Naomi Winchest
The Architect
Owner's Name: Naomi Alicke Winchest
Headquarters: Coruscant
Locations:
Offices: Coruscant
Factories: Varies*
*See description.
Operations:
Winchest Industries focuses on creating affordable (but quality) goods to make everyday life easier, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone. Their products typically fall under one of two categories: Defense or Domestic. The former includes items that keep the user safe, increases their combat effectiveness, or helps them avoid conflict. Items in the latter category are fairly straightforward. They're intended to make general activities easier.
Subsidiaries: N/A
Rationale: After graduating from an advanced academy on Coruscant at age 15, Naomi Winchest, the daughter of a former Echani General and a Coruscanti politician, spent five years at various colleges, working with a couple different companies as a designer. During her time at these companies she learned more about running a business. Partway through her school years a major shift in Galactic power took place. The Sith took Coruscant, and Naomi (along with friends of hers) nearly died due to collateral damage. They had been traveling for a 'field trip' of sorts when debris had nearly taken out the walkway they were on.
Though the event had almost killed, Naomi walked away more scared for others than for herself. Like many who witnessed the destruction, she wanted to do something about it. To her that would mean trying to use her intelligence to make things safer and easier for civilians. So when she finished her education she decided to do something that she hadn't previously considered: She started her own company, known as Winchest Industries, in the hopes of helping others. Created shortly after her twenty-first birthday, with the help of a few fellow students, the company started out as a small workroom in the back of her apartment.
During the first year the group simply created designs for other companies who could afford to produce them. They worked for whoever they could, focusing more on making credits than 'staying true to themselves'. It took roughly three years for the small company to expand its interests. A two-floor office space was purchased, the workshop was upgraded, and a few more employees were hired. Most of the new workers were business types. Lawyers, advertisement specialists, financial advisers, etc. Only one was another engineer.
While having more designers would allow for quicker product creation, the company's founder, Naomi, was a known perfectionist. No project got past the drawing board stage without her approving it. Since most of the money came from her (and her family), this was deemed acceptable. The other designers were mainly there as consultants and 'extra hands'. She was the main brains of the operation, they were the brawn, so to speak, and the others were the 'face' of the group. Ultimately it was her intellect that likely allowed the group to get up on their feet so quickly.
By their fourth year Winchest Industries had secured their first contract with a factory. Their first official patented product was released a month after, being produced on Ord Mantell, then shipped out through the Core of the galaxy. Nearly three years have passed since then. The company still does not own any factories of its own, their office space is still fairly small, and more than half of the employees are still there to handle the actual production, advertisement, and selling of the products.
Tier: 2
Description: For the most part, Winchest Industries is what it seems. The company creates technology for (generally) average people. Their Defense department creates simple tech that civilians can use to keep themselves safe during rough times, while the Domestic department makes items to simplify everyday tasks. Occasionally they will produce goods intended for use by military (or military-like) groups. However, this isn't very common, and the sale of those products is closely monitored. Similarly, the company is known for being careful with who they sell to.
This stems from the company wanting to stay as 'neutral' as possible. Despite being controlled from Coruscant, the company has no true loyalty to the One Sith or the Republic (who once owned the planet). Most of their products are labeled as 'general sale', meaning that low-quantity purchases of them can be made with no eyebrows raised. Bulk orders are usually double-checked. This is to ensure that the company doesn't make any sales to major governments or government officials without definite approval from Naomi herself.
Additionally it should be noted that, at the moment, the company does not own any factories themselves. Instead they own a small workshop (along with a small office building) on Coruscant. There blueprints, proto-types, and working models are created. Once a design is finalized, WI looks for factory spaces to rent. From there the designs are produced for a single initial run. If the item is successful, additional batches will be made. As long as the product makes enough money to cover (and exceed) the creation cost the company will continue to make it.
Products: To be added.
Threads: To be added.
