By Emma Peterson. 

A look at what the industry has been talking about over the last month. 

As we enter into the lovely weather of springtime, outdoor professionals around the Northern Hemisphere are starting to prep for the busy warm season. As you and your crew prepare supplies and freshen up the sales pitch, now is a great time to do a little industry reading and research as well! Here at OutdoorCoffeeShop™ (OCS), we’ve collected the top five articles from February 2026 so you can easily see what the industry has been talking about.  

In one article, writer Jenny Yu highlighted how the outdoor industry is evolving through the perspective of one of our new clients, H&C Decorative Concrete Products! In her article, Jenny covers the past, present and future of the brand and how they are “shap[ing] the next generation of high-performing products.” 

In addition to this article, there were a couple on our February list breaking down the latest insights on business models. One covered how AI can be incorporated effectively into contractor operations while the other dove into the concept of fractional executive placement. 

We also wanted to take a moment to highlight our crew’s community building efforts, which made the list in the form of an article by writer Emma Peterson! We kicked 2026 with a nationwide food drive aiming to collect pantry staples and supplies for local food banks and organizations. We were in full swing in February, and there’s still time to join us in supporting our neighbors in need! Joining the food drive is as simple as going to our curated Amazon wishlists and picking a few items to send to a food bank. 

The top five article from February 

5 - The Coffee Shops™ welcome H&C® Decorative Concrete Products 

4 - Cementing a legacy of innovation by Jenny Yu 

3 - AI works for you, not the other way around by Emma Peterson 

2 - Stronger communities start with us by Emma Peterson  

1 - The power of fractional executive placement by Emma Peterson 

By Jenny Yu.  

Sherwin-Williams and H&C continue to innovate as contractors demand stronger, more resilient exterior solutions. 

For almost 160 years, Sherwin-Williams has provided professional contractors and DIYers alike with coating solutions for inside and outside their homes. In a recent From the Ground Up™ episode, Karol Weyman spoke with Dan Hedberg, assistant product manager for Sherwin-Williams, about how the company and its H&C brand continue to expand their product lines to meet growing demands.  

“We've been around for a long time. We've been focusing on exterior spaces and concrete specifically for a very long time,” Dan stated. “With a brand like H&C and Sherwin-Williams, you can be assured that you're getting a company that really knows what they're doing and has tested out the market.” 

One way H&C and Sherwin-Williams have established themselves as leaders is by addressing durability concerns for outdoor surfaces that take a beating from various extreme climates. “Whether you think about northern states like Ohio, we get brutal freeze-thaw cycles and salt in the winter, and down in Florida, you have very harmful UV rays. There are unique things to consider depending on the environment,” Dan said. “But, regardless of whether you’re up north or down south, we not only want our surfaces to be protected, but we want it to be beautiful, too.”  

Another demand Dan spoke to was the importance of water resistance when engineering new coating products. “On things like pool decks, you have water immersion to think about,” Dan explained. “You have water sitting, not being wiped up right away, oftentimes with an inferior coating that’s going to lead to softening of the coating, and it’s going to fail that way. You also have discoloring and fading to worry about.” 

Furthermore, Dan discussed chemical exposures on spaces like driveways. “Think about all the nasty things that we store in our garage or that might drip off our cars: gasoline, oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, all that nasty stuff,” Dan said. “These try their best to eat away or at least stain a coating.” 

To address these growing demands and concerns, Dan expressed how Sherwin-Williams and H&C continue to be trusted partners for contractors and end-users alike with innovative solutions like their newest addition, Heavy Shield Plus. “We're testing those from top to bottom and keeping very rough and abusive conditions in mind when developing products,” Dan shared.  

Listen to the podcast to learn more about how H&C and Sherwin-Williams deliver high-performance products for evolving outdoor spaces.

With a continued commitment to sales excellence, first-class customer service and effective marketing, H&C ® is continuously looking for innovative ways to make concrete more appealing, artistic and colorful. 

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living, are pleased to welcome H&C® Decorative Concrete Products (H&C) into their community. 

For nearly a century, H&C has helped professionals transform ordinary concrete into durable, high-performance surfaces. Established in 1929, the brand built its foundation on superior adhesion, reliable protection and industry-leading quality that guides every product they develop today. 

Contractors, designers and hardscape specialists face one consistent challenge: delivering finishes that look great and stay great. H&C emphasizes sales excellence, exceptional customer service and continuous innovation to ensure their solutions elevate your craft, providing results that look great and stay great. 

A complete decorative concrete portfolio 

H&C covers the full spectrum of concrete needs, from beautification to heavy-duty protection. Their products include stains, sealers, waterproofers, resurfacers and specialty coatings that perform exceptionally across residential and commercial environments.  

Here’s what stands out in their current offerings: 

• HEAVY SHIELD™ Concrete & Driveway Enamel/Stain: Designed for both interior and exterior use, HEAVY SHIELD is a solid color, water-based stain that combines deep penetration with long-lasting durability. 
• Shield-Crete® Water-Based Epoxy Garage Floor Coating: For clients looking for a polished, professional garage finish, Shield-Crete epoxy creates a hard, durable surface that resists peeling and eliminates hot-tire pickup issues. 
• ClariShield® Clear Sealers: When a job calls for enhancing, enriching or protecting bare or previously coated concrete, the ClariShield line brings out the natural aesthetic of the substrate while adding long-lasting protection from weather, water and wear. 

H&C helps simplify the selection process with straightforward tools that guide you toward the right stain or coating based on the substrate and site conditions. With a wide range of solid color options and tintable systems, outdoor professionals can easily specify the perfect finish for any project style. 

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome H&C Decorative Concrete Products!