2018 is now rolling along and we’ve flown right by the
midway point of January so I better get my trends/predictions out for the year…
-- Trucking at all levels will be even a bigger
challenge. Getting truckloads has been
difficult for the last several years because of the lack of equipment, drivers
and companies. That will continue. But now at the fabricator and glazier level,
there’s DOT rules in effect that could disrupt the way things are usually
done. New restrictions on hours and more
accurate logging is already changing the way the logistic world plays out and
the trickle down effect here will be on delays of materials and a lot less
flexibility on jobsite deliveries.
-- Big and sophisticated are achievable. In the past the specs would call for
materials that were either too large for most fabricators or too difficult to
be cost effective. Those days are over-
suppliers have adapted- now glaziers and glass shops are realizing they can get
virtually whatever they want glass wise.
-- Security Glass
goes wild- Dang it I am putting this on here until it happens. 2018 will be the year.
-- Private Equity in
and out. 2017 saw a few new private
equity players invest in the glass industry.
I am betting that 2018 will see an existing one leave, most likely
selling to another PE firm or a company from overseas.
-- The merger of NGA
and GANA will go through and be great in the end. Yes I am a proponent of the merge and I heard
from a dear friend this week that he was not and his reasons why. There is a fear that there’s still a lot to
be known on how this deal will look in the end, but I am extremely confident
knowing the players on both sides the way I do, that it is going to come out
fine. I love that there is a dialogue
and that needs to continue for the good of our industry and the success of a
combined entity that features one unified voice.
Elsewhere….
-- If you are coming to GANA BEC (you really should) then get
your hotel reservations done asap.
That week in Vegas has some other action happening and the room rates
GANA secured are excellent (trust me I studied it) Deadline is February 1st- so book
it now while you are thinking about it. Learn more and register HERE
-- For my fellow road warriors… we need to get legislation
passed that there needs to be at least one outlet on the night table next to
your hotel room bed. This week I had a
hotel where the only outlet near the bed was behind it and low to the
floor. It was not fun trying to plug the
phone in. Yes I am spoiled… but no way I
am alone in wanting this!
-- From the times change file… I watched Saturday Night Fever
for the first time in probably 30 years.
Wow… talk about a movie that could never be done in these times. Amazingly politically incorrect (I’m not PC,
but this was off the charts) and in many cases disturbing and vile. I had only remembered the great Bee Gees
music… the re-watch was painful.
-- Last this week a call for thoughts and prayers for George
Sultage of Vitro. George posted word on Linkedin about a pretty serious health
crisis he is having and quite frankly can use all of the positivity we can all
muster. George is a great guy- respected
and popular with all he interacts with…
Hang in there George; we as an industry are behind you!
LINKS of the WEEK
I don’t agree with this breakdown completely but it is a very interesting way to look at the United States.
We just took a family picture and I kinda wish I would’ve
been photoshopped up like these ones!
VIDEO of the WEEK
Hazing the rookie… filling his car with popcorn. WOW!
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