Hyperbolic statements about the pandemic are all over the media. We’ve all seen examples and can probably recite some in our sleep. Are statements like these true? I don’t know, but the possibility does seem likely that business as we know it has changed. One way change is happening in our industry is through the utilization of new technologies, including software.
Last week’s Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance Virtual Summer Conference was a refreshing return to business as usual, albeit still in a virtual format. For the first time since March 2020, COVID didn’t overshadow every conversation. In fact, I can recollect few sessions in which participants discussed COVID even in passing, let alone based content around the impacts of the pandemic.
Like a lot of shop owners, I have tried providing just about every type of product and service available. There is no doubt it is a good thing to be well-rounded as glazing service provider. But if you are doing the same types of projects as other shops in your area, you are likely going to have to find a way to differentiate yourself from them if you hope to compete.
Well, how about the news from this past week? Big stuff. Before the word broke that the deal was done, the rumors on Cardinal and AGC making a deal were everywhere. It happening was not a surprise. The shock was the timing.
Every day we are closer and closer to normal, at least a new form of normal. Masks are going down everywhere and with that Show Season is about to be in full swing. Let’s get pumped to get “Back to Business. Back to GlassBuild.”! Given my personal experience last month, and knowing how the NGA truly cares for our safety (without us, there is no NGA), I’m confident anything learned from last event will be used to improve our next experience.
June brings the annual start to Hurricane Season. For the next few months, we’ll be on high alert with regards to storms moving into the east coast or up through the Gulf. The glass and glazing industry has truly made a major impact, no pun intended, on this space.
The ABI's immediate analysis pointed to pent up demand and to retrofit. I have been hammering the retrofit side for a while as a huge growth area, and it’s great to see the experts agree. The only bad news here is this is future-based, so we’ll get to enjoy this run later this year and into next, but right now for the areas that are soft―and there’s a bunch―this doesn’t help.
The more moisture that’s present in the air infiltrating a wall system by thermal bridging, the more condensation occurs. If moisture accumulates as result of the condensation, it can negatively affect other materials inside the wall cavity.
The road to being “back” took a major step forward this past week in San Antonio, Texas, at the TEXpo event there. The organizers and the incredible Texas Glass Association did a wonderful job with the setup and layout, and it was great to be back on a show floor again!