Latest Articles in All

  • November 5, 2012
    THE TALK... | Management

    Luck and planning
    “I feel lucky,” a Connecticut-based business friend told me following Hurricane Sandy.  “I have electricity and a roof, unlike the businesses on either side of me.” Sometimes, it is just about luck, but it’s also good to have a disaster recovery plan in place for your company.  In the case of my friend, Tom, the potential for long-term power outages and... more »
  • October 29, 2012
    THE TALK... | Management

    What Will Hurricane Sandy Do to Your Business?
    For those of us on the East Coast, Hurricane Sandy has packed a wallop. Estimates of the destruction and damage are just starting to come in.  Schools and businesses up and down the East Coast have been closed—even the New York Stock Exchange shut down for the first time in decades due to a weather-related incident. The Window & Door team is put the final touches on this week... more »
  • October 24, 2012
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Strategies & Practices, Management

    Preparing for the Affordable Care Act
    Provisions in the law will be impacting both large and small employers moving forward
    After more than a year of negotiations and debate, President Obama signed the hotly-contested Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law in 2010. Finding someone in the United States who has never heard of the act or does not have an opinion about it would be difficult. At this point, however, only portions of the PPACA have taken effect. Other are still to come, with most coming into... more »
  • October 23, 2012
    THE TALK... | Codes & Standards, Energy Efficiency

    What Do You Think of Most Efficient?
    The R-5 window may be back as the Environmental Protection Agency has released its draft criteria for Most Efficient designation for windows under the Energy Star windows, doors and skylights program.  In addition to other requirements, including NAFS certification, the newest high-performance criteria sets a minimum U-factor of 0.20 for all regions of the country. Many in the industry have... more »
  • October 16, 2012
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Close-Ups

    Dealers of the Year 2012
    Window & Door honors excellence in the middle
      Window & Door is pleased to announce its 2012 Dealers of the Year. Honored for Overall Excellence this year are A.W. Hastings from Connecticut and Power Home Remodeling Group from Pennsylvania. The magazine has also recognized four Focused Excellence category winners—window and door retailers and distributors that stand out in the areas of marketing, customer... more »
  • October 16, 2012
    THE TALK... | Channels, Markets & Trends

    Where Do You Learn About Best Practices?
    This week we are pleased to announce our 2012 Dealers of the Year. When we started this program, our intention was twofold. We certainly wanted to put the spotlight on window and door dealers and distributors that are doing a great job. But our bigger goal was to raise the bar for the industry as a whole.  We wanted the opportunity to highlight best practices and successful strategies within... more »
  • October 15, 2012
    THE TALK... | Energy Efficiency, Segments, Markets & Trends

    How the 25E Performance Tax Credit Can Help the Industry
    It’s no surprise government tax credits for residential energy efficiency upgrades are a boost to the home renovation industry. The recent federal tax credit for windows and doors, where homeowners could claim a portion of their purchase of energy-efficient windows, doors and skylights, coupled with the trend for homeowners to stay put and fix up their current residence due to a lagging... more »
  • October 9, 2012
    THE TALK... | Markets & Trends

    Are You Feeling Positive?
    Economists and other experts looking at housing market, as well as remodeling and replacement activity, are getting more upbeat in their forecasts.  At least that was the case at last week's Window & Door Manufacturers Association Executive Conference and Building and Infrastructure Forecast Conference hosted by Lincoln International. New home construction is coming back, led by the... more »
  • October 3, 2012
    THE TALK... | Markets & Trends

    Are Doors and Windows a New Status Symbol?
    According to a recent Spectrum Group study highlighted in an article by CNBC, the super-, mega-, crazy-rich folks in this country have become slightly less materialistic. Where the folks with a net worth of more than $25 million used to spend money on cars and jewelry and other such status symbols, research shows they’re now spending a greater percentage of funds on life experiences and... more »
  • October 1, 2012
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Strategies & Practices, Operations, Channels, Close-Ups

    Back-to-Basics Marketing
    Universal Windows Direct connects with people "face-to-face"
        Getting the Word Out EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING   Universal Windows Direct Oakwood Village, Ohio Get the Universal Windows Direct team in front of some people and they will sell some windows and doors. A simple concept, perhaps, but one that has served founders William Barr and Mike Strmac for more than 10 years as they’ve grown their company year-over-year at... more »