Recently, construction veteran Ben Murphy joined Adform Interiors. From high-rise buildings to
shopping malls, he’s seen it all.
As we welcome Ben to our growing team as Senior Project Manager, we thought it would be a
good opportunity to introduce Ben to Adform customers through a Q&A post.
Can you share a little bit about your construction background?
Downsizing is a reactive move to cut costs. Right-sizing is a proactive strategy to align your physical environment with your actual workflow. It’s about moving away from static layouts and toward fluidity. When you prioritize fluidity over square footage, you stop paying for empty seats and start investing in performance.Of course. I have over 40 years of experience in commercial and retail construction. Over that time, I have been involved in numerous projects from large shopping centers and office buildings, to hospitals, and apartment complexes. For the last 15 years, I managed a team that was actively working in over 250 retail locations each year. These used to be large corporate stores, as you would find in malls, national grocery stores, and pharmacies. Today, I am doing a
lot more franchise stores like Playa Bows, Crumbl Cookies, and Crispy Cone.
How are things going for you at Adform Interiors?
It’s been terrific! Though working at Adform is new for me, it’s also very familiar. Adform and I conduct business in very similar ways. That was part of the appeal of joining Adform. We have a similar customer-focused approach to construction projects, which is pretty unique in the construction industry.
Can you give an example of what is Unique?
Planning is the first thing that I would highlight. Meeting very aggressive retail buildout schedules requires a lot of up-front planning. Long ago, I learned that planning retail projects helps to anticipate and avoid issues, ensure projects run smoothly, and make sure everyone involved is clear about expectations and deadlines. For decades, Adform has been doing the same thing on interior construction projects.
It sounds like Adform is well-suited for retail construction.
Retail is a great fit for Adform because of the up-front planning, proactive communications, and quick turnaround required. We have already completed 20 retail locations. Together, we can work in any location. Franchisers want a partner they can trust with projects regionally or nationally.
A recent example is a Massachusetts company that needed a build in Wisconsin. We did the site survey and assembled the right team. It works well. The owners handle the politics of construction and trust the rest to us. Adform’s direct, hands-on approach to project management gives owners the benefit of our construction experience from site selection through to the grand opening.
I’m excited about contributing to Adform Interiors in any way I can, whether that is in retail or ground-up, large construction jobs. It’s an exciting time for Adform and Adform customers!
