Latest Articles in Strategies & Practices
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May 20, 2013A recent survey from the National Association of Home Builders found that one of the top factors home buyers look for in a home is energy efficiency. While that might not be a surprise to those of us in the remodeling industry, it certainly reinforces what our customers have been telling us for the past 20 years. With the subject of climate change and green living top of mind, and as some states... more »
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May 9, 2013This week, Marvin Windows is highlighting the fact that it offers windows meeting passive building standards that are "made in the USA," offering customers faster turnaround and design flexibility, it states. The Earthwise Group of vinyl window manufacturers was also honored as the "Made in the USA Certified " company of the year. And, "Made in the USA" was an... more »
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May 8, 2013It seems as though cloud-based computing is picking up steam in the manufacturing sector. "The best manufacturers I’ve visited this year all share a common attribute," writes Louis Columbus, a Forbes contributor in a recent column. "They are obsessed with making themselves as easy as possible to work with from a supply chain, distribution and services standpoint.... more »
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April 30, 2013The housing market continues to recover, but not at the rate many of us would like to see. Economists attribute sluggish growth levels to rising material costs and a lack of skilled labor, among other reasons. Builders around the country are pointing to such problems, particularly in some of the hotter new home markets. It's been a long time, however, since I heard such complaints in the window... more »
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April 23, 2013I just love this list of 10 surprising assertions from entrepreneurs, published recently as a column on Forbes.com. Even though the columnist warned me that a statement or two might come as a surprise, I still managed a couple of mental “no way”s and “really?”s as I made my way through it. Of particular note were some against-the-grain assertions, including that business... more »
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April 9, 2013With every tweet, share, like and pin, it becomes more apparent that social media is growing as a major tool for communication in the United States. In fact, recent surveys calculate that time spent on social media accounts for one out of every six minutes spent online in the U.S. Add to that the fact that social media advertising is projected to increase from $2.1 billion in 2010 to $8.3 billion... more »
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March 13, 2013Canada’s Durabuilt Windows & Doors marks 25th anniversary while positioning itself for the futureDurabuilt Windows & Doors is celebrating. This year marks the Edmonton, Alberta-based manufacturer’s 25th anniversary; the launch of a new logo and brand image; and a place on Canada’s Best Managed Companies list. The reasons for that honor are many, but Joe Sunner, president, says Durabuilt’s success is rooted in “hard work, around-the-clock dedication and... more » -
February 26, 2013With the spring season rapidly approaching, a number of homeowners may be preparing to attend their area’s seasonal home shows. For many in the remodeling industry, it likely feels as though exhibiting at a home show is one of the oldest tools in the shed. In an age when homeowners have increasing online options for researching home remodelers, projects and products, it may seem old... more »
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January 22, 2013Let me start off by saying I do not intend to have a conversation about gun control legislation. However, it’s pretty difficult to ignore the unfortunate series of events our country has experienced at the hands of misguided gunmen in the last several months—including an incident just yesterday at a Texas college. What I am interested to know is whether your workplace has security... more »
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January 15, 2013Like most Americans, I spent part of the holidays following the news of the fiscal cliff negotiations. I was relieved when a deal was finally struck, thinking the stage is set for window and door industry growth in 2013, if only Washington can keep out of the way. With all the discussions focused on tax rates for upper income people and potential spending cuts, however, I didn't give much thought... more »