Patrick Thompson turns layoff into new jobs with design firm, PTD

Three years ago, Patrick Thompson found himself holding the fuzzy end of the pink slip. The freshly laid-off interior designer made a decision not to put himself in that position again by starting his own design firm, PTD.

Even though Thompson saw a need for expertise in interior design work, he persevered to establish his fledgling company at first year making enough to support himself. He increased his revenue by four times that in its second year and is on track to grow it even more this year.

All of this growth has allowed Thompson to expand his team to four people and intern this year. Much of that credit goes to the guidance he has received at the Detroit Creative Corridor Center’s incubator program for small, creatively-inclined businesses.

“It has been instrumental in connecting me with clients and potential clients,” says Patrick Thompson, principal & owner of PTD, which is short for Patrick Thompson Design. “They have helped mentor me to find my strengths and weaknesses so I can grow my business.”

Much of PTD’s work has been on interior design for large commercial projects in the city. “We’re off to a very good start in 2012,” Thompson says.

Source: Patrick Thompson, principal & owner of PTD
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.