Holiday Shopping – for Glass

I hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving. I actually hosted my first turkey-day and I’m happy to report that the house is still standing, so I consider it to have been a success. Despite my neighbors who several weeks ago put up the white lights and wreaths on their house (before taking down the scarecrow, might I add), I believe we’ve only just begun the holiday season and the bustle of shopping that comes with it. I’m hoping that for many of you holiday shopping means big sales of doors, windows, mirrors, shower doors, glass tabletops and other related goodies.

My last couple of blogs have focused on my personal adventures in door and window shopping; now I’m hoping that you will share your experiences on the selling side. The January 2010 (yes, already 2010) USGlass will include our annual look at glass in the residential market. Are things starting to look up? Are certain products selling more than others? Do you have any predictions you’d like to share for what’s to come? Please drop me a line to let me know what trends you’re seeing.

Now speaking of predictions, each December or January when I contact people to offer their forecasts for what they think (or hope) will come to pass in the year ahead, I get at least one or two comments along the lines of “well I don’t have a crystal ball, but …” I’m sure, too, that some of you readers share my usual reaction, “These predictions sound about right to me, but how many of these forecasts actually are going to pan out?” That’s why this year we’re taking a different angle (credit for this must go to the ever-creative Mr. Paul Bieber). Knowing what you know now, we’d like to know what you would have done differently during 2009. Our hope is that this look at what’s taken place in the year behind us is likely to help us more critically examine what’s to come. If you’re willing to offer a sharp look back at the year that’s passed for our article in the January USGlass, please let me know.

Decision Time

I had one other lumberyard I wanted to check out for the door and window products I need for my remodeling project but it turned out the supply company was only open while I was working and things have been a little bit too busy here at the office for me to take a couple hours to go shop. So one evening while at Home Depot looking for a couple other items, Chris and I stopped by the window display.

I hate to say it, but the display was very nice. They had three manufacturers’ products on display, with a range of high-end to what I’d call more reasonably priced options for each manufacturer. We were immediately drawn to one particular window and about the time we had made up our minds there was a sales associate at our elbow ready to help us draw up a quote. Elijah walked us quickly through the options for the window and was able to print out a price and detailed description of the particular window we wanted in less than five minutes. The two-week delivery time was a bit of a drawback but as there was no question this was the product we wanted we agreed to the purchase. The patio door we did ultimately purchase from Supplier A – it was a good product he had and the lower price helped our decision.

Now hopefully I’ll have some photos of the installation process in a couple weeks!

Now on another note, I just wanted to send out a reminder that the December issue of USGlass features our Industry Buyer’s Guide. If you or someone at your company has not yet registered to be included, please send me an email this week. We’ve updated our process for bringing you the guide, putting it entirely in your hands, so it’s essential that you register with us to be listed. And trust me, you want to be listed. This is the issue that people will be reaching for all year to find out which companies offer the products they need.