October 28, 2021 Relationships with Development Partners

THE REAL ESTATE INTELLIGENT INTERVIEW SERIES FEATURES BC’S MOST PROLIFIC PROFESSIONALS SHAPING THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

AN INTERVIEW WITH AMIT THALE, DIRECTOR, AEON GROUP

Amit is a pioneer in the luxury furniture and premium natural stone industries, executing creative expression and functionality in every collection he pushes into the world. Aeon Group is extremely active with some of the largest residential and commercial projects within the Lower Mainland, delivering the highest standards of care at every angle. With business prospering in New York, London, and Vancouver, he steers Poliform and Aeon Group as leading players in the international furniture scene while providing supreme quality kitchen and bathroom solutions tailored to the latest design trends.

Ryan Lalonde, President of MLA Canada, catches up with Thale in this 4 part feature to learn more about his passion for home design, his experience working with some of the most sought-after developments in the downtown core, and how Poliform and Aeon Group are evolving their luxury home solutions to cater to the way we now live and work.

PART 3 OF 4: RELATIONSHIPS WITH DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS

As homebuyers continue to educate themselves on what it means to have technologically advanced solutions in their new home's kitchen or bathroom, it requires developers to respond with the best quality materials and offerings available in the marketplace. Thale dives into the trends being observed by both the development partners and his own expertise to help empower homebuyers as they shop for their new home. 

Amit, I'm very curious - what are some of the ways you are supporting the development community in their projects?

We have some incredible projects on the go currently. The Landmark on Robson is one in particular where the developer approached us to supply everything from the stone side of the business to the kitchens, the vanities, and the closets. It's really where the developer can take advantage of the complete package from us, and deal with one trade rather than trying to select from different trades. It also gives the developer a greater advantage over what packages they receive as well.

In many cases, your sleeves are personally rolled up in the boardroom and taking the learnings you have from the sales floor and applying those to multi-family projects. How do you work with development partners to bring strategies to life and what does that mean from a sales and marketing standpoint?

We offer a lot of design perspectives to developers and this is where we discuss with developers to have us get involved right at the beginning stages. Right from the sales centres is where we can bring our expertise into the market. One such project we are discussing with a developer downtown is where they want each and every homebuyer to come into our space and design a custom unit for themselves. I feel this is going to be a game-changer for multi-family projects.

When you think about the development partners out there that are doing it best, who are they? And what is it that they're doing really well?

As far as developers, the downtown core is doing an amazing job. It's because of the square feet values, they have to command yet at the same time they have to provide high-end finishes. Italian kitchens have been something offered throughout for a very long time. We've been discussing with our overseas partners how to take that vision from downtown to other markets in the Lower Mainland. Throughout COVID, we've had strategic discussions with our partners, trying to figure out how to make kitchens and bathrooms more affordable. And with a substantial technological advancement in materials and modularity, I feel that vision is soon going to come to reality.

Are you finding that, when pushing towards those markets, there becomes a need or a desire for a luxury brand?

Yes. With an educated homebuyer right now, they understand what luxury is and what materials are. When you think about a homebuyer profile now, they go from project to project, and they can see these projects that are offering advanced kitchens or bath packages. This is where I feel the market will continue to go. With an educated homebuyer, I feel that they're learning and these trends will start to evolve more. 

Visit Aeon Stone and Poliform Vancouver for more information.

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