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Walls & Ceilings 'If Walls Could Talk'
Welcome to “If Walls Could Talk” where Walls & Ceilings magazine is out to discover just that.
Listen as W&C talks with influencers in the industry who are making an impact. We are helping educate and entertain the wall and ceiling industry as only W&C can do. What brought these people to the industry? What’s in store for the contractor? And “If Walls Could Talk,” what stories would they tell? Find out all of this and more on each episode.
Tom Harris returns for another discussion with W&C about the challenges facing spray foam insulation, growth in the industry, and his overall impression of the future for the industry.
As challenge fosters change, there needs to be focus and a common vision. At the contractor level it’s trade associations that Harris sees helping to create the focus while meeting the challenges head-on. This year will see continued demand for high performance insulations like spray applied polyurethane foams as we get another year of the new blowing agent technology under our belt.
Whenever there’s change, especially within the SPF formulation game, there will be a necessary learning curve for contractors. These new formulations are different and will require time to optimize their performance and how they behave during installation.
Like most industries, construction was hard hit with supply chain issues, COVID-19 and mother nature. Material supply was sporadic, and prices skyrocketed.
At the 20th annual Best of Success event, Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, emphasized the importance of brand consistency and strategy in building trust and delivering on promises. Highlighting innovative marketing approaches, Anderson shared insights on leadership, brand development, and connecting with customers to drive growth in the roofing industry.
The 2024 presidential election brought significant changes in media consumption and marketing strategies, with a notable shift toward leveraging podcasters and influencers alongside mainstream media. Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, discusses these trends and their implications for contractors, emphasizing the importance of reassessing marketing channels to avoid competition with political campaigns. As trust in traditional media reaches an all-time low, Anderson highlights the need to adapt marketing strategies to resonate with audiences increasingly influenced by alternative platforms.
Walls & Ceilings has named Curtis Partition as its Contractor of 2024, recognizing the New York-based company for its exceptional industry practices, quality craftsmanship, and employee-focused approach. President and CEO Ajay Narula reflected on the honor, sharing plans for the company’s future and insights into the industry’s direction.
In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, Tom Harris, owner of Tom Harris PUR Consulting, discusses how the SPF industry may be impacted by new leadership. He highlights cautious optimism about a more focused leadership approach while addressing key industry concerns: labor, tariffs and taxes, and energy policy, emphasizing the need for continued federal support for energy conservation programs.
W&C Group Publisher Jill Bloom interviews Steve Slepcevic, CEO of Strategic Response Partners, about best practices for contractors to prepare for major storms. Slepcevic emphasizes the importance of having a comprehensive plan in place for individuals, families, and businesses, as well as maintaining proper communication tools like satellite phones. He also discusses the impact of weather phenomena like "bomb cyclones" on the West Coast and the need for proactive measures to manage water flow and prevent flooding.
Looking for new ways to save energy and meet decarbonization goals? Learn how phase change material in ceilings is helping building operators reduce energy cost and usage and contributes to improved indoor environmental quality.