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In a tight economy, diversification can be a good idea, and Mike Schwarz, Manager of Pricing and Merchandise Analysis for ABC Supply, said distributors can help contractors expand their range of offerings as they keep them apprised of pricing issues.

“I think 2008 was a better year than was planned for by many,” said Rob Therrien, President of the National Roofing Contractors Association. “New construction on the residential side stayed down but both low slope and steep slope reroofing was steady from what I experienced and heard quite often. Many regions of the country reported that they had a good year - nowhere near as abysmal as our media portrayed.

Brad Segal, President of Bradco Supply, saw some bright spots in 2008, but noted the weak economy is likely to impact revenues in 2009. “While many sectors and markets within the industry were down significantly in 2008, the roofing industry overall fared better than most people expected,” said Segal.

A slowing economy impacted the commercial roofing industry in 2008, but Chris Salazar, Vice President Sales & Marketing for Karnak Corp., expects coatings and maintenance products to show an increase in sales in 2009.

Allen Bradley is the CEO and President of Amerisafe Inc., a provider of high hazard workers compensation insurance. With approximately 40 percent of its business in the construction industry, including more than 8 percentage points of premium from roofing contractors, the economic downturn is taking its toll on Amerisafe’s clients.

Perhaps no segment of an industry has its finger on the pulse of the market quite like its distributors. With strong connections to both their manufacturing partners and the contractors they serve, distributors have a firsthand look at both the local and national level.

After 30 years in the roll-forming industry with 27 of those years in the development and maintenance of gutter and roofing machines, I can tell you the maintenance of these machines is just like taking care of any piece of fine equipment - if you service and maintain it properly, you’re inclined to get many good years of performance from it.

The solar market is a bright spot in a shaky economy. It’s expected to grow, and as it does, longtime roofing contractor DRI Companies is poised to meet the needs of builders and building owners with a powerful combination of proven roofing experience and innovative solar products, designed for both the commercial and residential sectors.

BAMCO, Inc., a manufacturer of metal wall panel systems headquartered in Middlesex, N. J., has seen its business grow by 91.7 percent in the past four years, earning the company a spot on the Inc. 5,000 as one of the fastest-growing privately owned companies in the nation.

Illinois Roofing, a division of the Tecta America Corporation, the country’s largest roofing contractor with more than 53 locations and 3,200 qualified roofing professionals nationwide, was tasked with reroofing the 63,450-square-foot reservation center building for one of the largest international airline carriers based in the United States.