R+T Asia: What are the latest developments and trends in the doors and gates industry in North America?

Tom Wadsworth: I can list several developments:

1. In the last five years, a number of the industry’s manufacturers have been acquired by others, and we’ve seen more international companies get involved in the NorthAmerican market.

2. In the garage door opener world, we’re seeing more web-based apps and systems that allow users to operate and monitor their garage door remotely.

3. The steel carriage house style of garage door continues to grow in popularity.

In recent years, companies have been working to develop web-basedmarketing materials that help sell product to customers. A good example istablet-based sales tools that can show customers exactly how a new garage door would look on their own home.

R+T Asia: What are the challenges for doors and gates enterprises in Asia to enter into the market in North America?

Tom Wadsworth: Last year at IWDS, someone in the audience asked a similar question,complaining about all the patents and regulations that are required to dobusiness in North America. However, every company, including U.S.-basedcompanies, must contend with the same patents and regulations. So, it’s worthwhile for every company to learn all the key patent issues and regulationbefore you enter the North American market. Selling “knock-off” products that blatantly copy another company’s designs is a sure way to get in trouble in the American market.

R+T Asia: You attended the IWDS 2013 and visited R+T Asia 2013.  How do you comment on this summit and the show? What motivates you to participate in the summit and visit the show in 2014?

Tom Wadsworth: The summit was a rare opportunity to hear industry experts from all overthe world comment on key issues that affect a company’s success. For me, therapid growth and expansion of Chinese manufacturers of our industry’s productsdemands attention. At last year’s summit, one Chinese speaker said there were 322 different brands of garage doors in the Chinese market. As an industryanalyst, it’s very helpful for me to attend R+T Asia and IWDS to see how this explosive growth is developing and creating new industry trends.

R+T Asia: What valuable information do you think IWDS 2014 could bring to the professionals oft he door and gate industry?

Tom Wadsworth: At the show, it’s valuable to see the kinds of products being developedfor our industry. At the summit, it’s enlightening to see the kinds of topicsbeing discussed. It’s one of the few places in the world where you can witness these developments first-hand.