Has the economic recovery slammed the door on the collapse of the remodeling industry? Apparently yes, but experts say it needs to innovate to survive and weather the economic crisis.
Anyone who has followed the renovation industry, and the furniture market in particular, will see that it has been in recession since the housing bubble burst in 2006-2008. it’s still bad for business.
Take the case of Cardell Cabinetry, which was once considered one of the largest manufacturing companies in San Antonio for the last 10 years.The three-decade-old company reportedly closed its manufacturing facility in early September, laying off more than 900 employees.
Despite challenging times for some companies, the Kitchen cabinetry manufacturer Association’s monthly business trends survey found cabinet sales up 16.2% in June this year, in-stock cabinet sales up 21.3%, sales of custom parts is up 11% and sales are up nearly 20%. In response to positive trends, some furniture companies have opened new locations and created jobs.In September, Smart Cabinetry confirmed it was moving to a new location in Michigan, adding about 90 new jobs. A 200,000 square foot building is planned to serve approximately 400 dealers across the United States.
Other companies renew their services; an aspect that according to industry experts is a must. Woodworking Network showcased Leedo Cabinetry’s introduction of cutting-edge technology that is sure to enhance the customer experience.
A new program was launched last month to provide real-time on-the-spot updates.The tailor-made program was created by the company’s IT department. Because employees use tablets at work to make updates, clients can track updates on their projects anywhere in the country.
“Five years ago we realized that from an installation perspective we had the same need. We realized that the information gap between field conditions and production was causing significant delays in completing the work. Improving communication between installation services and project management has become a priority for the company,” said Darryl Preen, Leedo Cabinetry Chief Information Officer.
“The tablet we chose should combine the ease of use of our paper system and the connection of the design systems with the ordering and production systems we use. We had many paper transmissions and data translations; Creating a platform that allows us to collect and distribute data across our organization has had a measurable impact on our productivity.
Preen pointed out that Leedo is expected to install 50,000 units, or nearly 600,000 cabinets, this year, and its use of the latest technology will allow the company to focus on projects and its customers. needs instead of focusing on administrative elements.