In spite of the current recession, Stargazer have never been busier ! - In the first 9 months of 2009 we had a record number of enquiries for our services - I guess we must be doing something right !
Around Christmas last year (always a busy time for us), we decided that enough was enough, there simply wasn’t enough room in our current office. We had been operating from the small premises since way back in 1986 ie 4 years after Stargazer was originally started by its founder, DJ Graham Reece.
Back in the 80’s, Graham was simply a “one-man-band” DJ running a small part time business from his bedroom - By the end of 2008, we had grown to 5 DJs not one and an office which is manned on rotation by 3 and soon to be 4 people - Not to mention Twinkle Starr (TS), the office cat ! Yet we were all still crammed into the same small space.
You could certainly say that a move was long overdue !
We registered with several estate agents and letting agents and throughout the winter months DJ Mike Starr (MS)(now the longest serving member of staff, since Graham/ the founder’s untimely death) and Stargazer’s trusty secretary for the last 10 years, Dena Chambers (DC) looked at about a dozen new properties. However, for various reasons [ ... nowhere for clients or staff to park, too expensive, too noisy, too smelly in one case etc etc ], we simply could not find one we liked.
Then somebody suggested moving to another part of our existing building, which fortunately we own. We had completely discounted that idea originally as the room in question, although it was two and a half times the size of our existing one, needed major renovation. However, comparing the cost of moving to new premises with the cost of completely renovating one of the office upstairs, the 2nd option won hands down ! - The move, when it came, would also be a lot easier.
So, since February 2009, we have been working to create a new larger head office of which we can be truly proud. As of Wednesday 7th October 2009, this is what we have done so far …
Builder Steve James (SJ) put on a new office roof.
We called in our friend, designer Alan Harrington (AH) who drew up plans for the new office layout for free - Thanks Al.
And while he was at it (AH) steam-stripped the ancient wallpaper.
(SJ) removed an old gas fire.
(SJ) re-filled and re-plastered the gap it left .
We called in electrician Richard James (RJ) - No relation to Steve - who re-sited the door entry system box.
(SJ) re-plastered walls and ceiling.
(SJ) re-painted all the walls and ceiling (magnolia, naturally).
Called in the Ken Rhodes Window Company who installed brand new, double-glazed, fully opening windows.
Called in BT who installed 2 phone extensions from the old office.
Called in Virgin Media who installed a fax line extension from the old office.
(We will be able to keep all our 3 existing phone numbers.)
(MS) bought a ton of 3 way plastic trunking for the electrical, phone and data cables - and had it shipped down from Liverpool of all places
Had the trunking installed (A big thank you to DJ and all round handyman Tony Adams (TA) for doing this huge job for free !)
Electrician (RJ) returned and installed 12 neat looking electrical points in the trunking.
(RJ) also installed some brand new modern looking spotlights.
Called in AJS Blinds from Chigwell, who designed, made and installed some swish looking white venetian blinds.
Called in Paul Howes (PH) of www.itauthority.co.uk who installed 12 data sockets and offered a ton of great advice about phone systems, broadband, internet security etc
(PH) also installed an inpressive looking Netgear central junction box - So we can site computers, printers etc etc anywhere in the new office and they will all be able to “talk to one another”.
(PH) re-configured our www.bethere.co.uk 24 meg broadband modem.
(MS) successfully completed the equally technically challenging job of buying some very tasteful floating alcove shelves from IKEA.
Andrew Chambers (AC), our secretary Dena’s son (a builder by trade) measured up for a new floor and carpet tiles.
(PH) got all the data sockets working and configured them for broadband - The new office is now on the net with a static IP address - whatever that means - Hello World !
(TA) Returned and finished of putting the masking plates on the trunking. Glued it all together and masticed over the gaps - He did a great job - Afterwards he began putting up the Ikea shelves.
(AC) Turned up on time and accompanied (MS) to Selco, where they bought hardboard flooring and screws. (AC) filled the floor and finished off the shelves which (TA) had begun - A far more challenging task than anybody would have anticipated, finally completed !
Finally on Monday 10th August 2009, DJs Simon Boyes and Mike Starr, with a lot of help from Mike’s other half Shelley, dismantled the bulky desks in the old office, and moved them upstairs. Simon then re-assembled them and slotted them into their allocated slots. After that, the rest of the furniture and chairs and computers were moved.
Mike and Simon plugged the computers and printers into the network and thankfully everything worked ok. For the first time ever, we had 3 desks, each with either 1 or 2 dedicated printers.
The following day, DJ Paul Howes, who also runs IT Authority paid another visit and did a great job of networking all the computers and printers together, so we can now view any file from any machine and print or scan on any printer. Fantastic !
Mike and Shelley moved all the old files and paperwork upstairs - taking the opportunity to throw out any ancient paperwork or broken files.
DJ Tony Adams came up trumps, supplying an Electrolux portable airconditioner for the new office, free of charge - Well done Tony !
Holidays and our craftsmen’s other work commitments somewhat delayed further progress for quite a while but around the middle of September 2009, we finally managed to source some top quality carpet tiles at a reasonable cost.
Then, around the start of October 2009 Andrew Chambers returned and did a fantastic job fitting them.
On the same day (MS) bought a top of the range Fellows Heavy Duty Cross Cut scanner to grace the new office, replacing 2 tired old Tesco personal ones which were more trouble than they were worth.
So, as you can see, an enormous amount of work has already been done but there is still a small amount of finishing touches to add.
- (MS) will buy a new black ash coloured desk for Shelley and a very comfy and hideously expensive new black leather, high-back, chair for himself (He deserves it ! )
- (PH) will return and re-configure the cabling in the trunking to allow both Mike and Dena to have 2 phone lines on each of their respective desks without a mass of wires everywhere. This idea replaces the planned BT cordless phone system for each desk / staff member and saves several hundred pounds
- (MS) will buy a netbook / laptop and install it in the old office, so it can be used occasionally both as a computer and to watch TV on.
- Mid October - Everyone involved in the building of the new office is invited for the official opening (MS) breathes a sigh of relief and cracks open the Champagne.
We will be posting some pics showing the new head office. I know you are all anxious to see how Twinkle Starr (TS), the office cat is coping with her new environment !
Stay tuned !
Tags: Moving Office
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