The purpose of any businesses is to grow. The last few years have been tough in this department, but remember how it was in the good ole days of last decade? We saw speed, revenue, market share and profit. Most business owners are wired with a desire to get “back to the future.” Not so fast. For [Read More]
Office Space: Your Place or Mine
Lately, there has been much talk about the future of office space–its size, shape and relevance. In this semi-post-recession time, where technology makes connectivity possible from almost anywhere, is a physical office still necessary? On Monday, I visited with the head of property development for a major national company and the topic came up. What [Read More]
In the Long-Term, Losing Makes Us Winners
I think few would argue against the idea that America is a country obsessed with winning. As Robert Redford said, The slogan I was given as a kid playing sports was, ‘It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.’ That was a lie. Everything matters in this country. What an [Read More]
Reimagining Retail
Since the big squeeze started four years ago, we’ve seen lots of retail companies go out of business, change locations or infill/ backfill. As survivors adjust to reality, innovative ideas continue to pop up. Two of these are on my radar at the moment: right-sizing big boxes and creative uses for excess second floor space. [Read More]
What’s Beyond the Horizon?
In the U.S. today, right now, we have more of everything than we need. More housing, more GLA of every type of space, more service providers, more developers and more building contractors. In order to survive this cycle, we’ve remained nimble, watched expenses and never forgotten what brought us to the party. Our goal is [Read More]
Trends Show Construction Industry Looking Up
Our CFO Del Allen recently attended the Birmingham Aon/Smith Currie breakfast, where they presented a “state of the union” type look at the construction industry. Later this week, I will share 3 key issues effecting talent in the construction industry, but first I thought you might like to take a look at the stats. Many [Read More]
Job Seekers: Hints from a Hiring Manager
Times are getting better, but still tough. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal compared job seekers now–often isolated and searching online–to those who were looking for work during the Depression. In the 1930s, folks were more likely to call in favors to friends and family or knock door to door asking for work. [Read More]
Is Now the Time to Renegotiate Or Right-Size?
Recessions don’t have many redeeming qualities, but they do create opportunities that wouldn’t exist otherwise. Let me explain myself with an example. During our current economic downturn, commercial and retail spaces have often been leasing at reduced rates. Many of the prime locations already have been scooped up by opportunistic businesses. There still are good [Read More]
Economic Downturn: How Much Longer?
It’s no secret that the aftermath of the Recession continues to take a toll on the construction industry. Last week, as I listened to more struggling economic news, I must admit that I thought to myself, “How much longer?” I have seen several of my competitors – companies I have bid against for the past [Read More]
Looking Ahead at Construction Materials
As the economy continues to improve, construction demand is slowly increasing. As a result, the demand for construction materials is also increasing and one has to assume those costs will continue to go up throughout 2011. Recently, I was talking with one of our fabricators who supplies steel for projects throughout the nation and he [Read More]
