Market Analysis & Strategies by Fehintola Odeyemi​
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
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- The design force is well equipped which boosts flexibility, creativity and diversification of design ideas.
- The company ensures that graduates are employed yearly hence, contributing to the community.
- Interns from all over the world are taken on which grows our global market.
- Different forms of software provided by the company helps clearly express our design to clients in various ways.
- The company ensures that they are up to date with the latest technology, maintaining industry standards and pushing the boundaries which maintains clients confidence.
- Due to advance design and technology, the company is able to offer clients proposals with reduced in energy and maintenance costs.
- With leading-edge construction technology, the company is able to improve Co2 emissions from buildings.
- The company has a strong skill base from years of experience with other companies.
- The company partners have good and long standing relationship with development sector.
- Changes in regulations made by the government mean that a project that involves changing the use of the site no longer requires planning permission. As a company we specialise in developing existing buildings and therefore this legislation will increase the number of clients seeking to develop existing buildings and therefore increase our clientele and income.
Opportunities

- The company could take part in local and international competitions hence broadening the scope of business.
- A wider variety of new software attracts clients and possibly larger projects, therefore more jobs for the company.
- Enhanced performance, more intelligent and quality software for example BIM enables the company to offer clients more efficient, cost effective and sustainable design solutions.
- Relationship with engineering firms could lead to referrals or joint projects.
- As we are looking to develop existing offices to apartments, there is the opportunity to develop links with the universities in the East Midlands and the councils. If we could secure these links then it could provide the practice with a more regular source of projects and provide further financial security.
PEST Analysis
​Political
- Meeting required standards for building regulations for new and altered buildings.
- New health and safety laws to be complied with.
- Bid-rigging investigation will impact on the ways companies bid for projects in the future.
Economic
- Interest rates would affect the cost of the capital as they are directly proportional.
- Coping with increasingly competitive market.
- Demand for building work has fallen
Social
- More awareness for environmentally sound construction and waste management.
- Critical standards for employees, sub-contractors and public have to be met.
- Lifestyle trends may change accommodation requirements for target market.
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​Technological
- Adequate technology to ensure that buildings deliver planned reductions in emissions.
- Adequate technology to construct new buildings with renewable energy resources.
7P's
​Product
Minimal Management is an architectural practice located in the East Midlands of the UK, which provides design and construction services to clients by starting off projects from scratch or transforming existing buildings into ‘minimal’ live units. Click here for various project examples.

​Place
Apart from walk-in consultations, Minimal Management can be reached over a variety of media such as our website easily found on search engines and complimentary cards, directories, RIBA Client Services recommendation services, design magazines ( the company has regular features in Dezeen and Blueprint magazines), exhibitions and architectural marketing events.

​Price
The company prices are highly competitive and we can ensure the clients get full value for their money. In addition, the company provides offers and discounts when the clients patronize certain products over a certain price.
​Promotion
Minimal Management provides affordable accommodation for graduates and young professional generally. This type of accommodation, which we call ‘hiConsumption’ live units, provide a comfortable living space which can be converted for various uses which suit the lifestyle of the target audience.

​People
Minimal Management train interns and employs competent, accredited and richly experienced staff in different sectors, from design to technology, management etc. The company profile is tailored to fit the clients’ needs.
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​Process
When we receive a project, we work closely to understand exactly what their imaginations and expectations are and use our professional know-how to generate feasible design ideas. During this process we help the client understand exactly what they’re getting, how it affects the costs, time frame, etc.
​Physical (evidence)​
The company has evidence of professional competence in form of drawings, visuals and presentations prepared for clients, photographs of physical models and finished projects, testimonials from satisfied clients, design awards, case studies in books, exhibition catalogues, design competitions, research developed and published by the company.

In addition, the company is investing in virtual representation of spaces in buildings. This especially appeals to the layman in the sense that instead of showing them plans and sections, a simulation of a room is created so that the client can understand exactly the product they are getting, and as technology develops they may even get to navigate the virtual space. Through this channel, we could increase the number of testimonials and recommendations from satisfied clients and upload these to our website.​​
Porter’s Five Forces
Supplier Power
There is a moderate number of suppliers, however for each product there are similar alternative which reduces the power of the supplier in terms of driving up prices.

Buyer Power
Our company caters to a very specific market, hence there are not many substitutes for the services we provide leaving the buyers little power to cut down prices.

Competitive Rivalry
There are currently quite a number of architecture firms in the East Midlands, however the product we supply is very specific and therefore significantly cuts down the competition.

Threat of Substitution
The threat of substitution for our product is reasonably low because other substitutes may not be viable in the sense that they do not adequately cater to the market and are likely to be more expensive.
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Threat of New Entry
It is not too expensive to enter the industry, in addition arrangements have already been made for financial backing. Also, experience in the field is needed, which has been gained by the individual partners and employees.
Competition
There are quite a few other firms in the East Midlands which pose a threat to Minimal Management in terms of experience, client lists, alliances with other firms, financial backing, etc, however, we as a company are at an advantage because0 we are currently the only company who specialises in ‘hiConsumption’ live units in the East Midlands, hence we have secured ourselves a niche market.
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Nonetheless, as we expand into other parts of the UK, we will clash with other companies which provide very similar services as we do. Below are the two main companies (with company profiles) which have started to make a move towards such residential services.

Eclipse Design UK

An innovative and creative architectural practice with a network of award winning professionals. Interior and exterior design for commercial and residential clients. New Build/Planning applications/Building regulation submissions/CAD support/ Disables adaptations/ Full or partial architectural services.

- Strength: they have strong alliances with other firms for a longer period of time and they have their own team of structural engineers hence they don’t need to outsource.
- Weakness: most of their clients have been for commercial services, hence they do not have strong residential recommendations.
ADDC Architects
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The practice comprises of a small team of architects and designers whose skill base enables creative, cost effective solutions to any client brief. Our principal aim is to add value and provide the client with outstanding building solutions based on the best in modern design and construction methods.

- Strength: they offer low prices and reasonable value therefore attract a lot of small scale clients.
- Weakness: the company is owned by a sole proprietor and doesn’t have strong financial backing and hence can only handle small scale clients.
Please note that a full SWOT Analysis including weaknesses and threats as well as references can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Minimal-Management/229591110513170