Phil Murphy of GNU Group Profiled in San Francisco Business Times
March 5, 2010
What GN Group does: Planning, design and project management of sign systems, wayfinding and branding for buildings in seven real estate markets.
HQ: Lafayette.
2009 revenue: $2.8 million.
Employees: 20.
Founded: 2000.
Source of startup capital: Personal funds.
Background: Studied business administration at Arizona State University. Background in business development and consulting. Years after helping the founder of GNU Group, Richard Burns, with consulting for his architectural signage firm, Murphy moved from Arizona to Northern California to take over the business.
Age: 63.
Residence: Lafayette.
Web site: www.gnugroup.com
Big picture
Biggest challenge for your business: We plan to grow 25 percent in 2010, so the challenge is to stay focused on our business plan and not let outside noise interfere with our objectives.
What will change at your company in the next year: We hope to continue our focus on solid design solutions combined with a pain-free project management experience. We’ll also continue educating the marketplace about GNU’s pledge to clients and we’ll continue growing our San Diego office.
Business moves
Reason for starting business: The opportunity to build a unique business model and culture in a business space with no dominant player.
Most difficult part of decision: Knowing it would take time to build the right team. Patience is not my greatest virtue.
Biggest misconception: That it’s about you.
Biggest business strength: Our people and the culture that we’ve created. … It’s based on financial transparency, a commitment to work processes, training and honest, open communication with total personal accountability.
Biggest business weakness: Not having capital to hire the best and brightest immediately — as a small business, it’s a process that takes time.
Biggest risk: Moving from Arizona to Northern California during the recession of the 1990 savings and loan crisis and committing to buy the GNU Group in five years. It’s the best decision I ever made.
Biggest mistake: Hiring the wrong accounting firm when I bought the GNU Group.
Smartest move: Financial transparency and teaching our (employees) how to be entrepreneurs — and giving one-third of each quarter’s profit.