here is an article on some important tips if you are getting ready to negotiate your lease.

Consider tenant rep for next space search

by Barb Ankrum of Cave and Associates 651.482.9668

Originally printed by  Upsize Magazine May 2008 

 VERY FEW SMALL businesses hire a tenant representative to help them find the right office, retail or industrial space. But small companies can benefit from such a relationship as much - or more than - large ones.

Often a small-business owner doesn't want to delegate the job. Or, they may feel the modest scale of their needs precludes them from representation. But the truth is tenant reps are equipped and eager to help virtually all businesses - often free of charge. And by handing off the process to a pro, small-business owners in particular end up saving many hours - up to 10 hours a week - on a search process that can last anywhere from two weeks to six months. Those are opportunity costs that can quickly add up, and keep owners from daily duties related to their core business and competencies.

Following are four ways a tenant rep can benefit small

Barb Ankrum

businesses.

1. There are often no costs in hiring a tenant rep. Businesses generally are not billed for a tenant rep's services. The eventual landlord will usually pay any fees or commissions in exchange for a good-credit, qualified tenant.

A tenant rep is a licensed real estate professional through the state of Minnesota. Companies can check a tenant rep's individual qualifications at Minnesota Commercial Association of Realtors (MNCAR), online at www.mncar.org. You may also obtain professional references or a listing of previous clients can help a company assess the rep's success and experience with your type of company.

Whether yours is a start-up company or an established business, be prepared to provide financial and/or business plans, bank references and previous landlord information if applicable. Realistically, landlords and building owners shy away from companies that may be shaky or default on a lease. Like you, they're guarding their finances.

2. Tenant reps are usually well-connected. They keep abreast of the newest listings, and can connect small businesses with additional resources, including movers to transport property; lawyers to review lease contracts; lenders to help with loans or lines of credit to cover rent; construction companies to do the space build-out; and office-furniture dealers to acquire new or used desks, chairs, dividers and so on.

Even after the ink on the lease agreement has dried and the deal is finalized, tenant reps can play a role in sourcing mission-critical equipment, such as merchant credit-card processing terminals, telephones or computers.

The truth is, there are often hidden costs involved with a new lease. Any initial quote provided by a landlord covers rent per square foot. But it may not include additional costs, such as taxes, utilities, operating expenses, and the responsibility for mundane chores, such as light bulb replacements and daily maintenance. When you factor in these side charges, the cost differential can run into hundreds of dollars.

Tenant reps help clients figure out the actual, total cost of a lease, so small businesses can get a detailed realistic picture of the required financial investment and make an informed decision on the property.

Tenant reps also accurately assess square footage needs, in the present, as well as the future. Small-business owners may be so preoccupied with finding a solution to their immediate needs that they fail to take into account any expansion and renewal rights. This is a crucial issue for small businesses: They need wiggle room literally and figuratively. Since they are likely to outgrow their space much more quickly than their larger counterparts.

4. Tenant reps do all the legwork. Each real estate transaction can be a tedious process that is rarely resolved in one sit-down, face-to-face meeting. Tenant reps coordinate all the details - dirty and otherwise - so you don't have to.

They survey the market, locate suitable spaces and schedule each physical tour. Good tenant reps have all the necessary knowledge and the resources to review and evaluate each offer, weighing the pros and cons of each building. And when it comes time to make a proposal to lease, they make all the necessary contacts and handle the contract negotiations.

The entire process, start to finish, often involves dozens of back-and-forth phone calls. When the responsibility and huge time commitment is taken off their hands, small-business owners opportunity costs are kept to a minimum.

If space exploration is in your future, find a tenant rep that knows your geographic area. Start your rep search process three-to-six months before your planned move. Go to fellow business people in your network.

Check out commercial real estate companies in your area and ask if they provide tenant representation. Get references and contact them. Unless you're a real estate expert, you'll find that tenant representation can save you time and opportunity costs, and eliminate financial surprises down the road.

Over the past couple of months Mercedes Austin and Sheryl VanderPol have been meeting and discussing how the HTA can have a presence at Art A Whirl for 2011. May 20th - 22nd in NE Minneapolis, MN. They have set up a space and here is the list of participating artists ART A WHIRL 2011 

The space is located on the 4^th floor of the Casket Arts Building.  

Thanks to everyone for being apart of this show it will be a great way to meet lots of new patrons and introduce them to the Handmade Tile Association. 

More updates will be at the next meeting on March 8th 

March 2011- FK Art Glass, Deb LeAir, David Aichenger Tile Co

April 2011- D'Arte Designs LLC, SoMi Tileworks,  C Wilson Designs.llc

May 2011-  Bella Vista Tile, Hjelle Studio, Jim Boles Designs

June 2011- Mad Zebra Tile, Pewabic Pottery, Red Step Studio

July 2011 - Terrapin tile, Tina Schowalter, Bon Ton Designs

August 2011- Ceramic Chinn, North Praire Tileworks, BA Schmidt

September 2011-Earth Wood and Fire, Margy Jean Balwierz

October 2011- Tile Restoration Center, Weaver Tile, Swan Tile

November 2011- Sheryl Tuorila, Stone Hollow Tile, Emily Dyer,

December 2011- Untapped Resources, Suzanne Crane Fine Stoneware, Mercury Mosaics