With all of the supply chain issues and labor shortages we have seen during the last few years, manufacturing costs have risen dramatically. While things are settling down in the supply chain for the most part, the higher costs of materials, components and labor seem like they are here to stay. Because of this, coupled […]

With the insane levels of demand that we have experienced the last few years and an emphasis on non-contact sales, the door and window industry has drifted away from the use of showrooms to launch new and innovative designs and promotions. New business was coming in waves and it was all manufacturers could do to […]

With the supply chain interruptions that we have all experienced over the past two years, many of the smaller window shops and glass shops are now seeking to vertically integrate. Tired of long lead times, quality issues and cost increases associated with outsourcing windows and even insulating glass, these smaller businesses are looking into taking […]

The first week of April brings the arrival of spring. Spring is when everyone wants to throw open their windows and let in some fresh air. But it’s also a time when accidents and falls from windows are more likely to happen. In 1997, the National Safety Council (N.S.C.) and the Window Safety Task Force […]

With a depressed housing market and high interest rates, most door and window fabricators are seeing softer demand these days. But with the first day of spring less than a week away, window fabricators are hopeful that the market for doors and windows will pick up as it usually does this time of year. During […]

With Energy Star 7 looming on the horizon, I am seeing fabricators considering one of three main paths. The Wayward Sons With requirements becoming more difficult and costly to meet, some fabricators are simply not going to do it any longer, but they will “carry on” (like the song by rock group Kansas) with an […]

I read with great interest a recent company news article in [DWM] about how a Temperance Business Hires a Life Coach to help employees reach their personal goals. This article focused on MI Windows & Doors and how they are utilizing a life coach to help individual employees identify their life dreams and tie those […]

With things slowing down temporarily, door and window executives are finally able to catch their breath and refocus their companies’ plans for steady and sustained growth. In talking to the leaders of various companies, I have found there are three key areas that are being evaluated for possible change. Sourcing With the recent supply chain […]

I just had dinner with a customer who was eager to talk about the state of the economy. “What is happening to business?” he asked. “I have not seen it this slow in some time! What is going on? We need to discuss the state of the economy and what I need to do to […]

Forecasts are tough. Don’t you just love it when the weatherman calls for a 50% chance of rain? How can he be right? How can he be wrong? So, let’s talk about the forecast for the door and window industry. Overall, 2022 proved to be a very good year with most door and window fabricators […]