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April 23, 2008
Christina Lewellen, senior editor of Window & Door
Ok, so if you’re not a huge fan of Ben Stein, just ignore the picture and focus instead on the message. In this blog, he shares a personal experience about some disappointing customer service and makes a valid point about willingness to work. Sure, we’re in an economic downturn, but...
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April 16, 2008
John Swanson, editor/ associate publisher of Window & Door
Speaking at the Home Improvement Research Institute’s spring conference last week, Kermit Baker, director of the remodeling futures program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, suggested that remodelers can do better in these difficult economic times by...
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April 9, 2008
Christina Lewellen, senior editor of Window & Door
Do you buy products for their warranties? I have to admit that, with the exception of my cars, I really don’t (my dad would be so disappointed if he knew!). In fact, I tend to be leery of warranties because I figure there’s probably enough legalese in them to eliminate some or most of my...
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April 2, 2008
John Swanson, editor/ associate publisher of Window & Door
Over the past few decades, we've seen a number of window and door ideas migrate from Europe to North America. If not vinyl itself, the concept of welded vinyl came from there. Multipoint locking hardware, argon gas filling and a couple other ideas were also adopted in Europe first.
So when I...
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March 26, 2008
Christina Lewellen, senior editor of Window & Door
Our upcoming green-focused April issue highlights a few window and door dealers that have found success in marketing their companies as green. Just this morning, I read another story about a lumberyard/window dealer taking a green position with its customers. As this sort of marketing approach gains...
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March 19, 2008
John Swanson, editor/ associate publisher of Window & Door
Spring officially begins tomorrow and with it comes the spring selling season. Just about everyone agrees the new construction market is unlikely to make much of a comeback this year, but what about replacement and remodeling activity?
I thought it would be a good time to see what everyone...
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March 12, 2008
John Swanson, editor/ associate publisher of Window & Door
S141 failed at the recent code hearings, but there seems to be agreement these days that side-hinged doors should be held to the same sort of performance standards as windows and sliding glass doors. In continuing discussions, representatives of AAMA, AMD and WDMA are trying to agree on an approach...
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March 5, 2008
Last week, we reported on a lawsuit brought by a South Carolina dealer alleging false labeling of windows. The dealer charges that windows not meeting code requirements are being labeled to say they do.
My reaction to this story was, "Sure, there are people out there that will take advantage of lax code enforcement, who will somehow try to plead ignorance if caught, but it's hard to believe...
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February 20, 2008
All signs at the International Builders’ Show last week suggested that green building is going mainstream. Among window and door manufacturers, the growing momentum of green was evident in displays that highlighted not only energy efficient products, but environmentally friendly business practices.
Prior to this year’s show, few window and door manufacturers appeared to make a real...
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February 13, 2008
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Yes, folks, I’m talking about the proposed economic stimulus package. The Wall St. Journal, a.k.a. my personal daily vice, says: “The largest business break in the package is called ‘accelerated depreciation,’ which permits companies to take much larger tax deductions on this year’s capital investments, instead of...
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