In the distillation process, the mash is where raw ingredients come together for the start of something awesome. Our blog works the same way. We load up the hopper with relevant facts, smart insights and random thoughts, then watch new ideas bubble up.
The team that travels together, stays together. Check out our annual team-building trip to northern Michigan, where we visited the “Best Island in the Continental U.S.” (according to Travel & Leisure).
For our latest company giveback, we’re putting the spotlight on Toledo GROWs, a grassroots org dedicated to providing resources and technical support to the development of sustainable garden projects that boost health and bolster communities.
How do you mitigate the damage of a downturn on your business, or better yet, turn it into an opportunity to grow? Learn five important things to keep in mind from our principal and founder, Bill Rossiter, as we enter the second half of 2022 and face the distinct possibility of an economic recession.
Many companies are increasingly enamored with their earning numbers, reflecting the cocktail of low supply and high demand that’s taken hold recently in the building materials industry. But what are the consequences to your business when you become too content with the status quo? Read on to understand why this thinking is ultimately dangerous to the bottom line.
Taking the lead in your category involves more than just creating a superior product. It also requires becoming your customer’s go-to authority on the subject, with content, tools or support that show you’re as invested in their project as they are. Learn how we helped MoistureShield composite decking build an outdoor planning resource that does more than deliver a simple sales pitch, earning customer trust and reinforcing their reputation.
Summer doesn’t just signal vacation season—it also means more remote work in more places. That “free” connection you’re latching on to during your work at coffee shops, hotels and more could be doing more with your data than you bargained for and can pose a major threat to your whole organization. Our IT expert Matt Wittman weighs in on why a VPN should be one of the main tools in your remote work arsenal.
Work From Home has become almost commonplace, but what happens when you set up your laptop from much further away than the kitchen table? Airbnb’s recent “work from anywhere” announcement reflects a trend toward embracing more varied and distant remote work locations. To pull it off, you'll need more than strong Wi-Fi—you’ll have to think differently (and proactively) about how fully remote workers participate in a hybrid workplace. Our resident digital nomad shares her strategies.
True innovation isn’t just about being new or different. Anyone can develop and introduce a new product. The bigger challenge is, is it relevant enough that someone will actually buy it? Discover Interrupt founder Bill Rossiter's definition of innovation and read his argument for why companies that aim to outperform the competition must dig deeper.
Your product has incredible features. But how will people feel because they chose it? We’re talking about the power of emotional versus rational appeals with our executive creative director and brand strategist, Anita Holman, who explains why stirring an emotional connection with your brand is a must-do if you want to stand out.
What does it mean to “think big” in today’s environment of delayed product availability and labor shortages? We found out firsthand at the International Builders Show and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. Get the key insights for the building materials industry from our long walks along the exhibitor aisles.
Is technology changing to meet consumers’ evolving needs or are consumers changing as a result of what technology enables? Like the chicken and the egg, it really doesn’t matter which came first. Consumer expectations and technology will keep changing, and if your brand is too chicken to keep up, you may be left with egg on your face (pun intended). Read on to learn why sharpening your digital CX is essential to your business survival.
Your office space could become someone’s home; states like Arizona will experiment with modifying the weather; and the pandemic will continue its’ disruption. These are just some of the ideas and events that lie ahead according to our Director of Strategic Insights Sandy Embrescia-Hridel's 2022 predictions. Read ahead for the 10 trends he believes will impact the building materials industry in the coming months.
The job interview process, like every process where we present ourselves for selection, is vulnerable. And like any environment where we play the role of hopeful candidate—romance, for example, or academics—hearing “no” hurts. How employers deliver that no makes all the difference.
After decades of focusing on new and better products, today’s businesses face a new competitive frontier—shifting from a focus on product innovation to being truly innovative in their approach to finding, hiring and retaining talent. To understand what lies ahead, it’s worth taking a quick look back at the evolution of innovation.
In the wake of a pandemic that transformed our business interactions nearly overnight, many are asking, “What is the future of work?” From changing dress codes to reconfigured office spaces, companies and employees alike are trying to understand which aspects of the pandemic-driven changes will stick, and how to move forward.