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Number of Improving Housing
Markets Surges to 201 in December
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The number of housing markets considered "improving" according to parameters established by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) surged by 76 to a total of 201 metros in December, according to IMI data released today. The index also shows that the number of states represented on the list by at least one metro increased from 38 in November to 44 (plus the District of Columbia) in December.
The index identifies metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits, employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. A total of 84 new metros were added to the list and eight were dropped from it this month. Newly added metros include such geographically diverse locations as Atlanta, Georgia; Bloomington, Illinois; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Seattle, Washington; and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
"The big gain in improving markets this December indicates that key measures of housing and economic strength have now been holding steady or improving in metros across the country for six months or more, which is an important signal of stability amidst the slowly emerging recovery," said NAHB chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Florida. "The main thing that's limiting the progress we're seeing right now is the difficulty that potential buyers continue to experience with regard to overly tight mortgage qualifying standards."
"This fourth consecutive month of expansion in the IMI, coupled with the fact that well over half of all metro areas are now represented on the list, is in keeping with the upward trends that we've been seeing all year in terms of housing starts and sales, builder confidence and other measures," noted NAHB chief economist David Crowe. "In general, we expect the overall housing recovery to continue expanding in 2013. However, that is absent a major policy change of the kind that some policymakers have been discussing with regard to the mortgage interest deduction."
"The dramatic expansion of improving markets at the end of this year should help encourage consumers who may have been on the fence about a home purchase that a housing recovery is now firmly underway," added Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.
The IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are showing signs of improving economic health. The index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
The three indicators that are analyzed are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, housing price appreciation from Freddie Mac and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB uses the latest available data from these sources to generate a list of improving markets. A metropolitan area must see improvement in all three measures for at least six consecutive months following those measures' respective troughs before being included on the improving markets list.
A complete list of all 201 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI, and separate breakouts of metros newly added to or dropped from the list in December, is available at the website. |
Schott Solar Withdraws
from Silicon Solar Market ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
From Greentech Media
Schott Solar, one of the oldest solar companies, with a history in photovoltaics dating back to 1958, is "withdrawing from the crystalline photovoltaic business," according to a letter sent to its customers late last week.
The letter cites "ongoing extraordinary pricing pressure, especially from non-free market economies, and the ongoing subsidy uncertainty in global and U.S. markets" as the cause for its withdrawal. Germany just ratcheted down its feed-in tariff and the U.S. Department of Commerce has made a preliminary decision to impose tariffs on those "non-free market" solar manufacturers in China.
Schott has approximately 450 megawatts of PV production in Germany, the Czech Republic and Albuquerque, New Mexico. For now, the firm's glass, CSP and amorphous thin-film silicon operations remain, although the CSP line will be shut down later this summer, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The shutdown will cost almost 900 employees their jobs globally with 200 workers in the U.S.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of the gigawatts of PV module production capacity that will be shut down between now and 2015 as GTM Research Analyst Shyam Mehta covers in this article and in much more detail in his report on photovoltaic supply (PV Technology, Production and Cost Outlook: 2012-2016).
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New National Sales Manager
For Pelican Reef Wicker
& Panama Jack Outdoor
MIAMI LAKES, FLORIDA
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Left (Mayra Tosco-Jones, Operations Manager) Center (Allen Calzadilla, President) Right (Perry Catanese, National Sales Manager).
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Pelican Reef Wicker, a manufacturer and distributor of quality indoor wicker and rattan furniture with a focus on outdoor woven furniture branded Panama Jack Outdoor is pleased to announce the appointment of Perry Catanese as its national sales manager.
"I'm extremely excited to be growing with such a fantastic team," Catanese said. "The Pelican Reef family is a group of very talented and knowledgeable individuals who believe that if you can imagine it, we can make it happen. When Allen Calzadilla presented me with the opportunity to join the Pelican Reef team, I was so impressed with their philosophy, visions and business expertise that it was an opportunity I could not resist."
"Perry's experience in the casual industry began on the retail side in the early 1990s," said company president Allen Calzadilla, "when he became the sales manager for Spectrum Furnishings of Florida. During his tenure there he bought, sold and merchandised the indoor furniture and patio furniture lineups for the eight-store chain.
"In the early 2000s he joined Pelican Reef as a regional sales manager. His involvement with the expansion of Pelican Reef and the vision to grow from a Florida company to a nationally known indoor/outdoor furniture supplier, along with the acquisition of the Panama Jack Outdoor lineup, has been impressive.
"Perry successfully increased the business every year for Pelican Reef even through the recession. He also successfully helped manage and train a team of sales associates working in conjunction with the retail sales team and the contract sales team."
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Skyline Design Partners with
Celebrity Designer Dann Foley
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Skyline Design, in a bold move to continue its stylish outdoor furniture designs, has partnered with Dann Foley in an exclusive licensing agreement for outdoor furniture. Foley has designed a variety of new seating, dining and occasional collections for Skyline Design North America.
"We are very excited about our new partnership and lineup for this coming year," said Judith Calzadilla, vice president of Skyline Design North America. "Bringing Dann Foley to the Skyline Design family is a perfect mesh with his vision for outdoor designs and the uniqueness of what Skyline brings to the outdoor world."
There will be a showing of Dann Foley's new collections in the company's Las Vegas showcase. The focus of Skyline Design's lineup is the in-stock warehouse program.
"There is something for everyone! I have invoked the best of Old Hollywood style and given it a 21st century perspective. I have taken full advantage of Skyline's industry-leading materials and details to create a line of outdoor furnishings and accessories to enliven every patio, terrace, deck, lanai and balcony," said Dann Foley of Designer DANN INC.
Skyline Design is considered one of the world's highest quality outdoor furniture manufacturers working with only the finest weaving materials such as Viro TM, Rehau and Ecolene to produce lightweight, weather-resistant and functional styles.
"My new outdoor furnishings for Skyline Design speak of a quality of life, of a conscious choice to live well, today. That is what I wish for everyone who experiences these pieces. This is why I designed them," said Foley.
About DANN Foley
DANN Foley is a celebrity and lifestyle interior designer for famous actors and actresses worldwide. "Designer DANN" debuted on Showtime's The Real "L" Word as the only male star on the show. His DANN Foley Lifestyle Collection is an international brand of furnishings and lifestyle goods for residential, commercial and hospitality use. DANN Foley's Supple Style is defined as valuable luxury with high style.
About World Market Center Las Vegas
World Market Center Las Vegas is the industry leading West Coast - United States based global market for International Buyers in the retail furnishings and interior design industries. World Market Center Las Vegas Market is the West Coast version of the International Market Center based in High Point, North Carolina. The Winter Market begins January 28 through February 3. The Skyline Design showroom is located in Building C-04-1100.
About Skyline Design
Skyline Design is a global brand that has been designing and manufacturing luxury outdoor furniture for over 20 years. It is a leader in cutting edge materials, finishes and designs. Skyline products are represented at all of the major furniture markets worldwide and are distributed to hospitality, retailers and the design trade. Skyline employs over 2,500 people in 30 countries, and has received worldwide accolades for its quality manufacturing and exceptional customer service.
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Wolf Steel Launches
First 30,000 Btu Gas Furnace BARRIE, ONTARIO
Wolf Steel has launched a new addition to the Napoleon line of Canadian Made high-efficiency gas furnaces, which is another industry first. The first 30,000 Btu forced-air, high-efficiency gas furnace with models ranging from 30,000 to 120,000 Btus, all at 92.1 percent AFUE and in four cabinet width sizes, each 32 7/8 in. high.
"Greener" homes with extreme energy efficiency are a growing objective in the building industry, whether a new build or renovation. High performance homes require smaller capacity furnaces to avoid short cycling and wasted efficiency. Standard furnaces of 50,000-60,000 Btus are even too big and homeowners often experience discomfort from inconsistent temperature control.
For high performance homes or small residences such as condos, townhomes and duplexes, the 9200 Series is a lower cost alternative to a modulating furnace and achieves the same result by effectively heating with the precise amount of heat the home requires. Therefore is no heat wasted or discomfort, and a noticeable amount of money and energy is saved.
This is an ideal solution for heating requirements under building codes such as the Energy Star for New Homes initiative and restriction for tighter envelopes. The late David Butler, former Presidential Member of ASHRAE reported, "I'm often frustrated by the lack of small capacity furnaces...I wonder if manufacturers realize how much worse the situation has become for high performance homes."
Providing home comfort for over 36 years, Napoleon will make high- performance homes comfortable and energy efficient with appropriately sized small capacity furnaces that meet today's "Green" building requirements. Read more on David Butler's case for smaller furnaces for high performance homes at the optimal building website or see the pdf on the website.
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Luxury Fireplace Without A Chimney
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Adding a beautiful fireplace to a home without a chimney just got easier with the introduction of Hearth Cabinet's new Tall Ventless Fireplace. This latest addition to Hearth Cabinet's Ventless Safety Fireplace line is a generous 28 in. tall, up to 42 in. wide, yet can be as slender as 11.5 in. deep to match the depth of bookcases or built-ins.
And you don't need a flue, gas line or electricity because the fuel used is a clean-burning alcohol gel provided in a pre-filled, single-use patented cartridge.
Other patented safety features, such as a top-hinged door with a rigid screen and a keyed safety lock, as well as a tip-proof cartridge holder make this unit one of the safest and easiest ways to provide a fire feature in a living room, dining room, bedroom or anywhere people gather. The safety features also make it the only ventless fireplace approved by the NYC Fire Department and Building Department.
The elegant units are designed and handcrafted in NYC to extremely high standards. Hearth Cabinet, a seven-year-old company, is part of a wave of homegrown luxury manufacturers. Many custom features are available including a wide range of color options, metal types and interior finishes. The showroom in Manhattan's Chelsea district is open by appointment.
For more info and to see other standard custom models contact
Sara McNally at (212) 242-3234 or email.
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Treasure Garden To Exhibit
in Atlanta at the Gardens
BALDWIN PARK, CALIFORNIA
In January 2013, Treasure Garden, award-winning designer and manufacturer of outdoor shade products, will make its debut as an exhibitor at The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart. The newTreasure Garden showroom will be located within the section uniquely designed for outdoor products, Living. Outdoor/Indoor. The Gardens, at 10A37 on the 10th floor of Building Two West Wing.
"We look forward to being a part of the January 2013 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market at AmericasMart and especially to be among those exhibiting in The Gardens," said Jeff B. Dorough, vice president, Sales & Marketing. "We will be able to broaden our exposure to a more diverse group of buyers and merchants looking for accessories with high margins. Our displays will feature the latest color trends in shade and outdoor accessories.
"We will also feature our exclusive O'Bravia Collection - a high performance outdoor fabric in 100 percent solution-dyed polyester."
Included in the January 2013 market introductions are a limited selection of shade styles including Cantilevers, Aluminum Market Umbrellas and Beach Umbrellas. Accessories include the all new Serenata, an umbrella light and media center.
An exciting and revolutionary sales tool is the exclusive Design Studio that enables consumers to pre-design a shade product and then order through an authorized dealer. Stop by and Design Your Own Umbrella. Enter a Drawing to Win a nine-foot Collar Tilt in any Black & White combination.
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Inc. Magazine Cites TUUCI
as a Top Job Creator
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Inc. magazine has recognized TUUCI as one of the nation's top jobs creators, ranking the Miami-based maker of innovative shade structures eighth among manufacturing companies in the magazine's inaugural "Hire Power Awards." This new competition was created by Inc. to celebrate privately-held companies on the forefront of American jobs creation.
TUUCI created 67 new jobs from 2008 to 2011 for a total of 164 positions, placing it among Inc.'s top companies for jobs creation and eighth in the manufacturing segment. TUUCI's workforce has grown by more than 40 percent between 1997 and 2011.
"This achievement is an amazing feat given that much of the job growth came during the heart of the recession," said Inc. editor-in-chief Eric Schurenberg. "It isn't just the big guys that are creating jobs, with nearly one-third of the companies on our Hire Power list in the mid to smaller range."
"Our commitment to the creation of quality jobs in Miami has always been a core element of the TUUCI mission," Clarke said. "The Inc. Hire Power Awards illustrates how entrepreneurial companies focused on meeting unique customer needs through innovation can grow and thrive in almost any economic environment."
The inaugural Inc. Hire Power Awards are sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
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