The 2008 crisis changed everything. Banks stepped back, private credit filled gaps, and fractional ownership platforms let anyone invest in commercial real estate with $500. For specialty contractors, this means more diverse projects, tighter schedules, and new opportunities—if you know where to look.
Swedish flooring manufacturer Kährs posted SEK 541 million in Q1 sales, down 8% organically, but maintained stable order intake and improved cash flow. CEO Johan Magnusson cited geopolitical uncertainty affecting demand while noting signs of a recovery in the renovation market.
Despite sales growth, earnings dipped slightly as the home improvement giant maintains its full-year guidance with expectations for modest comparable sales growth of approximately 1.0%.
The United States and China have reached a historic agreement to temporarily suspend the bulk of their tariffs, dramatically reducing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. Both nations will lower tariffs from their current levels to just 10% for 90 days while establishing new dialogue mechanisms.
HMTX has merged its Metroflor and Teknoflor divisions into a unified Contract Business & Trade Unit, leveraging product similarities and manufacturing relationships while maintaining separate distribution channels—Metroflor through independent wholesalers and Teknoflor/Aspecta through new partner Spartan Surfaces.
The Spanish ceramic tile sector showed signs of stabilization in 2024 with slight increases in production, domestic sales, and employment despite a 0.9% drop in overall turnover to €4.819 billion [U.S. $5.24 billion]. Exports remain dominant at 72% of sales, with the United States as the top market.
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