The real costs of doing business

June 1, 2011  |  Features, Management

You’re in business to make money. That means knowing costs and pricing jobs realistically. By Marc Hequet This job’s a tough one; the design is different, the material expensive. The customer is haggling. Can you price it to meet your target margin? Do you know what your target margin is…
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Bringing products from lab to market

June 1, 2011  |  Features, Marketing

Careful planning and tenacity take a new product from the idea stage to successful commercialization. By Barb Ernster From grassroots efforts to sophisticated business processes, companies are finding the means to bring new technologies and products from the lab to the marketplace. Those that are su…
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Brand success

June 1, 2011  |  Marketing

Smart branding helps to build strong connections with customers. By Brenda Haines What prompts a customer to choose one company over another? For many companies, the frustrating answer is price. To avoid competing exclusively on price, companies must build a strong emotional connection with customer…
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New shapes for tarps

May 1, 2011  |  Business, Features, Markets

The market for tarp products takes on new shapes and a growing emphasis on environmental applications. By Janice Kleinschmidt The 2011 People’s Choice Awards nominations for Favorite Viral Video Star featured California surfers riding through a blue curl. What made the YouTube video so popular…
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Terri Madden creatively streamlines workflow

May 1, 2011  |  Features, Management, Marine, Perspective

Terri Madden streamlines workflow while keeping a creative edge. By Sigrid Tornquist “All of the steps required to achieve Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification placed my business practices under a microscope,” says Terri Madden, MFC, owner of Sand Sea and Air Interiors Inc. in San…
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Marine fabricators diversify and stay afloat

May 1, 2011  |  Features, Management, Marine

Marine fabricators capitalize on new growth opportunities as the economy begins to improve. By Kelly Frush Like most segments of the specialty fabrics industry, marine fabrication took a hit during the recent recession. Consumers became wary of investing in new luxury items like boats during such a …
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Trusting your employees

May 1, 2011  |  Management

Trust everyone…but make sure your employees know the rules. By William J. Lynott It’s only natural to place a great deal of trust in your employees. “We’re like one big family” is a refrain often heard in the entrepreneurial ranks. That’s as it should be—bu…
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The eco-friendly fabric question

April 1, 2011  |  Business, Features

Determining sustainability in fabrics requires a big picture analysis. By Shelby Gonzalez The issue of sustainability is one that the specialty fabrics industry takes seriously, and growth in more environmentally friendly materials and processes continues. But the question of what is and what is not…
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Flexible photovoltaics

April 1, 2011  |  Business, Markets

As the performance and durability of flexible photovoltaics increase, so do market possibilities. By Kikuko Tagawa At the World Expo 2010 Shanghai (“Better City—Better Life”), which ended on October 31, the Japan Pavilion presented a 100 by 50 by 24-meter dome with a roof made of s…
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Wendy Tankard builds the workforce

April 1, 2011  |  Features, Management, Perspective, Tents

Wendy Tankard inspires and equips apprentices to enter the specialty fabrics industry. By Sigrid Tornquist “Without tradespeople on site we wouldn’t have the knowledge to make our products,” says Wendy Tankard, administration director of Baytex Mfg. Co., Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. “And if…
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