by Clare Kronemeyer
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It’s a beautiful February morning outside and I can hear the sound of hammers from a nearby roofing project as I sip my morning coffee. It’s a good sound and one that I hope resonates throughout the year.
I begin each day with the Wall Street Journal in one hand and a strong cup of java in the other. There is so much going on in the world of business that only strong, black coffee will convince my brain cells to switch from 0 to 1 and pay attention to the world’s affairs.
A main article in yesterday’s Journal regarding Tax Cuts to Expire for Top Earners was required reading since this will definitely impact some of clients. However, many of my clients do not make $250,000 so they will not be affected at all.
However, a main article in today’s Journal that affects us more is in the Marketplace section titled: Battling Back, Builders Work Fast, Cut Prices. The article states that while home builders have lost half their share of the market to competition from the foclosure market they are fighting back and the efforts are paying off. “On Tuesday, D.R. Horton Inc., the second-largest U.S. builder, swung to a surprise quarterly profit, its first since the sector crashed, aided by improving business and a tax benefit.” At this point in my morning routine I am on at least my third cup of coffee and relating what I read to my own small business.
Another good business magazine is Business Week. They have several good articles, however, the slant on design is somewhat different. Design to them is more of an industrial endeavor and doesn’t exactly relate to what I do at the residential level but some value is still there. A current article that is worth reading is The Role of Design.
Looking closer to home, a magazine that is very beneficial for all of us is Sources + Design. The current Jan/Feb issue has a good article regarding the business atmosphere of our community: Sources + Design Editorial Advisory Board 2010 Business and Design Outlook. I think Randy Wells hits the nail on the head when he states, “The marketplace is stabilizing, and I believe people are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel without as much fear that it’s an oncoming freight train.” I like to think he is right.
