Masonry Magazine July 2010 Page. 27
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Masonry Computer Estimating
That Does It All... in 3D!
by TRADESMEN'S SOFTWARE
On-Screen 3D Take-Off
Just point and click on the digital blueprint and see your walls displayed. Our new On-Screen 3D Take-Off Engine makes it simple and fast.
Runs on Windows PCs and Bootcamp/Windows on Intel Macs.
30 day money back guarantee.
Support available 7 days a week.
152
Comes with more than 400 items in material database.
See the actual building being displayed in 3D as you do your take-off in either PLAN mode, PERSPECTIVE mode, OUTSIDE mode, INSIDE mode or at any ELEVATION.
Complete your take-off, then walk through or around and see the actual finished building(s).
Calculates CMU: HALF and FULL BULLNOSE, DOUBLE BULLNOSE, CHAMFER, or SASH for any or all OPENINGS, JAMBS, CORNERS, CONTROL JOINTS and amy SPECIAL CUTS.
Integrate with Accounting Software and transfer data to Microsoft Excel.
Negotiating projects with a 3D image will win you more contracts and enhance your professional image.
TRADESMEN'S SOFTWARE, Inc.
1-800-494-4899
See for yourself at:
www.tradesmens.com
READER SERVICE #163
July 2010
MASONRY 25
Masonry: How many employees do you have, and in what region of the country do you work (or are you a national company)?
Earl Bickett, Mortar Net: Mortar Net USA has a national presence with 15 employees in Indiana with other employees and more than 20 independent manufacturers reps spread across the United States and Canada.
Joel Aronie, Quickpoint: We are a small business (number of employees is company information only), and sell nationwide and export to eight to 10 countries.
Randall Coe, Bosch: We are a global company, and I represent the North American Business Unit. We are based in Stuttgart, Germany.
Masonry: Year over year, how has business been to this point in 2010 over 2009?
Aronie: Business is off by approximately 10 percent, but we have reduced overhead and maintained about the same profit.
Bickett: We finished 2009 down by only a single digit versus 2008. We're down about the same as last year and are hopeful that we'll be able to maintain that through the end of 2010.
Coe: We are seeing cautious optimism thus far for the professional sector in 2010 over 2009. While some segments of construction are beginning to see a slight increase in demand, many segments are not seeing the growth that was anticipated. The DIY market is seeing a better increase as homeowners remodel/ upgrade their homes as an alternative to other expenditures.
Masonry: Have you lost customers, gained new customers, or both?
Bickett: Our products are heavily specified by architects, so while they are still specified in more than 90 percent of the qualifying masonry projects, there are simply fewer projects to be specified in. We sell through our rather extensive distributor network and, depending what part of the country they're in, some of them are hurting pretty badly.
Aronie: A couple of customers have gone bankrupt, but we have gained a few new customers.
Coe: Obviously, it's been a challenging couple of years for anyone who makes a living using power tools and accessories. We aren't losing customers per say. But until economic growth regains momentum, some have chosen to be on hiatus, opting to fix or extend their tools' lives. On a positive note, we are gaining some new customers who are now shopping smarter and, therefore, opting to buy higher quality tools that will last longer and help them perform their jobs faster and more efficiently. This trend is at the core of Bosch's DNA.
Business is off by approximately 10 percent, but we have reduced overhead and maintained about the same profit.
Joel Aronie, VP of Quickpoint