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Attract younger workers to the trades
April 1st, 2020
Tech and training are sparking interest. by Jeff Moravec There’s a simple, well-known and significant problem in the fabrication business: too much work, not enough workers. “Fabricators have more business than they can handle,” says Russ Griffin, co-owner of Northcoast Marine Specialties LLC in Port Clinton, Ohio. “The downside is that customers aren’t getting service […]
The wide (format) world of sports
March 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 […]
Custom inflatables are blowing up
March 1st, 2020
Inflatables are in demand, thanks to advanced technologies that create higher quality products and new applications. by Jeff Moravec There was a time when consumers viewed inflatable products as bargain-basement cousins to rigid objects. Think of the air mattress rolled out on the bedroom floor for a middle-school sleepover or the discount-store blow-up swimming pool […]
Succession Planning 101
February 1st, 2020
A seamless transfer of leadership in a family business requires hard conversations and a detailed road map to avoid the worst potholes and ensure a successful journey. by Jeff Moravec A family business can offer great rewards—personally and professionally—for its founders and their descendants. But a family business also presents unique challenges and requires careful […]
Permanent Side Hustles: Turn one-time gigs into long-term revenue streams
December 1st, 2019
by Jeff Moravec For many people, the so-called gig economy has created an entirely new way to make a living. The idea of side hustles may strike many fabricators as familiar—just with a new name. It’s not difficult to find fabricators who started a business with a narrow, well-defined specialty, only to find opportunities (sometimes […]
The state of sustainability: textile companies work to give themselves an eco-friendly edge
October 1st, 2019
As climate change and pollution concerns remain at the forefront of public attention, textile companies work to give themselves an eco-friendly edge. by Jeff Moravec A decade ago in this magazine, the growing attention to sustainability in the textile supply chain was a hot topic. Guess what? It still is. This doesn’t mean the industry hasn’t […]
Tactical advantages in the military market
September 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
August 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 […]
Metal framework deserves more of a starring role
June 1st, 2019
It’s time for metalwork and framing to move from being bit players to getting top billing. 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? […]
Recycle, repurpose, reclaim
April 23rd, 2019
Companies are finding creative ways to address the growing push toward recycling and repurposing used fabrics. Excess shade sail material makes great fabric planters. Photo: Green Bag Company. It’s tempting to think that recycling was “invented” sometime in the late 1960s, but that would ignore the fact that back in the 11th century, Japan was […]