The numbers jumped 8 percent from where they stood a year ago as 79 percent of respondents believed the economy in 2014 would be better than 2013. 

Contractors who survived the great recession need to change their mindsets. Business leaders needed to hunker down to get through the tough times but now they must enjoy the reward — a good and growing economy.

Besednjak tracked down Mindshare Technologies, a company that creates survey systems, and, while it took some convincing, created Customer Care Plus in 2009. Besednjak runs the service with business partner Mark Schmidt.

For the heating/cooling trades, it takes a little more creativity than it does for those decorating storefronts with scenes from Santa’s workshop. But, the goal is the same: stand out from your competition and connect with customers.

The business networking organization’s most recent meeting drew a record 467 plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical contractors to Phoenix in September.

If we have this flexibility, then we are not forced, nor tempted, to take those jobs that are out of our sweet spot and which invariably cost us money. 

It’s the contractors job to educate consumers about the product and communicate the differences and benefits involved in order for them to fully understand what they are purchasing.

Industry figures are estimates that are derived from the best available figures supplied by a sample of AHRI member companies.