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2011 D E S I G N T RE N D S 6 Popular Looks f o r D e c o r at i v e Concrete this Year
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Based on recent projects submitted to The Concrete Network by industry professionals from around the globe, we’re predicting a number of trend-setting looks for 2011. crafted concepts
1. Metallic Coatings 2. Glow-in-the-Dark Concrete 3. Mix and Matching of Concrete with Other Materials 4. Natural, Organic Looking Finishes 5. Free-form Shapes 6. Concrete Finishes Imitating Other Materials For an in-depth look at these six trends, visit: ConcreteNetwork.com/2011-trends
Member Where Are We Now? What’s Ahead? by Jim Peterson, President of ConcreteNetwork.com A favorite quote of mine is, “In hindsight, I guess I should have done a better job of looking forward.” To me, this highlights the need to spend time periodically looking out to the future. Here are some things I’m thinking about and making contingency plans for: #1- It might be a long time before new home construction ramps up to any significant level. Whereas in 2007 many (including me) were predicting a 2-3 year slow down for new-build, it turns out that four years later, in 2011, new-build just hit a 48-year low. Worse, with the backlog of troubled loans and empty houses, it might be several more years before the new-build market really starts to move up substantially. And don’t even think about it returning to 20042005 levels, since that boom was built on a foundation of easy-lending sand. So, this all means that there will be a lot less new pool decks, patios, driveways, etc., to build.
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#2- If we agree new-build is down for a while, that means we must figure out how to get our share of the refurbish, rebuild market. Fortunately, the remodeling market is growing. A report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University has predicted remodeling will rebound
strongly this year after a three-year downturn, estimating an uptick of 9.1% for the first quarter and 12.1% for the second quarter. Part of this trend is homeowners, who put off maintenance and improvement projects, beginning to spend more freely again. Polished floors, overlays, replacement countertops, stained floors, refurbishing pool decks, patios, or improving a driveway all fit into this remodel category nicely. #3- Find a way to service remodeling customers who are on a budget. In my opinion, one can’t offer the prospect only the higher cost options. Offer two or three options (good, better, best?). I know everyone wants the bigger sale – but give people options so you don’t leave without the sale. #4- When you find the customer with money, have the skill set to be able to satisfy all of their decorative concrete needs. There has been much talk about diversification over the years, whether it is good or bad to do more types of work. Right now it is a good thing. There is a debate about income bifurcation in the country, with the rich enjoying most of the income gains. I think it is true – so when you run into rich people, don’t make them go anywhere else.
When I asked an advisor to look over the above four points, she was good at distilling my thoughts down to one sentence.“So what you are saying Jim is there are not going to be many new homes for a while, but there is remodeling going on where a contractor can get some work from the middle class people doing upgrades and bigger jobs from wealthy people doing what they do best, spending lots of money.”
Three Free Online Tools You Can Use Right Now Now that your season is in full swing, take advantage of these free tools on ConcreteNetwork. com. They’re sure to help make things run a little smoother. Free Concrete Calculator Easily calculate concrete slab and footing pours. Enter slab dimensions to calculate cubic yards and concrete bags needed for projects. ConcreteNetwork.com/calculator
I had to agree that about sums it up.
Special 10-Year Anniversary members I can’t believe it (because in some ways it seems like our find-a-contractor directory just got started), but we now have members who have been marketing with us for 10 years, having started in the first quarter of 2001. A few that really stand out because they are not only customers and friends, but they have also advised me over the years are Dave Pettigrew at Diamond D Concrete, Michael Bustin at Meld USA, Craig and Lauriel Smith at Dex, Toby and Debbie Allen at Concrete Floor Art, and Terry Stogner at Concrete Interiors. There are more, and I appreciate each and every one, but these are people who reached out or allowed me to reach out to them as we were feeling our way in the beginning. Thank You.
Inside this Issue: 5 Tips to Capturing the Perfect Digital Photograph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Content on The Concrete Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Upcoming Training Opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Innovative New Concrete Products to Explore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Business Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Six Decorative Concrete Design Trends for 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Online Business Reports These free online reports offer marketing tips, sales strategies, and time-tested industry advice for running a concrete company. ConcreteNetwork.com/businessinformation
Expert Technical Information Browse through in-depth articles and videos providing answers to todayís most common job-site problems associated with concrete. ConcreteNetwork.com/news
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