Construction Informer

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Listen in as I talk with Melva Corbett, owner of The Media Source.com. She outlines some of the mistakes contractors make in marketing their businesses, and offers some tips for getting the marketing focused where it can generate the best results.

Melva first provides some insights into why marketing efforts often fail and much of it has to do with a lack of planning, and then testing and tracking the plan. Later she explains how keeping in touch with past clients is a very over looked area for finding new opportunities. She also offers some tips on differentiating your business:

• Can you and your team immediately rattle off three things that sets you apart from your competition?
• Have you tested your marketing efforts?
• Do you communicate regularly with your customers?

There is much more.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:30 — 4.1MB)

How credible are U.Ss CEOs? Well they have some catching up to do with CEOS from Brazil, Russia, India and China, according to the 2010 Edelman Trust Barometer. This article in Business Week contains the full text.

WPL Publishing Co. is hosting a webinar February 10, 2010 starting at 1 p.m. on construction contracts and highlighting the 10 most important terms. There will also be a question and answer period after the presentation. Those interested can find out more right here.

The manufacturers of construction equipment are expecting only a modest rebound from the double digit declines in sales during 2009. U.S. manufacturer sales when reported are expected to be down by 40 percent while Canada and the other sectors worldwide could post a 30 percent decline. The industry anticipates a five percent gain this year. For all the figures you can read the press release here.

Pella Windows and Doors has announced an innovative new method for installing its replacement windows and doors. The company claims this will cut installation time by up to 50 percent and will reduce many of the headaches associated with repairing and replacing siding during a window or door upgrade. You can read more in this press release.

Listen in for more detail to the Podcast above.

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From the 19th and well into Friday, the International Builders’ Show is drawing strong crowds. Billed as the “housing industry’s largest annual trade show and exhibition,” the event is sponsored by the National Association of Homebuilders and is being held in Las Vegas. Last year’s show attracted more than 60,000 people. Of course the product line up is a bit mind boggling. Some of the products being showcased include:

• Lennox Industries (Booth C3130), a leading provider of customized home heating, cooling and indoor air quality systems will unveil a new, revolutionary heating and cooling system powered by renewable energy. The state-of-the-art system, which will hit the market this summer, will help homeowners significantly reduce their energy consumption.
• U.S. Timberworks (Booth N1276) releases its new product line of timber-frame architectural components, including decorative brackets, corbels, gable trusses and hearth mantles. These offerings will make it easy and affordable to add the timeless beauty of timber framing and increase perceived value of your next project in today’s competitive and demanding marketplace.
• Tiger Claw Inc. (Booth N3103) will debut the Tiger Claw Semi-Automatic Hidden Deck Fastener Installation Gun for Trex. It will also showcase the new Tiger Jaw tool designed to eliminate the need for a sledge hammer and muscle power when installing hidden deck fasteners and surface boards.
• Salient Software Inc. (Booth C949) offers builder intelligence software that comprises state-of-the-art dashboards and scorecards built with IBM Cognos software specifically for home builders for faster, informed, coordinated decisions. This web-based software lets the decision makers receive instant up-to-the-minute information anywhere, anytime in areas like sales, field operations, finance and purchasing.

John Kirchner, public relations manager for Marvin Windows and Doors spoke with me on the phone from the show floor and confirmed that even though economic times are still challenging there is a lot of positive energy around homebuilding and the products being shown. He also mentioned his picks for a couple of the coolest products he’s seen, and then told me about one huge sliding glass door that Marvin is exhibiting on the floor. Listen in to the podcast above.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:47 — 2.9MB)

This podcast is the audio version of the posts for October 21, 22 and 28. Just hit the play button above to hear the topics about selecting the right materials, a new idea for hanging solar panels, and an example of green claims being backed up.