Woodworking Network: Business conditions continue to soften according to the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index. September’s ABI remained at 45.7, with declines reported in all regions, although at a slower pace in the South and Northeast. Firms specializing in commercial/industrial projects were at 44.2, multifamily residential at 41.7, while those involved in institutional projects reported in at 48.5.
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This continuing decline in the contracting of architectural and custom woodwork presents interesting questions into why these kinds of services are becoming less needed. Is this decline as a result of broader trends towards minimalism in consumer demands or moreso a result of these services likely requiring greater funds and longer lead times to be completed? Related to this second point, as manufacturing and construction become more accessible with the advancement of technology and the variety of online resources to teach oneself how to construct and manufacture certain products, are these people doing some of the work themselves too? Further, as some of these individuals themselves become contractors, are they specializing in these particular kinds of finishes as well, limiting consumers in some ways as a result of their capacity? Lastly, it is also possible that consumers are just less willing to spend money on these aesthetic improvements as they are more concerned with function, and believe they have the capacity to do proper decoration outside of the custom woodwork that they could have paid for otherwise.
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