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A comprehensive survey of executives in the buildings material industry basically has two conclusions: One, by raw numbers the industry is all right, certainly on the mend from the recession. But on the flip side, the anonymous comments show an industry still in a struggle.
Sarasota-based Brooke Chase Associates, a building materials industry executive search firm, commissioned the survey. From a data perspective, a theme of “what recession?” prevails. For instance, more than three-fourths, 77%, of the respondents say their firm's revenues were up in the first half of 2012 over the first half of 2011. In a separate question, 63.7% of respondents say revenues for the first half of 2012 either met or were above expectations.
The numbers are good peering into the future, too. Nearly seven out of 10 respondents, 69%, project an increase in revenues for the rest of the year. Only 12% project revenues will decrease. Another good sign: More than one-third of the respondents, 42%, say the buildings materials industry is improving — a 20% increase on the same question from the 2011 survey.
The randomly selected comments included in the survey, however, aren't nearly so cheery. Highlights include:
• “It is good that things are finally improving. Percentages can be somewhat misleading as the base numbers have gotten so small.”
• “55,000 industrial manufacturing plants have left the U.S. in the last 15 years. This supported the middle class. They are disappearing.”
• “The economic reality, we cannot compete with slave labor from overseas.”
• “We saw a very steady increase in sales until (May 1.) It has been a steady decline ever since that time to where we think we are back in the recession again.”
• “Expect improvements in small increments over the next three years. Still a very cautious future.”
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