Blog

Home Improvement Retailers Report First Quarter Results

June 2016

The world’s two largest home improvement retailers have reported growth in the first quarter of this fiscal year.

Lowes, Mooresville, N.C., reported $884 million for the first quarter, a 31.4% increase over the same time period last year. Sales for the quarter increase 7.8% to $15.2 billion from $14.1 billion during the first quarter in 2015.

Home Depot, Atlanta, GA, reported first quarter net earnings $1.8 billion, an increase of 19% from the same period last year. Home Depot also reported sales of $22.8 billion for this quarter, a 9% increase from the first quarter during fiscal year 2015.

Fashionable Solids

May 2016

While some design trends come and go, you can never go wrong with solid colors. That is why STF is now stocking Folkstone Grey and Snow White. Folkstone Grey matches Wilsonart Fashion Grey and Formica Folkstone. This popular solid can be found in almost every domestic TFL collection. Folkstone could also work as a match to Tafisa Summer Drops and Uniboard Sunset Grey.

We needed a name for our latest solid to go along with our other seven in stock. Snow White won’t be found sleeping and is sure to be very popular. This beauty has been called 949, Designer and Matte White.

These latest additions to our solid collection are timeless classics that will never go out of style.

Snow White

Snow White

Folkstone Grey

Demand for Single Family Construction

April 2016

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their first quarter Housing Opportunities and Market Experience survey which reveals that 85% of surveyed current homeowners and 75% of renters would purchase a single-family home in the next six months. When asked if they would purchase a home outside an urban area, 85 % of homeowners and 21% of renters answered that they would.

While there has been an increase in the demand for single-family homes, builder’s confidence for March has remained even with February. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), builder’s confidence for newly built single-family homes has been steady at a level of 58 on the National Associations of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). The component gauging current sales conditions was level at 65 while sales expectations in the next six months dropped 3 points to 61 from February.

Please visit: The NAR Home Survey & NAHB

Cabinet and Furniture spur demand for High Pressure Laminates

April 2016

According to the Decorative Laminates study by the Freedonia Group, the demand for high-pressure laminates in the Unites States is projected to increase over the next four years. Decorative surfaces are in high demand for domestic manufacturing of cabinets, furniture, retail fixtures, and wall paneling. There is an expected 2.5% growth annually, reaching 11.6 billion square feet by 2020, approximately a $6.8 billion dollar increase. The cabinet market is projected to have the most gains in the use of decorative surfaces.

For more information, please visit: Freedonia Group

STF is Taking Notes

March 2016

Staying in tune with today’s design demands, Synergy Thermal Foils is adding two new colors: Libretti and Baritone. These two designs will help liven up any project and will leave your customers overjoyed with the finished project.

Baritone

Baritone

Libretti

Libretti

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S Construction Spending in the Trillions of Dollars

March 2016

The U.S Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced U.S construction spending in January was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.14 trillion. A 1.5% increase above the revised December estimate and 10.4% higher than the comparable month in 2015. Residential construction was nearly even at $433.2 billion and nonresidential totals increased 1% to $398.2 billion over December. Private construction spending rose 0.5% to $831.4 billion over December 2015.

Home Improvement Retailers Report Fourth Quarter 2015 Results

March 2016

The world’s two largest home improvement retailers reported fourth quarter 2015 increases in net earnings.

The Home Depot announced fourth quarter 2015 sales of $21 billion, an increase of 9.5% from the comparable period in 2014. Year-end sales were at $88.5 billion, up 6.4% from 2014 fiscal year. Annual earnings per diluted share in fiscal 2015 were $5.46 compared to $4.71 per diluted share in 2014, a 15.9% increase.

Lowe’s Companies reported net earnings of $11 million for the fourth quarter ending in January 29. Quarterly sales increased to $13.2 billion, a 5.6% increase. Fiscal year net earnings were $2.5 billion and annual net sales increase 5.1% to $59.1 billion.

Furniture Shipments Edge Upward

March 2016

According to a monthly survey of furniture manufacturers and distributors, U.S furniture factory orders have increased 1% in December 2015 over the same period in 2014.  One-half of participants reported increases in December down slightly from the previous month. Overall in 2015, orders rose 4% over 2014.

The survey reported 47% of the participants had an increase in shipments of 5% over December 2014 increased shipments. Year-to-date shipments were up 6% over 2014.

For more information please visit:  Smith Leonard

A Trio of Oaks

March 2016

STF is proud to announce three new EXCLUSIVE designs: Silverwood, Barnwood and Smokewood.

Today’s design trends forego the traditional maple and cherry and are using oak inspired designs to produce breathtaking cabinetry. Our three latest additions are exceptional matches to Uniboard’s Silverwood (K06), Barnwood (K05) and Smokewood (K04). Our oak design features subtle cracks and deep texture providing an authentic and harmonious impression. Use any of these designs to help create a texture-on-texture contrast design or combine it with white or grey solid cabinets to construct a flawless accent piece.

Barnwood

Barnwood

Silverwood

Silverwood

Smokewood

Smokewood

 

 

Heating up just in time for spring

February 2016

As we anxiously await for the end of winter and for warmer days, Synergy Thermofoils introduces three new designs: Boardwalk, Beachwood and Summer Breeze. Beachwood and These colors will warm up any project leaving all your customers beaming. The atching TFL is available from Tafisa and American Laminates and the matching HPL is available from Arborite.

beachwood boardwalk summerbreeze

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beachwood                                  Boardwalk                              Summer Breeze

Cabinet Manufacturers Sales Up 8.5%

February 2016

According to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) cabinet manufactures reported sales totaling $6.5 billion 2015, up 8.5% from 2014. Notably Masco’s cabinet segment sales reached $1.025 billion, an increase of 3% from 2014.

Additionally wood component sales within the RV industry leap 31%. Patrick Industries reported $248.7 million in sales up from $189.6 million during the same period in 2014.

MDF- Weyerhaeuser and Plum Creek Merges & Proteak begins MDF production

February 2016

Weyerhaeuser shareholders have approved the merger with Seattle based Plum Creek Timber Company. The pending merger was announced back in November 2015 is expected to be completed in early March.

Proteak MDF plant begins production in Tabasco, Mexico. Headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico, Proteak announced that the new plant’s annual capacity will be 280,000 m³.