Custom cabinetry trends

Home improvement spending is expected to recover, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Futures Program. The LIRA predicted remodeling spending to increase on an annual basis by the end of the year, driven by homeowner optimism, and it is expected to reach the double-digit range in the first quarter of 2011. 
The LIRA is measured as an annual rate-of-change of its components. It provides a short-term outlook of homeowner remodeling activity and is intended to help identify future turning points in the home improvement industry’s business cycle. The Remodeling Futures Program, which released the LIRA,  is a study from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. The next LIRA release date is Oct. 21.

With the slow economy has come unparalleled pricing pressure for custom work. Low-ball bidders and desperate bottom feeders have hurt many mainstream shops by giving potential customers unrealistic expectations on price. Today’s shops really need to know their true bottom line so they can better compete and confidently say no to jobs that won’t make a profit.
All of that takes better market intelligence, and that’s where the annual CabinetMaker+FDM Pricing Survey comes in.

How it works

The survey begins with a selection of real projects done by real shops. We send bidding specifications for those projects to volunteer bidders in shops all across North America. They price the jobs, and we print the itemized results in our October issue, showing breakdowns for materials, shop rates, and production time.
Many shop owners report that just doing the survey helps them fine-tune their pricing and estimating procedures. Often shops request the bidding materials after the survey runs in the magazine so they can compare their results.

How to participate

The more participation by shops, the more value and validity the survey has. Identities of all shops that participate are kept confidential.
To obtain a bid package for this year’s pricing survey, simply send us your name, address, and phone number, plus some information about what kind of work your shop does. We’ll mail you a bid package as soon as they are ready in June. Email bid package requests to wsampson@wattnet.net.
All bids must be turned in August 20 to be included in the published pricing survey. For more information, phone 203.270.0025  or go to www.CabinetMakerFDM.com.

Cabinets are functional, decorative, and made to fit homes in all different price ranges. Cabinetry is used for storing everything from fine china to sports equipment and almost anything else.
We will focus on cabinets housing electronic equipment including home theater systems, boardroom systems and computers. The makers of cabinetry make special pieces of furniture, but a common shortcoming in the design and construction of today’s cabinetry that houses electronic equipment is proper ventilation for the heat generated by these modern technology systems.
The trend in electronics is to hide these systems by concealing them in cabinets and closets where they are out of sight and out of mind. Well, they are out of mind until they shut down due to limited air circulation.
Fortunately for the cabinetmaker, the first call is often made to the installer of the equipment. Then they will detail how there is simply insufficient airflow in the cabinet. At that point the process will begin to determine whom to call and how to fix the issue with the ultimate result being some sort of modification to that special cabinet. …Read the rest of the article on CabinetMakerFDM.com.

The Cabinet Makers Association’s newest regional events are scheduled for May 7, in Baldwin City, Kan., and Ramona, Calif.
The day-long sessions will feature seminars with CMA Speakers Bureau members, and are part of the CMA’s College of Cabinet Making and Custom Woodworking. Sponsoring Associate Members also will give presentations. Both events are open to CMA members and their guests, and other professional woodworkers.
In the Kansas City area, co-hosts Brian Dirks and John Langley will hold their event at Langley’s Baldwin City, Kan., shop, where Kevin Ward, of Award Designs, Winterhaven, Fla., will be the keynote speaker. He will focus on methods and procedures to not only survive, but thrive in today’s economy.
In the San Diego area, Dennis Schlentz of Dovetail Furnishings will hold the event at his Ramona, Calif., shop. Veteran Speakers Bureau member Eric Lehmann of Innovative Wholesale Fabricators, Long Island, N.Y., will discuss his no-nonsense approach to closing more sales.
Both events will begin check in at 8:30 a.m. local time, and will finish at 4 p.m. Cost to attend is $25 per person for CMA members and their guests and $40 for non-members.

Miller FastBlock makes installing drawer slides on face-frame cabinets faster and easier. … Read the full In the Shop article in CabinetMaker+FDM.

Face-frame cabinets still domiante the North American market, but should they? Read the full article