Occupation: “Store owner – Energy Plus.”  Products include Hearth, Patio, Hot Tubs, Saunas, Stone, Solar and Accessories.”

Special Interests/Hobbies: “Sustainable living, Nordic and Alpine skiing, bicycling, paddling (canoe, kayak, SUP), classic wood boat restoration, woodworking, archery, subsistence hunting, motorcycling.” 

Problems Facing the Hearth Industry: “Addressing the niche the hearth will have in the culture and our housing in the future, as it pertains to lifestyles, sustainability and the long view with subsequent generations.” 

Sales Forecast for Your Hearth Business in 2015: “I’m optimistic and look for a single digit percent sales growth, but after being around the hearth business for 40+ years, my crystal ball is as cloudy as anybody’s.”

Problems Facing the Patio Business: “For us it’s the fickle nature of our cold climate springs (9500hdd) and the posture of consumers for these, sometimes luxury, items. Also the quality of the products at Big Box competitors has improved steadily over the last 20 years, so providing product value to customers becomes more of a challenge. I’m removed a bit from the core of the patio business and it’s not our focus.”

Sales Forecast for Your Patio Business in 2015: “I’m always optimistic, but can someone tell me?”

Problems Facing the Solar Business: “The education process of potential customers is still a daunting task as the learning curve for most people is even steeper than in the hearth business. The entry cost to support most people’s electrical consumption is still quite high. Distributed energy, such as residential solar, doesn’t fit the business model of some electrical utilities; they can be a reluctant partner for grid-tied systems.”

Sales Forecast for Your Solar Business in 2015: “Sales in 2014 were softer than we had hoped for with grid-tied, but were good for off grid. Our local utility’s rebate program will have a big influence on our overall 2015 solar sales; we will prepare for a good year and see which way the wind blows.”

Years Reading Hearth & Home: “Since its inception.”

Reasons for Reading Hearth & Home: “Hearth & Home does a great job of exploring more of the issues facing people in the hearth business. I can always find an area I can learn more about, or a perspective from a person I am interesting in hearing from.”