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Futuristic Home: Connecting to the Human Element
From employees to manufacturers to clients, this integrator knows the industry is made up of everyday people.
No matter how sophisticated or futuristic technology becomes, business is still driven by people. And Steve Merola is a people-person.
As a businessman and co-owner of Futuristic Home in Point Lookout, N.Y., he's attained considerable growth and success. As a person, though, Merola has achieved far more.
A guy who still believes in firmly shaking hands and looking people square in the eyes, Merola has branded his business by developing solid relationships with customers.
"We know their likes and dislikes," he says. "We do the intangibles that many others don't and make it a personalized experience. We keep in touch to make sure that all is OK. Customers know we're always there for them."
Schooled and trained in closed circuit TV, Merola started in the Navy, monitoring the safe landing of planes as an electronics technician.
Out of the military, Merola could see the electronics industry was "going IT," and that universal protocol would be coming into effect.
"I had to find an IT guy and knew Sunny Eng for years. I trusted him up and down and we partnered up."
Complete Suburban Electric, founded in 1987, has since been re-launched, becoming part of Futuristic Home in 2000.
"The electrical background is very useful," Merola says, "because, as an integration company, we touch everything. I have a lot of HVAC and electrical knowledge. I know how to get around a building and I pass that on to my staff."
Though his company offers a scope of services, including structured wiring networks, computer networks, Web site design, automation systems, security and surveillance, A/V systems, lighting control and lighting systems, telephone and communication systems and power management, Merola is seeing the most demand for structured wiring, A/V and surveillance.
"The home networks are pretty much the foundation," he explains. "So, we're doing that wherever go."
With installs running the gamut, from $2,000 to $200,000 jobs, about 90 percent of Futuristic Home's work is residential. The jobs are cultivated from a variety of marketing techniques, including Futuristic's trucks, referrals, the Web site and builders.
"When I first got started in the business," Merola recalls, "a company put me in touch with a 'smarthome' builder and I talked to him about having someone other than electricians do the [integration] work. Birchwood Homes was one of the leaders in accepting the technology."
Merola credits his being able to develop builder relationships with a part of Futuristic Home's success.
"Every time I see a builder, I shake his hand and look him in the eye," he says.
"But a lot of builders still have the lowest price mentality and don't understand that the electrician or phone guy isn't as qualified to do it. We're an integration firm. So, we can do it all. We know the value of doing it right and have seen the lack of value by not doing it right."
Futuristic Home isn't the only one that recognizes value. In fact, HAI [Home Automation Inc.] has recognized Futuristic Home Inc. every year since 2003 as one of its "Five Star Dealers."
As a businessman and co-owner of Futuristic Home in Point Lookout, N.Y., he's attained considerable growth and success. As a person, though, Merola has achieved far more.
A guy who still believes in firmly shaking hands and looking people square in the eyes, Merola has branded his business by developing solid relationships with customers.
"We know their likes and dislikes," he says. "We do the intangibles that many others don't and make it a personalized experience. We keep in touch to make sure that all is OK. Customers know we're always there for them."
The Migration to Integration
Schooled and trained in closed circuit TV, Merola started in the Navy, monitoring the safe landing of planes as an electronics technician.
Out of the military, Merola could see the electronics industry was "going IT," and that universal protocol would be coming into effect.
Quick Stats
- Company: Futuristic Home of New York/Futuristic Home of Florida
- Location: Point Lookout, N.Y./North Port, Fla.
- Web site: http://www.futuristic-home.com
- Years in Business: 7 (Started in 1987 as Complete Suburban Electric; Futuristic Home launched in 2000)
- Specialties: Structured wiring networks, computer networks, Web site design, automation systems, security and surveillance, A/V systems, lighting control and lighting systems, telephone and communication systems and power management
- FYI: "Every day, work on realizing that every person --staff, clients, vendors and even the competition -- are all gifts from heaven."
"I had to find an IT guy and knew Sunny Eng for years. I trusted him up and down and we partnered up."
Complete Suburban Electric, founded in 1987, has since been re-launched, becoming part of Futuristic Home in 2000.
"The electrical background is very useful," Merola says, "because, as an integration company, we touch everything. I have a lot of HVAC and electrical knowledge. I know how to get around a building and I pass that on to my staff."
Though his company offers a scope of services, including structured wiring networks, computer networks, Web site design, automation systems, security and surveillance, A/V systems, lighting control and lighting systems, telephone and communication systems and power management, Merola is seeing the most demand for structured wiring, A/V and surveillance.
"The home networks are pretty much the foundation," he explains. "So, we're doing that wherever go."
With installs running the gamut, from $2,000 to $200,000 jobs, about 90 percent of Futuristic Home's work is residential. The jobs are cultivated from a variety of marketing techniques, including Futuristic's trucks, referrals, the Web site and builders.
The 'Three H Club'
"When I first got started in the business," Merola recalls, "a company put me in touch with a 'smarthome' builder and I talked to him about having someone other than electricians do the [integration] work. Birchwood Homes was one of the leaders in accepting the technology."
Merola credits his being able to develop builder relationships with a part of Futuristic Home's success.
"Every time I see a builder, I shake his hand and look him in the eye," he says.
"But a lot of builders still have the lowest price mentality and don't understand that the electrician or phone guy isn't as qualified to do it. We're an integration firm. So, we can do it all. We know the value of doing it right and have seen the lack of value by not doing it right."
Futuristic Home isn't the only one that recognizes value. In fact, HAI [Home Automation Inc.] has recognized Futuristic Home Inc. every year since 2003 as one of its "Five Star Dealers."
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