Supporting employees’ mental health

November 1, 2021  |  Business

As companies continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, many have been reflecting on the year that was—or perhaps wasn’t. For a vast number of folks, priorities have shifted from simply surviving to remaining strong in the face of what has passed and what is to come. Mental health remains a cri…
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Buying and selling in a world with less face time

May 1, 2021  |  Business

COVID vaccine options are improving prospects for the economic climate in 2021; however, 2020 had a lasting impact on business practices in the specialty fabrics industry and beyond—particularly in buying and selling—prompting many companies to rethink processes. We have all heard about and disc…
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Smart tax moves in the age of COVID-19

January 1, 2021  |  Business

By Mark E. Battersby Given the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy, keeping a specialty fabrics operation’s tax bill low shouldn’t be a problem this year. However, to keep the business’s tax bill low year after year requires planning, and what better place to start than in a tro…
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Seven steps to take your fabrics business to the next level

April 1, 2020  |  Business

by Sigrid Tornquist Building a business takes more than a good idea and an interested customer base. It takes planning, investment, a skilled workforce—and a healthy dose of industry knowledge. Got a plan?  Rick Ludolph, founder and president of boutique specialty fabrics consulting firm Prod…
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Before selling, determine the true value of your company

February 1, 2020  |  Business

By Larry Oxenham Succession planning can be a tricky matter, especially if you’re passing your business on to a family member. Sometimes keeping it in the family is viable, but not in every case. If it comes time to sell the business instead, you should be armed with some strategies for getting wh…
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Customer service is king

December 1, 2019  |  Business

Strategic service makes your company memorable.  By Randy Westlund We live in a constantly connected culture of instant gratification. We want what we want and we want it right now—with no delays. Between instant messaging, next-day delivery and online services available 24/7, the marketplace…
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Common mistakes cost more than you think

August 1, 2019  |  Business

There’s a high cost to being too busy to get work done. By Randy Westlund I was consulting for the owners of a company recently. They’d worked hard last year. They did a record number of jobs. They even had to hire two installers and a welder to get it all done. But at the end … <div…
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Merger of Academy Awning and Zebra Awning announced

May 1, 2019  |  Business

Academy Awning Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., and Zebra Awning, San Francisco, Calif., have merged. Michael Spear, owner of Zebra Awning, a San Francisco fixture since the mid-1980s, will continue in the role of Northern California representative for the corporation. Michael Richman and Jim Richman, own…
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