Design Purchasing Network

Hal Atzingen is not just a great designer, he's a superb listener. As founder of Design Purchasing Network Inc. a Naples-based company specializing in commercial interior design, Atzingen has built a thriving business in six years through perseverance, hard work and listening to clients' needs.

"We create our interiors for our clients, not for ourselves," he says. "We help a client make the best decisions for their interior. We're very flexible and we want feedback from our client."

Such a highly service-oriented attitude has allowed Atzingen and his team at Design Purchasing Network including Laura Blackwell, vice president of marketing and business development, and Renee Atzingen, vice president of operations and head of purchasing, to carve a specialized and very successful niche as one of the leading commercial design firms in the area.

From a Single Chair

Whether a client needs assistance with new construction, expansion or renovation, DPN offers a complete range of services from initial consultation to budgeting, to space planning, to purchasing and installation. DPN is a single source for complete commercial needs.

"We tailor each individual job to the client's needs," says Atzingen.

Even if a client needs only a single chair or a carpet installed, DPN "can do it" says Atzingen and handles the order efficiently and at a reasonable cost.

With over 15 years of experience in the contract furnishings and equipment business, and with high-volume purchases, DPN can get the best price on products. A selection of products from over 2,000 respected vendors such as Kimball International Office Furniture, National, Harpers, and Shelby Williams allows DPN to buy direct from the manufacturer.

As Atzingen says, "We give the best product for the budget that a client has."

Ninety-nine percent of DPN's work is commercial, but Atzingen says, "We're happy to help existing clients with residential, but we focus on commercial products and we do it day in and day out so we can get the very best from manufacturers."

No Guesswork, No Headaches

Another key element in DPN's approach is the cost-plus basis.

"We show all the costs in the purchasing phase," says Atzingen. "We do a line-by-line estimate for furniture, floorcoverings, window treatments, etc. We show our cost and based on the scope of the project, we negotiate our fee. The fee is based on what we may be doing for a client."

The bottom line is that there's no guesswork on any project and a client reaps the benefits by getting the best pricing on a project without any of the headaches.

Clients like Jim Weaver, President of Village Banc, are "impressed with DPN's design and their thorough handling of very detail." Weaver wanted a professional environment for his new location at the Village on Venetian Bay "but with a real homey feeling, which is exactly what DPN accomplished for us," Weaver adds.

Garage Roots with Integrity

Six years ago Atzingen launched Design Purchasing Network with the help of Blackwell in a small office in the garage of his home. He had previously served as director of Holland Salley's commercial design department and was with Holland Salley for a decade.

In fact, it was Holland Salley who encouraged Atzingen to attend Ringling School of Art and Design, which ultimately resulted in Atzingen becoming the ninth person licensed for interior design in the State of Florida with the registration number of 0000009. He is also a member of the American Society of Interior Design and is certified by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.

Through unyielding persistence, Atzingen has grown the business to five employees in a 1500-square-foot office on Progress Avenue in Naples and over $2 million in sales.

On a typical day, he's in the office at 7 a.m. and doesn't leave until 6 p.m. or later, and it's not unusual to find him working on weekends.

The integrity he displays in his business is fueled by his civic involvements, especially with Rotary International. He served as President of The Rotary Club of Naples last year and is currently the District Governor's Rep for the Collier County area. Later this year he will preside as Lieutenant Governor for the same area.

His tenacity on projects is also reflected -- and possibly enhanced -- by his resolve on the tennis court as a competitive ranked player, having won the mixed doubles club title at the YMCA in February.

Achievement Factors

"We go out of our way to give good customer service," says Atzingen. "We do whatever it takes to get the job done to the satisfaction of our clients."

Blackwell concurs. "If there's a problem we handle it. We're part of the solution. And we're always open to all questions. We have an open line of communication."

As a result, DPN enjoys a healthy amount of repeat business including Mark DeVoe at DeVoe Cadillac who admits "DPN's commitment to customer satisfaction is just one of the many reasons we continue to use them to handle the interiors of all our dealerships."

Atzingen has also distinguished himself for his enduring design sense. He recognizes current design trends as delivering transitional to traditional looks with a combination of rich wood tones such as mahoganies and cherries for crown moldings and desks mixed with contemporary colored fabrics or tones on tones using beiges on pale beiges.

Renee Atzingen says, "We try to stay away from trendy colors so we achieve more of a timeless look."

The new 35,000-square-foot showroom for Naples Dodge is a prime example of a contemporary color scheme with light cherry wood as accents rather than traditional mahogany or walnut to achieve a softer look.

"The challenge," says Atzingen "was delivering the versatility of a commercial interior but the owners did not want it to look like a typical car dealership."

The result is a personalized, upscale southwest Florida-style interior. And Naples Dodge President Jon Myers claims the new interior "has not only increased efficiency but productivity as well."

In some instances when a product isn't available for a client, Atzingen has created it. Such was the case at the prestigious law firm of Cummings & Lockwood's 15,000-square-foot renovation. With a healthy estate planning practice, the firm wanted to create a large conference room in which seminars could be conducted.

Atzingen designed a magnificent room with an eye-arresting circular mahogany conference table with a smaller circular opening in the center that is mirrored by the lighting and soffits to tie together architecturally. Halogen pin spots are focused in front of each gracious black leather chair. A circular outside perimeter of the ceiling has recessed fluorescent lighting while the inside has recessed incandescent lights on dimmers. The effect is dramatic.

Reliability is another factor in