Tight Times?

Thinking about the current economy and the slow residential market reminds me of a book I read as a kid. It was called Tight Times and, if I remember correctly, it was about a little boy whose father lost his job. The parents explain to their son that he can’t have a dog, extra toys, etc. because currently they are living through “tight times.” Now, I don’t remember any other details, but I’m sure it had some kind of a happy ending (after all, it is a book for children). I can’t help but think though, that there’s got to be a lot of people out there having similar conversations with their own kids.

We all know it, the housing market isn’t so hot these days. When will it pick back up? Sooner rather than later we all hope. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, privately owned housing starts in February were 28.4 percent (+/-8.3 percent) below the rate of February 2007. In addition to that the National Association of Home Builders says the sale of single family homes in February was nearly 30 percent below last year and down 58 percent from the peak in July 2005 (and don’t we all remember what THAT was like!).

But I am not here to be the bearer of bad news. I’m here to say it is absolutely possible to make a profit in a down market. You just have to look for the opportunities. Maybe it means going after a new market or focusing your efforts into another business segment. Either way it is possible. In fact, I talked to several people this week who all told me that while yes, they have been affected by the slow market, they have been able to find alternatives … think value-added opportunities.

Consider the remodeling industry. It may still not be a market bursting with business, but it has seen a much smaller decline than new construction. And, there are lots of opportunities for glass—energy-efficient windows, a new shower enclosure, maybe even a new bathroom mirror or two. I’m sure there are also lots of unconventional ways of using glass; it just takes a little creativity. What do you think? You can share your ideas for keeping busy in a down market by posting a comment or sending me an email.

Etch-A-Sketchup

If you attended the AIA show last year in San Antonio, you probably remember a couple of things:
1) the wonky layout of the show floor and all of the small ballrooms that housed the exhibitors that didn’t make the main show floor; and
2) the heavy promotion of Google Sketchup (www.sketchup.com).

I for one remember all of the buzz and excitment over Sketchup ... there were swarms of people surrounding the display, you could barely squeeze by it and people couldn't stop talking about how it was going to change the construction industry.

In case you missed it or you’ve never heard of it, Sketchup, as described by Google, is 3D for everyone. It’s software that allows users to create 3D models, and two versions are available. A free version can be used by anyone and then there’s the Pro version for, you know, the pros.

Now, I’m not doing an ad for Google or its products, but I can say this: I really see more and more of the construction industry, even all you glass folks, making that shift toward 3D modeling. Sure, the transition will be a gradual one, but it probably won’t hurt to get in the know on this.

In fact, there’s going to be a presentation on the subject during the upcoming Glass Association of North America Glass Fabrication Conference (www.glasswebsite.com). Denise Beneke from Marmon Mok Architecture will be talking about using image-modeling software. Plus, I happen to know Denise and I am sure she will be able to relate using these programs directly the needs of the glass industry. Plus the whole conference is in Las Vegas, in case you needed another reason.

OK, with that said and done, now that we all know there’s a free version of Sketchup, who’s going to be playing around with it this weekend? I know I will be!

What's all the Buzz?

Have you ever noticed that in most big cities there’s a Starbucks on just about every corner? They are everywhere … until you need one. By "need one" I mean you’re in some small, nowhere town and you need a place that has wireless Internet. Of course as soon as you find that one Starbucks, all of the others you drove around looking for just start popping up all over the place. I had a similar experience over the past week and a half with BIM … you’ve heard of BIM, right?

As you probably know, BIM stands for building information modeling. Until a couple of weeks ago it was pretty new to me. It sounded familiar, I knew I had heard of it, but it wasn’t something I knew too much about. Then, my co-worker Tara Taffera, editor/publisher of DWM magazine, told me about a presentation on BIM that was at a WDMA meeting. I started looking into and then, just like those Starbucks, it started showing up everywhere … articles, presentations, even this past week at the NFRC meeting.

BIM has been described as the next generation of CAD; BIM tools can help with space calculations, material selection, even energy performance. Now I, like many of you, am still just learning about BIM, but from what I’m gathering it’s one of those things that, sooner of later, everyone’s going to be doing.

It makes sense to me to use a BIM tool to create a building. After all, with a drawing you’re limited; you've got lines and arcs depicting a 3-D object. BIM allows you to see a representation of the building as an object. You can demonstrate the entire life cycle of the building!

Still, BIM is in its infancy. And, as with anything else, it will require a learning curve. There will be start-up challenges. Some will be hesitant change--you know, there are still companies and businesses out there with no website and no email; there are probably others not just ready to part with blueprints, too.

I’d like to get a feel for what you in the glass industry think about this BIM buzz. Let’s get some discussion going on this. Feel free to post a comment, or send me an email and tell me what you think.

Next Week in Nashville

The first-of-the-year surge of trade shows and conferences is winding down. I know many of you have spent a good part of January and February flying from city to city, conference room to conference room, even code hearing to code hearing. Yes, these past two weeks have hosted the International Code Council (ICC) hearings. I, along with the other members of our editorial team, was able to listen in to the daily hearings via web cast. While there was a good bit of discussion over codes relating to the glass industry (which you can read about at www.usgnn.com), I think the best part happened before the beginning of each and every code hearing when the moderator reminded everyone to turn off their cell phones. For those failing to do so there was an automatic $10 charge if the phone rang. I expect to hear that one popping up at many, many future industry meetings.

Speaking of future industry meetings, next week the NFRC’s spring meeting will take place in Nashville. I’m heading to that one myself to cover it for USGlass and USGNN.com. Be sure and check in to USGNN for daily updates, as the group is continuing to move forward on CMA certification language.

Nashville is a great city for anyone who’s into glass and one of the best displays can be found at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. There, you can stand beneath and absolute massive overhead glazing display that features 5,000 panels from Naturalite; glass was provided by Viracon. Check out this link for more details: http://www.viracon.com/gallerydetail.php?field=product_cat&data=laminated&project=7

I visited the Opryland Hotel nearly ten years ago, before I knew anything about glass. Come to think of it, I don’t even remember the overhead glazing. Rest assured, I do plan to visit it again this trip and will definitely take pictures. Be sure and check back next week for more details.

Anyone for Some Code Hearings?

Since I know you have all been reading your USGNN everyday this week, I’m sure you’re well aware that the International Code Council (ICC) code change hearings are happening right now in Palm Springs. The code change world is one I’m pretty glad to have only limited involvement, though this code change cycle is a big one for the glass and fenestration industries (read some of the updates here: www.usgnn.com).

As I’m sure many of you are well aware, it’s not the most exciting of venues. I’ll give you an idea of what it’s like. Yesterday evening, a little before 5 p.m. EST I was tuned in to the code hearings webcast. Hearings were about to begin on a new code and the moderator made an announcement … a schedule change if you will. He said, “The schedule says we will be going until 6 p.m.; that’s wrong. We will be going till at least 7 p.m. and if we’re still not done, we’re going to keep going until we are.” Remember, that’s an at least 7 p.m. Pacific time … Considering those hearings start each day at 8 a.m., that’s a long, long day.

Sitting through hours and hours (hours and hours) of rebuttals and re-rebuttals may not be on the top of your must-do list, but it’s a good thing that it is for some people. Well, let’s say it’s good that they do it. After all, as someone told me a few years ago when I asked him why it was so important to be involved in code development: “Codes drive the marketplace and if you don’t lead you’re going to follow in the dust and you’re going to have other people dictating how best to use your products. So it’s really to make sure that your products are best represented in the marketplace and they’re used for the smartest and most functional reasons.” (Want to know who said this? Click here to find out: http://www.usglassmag.com/USGlass/2003/0304/Science.html).

If you want to really grasp the good that’s come from code changes and hearings, just look at all the hurricane-prone states and jurisdictions now requiring impact-resistant glazing. Years ago, laminated glass suppliers, manufacturers, window manufacturers and others went to the code bodies and said, “Hey, we’ve got products here that can help mitigate hurricane-caused damage; products that can improve safety and pass required testing.” Maybe those weren’t their exact words, but you know what I mean. The bottom line is that the codes changed because the industry spoke up and got involved.

Whether or not you’re involved in the code change process, good things do come out of it, and we’ve got safer homes and buildings to show for it.

Airplane Reading

Air travel provides a really great opportunity for me to do something I don’t get to do enough: read. One of my favorite airplane reads is Real Simple magazine. I only buy it when I’m traveling, but I really enjoy it. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a magazine that provides articles on making life a bit easier … you know … organizing tips, easy recipes, green living, that sort of thing.

So yesterday I flew from Atlanta to Las Vegas and, yes, I picked up a Real Simple to read on my 4+ hour flight. I was enjoying the articles and one in particular grabbed my attention. “Going Green,” the magazine spread read. It was about how a couple in California transformed their home to be eco-friendly. I was intrigued; I mean glass is certainly green, so surely they upgraded their windows.

Here’s some of what the article talked about: They made their house more energy efficient with GreenFiber Cocoon insulation, which is made from recycled newspapers treated with borate. They use fireplace logs made from recycled coffee grounds. They used paint with no VOCs. Efficient appliances, composting, water aerators and more.

This is all fabulous, but what about the windows? All that the article mentioned was that they used “inexpensive cotton thermal drapes” that “leverage solar heat by blocking it in the summer and catching it in the winter.” Really? Doesn’t glass do the same thing? And if you’ve got to keep these thermal drapes over the windows, don’t you then have to turn lights on, which means you’re using up more electricity. Just a thought.

On another note, I also read a “Green Scene” article in the Delta Sky magazine. This one did talk about the benefits of windows. The article references the book You Can Prevent Global Warming (and save money!): 51 Easy Ways, written by Jeffrey Langholz and Kelly Turner. It talks about how insulated curtains and shades work, but the best option is an EnergyStar window which can “save 50 percent more energy than 10-year old windows and insulate five times better than single-pane windows.”

Maybe someone should pass that info on to that green California couple.

All in th Family

If I had followed either of my parents’ career paths I would today be in the auto parts business (Dad) or working as a nurse (Mom). Instead, I decided to follow my own path and I became a writer. And of that I am glad because I have little interest in knowing anything about cars and I can’t stand needles. That tells me I would not have been much too successful in either of their chosen fields.

But following the career of a parent is not unusual in the glass industry. Actually, it’s quite common. Many glass shops and businesses are family owned and operated, passed down from father to son, father to son, father to … daughter? Yes daughter. A lot more businesses are now being passed on to daughters and these women are managing glass shops and contract-glazing firms.

I was lucky enough to spend time this past week talking to a few of these women who serve as president/CEO of contract glazing companies started by their fathers – Letitia Haley Barker from Haley-Greer in Dallas and Robyn McGinnis from Sierra Glass & Mirror in Las Vegas. I am not going to say anything else about them now, because you will be able to read more about them in an upcoming issue of USG. Patience, patience, patience, please.

Let’s talk more about the family business instead. There are so many out there and I’ve had the opportunity to visit and learn about a lot of them over the years. I think there’s something you find in a family business that you don’t necessarily find in a big corporation. Is it that people care more about the business? Do all the employees become part of the family, making them want to be a part of the business? For all you family businesses out there, what is it for you? What do you think are the distinguishing qualities of a family-owned glass business? Post your replies or send me an email.
Have a great weekend!