Mark Nisbett knows the odds well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 20% of new businesses close within a year, and by the time that span reaches 10 years, a recent survey showed just over one-third were still open.Nisbett, however, is halfway there, with his workplace solutions company on Goodwin Square in […]
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Mark Nisbett knows the odds well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 20% of new businesses close within a year, and by the time that span reaches 10 years, a recent survey showed just over one-third were still open.
Nisbett, however, is halfway there, with his workplace solutions company on Goodwin Square in Hartford – People, Places & Spaces (PPS) – celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.
Before founding his business in 2018, Nisbett spent 25-plus years on the client side of the equation, leading corporate real estate and facilities management divisions for Cigna, Webster Bank, Altria (Philip Morris), Weil Gotshal Manges and RPW Group.
Nisbett turned his experience into an asset for clients by streamlining the process of workplace strategy and simplifying the traditional service delivery model for the procurement of furnishings. PPS delivers an improved workplace experience and builds trusted partnerships while enhancing business and helping people love where they work.
PPS’s primary manufacturing partner is Haworth, a $2 billion global furniture manufacturer. The partnership enables PPS to provide regional and national coverage, including servicing multibillion-dollar organizations, through Haworth’s 250 dealer network. In 2021 and 2022, PPS was awarded Haworth’s distinguished “Best in Class” designation, recognizing dealers that nationally perform in the top 10% based on a high level of best business practices and client satisfaction. No other Haworth dealer in Connecticut has achieved that.
“We are great listeners and operate with each client’s best interest in mind, tailoring solutions by focusing on their unique culture, brand and business drivers,” Nisbett says. “The result is a personalized approach to each project that helps boost productivity and performance in the workplace.”
Nisbett states the five-year milestone “means a lot as we have been successful during an extremely difficult time in the country and industry. I truly believe if your business lasts five to seven years, the odds of success are great.”
PPS is a Certified Minority Business Enterprise with the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, state of Connecticut, state of Rhode Island, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts – a key part of its identity.
Asked what has surprised him most about owning a business, Nisbett says, “great partnerships and commitment to protecting your investment while satisfying your customers.”
“Our purpose at People, Places & Spaces,” Nisbett says, “was simple in bringing a diverse perspective and corporate client lens to the industry, which included: raising the bar on the level of service, becoming a trusted partner, assisting companies with their supplier diversity initiatives and connecting with the communities we serve.”
Growing up in the inner city and underserved communities, he says, “allowed me to understand the value of giving back and paying it forward.” Nisbett demonstrates his commitment by volunteering on the board of directors of Junior Achievement Southwest New England and The Village of Families & Children.
“The best way I can give back is to be a part of special organizations,” he says.
