The introduction for our lead story this week is the quote, “If you’re in this room you get a gold star because that means you’ve survived [the housing downturn and recession].”
And I think it’s so important to remember that I wanted to start this blog with that same quote as I share some of my observations [...]

Hopefully you’ve all seen our video reports last week from GlassBuild America, but I thought I’d share a few more items of interest at the show. Be sure to look to future issues of DWM
 
for more detail, but here are some bullets to wet your appetite.
First, on products:
If you stopped at the Owens Corning booth [...]

Once in a while, I receive calls from consumers seeking advice in their window purchases. First off, I always tell them that I can’t recommend a particular product, but sometimes they are just looking for someone to listen. That’s what a particular widow seemed to want when she called me a few weeks ago.
I have [...]

If you’re like me and you work in the window industry, every time you see an ad for a window company ad you probably pay closer attention. Have you ever been to a major sporting event and seen an ad from your competition on the right field wall, for example? Admittedly, not many companies spend [...]

A few weeks ago I told you about my observations from attending the day-long lead-safe work practices certified renovator course (CLICK HERE for that story). Since we published that blog, I’ve received an outpouring of comments from readers about it. And, though I hesitate to write another blog about lead paint, I can’t resist, as [...]

Before you skip this article thinking this is an article just for people who work primarily on a mobile basis, think again. Yes, considering a cell phone policy is crucial for those constantly on the road such as installers, but what about sales reps? Don’t they live on their cell phone while constantly traveling from [...]

When the EPA issued a memo recently stating it would not enforce the lead certification requirement until later this year it created some confusion. So to clarify, if you’re already certified as certified renovator you still have to follow lead-safe work practices. However, if you are not trained as a certified renovator, the agency will [...]

Guess what I did this weekend? I’ll give you a hint—the headline is a dead giveaway. On Saturday I attended a certified renovator class so I am now an EPA-Certified renovator. So if you have a window business in the Northern Virginia area and you’re short-staffed one day and thus are in need a certified [...]

It’s not too often that you hear of companies expanding into other product areas, but last week brought two such announcements.
Marvin Windows and Doors announced that it launched a new line of exterior siding, and Pennsylvania-based Gorell Windows & Doors announced that it is offering Radiaflect™, a line of energy-saving reflective insulation products.
Is this a [...]

You know how sometimes you are so close to a situation, for example, you live and breathe the windows business, that you forget to put yourself in the consumer’s position? Well it occurred to me that some companies may do this when it comes to installation as well. The instructions are written and you think [...]