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 […]

Many folks have called to check on me to see how I have fared since transitioning from running manufacturing and sales to retail selling. I enjoy these calls very much. It is always terrific catching up with folks in the industry and keeping a finger on the pulse of the window industry. In the retail […]

If you have followed the economic activity over the past few months, it seems to be a head scratcher. This past week, the economy created more jobs, but the stock market tumbled. And the Federal Reserve says they are going to hike interest rates again. This is going to make borrowing more expensive and although, […]

I landed upon this recent article by Nicole Spector and after reading it, it does appear that the jury is still out as to whether or not we are really in a recession. Some indicators seem to point toward a recession while others are suggesting the economy is still in good shape. Most of my […]

A frequent misstep we see when working with home improvement and remodeling companies is the process they undertake when confirming sales appointments. While it is critical to have a defined process in setting the appointment, it is equally important to follow up prior to the appointment to remind them of your upcoming visit and reinforce […]

U.S. homeowners are initiating home improvement projects with increased frequency, according to the Hearth Home Improvement Index. The index examines the number of applications for home improvement loans on the gethearth.com platform. 2021 data highlights an increased rate of projects related to bedrooms and bathrooms, home offices and kitchens. Wyoming, Texas and Florida top the […]

When Lowes and Home Depot released their financial results last month, both posted earnings growth, not surprising given the continued growth of homeowners spending money on remodeling projects. But when dissecting the earnings transcripts for both companies, it was a focus on pro customers that dominated conversations, proving this is where both companies are continuing […]

The COVID-19 pandemic left most door and window dealers in a temporary juxtaposition. Locked behind closed doors, where they had plenty of time to ponder improvements, homeowners wanted their products more than ever. As a result, “We had to figure out how we could still do our jobs, while keeping everyone safe, but making it […]

The door and window industry is on the brink of what’s traditionally been our busy season. But for many of us, it feels like it’s been busy season for the past year. A hot housing market, low interest rates and homeowners looking to make enhancements to their spaces—they’ve all worked to drive a major spike […]

The annual Cost vs. Value report for 2021 came with few surprises this year, showing increased job costs across the board for door and window replacement projects. Despite those increases, costs recouped (calculated based on changes in home sales and existing home values) remain strong, recouping between 61% and 69% for those projects. Compiled by […]