The comments from a Generation X or Baby Boomer manager that could reside anywhere in America go a little like this. “I can’t deal with these darn millennials. They are lazy. They are entitled. I can’t communicate with them.” But Dustin Anderson, president of Anderson Glass in Waco, Texas—and the man who serves as the […]
The saying “nobody likes change” really is true. Most people hate it and some will do everything in their power to fight against it. But as I sat in an industry seminar last week at the WinDoor trade show in Canada, I realized “adapt” is a better word. It’s much less scary — and it […]
Has the green movement run its course? About ten years ago, companies were clamoring to highlight their latest environmentally friendly products. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched its Greenbuild Conference and Expo 16 years ago, and the show enjoyed tremendous growth in the years leading up to the recession. You might say green has […]
I was editing a column for one of DWM’s sister publications about how you can’t teach passion. It immediately made me think of a presentation I heard in August on grit by Angela Duckworth, who penned the best seller Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. While the column I read says you can’t teach […]
This was definitely a different show thanks to Hurricane Irma, but GlassBuild 2017 in Atlanta was still a great venue to talk to both suppliers and window and door manufacturers about the state of the industry. Here are some of my key takeaways/observations: Doors are booming: The big news at the Roto booth was a […]
Before I start this new blog series, let me say that I wrote this one, and attended this conference, before the events that happened in Charlottesville, Va. So while I found one particular session incredibly relevant, a mere one week later, it became even more so. The event I am referring to is the two-day […]
DWM is wrapping up its nominations this week for our feature article in our upcoming June-July issue on the fastest–growing dealers. We started this list in 2013, and since then we’ve featured 24 companies that were on the fast track to growth. That doesn’t count the five that will be featured this year. What makes […]
Ah, the age-old question: “What keeps you up?” You hear it a lot, but last week while attending the meeting of the Moulding and Millwork Producers Association (MMPA), a speaker stopped mid-session to get feedback. As always, the answers were insightful. Here are a few of them: “The U.S dollar.” “The softwood trade agreement.” “With […]
The news that a White House budget proposal could dismantle or privatize the Energy Star program shocked me. Wait, the government isn’t going to save money by cutting back on some of the major burdens on many industries, including door and window manufacturers? Like OSHA’s record-keeping requirements? Like the EPA’s lead paint rule? No, they […]
Want to know what words to say or hold back? What body language signifies power, and even where to sit in that important meeting with a potential customer? Janine Driver, body language expert and best-selling author, covered all that in an entertaining session during the recent meeting of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association. “I am […]
