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June 13, 2012This week, Starbucks announced an initiative aimed to increase U.S.-based manufacturing—and thus, add more jobs to our economy. In a nutshell, the coffee company launched a line of merchandise for its stores—mugs, coffee, things like that—made exclusively by U.S. workers. The Reuters report points out that Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz is calling on all executives to step up... more »
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June 5, 2012I wish I could say Window & Door is always on the cutting edge of technology and business trends, but I have to admit we fall behind every now and then. We were the first publication in the industry with a website featuring the latest news and, more recently, we were the first to offer our publication as an app, but we claim no firsts when it comes to Facebook. In fact, we... more »
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June 2, 2012Whitelisting Emails From WDweekly 1. Desktop-level: Add our designated email address to your safe sender lists: WDweekly@WindowandDoor.com2. Server-level: Forward this email and information to your email administrator. Desktop-level Whitelisting Add our email address as a safe sender within your email program (Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, Yahoo, etc.). AOL Subscribers: 1. From your mailbox... more »
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May 29, 2012Since Facebook's IPO about 10 days ago, its share prices have fallen. I'm no expert, but one of the reasons cited is a concern it will not be able to effectively monetize its offerings–sell advertising–in a world that is quickly moving to mobile devices. The fear is most Facebook users won't be using the service on their PCs, maybe not even on their tablets. In the future, users may... more »
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May 23, 2012Happy almost-long-weekend everyone! We're just a few days away from Memorial Day weekend, three days that many consider the unofficial start to summer. Our community pool is opening up this weekend and my kids are counting down their final days of school. The mild weather also helps with my summery state of mind. Occasionally, we take an opportunity with the Talk to ask a question that isn... more »
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May 22, 2012Once again the United States Green Building Council is attacking the vinyl window industry as it proposes changes to its LEED rating system. In November 2011, USGBC proposed changes for 2012 (currently on revision 4) that added a new Disclosure and Avoidance point category that refers to a list of "Chemicals of Concern," which include many common materials in building products, such as... more »
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May 21, 2012COLUMN : Legal | ManagementThe Energy Star program, as jointly managed by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, is a long-time benefactor of incentives and tax breaks. It is a success story hailed as reportedly saving American $28 billion in 2008 alone. With Energy Star’s subsidized popularity and resulting influence in the market, window manufacturers have had little choice but to... more »
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May 18, 2012At times during this long, slow economic recovery, I’ve felt like someone hit the “pause” button for the window and door industry. We’re gearing up and moving forward for a little while, and then things seem to stop. On page XX of this issue, we highlight the results of the annual market study prepared by Ducker Research for the American Architectural Manufacturers... more »
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May 15, 2012Many window and door manufacturers, as well as suppliers of glass and other components, will be in Washington, D.C., this week exhibiting at the AIA 2012 Expo. It promises to be an interesting showcase of new products and technologies targeted at the commercial, institutional and high-end residential markets. It is these segments of the window and door business where architects typically play an... more »
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May 15, 2012Window and door specialty retailers look to invest in efficienciesThe degree to which window and door companies were impacted by the economic downturn may vary significantly, but it’s a safe bet to assume that every single one was affected in some way, shape or form. Today—looking to brighter days ahead—many companies are still trying to do more with less, fighting the necessity to pass price increases on to their customers and trying to take... more »