Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

In a recent blog post on this site, George Taninecz wrote on the importance of finding the right tool for a job. He nailed it, but Id like to try my own twist on Georges topic: finding the right job for the tool.

We all have strengths lets think of them as tools with which we approach everything in our lives. And within our organizations, or our families, usually there are others with skills complementary to our own. My controller is a better accountant than I am, and my wife is a better cook, so we get better results when I dont do the bookkeeping at work, or the cooking at home.

The challenge is to be sure that every job is undertaken by the appropriate tool and the first step should be to make sure that we understand exactly what job needs to be done.

If you have a sore back and go to see a surgeon, the odds are pretty high that shell recommend surgery. If, instead, you go to a chiropractor, the odds are similarly high that hell recommend manipulation. But its important to know which of them is providing the correct analysis of the situation. In both cases, unless youre completely cynical, you can assume that the recommended treatments are based on each specialists patient-centered diagnosis. They have seen what they are trained to see, and they want to do what they are trained to do. The problem is that

When youre a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Does that matter? Its certainly possible that either treatment could fix your back. But its also possible that either treatment could make your problem worse. The wrong tool for a job can cause more damage than it repairs.

Now take that concept to work. A colleague of mine says that there are three distinct types of people in various professions: Finders, Grinders and Minders. Think of them as three different tools. If youre hiring a sales manager to help you grow your business, the tool you need is a Finder, to go out and locate new customers and reel them in. If youre hiring a sales manager to help you perfect the details of a complex customer service problem, the tool you need is a Grinder, to follow procedures consistently and thoroughly. If youre hiring a sales manager to keep established customers satisfied, the tool you need is a Minder, staying in touch with key accounts, responding to their whims, and keeping them happy. Those are three very different skill sets, and three very different tools; applying the wrong tool to the job can lead to disaster.

Why?

Because that charming, glad-handing Finder could easily be lousy at getting the details right, while the diligent Grinder may well have poor social skills. Most dangerously, each of them sees the issue solely through the lens of their own expertise. And so do you; so do we all. None of us can be expert in every aspect of every job we tackle. Its essential that we recognize this, and that we employ a diverse range of skills and viewpoints for the tasks at hand, rather than try to do everything ourselves.

So: Be careful. Whatever it is that youre good at, be sure not to apply that skill to the wrong task. Im pretty analytical, and I have a basic (very basic, my wife would say) understanding of mechanical systems, so it seemed obvious to me that I could handle a bathroom remodeling project myself. No need for expensive plumbers or electricians, and think of all the time Id save not to mention the sense of pride Id feel when the project was done.

Do I need to tell you how that turned out?

Not well. In fact, the job took fourtimes as long as I had thought, and cost twiceas much, and resulted in half(or less) as much pride. Every time I use that room (which, with professional help, turned out beautifully, by the way), I am humbled.

Dont be a tool. Find the right job first.

Alec Pendleton took control of a small, struggling, family business in Akron, Ohio, at an early age. Upon taking the helm, he sold off the unprofitable divisions and rebuilt the factory, which helped to quadruple sales of the remaining division within seven years. These decisions and the thousands of others he made over his time as president and CEO ensured that his small manufacturing business thrived and stayed profitable for the generation to come. The culmination of a lifetime of experience, accumulated wisdom, and a no-nonsense approach to looking at the books allows him to provide a unique perspective. Big Ideas for Small Companiesfeaturing Alec Pendleton is one of a series of blogs provided to IndustryWeek by The MPI Group.

Excerpt from:
The Right Job for the Tool - IndustryWeek

Some homeowners who live in a single story house consider adding on a second floor to increase the size of their home. This can be done for many reasons family size expansion, increasing the value of the home, simply wanting more space, etc.

Doubling the size of your homes square footage can be a tempting thought! But it does come with a price, and adding a second story addition is a bigger investment and challenge than a lot of people might realize when going into it.

Because second story additions are such a huge project, its good to have a clear sense of the process and the costs involved before making the choice to do it. Lets take a deeper look at the realities of adding a second story to your home and what impact it can have on your life and your finances.

First things first: Youre going to want to know how much the full project will cost you before committing to anything. The good news is that this particular type of remodel wont normally involve any foundation work the foundation of your home is already there and intact. Thats typically the most expensive part of a remodeling project.

However, youll need to have the foundation inspected to make sure it can hold the extra weight. Certain types of soil can only stand up to a specific weight load, so you dont want to overburden the ground and risk damages to your house or other unsafe conditions. Any contractor will make sure this is the first step in the project.

Another bonus is that, depending on the condition of your existing roof, you might be able to lift it off in one or two sections with a crane and reinstall it on top of the new addition. Its expensive to rent a crane, but not nearly as expensive as paying for an entirely new roof.

Also, remember that you dont have to take on the entire expense at once. Your initial investment can be for the basic structure of the second floor and the roof to make sure you can inhabit the first floor. After that, you can stretch out the finishes you add to each room on the second floor according to your budget.

Jeff Pelletier fromBoard & Vellum Architecture and Designin Seattle says that its tough to calculate a budget for a second story. It will depend heavily on your location, the size and style of your house, the quality of materials and the company you choose. His rule of thumb? Youll need $300,000 to add a 3-bed/2-bath second story and have it look decent. And, its probably safer to plan for $400,000 $450,000 after all the incidental costs.

However, he admits there are probably plenty of people who can do smaller homes for far less than that especially in areas less expensive than Seattle. But he reminds you to keep in mind that a well-designed second story addition to a home will live better, and appraise higher, than one slapped together for lowest cost.Legal Eagle Contractorsoffers up that $150,000 $200,000 is a better estimate.

There aremany reasonsto consider adding a second floor to your home. Beyond the benefit of having extra space, expanding your home vertically is a better use of space than expanding outward into your lot especially if your lot is small.

You can enjoy more space and still take advantage of your yard for gardening and outdoor living, and still have distance from your neighbors. Its also a great way to make more room for a family.

You can also take advantage of the construction project to heighten your ceilings on the first floor this alone can increase the value of your home. At the same time, you can look at the layout of your home and decide to open up small rooms or merge rooms together now that youll have more space upstairs. It opens up a whole new world of possibility.

Be prepared for a considerable timeframe on this project. Pelletier says that from the day you hire an architect to the day you start construction can be approximately four to six months or longer. The negotiations can take a sizeable amount of time, and thats just sorting out the details of the project. Then youll probably want to allow at least five months for construction.

Legal Eagle Contractorssay that homeowners should be aware that the project will absolutely turn your home upside down and youll have to find a place to live during the course of the project. That means giving up your house and renting a place for five months or longer.

There are some important questions to ask both yourself and your contractor before deciding whether or not to add on a second floor.

Its a good idea to look at your budget and figure out how much you can realistically allocate toward a renovation project. Then you can start contracting local contractors to get a sense of the cost based on the size of your house, location, etc.

Make sure to ask what the extra cost would be to add on particular extras that you want, like a full bathroom, specific finishes and more. Consider whether you will be funding the project with existing funds or borrowing from a bank or mortgage company.

Its a good idea to visit your local government zoning office to find out if you are permitted to add a second story. Many zoning codes have a limit for the height of a structure. A good rule of thumb is that if other houses near you have second stories, you should be able to build that high as well, but its best to check.

You can find good contractors in any area, but make sure they have proper licensing and certification in remodeling and construction. A good contractor will take the time to discuss the project with you in detail and gain a deep understanding of your needs and expectations. They should also be upfront with you about pricing and not tack on any hidden costs.

Do you have any tips on how to prepare to add a second story to your home? Share them in our comment section!

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The Lowdown on Adding a Second Story to Your Home - Zing! Blog by Quicken Loans (blog)

Clockwise from the top left: 11 Cove Hollow Farm Road in East Hampton, surfer/broker Dylan Eckardt and the $175 property in Southampton

Former Henry Ford estate in Southampton lists for record $175 million

Montauk-based surfer-turned-broker shops TV show about himself

After 5 years and $10 million in price cuts, a contract is signed in East Hampton

You can now build larger pool houses and servants quarters in Quogue

Changes to the law in Quogue will allow homeowners to build larger pool houses and second-floor additions over detached garages, 27East reported. The Quogue Village Board amended local rules, which will now allow pool houses to be up to 1,000 square feet and garages can now be up to 1,200 square feet. Residents might need the extra space because the new laws will also ban portable storage containers larger than 8 feet by 16 feet. The board ruled that residents can only keep storage containers on their properties for 60 days or less and that they must be set at least 25 feet away from the property line.[27 East]

Most expensive home on Shelter Island is now $7 million cheaper

A Water Mill compound, previously listed for $10M, now 40% off

Visit link:
Hamptons Cheat Sheet: Southampton home hits market for $175M, Montauk surfer-turned-broker shops real estate ... - The Real Deal Magazine

At Gamescom, I was able to play a brief snippet from early in the game. Alex has spent his summer in Brazil and completed a brief preseason tour in Los Angeles before settling back down in England. The demo started in Alex's apartment with his grandfather, Jim Hunter, preparing breakfast and his mother, Catherine Hunter, working on a laptop. Soon enough Michael, Alex's agent, bursts into the room with some big news: He's been on the phone with someone representing Real Madrid an apparently, "Los Blancos" is interested in signing Hunter. Alex, unsurprisingly, is elated.

Before the deal can go through, however, Hunter needs to play a few games with his current team. In this scenario, it was Chelsea, though that could change depending on your particular playthrough. Soon enough, you're sitting in the locker room, waiting for a match with Manchester United to begin. But the coach, Butler, has bad news: The manager wants Hunter to start on the bench, fearing that his heart and thoughts are no longer with the London club. "Personally, I hope you stay, lad," Butler says with a sigh.

Deep in the second half, the manager brings you on. Chelsea are 3-0 down and the manager, Antonio Conte, expects you to achieve a rating of 8.5 for the rest of the game. The other match "bonuses," which affect how the manager sees you, include winning the game and completing 10 passes. No pressure, then. In my game, I was able to score and set up a couple of teammates, drawing the two teams level. While I managed a rating of 9.4, I didn't complete the passing objective or ultimately win the game.

Then, disaster strikes. I won't spoil what happens, but the result is that you won't, it seems, be signing for Real Madrid any time soon.

Still, it's clear that Hunter will, at some point, get the chance to move abroad. Sam Rivera, lead gameplay producer on FIFA 18, says these moments are a reflection of the game's fanbase, which stretches all over the world. Soccer is a truly global sport, so it makes sense to show the profession and fan culture from different perspectives. "For people in the UK, they probably liked The Journey last year because it was all based there," he says. "But people around the world want to see more places. And even if you're in the UK, sometimes other places are fun, right?"

You won't visit every division on the planet, however. The Journey is successful because it balances wish fulfillment with authenticity. Last year, Hunter was able to play in the Premier League, but not before dropping down to a Championship side. The campaign stopped with an FA Cup Final which, while exciting, is far from the sport's apex. It's not like Hunter won the UEFA Champions League, or picked up the coveted Ballon d'Or.

"Even if you finished The Journey, you didn't play against Ronaldo, Messi, or other superstars," Rivera says. "Because that's how it goes in real life. It takes time, right?"

At least one of those players will feature in Hunter's second season, however. Cristiano Ronaldo is confirmed for the second season, alongside Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann, Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller and Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli. That doesn't mean you'll play for their respective clubs -- at least, it's not confirmed -- but Rivera promises they'll affect Hunter's career somehow. EA visited Ronaldo in Madrid to capture his likeness and dialogue, and while that's no guarantee of acting prowess, Rivera hopes players will be impressed by the results.

Continued here:
The new story mode in 'FIFA 18' is all about choice - Engadget

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ga('send', 'event', 'Articles', 'Youneeq View', self.attr('href')); Yq.yq_panel_click('http://www.toledoblade.com' + self.attr('href'), self.data('storyTitle'), self.data('storyId')); }); // Display ads in sidebar var adSlotArtRail1 = DFPADS.createSlot({name:"ArtRail1",sizes:[300,250],target:'div-gpt-ad-1454636904196-0',position:"ArtRail1",mapping:"ArticleListPanel",category:story_data.categories}); /*googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1454636904196-0'); });*/ responsive_ads.push(adSlotArtRail1); var adSlots = $('.side-pop-yq-wrap .gpt-ad').map(function(i, e) { var divId = $(e).attr('id'); var adSlot = DFPADS.createSlot({name:"ArtRail2",sizes:[300,250],target:divId,position:"ArtRail2",category:story_data.categories}); /*googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(divId); });*/ responsive_ads.push(adSlot); return adSlot; }).get(); adSlots.push(adSlotArtRail1); //googletag.pubads().refresh(adSlots); }); } } } function my_yq_init() { var can_observe = false, canon_href = story_data.link; 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Town Center at Levis Commons in Perrysburg.

THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Buy This Image

Jeff Dinnebeil, right, shows off specialties at Social in Perrysburg with co-owner Mike Graber in 2013. The former executive chef is opening a new steakhouse at Levis Commons.

THE BLADE/BARBARA HENDEL Buy This Image

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A longtime unfilled prime spot in the Orleans Building at The Shops at Levis Commons in Perrysburg finally will get its first tenant in the form of an upscale steak and seafood restaurant.

NAI Harmon Group, which owns the Orleans Building, said Wednesday that local restaurateur and former Toledo Zoo and Aquarium executive chef Jeff Dinnebeil has signed a deal to open a steakhouse on the buildings first floor.

The restaurant, to be called Benchmark, is slated to open in mid-October. Officials promised it would be a destination-type eatery.

We have been working hard to attain upscale entertainment selections for the Town Square at Levis Commons, NAI Harmon Group principal broker Dallas Paul said in announcing the new restaurant. Benchmark is the first of many additions planned for the complex.

At an auction late last year, Toledo-based NAI Harmon bought and then took over marketing of the Orleans Building.

Built in 2007, momentum for the Orleans Building stalled when the original developer defaulted on construction loans, sending the building into a long period of receivership. At the time of last years sale, the building was only about 60 percent occupied.

However, since then NAI Harmon inked a long-term deal with Morgan Stanley to move its offices from the buildings third floor to a larger portion of the second floor. And Mr. Paul said theres significant interest for the remaining space. Only two vacant spaces remain in the building.

We started the restaurant side heavily because we need new types of cuisine alternatives to create a more lucrative and beneficial destination to give customers and consumers options, he said.

Theres already new development underway near the Orleans building. In October, Gateway Hospitality Group broke ground on a four-story Home 2 Suites by Hilton hotel.

There also were plans announced at that time for an adjacent 27,000-square-feet of retail just east of the hotel. Across from the hotel is about four acres of vacant land which is under contract to an undisclosed buyer.

In addition to the Toledo Zoo, Mr. Dinnebeil previously served as executive chef at Social, a gastro pub across the road from Levis Commons. "He comes with a strong background of restaurant operations and comes very highly accredited, Mr. Paul said.

Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at tlinkhorn@theblade.com,419-724-6134or on Twitter @BladeAutoWriter.

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New locally owned steakhouse coming to Levis Commons - Toledo Blade

Mike Ilitchs success made him one of the best known people in Michigan. Detroit Free Press

Tigers owner Chris Ilitch on the field Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.(Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, DFP)

Christopher Ilitch has made a good impression on the commissioner.

While speaking with the media on Tuesday afternoon at Comerica Park, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Ilitch, the Detroit Tigers president and CEO, has been an exciting addition to baseballs ownership group.

I think one of the most exciting additions to our ownership group in recent years has been Chris Ilitchs involvement, Manfred said. Even before he became the control person, hes brought a really intense sense of excitement about the Tigers to our owner meetings and very engaged in a variety of products at the ownership level.

I think Chris Ilitch is going to be a member of our little fraternity for a long time.

More: Rob Manfred: Theres not explanation for more home runs

Dodgers' Chase Utley understands Justin Verlander's dilemma with Tigers

Ilitch, 51, assumed his current role when his father, Mike Ilitch, died in February. Mike Ilitch bought the team in 1992.

While in Detroit, Manfred took a tour of Little Caesars Arena, which will open as the home of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons next month, and saw the development projectsthe Ilitch companies are undertaking.

I think when you have a day like I had today, its hard not to feel that the future of Detroit and the future of the Tigers is really, really bright, Manfred said.

[Ranking the Tigers' top-10 prospects right now]

At present, though, the team is facing a crossroads of sorts. This season, the Tigers are 54-70, which ranks second-to-last in the American League. They will likely enter a rebuilding phase in the off-season, which could mean a significant stretch of losing baseball.

Christopher Ilitch of Ilitch Holdings stands in front of the Fox Theatre marquee, during the relighting event in Detroit in October 2015.(Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press)

I think baseball is a very, very difficult game, Manfred said. We have the most competitive postseason in the sense that the fewest teams actually get to the postseason on a percentage basis. I dont think in recent years payroll has been a particularly good predictor of whether or not a particular team is going to win. I think that Chris understands both based on his experience with the Tigers and his experience in hockey that most winning franchises build from within with young players and I think hes going to pursue a strategy that is designed to produce a winner here in Detroit.

Mikie Mahtook ignores his stats, but the Tigers are noticing

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.

Download our Tigers Xtra app for free onAppleandAndroiddevices!

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Rob Manfred calls Detroit Tigers owner Chris Ilitch 'exciting addition' - Detroit Free Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Just in time for late-summer vacations and students returning to college campuses, Terminix, a leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States and a ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) company, released a list of the top 20 bed bug-infested cities in America, based on service requests the company received during the first half of 2017.

The list includes cities across the United States and features the following five top cities: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Las Vegas, and Denver. Four states scratched their way onto the list with more than one city: Ohio, Arizona, Pennsylvania and California.

The top 20 cities for bed bug infestations in the United States* are:

The bed bug experts at Terminix say that bed bug infestations have significantly increased since the late 1990s, and while researchers are unsure of the exact causes, factors such as increased international travel and insecticide resistance likely bear some responsibility.

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eradicate, said Paul Curtis, director, technical services at Terminix, and they can travel to new locations very easilyhitching a ride on clothing, handbags, suitcases and taxis, which can create substantial infestations in no time.

Without the help of a professional, bed bugs can hide undetected for months. Signs of an infestation include reddish-brown blood spots on sheets or mattresses, a strong musty odor, or sightings of the pests themselves, which are the size, shape and color of an apple seed. Home or business owners who suspect a bed bug problem should contact a pest control company as soon as possible to schedule an inspection.

*This list was created by compiling actual services data from more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with the highest number of actual services between Jan. 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017.

Terminix

Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services approximately 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47 states and 22 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests. Terminix is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. Terminix is the Official Pest Control Specialist of Minor League BaseballTM. To learn more about Terminix, visit http://www.Terminix.com.

ServiceMaster

ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV) is a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services, operating through an extensive service network of more than 8,000 company-owned locations and franchise and license agreements. The companys portfolio of well-recognized brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control). We serve residential and commercial customers through an employee base of approximately 13,000 company employees and a franchise network that independently employs an estimated 33,000 additional people. The company is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Go to http://www.servicemaster.com for more information about ServiceMaster or follow the company at twitter.com/ServiceMaster or facebook.com/ServiceMaster.

Read more here:
Terminix Releases Top 20 Bed Bug Cities List - Business Wire (press release)

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Two Parts:Flushing the HeaterFinishing UpCommunity Q&A

Water heaters should be flushed every one to three years depending on the model and water source. This helps to control the buildup of mineral deposits. Your water heater will operate more efficiently and this will usually extend the life of the heater. Use this guide to flush your water heater.

Part 1

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Part 2

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Are any additives such as distilled vinegar ever used in the flushing/draining process?

wikiHow Contributor

Acid is used but it is a professional task and the acid used will depend on the construction of the heater.

Can I turn off the cold water valve at the tank and take a shower to drain some of the hot water from the tank before I attach the hose to the drain valve? I just hate to waste all that hot water drown the drain!

wikiHow Contributor

That will not work. When you turn off the cold water valve at the top, then no hot water will flow. The best bet is to turn off the heater (gas or electric) and take a shower. The water will slowly get colder as the hot water is used up and replaced by cold.

I cannot get hot water out of my bathroom sink after going through all of the procedures of draining the gas hot water tank. What can I do to get the hot water back in the bathroom sink?

wikiHow Contributor

Check the line from the water heater to the sink. There maybe something blocking the line, a piece of rust if the water heater has a bit of age on it.

What do I do if the water is hot, but gets cold after a few minutes?

wikiHow Contributor

There are many things it could possibly be. 90% of the time, one of the elements have to be replaced (normally the lower one). Then there is the thermostat, the dip tube, sediment, etc.

Does it harm an electric water heater to run it out of hot water when taking a shower?

wikiHow Contributor

No. The tank automatically refills with cold water as the hot is used, so there is no loss in water volume during this time.

Will flushing the water heater help with low water pressure?

wikiHow Contributor

Probably not. Your hot water pipes are probably obstructed, most likely from the plastic stand pipe inside the heater disintegrating and leaving particles in the pipes. You will either need to replace or repair the water heater and flush out the pipes.

How long should it take to completely drain a water heater?

wikiHow Contributor

Probably around 30 minutes.

Why would a water tank not drain?

wikiHow Contributor

You have closed the cold water intake valve and not opened a hot water sink tap to allow the pressure to drain off and allow air into the top of the tank.Like holding the top of a straw filled with water.

Will flushing a hot water heater get rid of the rotten egg smell?

wikiHow Contributor

You may want to check for sulphur in your water if you are on a well-based system.

What can cause only a trickle of water to come out of agarden hose?

wikiHow Contributor

Sediment may be blocking the drain. Mine was so plugged no water would come out at all, so I used a portable air tank to blow air into the drain hose. Always make sure you have a hot water valve open somewhere.

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How to Flush a Water Heater: 13 Steps (with Pictures ...

Earlier this week, Home Depot announced its Q2 earnings, beating Wall Street expectations on all the important metrics. How was the home improvement retailer rewarded? Shares dipped over 3% that same day.

At this point, not even a stellar earnings report can slow down the Amazon effect. Home Depot is currently riding a bubble and Amazon is poised to burst it, as it's been historically keen to do. The e-commerce platform did it before to Circuit City, leading to its bankruptcy 3 years after peak sales, and is doing it again in a number of verticals, like food and industrial supply.

Home Depot will prove to be no exception.

In order to emerge the victor, Amazon doesn't need to replicate all of Home Depot's product catalog to steal away huge chunks of its revenue. Amazon will only need to target the smaller inventory, the pack-and-ship stuff like batteries and bulbs, and offer it at lower prices.

As well, Amazon's deal with Sears to sell Kenmore appliances should send shivers down Home Depot executives' spines, as it's clear Amazon can move further upstream, spreading the disruption.

Alas, Amazon isn't the end of Home Depot's woes. Another reason for the lack of investor confidence is many believe that Home Depot's gross margins have plateaued. It's also suspected that Home Depot's stock has been buoyed for a while by a robust buyback program.

The sustainability of Home Depot's success has been called into question, causing this stock dip in the face of the company's strongest quarter ever. That's the power of the Amazon effect and the fallibility of linear retail growth - it can all be sent toppling.

Home Depot is a home improvement supplies retailer headquartered in Atlanta. Compared to Amazon, it does have a more robust product lineup and a growing focus on professional customers.

The retailer also offers a range of services, from water heater installation to bathroom remodeling, in which customers will be connected with trusted home improvement professionals to fulfill their needs.

Having been in this industry for decades, Home Depot developed a strong sense of brand loyalty with its customers, which has served it well. Unfortunately, that loyalty won't last long if Amazon can successfully duplicates the Home Depot's product and service offerings at a substantially lower price.

If Amazon wanted, it could replicate Home Depot's services, much like it did with Best Buy. In July, Amazon tanked Best Buy's shares over 7.5% (see below) on the news that it would launch its own Geek Squad competitor to help customers set up and fix gadgets, particularly the Alexa-enabled ones.

Amazon already has a division for selling professional services, where individuals can register to perform handyman services and more, akin to Handy and TaskRabbit. While not heavily marketed, a little bit of branding can easily bill it as a top source for home improvement sources and erode one of Home Depot's key defensive moats.

Amazon's size and scope enable it to scale virtually any new business unit it wants, so it wouldn't take much for Home Depot to completely lose this advantage.

Others cite Home Depot's ability to sell large products another competitive advantage over Amazon, but the aforementioned deal with Sears and Amazon's growing furniture delivery logistics will eventually render that moat moot.

Aside from the direct competition, Home Depot's margins wouldn't survive an indirect Amazon assault. If Amazon really targets the smaller products, like light bulbs, tools, and anything else on Home Depot's shelves, the big box retailer's margins will evaporate, forcing it to shrink to stay alive.

The Amazon threat is real and existential. Home Depot can't merely rest on its laurels - it needs to innovate fast.

Amazon shouldn't be the only headache for Home Depot. Housing starts are experiencing a sharp decline, which will send the whole market into a slump, which will necessarily decrease Home Depot's sales.

In the face of this slump and a falling stock, Home Depot's gains mean little. Amazon has never been better poised to cause painful disruption, so the home improvement chain needs to strategize and innovate to survive.

Of course, the only way to defend against or beat a marketplace is to build one of its own. Home Depot needs to create a network of hardware stores nationwide, everything from solo mom-and-pops to regional chains, and facilitate sales through this network.

As well, investing heavily in growing its base of service providers would serve the company well in staving off Amazon's own services offering. That's a low-cost source of revenue that also yields strong loyalty. Upgrading the offerings and making the process less frictional on both sides is key to bolstering that strategy.

Finally, Home Depot needs to evaluate a long-term reorganization. Ralph Whitworth will probably roll in his grave at this notion, but Home Depot should explore reuniting with HD Supply, which was a business-facing unit sold off a decade ago for over $10 billion.

HD Supply's been having a rough summer since its board sold off the Waterworks division, which had the best margins in the whole company. Since then, the stock has taken a beating, cratering around 25%, and the company's struggled to meet earnings expectations.

A newly restored Home Depot would be a big customer, allowing it to negotiate better prices from its suppliers and help margins. It already has the logistics network for moving large quantities of large products to stock its stores, so moving them to fill business orders wouldn't be too much of a strain.

Finally, it can serve any kind of customer that needs nails, bulbs, lumber, or any building material at scale, from weekend warriors and homeowners to massive construction firms and factories.

Serving as both a retailer and a distributor would give Home Depot more room to breathe in the wake of the Amazon effect and, ideally, more time to build its marketplace.

Read the original post:
Not Even Home Depot Is Safe From Amazon - Inc.com

Prime Heaters, a water-Heaters Information source, has launched a new website. The company announced earlier today they have launched a new website to cover information regarding tankless water heaters.

Prime Heaters, which is a popular information source for people who need water heaters, announced that the creation of a special website was the best decision for their customers. Felix Wood, the companys CEO, earlier in the morning said that the high growth for tankless water heaters demands special attention. Felix announced that his companys dedication providing rich and informative news about the fast-growing types of water heaters pushed them to launch a new website.

In the recent past, weve seen tankless water heaters hit the market at a fast rate. Well-known brands are now venturing into the business of tankless water heaters. Unfortunately, few brands explain to customers the in depths of tankless water heaters. We want to fill this void by providing consumers with resourceful bits of information about tankless water heaters. Felix explained.

Created to enhance the user experience, Prime Heater new website, http://www.primeheaters.com, holds multiple features to enable easy filtering of useful content, contacts to the companys writers and easily sort for reviews related to specific types of tankless water heaters. According to Anne Taylor, writer and the spokesperson for the new site, customers no longer have to sort through dozens of review sites to get useful information about tankless water heaters. Anne adds that writers dedicated for the new website are all highly qualified and experienced enough to find in depth and helpful information to customers.

People who will be visiting our new site will be able to sort through articles to find the exact information about tankless water heaters. We have included a sort feature to help visitors sort through articles for the specific information about tankless water heaters they want, Anne notes. Again, we have not just created an attractive website. Its assigned to writes with a deep understanding about tankless water heaters. Anne added.

Prime Heaters has been actively providing information about water heaters for the past five years through private forum. The sites information ranges from news about all types of water heaters to reviews about conventional water heaters. With the launch of the new website, Felix, the CEO hopes to expand their information reach to the huge consumer market interested in the new type of water heaters.

About Prime Heaters

We keep you up-to-date with the latest information about water heaters and your water heating needs through our blog primeheaters.com.

Read the original here:
Prime Heaters Launches New Site Dedicated to Tankless Water Heaters - PRUnderground (press release)