The Talk

A stimulus program for replacement windows and doors…

Right now, there’s much talk about the need to bail out U.S. automakers. Those in favor say actions are necessary to save the economy from falling into... more »

Are you tightening your receivables?

I love this article. It’s a crash course in small business survival in tough markets. But unlike the slew of articles online... more »

With Obama's election, how do you feel about the next four years?

I know there are a lot of readers out there less than thrilled with Barack Obama’s victory in yesterday’s election. Past polls we ran showed... more »

How many lawsuits have been filed against your company this year?

The law firm Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P issued its annual U.S. Litigation Trends survey, which found that 75% of manufacturing companies... more »

What segment are you targeting?

It’s pretty apparent at this point that our economy is not going to bounce back quickly. It’ll take time to get everything straightened out to reasonable levels and, in the meantime, companies... more »

Are you planning to offer a higher-end upgrade to your line?

Most window and door manufacturers are interested in components that will give their products a higher end look, but most have to balance cost concerns as well. That's still true but hardware and extrusion suppliers at GlassBuild last week indicated more manufacturers are showing a real interest in adding components or developing complete new lines that offer an enhanced ... more »

So, when do you think we'll see growth in the window and door market now?

The economic outlook, along with the outlook for window and door sales, isn't too bright. We've all seen the news. While I'm not kidding myself, I found some hope and encouragement, however... more »

Have you traveled to China for business?

So who can tell me how to say “wish me luck” in Chinese? This weekend I leave for my very first trip to China. I’ll be visiting Suzhou and Shanghai, as I mentioned in my column this month, and while I’m dreading the plane ride, I’m really excited about the trip itself. The purpose of my visit is to learn about doing business in China; I’ll be meeting with many ... more »

What effect will the government bailout have on the housing market?

$700 billion. Or was it $700 trillion. It's way too big a number and too complicated an issue for me, but when I heard about plan to bail out Wall Street and theoretically save our economy, I couldn't help but wonder, "It would be nice if someone helped out struggling window and door companies that way."Of course, I know most business owners in this industry wouldn't want or expect the ... more »

Have you picked up employees from struggling industry companies?

A manufacturer contacted me not too long ago to see if I had heard any news about one its local competitors. The reason he inquired is that he was seeing an influx of people from this competitor looking for jobs at his operation.While I hadn’t heard any news in this particular case, and I wasn’t much help, it reminded me of something said to me not too long ago. “If you can ... more »