May 1, 2019
2019 looks like another year of growth for the marine industry, according to IFAI’s market research. The U.S. economy is above full employment and consumer confidence is at a 17-year high. Entering 2019, consumers see a stronger economy than do businesses; however, both believe the economy has room to grow. Although marine fabricators welcome an …
March 1, 2019
I ran into the term “generativity” recently. It was coined by psychoanalyst Erik Erikson in 1950 to denote a concern for establishing and guiding the next generation through caring, teaching and engaging in creative work that contributes to society. I saw numerous examples of generativity at the MFA conference in Long Beach in January, and …
January 1, 2019
Do you wake up raring to go, or are you a reluctant riser? For most of us, the answer is “it depends on the day.” Keeping yourself energized takes more than another cup of coffee; it requires staying challenged and curious. A good way of accomplishing this is to continually think of yourself as both …
September 1, 2018
If you think this issue looks different, you’re not imagining things. We’re kicking off a fresh design to give you even more of what you love about the magazine: more how-to information, more photos, more products and more actionable ideas for success. With streamlined fonts and page designs, and more emphasis on visual storytelling, our …
July 1, 2018
Welcome to midsummer! Tis the season of abundant sunshine, early and late days and lots of hard work. The busy season can make or break a business. The requests come in fast and furious, and the tricky bit is making sure the finished projects meet your standards and your clients’ expectations. The fast pace makes …
May 1, 2018
Each year, IFAI publishes a state of the industry report that factors in numerous market realities. This year’s report shows that growth was strong in the marine fabric market in 2017, and this growth is expected to continue into 2018, despite higher oil and gas prices. During this busy time of year, marine fabricators might …
March 1, 2018
Merriam-Webster’s defines craft as: “an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill.” As this relates to marine fabricators, I would tweak this sentence to read: “requiring manual dexterity and artistic skill.” The finest efforts by marine fabricators are works of art, as anyone can see by looking at The MFA Fabrication Awards. Here …
January 1, 2018
Are you familiar with the term “crossover skills”? The idea is to leverage the skills you learn at one job and use them on the next, even though that job may not be exactly the same. For marine fabricators, applying their canvas and upholstery skills to the furniture and transportation industries can be an excellent …
November 1, 2017
It’s been a rough fall for many in the marine industry—between the hurricanes and wildfires. That’s one of the reasons I want to encourage you to register for the 2018 MFA Conference on January 25-27 in Savannah, Ga., if you haven’t yet. After attending IFAI Expo this year in New Orleans, I was struck by …
September 1, 2017
Typically, it’s the “wow” factor of something that most impresses an audience. In the marine industry, it might be a gorgeous new canvas sail or a striking custom upholstered sofa with decorative topstitching. The clients’ reactions to the finished product are not only gratifying, but those oohs and aahs are critical to drumming up more …