Latest Articles in Close-Ups

  • Tue, 06/01/2010
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Close-Ups

    Doors In Motion Gets Moving
    Automation adds "coolness factor" to sliding doors
    Windows and doors certainly serve a functional role in a home, offering comfort and protection. They also add an element of style to many homes, as colors and finish options have exploded in recent years to keep up with homeowners’ varied tastes. But in an era of flat-screen TVs, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, it’s a bit of a stretch to think of windows and doors... more »
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    Thu, 10/01/2009
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Operations, Close-Ups

    Custom Exteriors Installs Installation into the Sales Process
    Dealer finds customer satisfaction stems from setting homeowners' expectations
    Plumb, Level & Square Excellence in Installation  Custom Exteriors Pleasantville, Calif. Custom Exteriors has always used the best processes and materials for its installation, but the dealer has found that setting homeowners' expectations is an important part of the sale. A good installation comes with good products, a well-trained team of installers and a management... more »
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    Thu, 10/01/2009
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Operations, Close-Ups

    Dealers of the Year 2009
    Window & Door Honors Excellence in the Middle
    Two companies honored for Overall Excellence winners, with six additional standouts named in arenas of marketing, installation, customer service, retail/showroom program, community service and innovative thinking. more »
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    Thu, 10/01/2009
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Sales & Marketing, Close-Ups

    FAS Windows Makes Showrooms its Centerpiece
    Retail professionalism makes for a lasting impression
    A Showroom that Sells Excellence in Retail FAS Windows Winter Park, Fla. FAS Windows believes less is more when it comes to showroom displays. Too many products in a limited space takes away from a minimalist, upper-end feel. In an economy where homeowners are skittish and looking for ways to get the most value for their purchases, a showroom does more than allow potential... more »
  • Thu, 10/01/2009
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Operations, Channels, Close-Ups

    Marling Lumber Changes with the Times
    More than 100 years old, Marling continues to look for growth opportunities
    Overall Excellance LEADERSHIP SERVING PROFESSIONALS  Marling Lumber Co. Janesville, Wis. Business cycles don’t make the Marling Lumber leadership nervous. Now run by the fourth and fifth generation of the Marling family, the company has survived recessions and booms, expansions and even devastating fires. So while most of its competitors are struggling to keep the doors open,... more »
  • Thu, 10/01/2009
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Operations, Sales & Marketing, Close-Ups

    New York Sash Owners are the Face of the Company
    "The Home Improvement Couple" run their company on strong community, business principles
    Getting the Word Out Excellence in Marketing New York Sash Whitesboro, N.Y. Jill and Scot Hayes have branded themselves the "Home Improvement Couple," not only earning recognition for themselves in their community, but also creating a sense of trust in their company among homeowners. Jill and Scot Hayes get a lot more recognition than most window and door dealers. They... more »
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    Thu, 10/01/2009
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Operations, Channels, Close-Ups

    Replacement Dealer Powers Through Growing Pains
    Sticking to core values took discipline and a total company overhaul
    LEADERSHIP SERVING HOMEOWNERS   Power Windows & Siding Brookhaven, Pa. Like many companies, Power Windows & Siding started out small. Adam and Jeff Kaliner, cousins, started the company fresh out of the college scene, doing all of the marketing, estimating and sales calls out of a two-bedroom apartment. For 15 years, the company grew about 20 percent per year and continued... more »
  • Thu, 10/01/2009
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Sales & Marketing, Close-Ups

    Superior Forges Relationships with Community Service
    Charitable events create a lasting bond between the dealer and its customers, suppliers, employees
    Giving Back Excellence in Community Service Superior Products Home Improvement Denver, Colo. When his wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Tom Higgins founded Superior Products to be able to control his schedule through her recovery. For many companies, community service efforts are a bit of an afterthought. But at Superior Products Home Improvement, the company might not... more »
  • Thu, 10/01/2009
    SPECIAL FEATURES | Operations, Sales & Marketing, Close-Ups

    WindowPro Reinvents Itself for Future Growth
    After 80 years in business, specialty dealer transitions to a new supplier
    Out-of-the Box Excellence in Innovative Thinking WindowPro Cleveland, Ohio The fifth generation of family leadership, Jake Zahnow, president of WindowPro, recently guided the company through a transition to a new window supplier. When you run an 80-year-old company, you think in terms of decades rather than years, says Jake Zahnow, president of WindowPro. That long... more »
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    Wed, 06/03/2009
    FEATURE ARTICLE | Energy Efficiency, Close-Ups

    A Seriously Different Window Manufacturer
    Looking to push the envelope on performance, a committed CEO has emerged as the new face of the industry
     Two years ago, not many people in the industry had even heard the name Serious Materials. Today, everybody’s talking about the company. Even President Barack Obama. Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Materials, doesn't view his company as competing on the window and door demand curve—he sees it moving with the green building curve. Earlier this year, workers at the former... more »

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