Staying agile in the time of COVID-19
September 1st, 2020
Agility has emerged as the essential defining attribute of organizations able to respond to this crisis and chart a new, resilient course for the future. by Jeff Moravec Agility has always been something of a prerequisite for owning a company, and that skill set is clearly more valuable now than it ever has been. We […]
Protecting structures with fabric
July 1st, 2020
When it comes to protecting structures from the elements, fabric has it covered. by Jeff Moravec Think Hawaii doesn’t get bad weather? Think again. Wind can be a problem, but protection can be found in the form of a rope and pulley system, like this one from Tropical J’s in Honolulu. Photo: Tropical J’s. Fabric […]
The wide (format) world of sports
April 1st, 2020
When it comes to printing fabrics, the wide world of sports is beginning to live up to its name. By Jeff Moravec In sports, it’s always about competition—and revenue. As sports teams have established new revenue streams (such as sponsorships that require stadium advertising) and worked to enhance the game-day experience for fans with splashy […]
Tactical advantages in the military market
October 1st, 2019
Department of Defense contracts can be lucrative, but it takes work to get in—and to stay in. by Jeff Moravec Any company in the specialty fabrics industry would be interested in doing business with a client that has a budget of more than $700 billion, right? You’d think so. But big numbers can come with […]
Prepare now for a future disaster
September 1st, 2019
by Jeff Moravec In a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Irma in 2017, business owners had to deal not only with repairing damage to their shops, but to their homes as well. Tornadoes, as well as the hurricane itself, ravaged the home of Oceanside Canvas’ owners on Cudjoe Bay in the Florida Keys. Photo: Steve […]
It’s time for metalwork and framing to move from being bit players to getting top billing
July 1st, 2019
by Jeff Moravec A projected cantilevered frame constructed by Marco Canvas & Upholstery LLC runs more than 200 feet to cover bleacher seating at the Florida Gulf Coast University soccer field. How important is the metal in this job? For the school to move up a division in sports they needed certain amenities, including shaded […]
Getting into fabric graphics means doing your homework
March 1st, 2019
Ron Nissenbaum, CEO of Humphrys CoverSports in Philadelphia, Pa., has been in the business long enough—51 years to be precise—to have witnessed a few changes in the way fabricators use graphics. When Nissenbaum started at Humphrys, which itself is nearly 150 years old, graphics were a rarity on the tarps, sports field covers and other […]
All successful companies innovate to grow, but each approach is unique
February 1st, 2019
If there were a formula for writing a hit song, we could all do it. Efforts have certainly been made to figure out just what’s required to reach the top of the charts, but there simply isn’t a single defined path that can be taken to ensure musical success. In manufacturing, businesses that look to […]
Growth in the inflatables market is coming from safety and protection
December 1st, 2018
Everybody knows about inflatables. They’re the bouncy houses rented for kids’ birthday parties, or the big blow-up gorilla that the local car dealership uses to attract customers. The real growth in the use of inflatable technology, however, is in much more serious (and practical) applications—even if they aren’t nearly as visible to most of us. […]
Strategies for how and when to grow your company
November 1st, 2018
They’re called “growing pains” for a reason. You’ve put in the blood, sweat and tears (and a few bucks) necessary to make your business a success. You’ve made your customers happy, and they’ve told their friends. There’s never been enough time in the day, but now … it’s getting tough to manage it all. It’s […]