TURBULENCE IN CALGARY’S RENO MARKET // CONSTRUCTION
TURBULENCE IN CALGARY’S RENO MARKET THE PANDEMIC AND THE MATERIALS CRUNCH BY JOHN HARDY
C
algary construction is always impacted by the economy, consumer trends – and the unexpected.
For at least the past five years or so, reno construction has been booming. Then the sudden materials crunch and the disruptive lockdown of the pandemic happened. And Calgary’s reno sector weathered the storms. “The demand for renovations has been steadily increasingly over the last five years,” says the respected Danny Ritchie, president and co-owner of the Calgary-based Ultimate Renovations. “But especially in the last two years, as we have begun to see the impact the pandemic has taken on people’s lifestyles, many Calgarians who spent little time at home and thought they would invest in vacation properties or travel
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NOVEMBER 2021 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
are now staying-put, driving momentum into the renovation industry. The last two years have been very busy for us, and we are excited to be growing in both Calgary and Edmonton.” The unique and challenging aspect of renovations is the unpredictable shifts and changes in consumer trends. Dream kitchens, decadent ensuite spas one season and home offices, home theatres and study nooks the next. The pandemic lockdowns and the abrupt changes in people’s routine have had a dual impact on the reno sector. Good and bad. “When the pandemic first hit, we knew a lot of people questioned their job security which ultimately caused people who were considering a renovation to re-evaluate their financial priorities,” Ritchie points out.
