Advertise | Bookmark | Contact Us | E-Mail List |  | Update Page | UraniumSeek.com 

Commentary : Gold Stock Review : Markets : News Wire : Quotes : Radio : Silver : Stocks - Main 
  
 GoldSeek.com >> News >> Story

 Disclaimer 

Latest Headlines


Gold Seeker Closing Report: Gold and Silver End Slightly Lower
By: Chris Mullen, Gold-Seeker.com

Enough is Enough
By: Theodore Butler

Precious Metals Benefit From Continued Dollar Weakness
By: Dr. Jeffrey Lewis

Gold in a Financial Crisis
By: Mark Motive

Waiting to Pounce on Precious Metal Profits
By: Adam Brochert

China's Rebalancing Should Be Good for Gold Demand
By: Ben Traynor, BullionVault

GoldSeek.com Radio Gold Nugget: Louis Navellier & Chris Waltzek
By: radio.GoldSeek.com

The Lesson of Greece for Flint, Michigan
By: Rick Ackerman, Rick's Picks

Gold & Silver Market Morning
By: Julian D. W. Phillips, Gold/Silver Forecaster - Global Watch

"Desperate Shot in the Dark" of Quantitative Easing "Will Boost Inflation & Gold" Say Analysts
By: Adrian Ash, BullionVault

Search

GoldSeek Web

 
Construction Man Finds a Hot Niche

By: Rick Ackerman, Rick's Picks


-- Posted Thursday, 19 June 2008 | Digg This ArticleDigg It! | Source: GoldSeek.com

Rick’s Picks

Thursday, June 19, 2008

“Phenomenally accurate forecasts” 

With residential building in a state of near-collapse, we tend to think that the construction business in general is depressed. While this largely true, there are evidently some niches within the industry that are doing quite well. This point was driven home yesterday in the Rick’s Picks chat room by a commercial builder and subscriber, John D., who occasionally drops in during trading hours.  He bore news that Ainsworth, the largest wood panel supplier in America, was on the ropes because of the depressed housing market. Bondholders have taken over the company’s day-to-day operations at the request of the family that has owned and operated Ainsworth.

John’s firm has been feeling the pressure of recession as well. Profits are down and margins are tight – “just like on Wall Street” -- and three large projects in which the company was involved have been put on hold due either to the lack of a tenant or of financing. Even so, he notes, there is construction business to be had if you can provide certain specialized services. Such as? In the case of John’s firm, the services include retrofitting structures so that they can use solar energy. “We are trying to hook up with solar companies to provide engineering and roof structure reinforcement for buildings,” he notes. “It is a wide open market. Costco is going solar on many of its existing buildings, and structure reinforcement is an emerging market.”

John says that many big-box retailers besides Costco are “going solar,” and that this has driven him to try and market his firm’s services nationally. But such projects take considerable know-how. Most existing structures cannot handle the additional loads that solar panels add, John explains, and the engineering is not simple. “A good engineer can save big bucks on the reinforcement of the structure, but  there are only a few engineers who can do this work, especially on the steel-bar joist. We are one of them and are in the loop with the number one [solar] guy.”

Holding Down Costs

“An engineer who knows what he is doing is able to keep the reinforcement to a minimum,” John continued, “but if he does not, then the cost can get out of hand in a hurry. We just completed a Toys R Us. It was not for solar, but they were moving into a building that was not designed for what they wanted to hang from the structure. They could not find anyone to engineer and do the work. We teamed up with an engineer we know and completed the job in two weeks, including engineering. No one else could do this.”

John thinks solar work is likely to continue to receive tax credits over the next several years.  If so, the continuing success of his business could be a bright spot in a generally depressed industry. Whatever happens, we wish him well as his firm finds ways to stay on the cutting edge in these very challenging times.

***

Win a $1,000 Scholarship! 

Has the Hidden Pivot Seminar’s $990 cost been the main obstacle to your taking the course? Fret not, because everyone who reads or subscribes to Rick’s Picks will have a chance to win a full scholarship – not only to the seminar, but to an unlimited number of post-graduate tutorial sessions that are offered regularly during market hours. The package is worth $1,150 but it can be yours for free if you produce the most interesting essay on this topic: What Will Save America.  Submissions should be no longer than 750 words and must be received at this e-mail address by no later than July 15.   For details about the seminar itself and comments from those who have taken the course, click here.   

*** 

Information and commentary contained herein comes from sources believed to be reliable, but this cannot be guaranteed. Past performance should not be construed as an indicator of future results, so let the buyer beware. Rick's Picks does not provide investment advice to individuals, nor act as an investment advisor, nor individually advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. From time to time, its editor may hold positions in issues referred to in this service, and he may alter or augment them at any time. Investments recommended herein should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor, and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company. Rick's Picks reserves the right to use e-mail endorsements and/or profit claims from its subscribers for marketing purposes. All names will be kept anonymous and only subscribers’ initials will be used unless express written permission has been granted to the contrary. All Contents © 2008, Rick Ackerman. All Rights Reserved. www.rickackerman.com 


-- Posted Thursday, 19 June 2008 | Digg This Article | Source: GoldSeek.com




 



Increase Text SizeDecrease Text SizeE-mail Link of Current PagePrinter Friendly PageReturn to GoldSeek.com

 news.goldseek.com >> Story

E-mail Page  | Print  | Disclaimer 


© 1995 - 2012


© GoldSeek.com, Gold Seek LLC


GoldSeek.com Supports Kiva.org

The content on this site is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and is the property of GoldSeek.com and/or the providers of the content under license. By "content" we mean any information, mode of expression, or other materials and services found on GoldSeek.com. This includes editorials, news, our writings, graphics, and any and all other features found on the site. Please contact us for any further information.

Disclaimer

The views contained here may not represent the views of GoldSeek.com, its affiliates or advertisers. GoldSeek.com makes no representation, warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness of the information (including news, editorials, prices, statistics, analyses and the like) provided through its service. Any copying, reproduction and/or redistribution of any of the documents, data, content or materials contained on or within this website, without the express written consent of GoldSeek.com, is strictly prohibited. In no event shall GoldSeek.com or its affiliates be liable to any person for any decision made or action taken in reliance upon the information provided herein.
OilSeek.com