GlassBuild is upon us, and the fall trade show season, so I’m going to throw out some challenges to any attendees that want to make sure they get their money’s worth from attending a show. While you’re at an upcoming show, borrow at least one really good idea from a company in your own segment [...]
With his $44 billion net worth, Warren Buffett is considered the most successful investor of all time. He can move markets merely by mentioning a bullish interest in them. As a result, we were pleased to learn of his recent bet on the housing industry. Warren Buffett is a value investor, meaning he acquires assets [...]
In June the U.S. economy added 80,000 jobs. While this is better than a decrease in the overall number of jobs, the growth in employment continues to fall short of the 200,000 jobs per month at which an economic recovery is seen to be self-sustaining. Looking at unemployment rates by education levels provides an interesting [...]
Pessimists like to point out that we are facing a number of macro-level challenges, including the impending expiration of various tax cuts and bumping our heads against the national debt ceiling once again. Compounding that is the fact that this is an election year. This means that both sides of the aisle will expend more [...]
Communicating with potential customers through social media is likely here to stay but these new channels still have a long way to go before they replace traditional media. Matthew Gentzkow, an economics professor at the University of Chicago, estimates that the average American watches 5.5 hours of TV daily. The infancy of the penetration of [...]
There was a time when the evening news was filled with story after story of the decline of the housing market and commercial construction. If that weren’t enough, all of my business associates seemed to be on a constant vigil for dire predictions on construction spending to share with me, along with their condolences. That [...]
It seems that the key statistics affecting the building products industry waver between good news and bad news on a monthly basis. However, there is a growing sentiment that the industry is improving. A recent survey by Brooke Chase Associates underscored the improving outlook of industry participants ranging from building products manufacturers to distributors and [...]
Industry gatherings typically represent a microcosm of the overall industry itself. Fenestration Day, held last week in San Antonio, was no exception. This was a particularly interesting event, since it brought together both manufacturers and dealers in one spot. I tend to call more often on manufacturers, so it was interesting to get a chance [...]
Economists estimate that, in order for an economic recovery in the United States to be self sustaining, it is necessary for 200,000 jobs per month to be created. The February employment figures were released recently and 227,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy last month. This is especially significant because it is the third [...]
It was with sincere regret that I learned last week of the placement of Gorell Windows & Doors into receivership. I learned this news as I was preparing to leave an otherwise upbeat Builders’ Show and it served as a reminder that we’re not completely out of the woods yet. Wayne Gorell is a statesman [...]
