How Our Evolution Beyond Wood and Paper Products Coverage Benefits You

Elyse Blye

LOS ANGELES , May 15, 2018 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) – When Industry Intelligence launched in 1999 as Forestweb, we mainly served clients that focused on wood and paper products. Over the years, we have expanded our universe to cover multiple industries that intersect our core wood and paper markets, thereby transforming our business model to provide a holistic view.

From paper to packaging, consumer packaged goods, retail and logistics sectors, our content paints a networked marketplace, showing how market forces often come from all directions to signal market drivers, warning signs and competitive advantages. This holistic approach is also exemplified by our building and construction content, which has evolved from a commodity-driven lumber industry view to a now broader view of the construction and housing market, driven by consumer lifestyle and product trends.

We’re able to offer insight into trends that impact building product design and material use. Our coverage shows that contractors are turning to prefabricated and modular building materials to offset skilled labor shortage. On the consumer side, homes with farmhouse or craftsman-inspired features sell for 29% more than expected values. When it comes to home improvement, flooring is set to be the fastest growing segment in bathroom remodeling as US homeowners opt for low-cost LVT and slip-resistant porcelain and stone tile.

Our content also uncovers how economic health influences consumer sentiment. For example, our coverage shows that rising mortgage interest rates in 2018 could make the American dream of home ownership fade, especially among millennials. At the same time, more than half of millennials in the United States are open to the idea of buying a ‘tiny home.’ On the remodeling side, spending is expected to grow at above 7% amid rising home values and strengthened employment but slow growth of existing home sales could create drag.

Finally, our content covers the strategic directions of major players so our clients won’t be surprised by changing market dynamics. For example,  Boise Cascade strengthens its presence in Oregon, Northern California and Nevada with purchase of Norman Distribution, an Oregon-based distributor of engineered wood products, commodity lumber and specialty building materials while Mohawk Industries invests US$400M in new product categories including quartz and porcelain countertops, sheet vinyl, carpet tile, ceramic and laminate to 'significantly enhance' profitability. As consumers are showing more interest in eco-friendly home features, Lowe's Canada announces rollout of its ECO product program in RONA, Reno-Depot, and Lowe's stores.

While these pieces of information are independently valuable, our Building & Construction market reports weave them together, linking related content with industry and lifestyle keywords, providing our clients with a bigger picture of the business ecosystem.

If your idea of market intelligence is still limited to commodity price trends, you are missing out on market drivers and lifestyle indicators in 360 degrees. At Industry Intelligence, we guide our clients to think outside their silos and verticals in order to spot opportunities and threats.

Just as Industry Intelligence has evolved over the years, we can help you bring your business to the next level. We invite you to come take a look at our service. Call us today at 310-553-0008 about our new Building & Construction reports and we’ll schedule you for a 15-minute demo.

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