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The first quarter of 2025 has presented a complex landscape for the home improvement industry. Major retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ace Hardware have reported mixed results, reflecting broader economic challenges such as tariff uncertainties, inflation, and shifting consumer behaviors.  For home installation contractors and remodeling professionals, understanding these trends is crucial for navigating […]

The latest earnings reports from Lowe’s and Home Depot provide some of the most positive news in recent years for contractors and the home improvement industry. For the first time in 2.5 years, both companies posted positive comparable sales, signaling strength in the Pro market and continued demand for home improvement projects. While large discretionary

Labor shortages in the home improvement industry are nothing new, but lately, they’ve been hitting harder than ever. As we look toward the next few years, one thing’s clear: skilled workers are going to be key to the success of contractors, installers, and businesses in this space. But with fewer people entering the field, it’s

On January 28th, 2025, Cilio sponsored a webinar titled “Home Improvement 2025: Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions”. The webinar moderated by Gary White, included guest speaker Todd Tomalak (Zonda), plus a panel of industry experts that included Josh Blake (Premier Services Group) and Nick Simmons (Install Partners). Each offered real-world perspectives on labor and operational challenges.

Keeping your teams running smoothly is crucial for boosting profits in any home installation business. When things get disorganized, it leads to higher costs and missed job opportunities. Imagine this:  There’s a stack of 20+ customers on a Monday morning you have to get scheduled. You have a new coordinator still learning the ropes and

You’ve likely used the same manual processes to manage your installers for years. Sure, it can be a bit tedious, but you’re comfortable with the system. You know there are better options available, but you’re hesitant to implement an updated field service management system into your workflow. You’ve convinced yourself there’s too much of a

The right field service management software, or contractor software, can do a lot for your company, simplifying tasks for employees across the organization and ensuring installation projects run smoothly from start to finish. Automating tasks improves efficiencies and leads to a better experience for everyone who’s involved in the process, including the installer, the office

Of the many installation management/field service software vendors that have popped up over the years, few cater specifically to companies that install for Lowe’s, Home Depot, Costco, Ikea, or other big box retailers. This is an important distinction because installing for retailers is very different than installing for your own customer base.  The paperwork involved