By The Coffee Shops™. 

Even with ongoing economic and regulatory pressures, outdoor professionals continue to push forward and grow. 

When the green industry entered 2026, investors, strategic buyers and private equity firms were all moving forward and active in mergers and acquisitions, despite outside pressures. To learn how this has helped businesses thrive and reach their goals, Jeffrey Harkness of 3PG Advisors shared his thoughts with Lawn and Landscape. 

He opened the conversation by discussing the trend of investors moving “downstream” (pursuing companies that historically may have been considered too small for institutional capital). Another key thing he highlighted was the growth in both the residential and commercial sectors. In his words:  

The industry continues to demonstrate stability and growth despite pressure on compliant labor practices, public-driven comps and organic growth requirements. Demand remains strong for residential, “technician-driven” service businesses including turf care, tree care, irrigation, lighting and pest control. The commercial landscape sector has attracted significant new platform investments across broad geographies. 

Jeffery's report also pointed to several trends shaping deal activity: 

1. Investors are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their analysis of potential acquisitions, placing greater emphasis on proven value-creation strategies and operational excellence.  
2. Geographic factors continue to influence acquisitions, with coastal regions, the South, the Southwest and growing urban corridors drawing significant attention, while activity remains strong across the Midwest, Northeast, West Coast and Pacific Northwest. 
3. Economic and regulatory considerations remain important. Labor compliance, immigration enforcement, energy prices and broader political uncertainty are among the factors investors are closely monitoring. 
4. Predictable revenue streams and recurring customer relationships common throughout the green industry continue to make the sector an appealing destination for investment capital. 

Based on these trends, Jeffery concluded that companies focused on leadership development, organic growth, retention and acquisition strategies will be best positioned to create long-term enterprise value as the industry moves through another active year of consolidation and growth. 

Check out Lawn & Landscape's full  2026 Top 100 list to see how companies are using Jeffery's insights to build success.

New 44-inch model brings dual-interface versatility and dependable clearing performance to compact equipment.

Clearing overgrown vegetation in confined spaces creates unique challenges for landscape professionals. Tight access can put traditional clearing equipment out of reach, even when the job calls for tackling tall grass, dense brush and small trees. Mini skid steer loaders offer a valuable alternative, combining a compact footprint and maneuverability with the capabilities landscape professionals need to take on demanding clearing and property maintenance work.

Ignite Attachments is expanding what landscape professionals can accomplish in tight spaces with the launch of its 44-inch mini brush cutter. Built for demanding vegetation management and clearing applications, the attachment gives operators a dependable solution for cutting grass, brush and small trees in areas where compact equipment excels.

“We’re not interested in adding attachments just to fill out a catalog,” said Darin Gronwold, product manager for Ignite Attachments. “We’re building a landscape lineup around how our customers work. Compact equipment is opening more opportunities for landscape professionals, and the mini brush cutter gives them another way to turn that versatility into productivity.”

Built to take on tough vegetation

Tight access doesn’t always mean light-duty work. Landscape professionals still encounter dense brush, overgrown grass and small trees, even when the job calls for a smaller machine. With a 43.9-inch cutting width and the ability to tackle tough vegetation up to 3 inches in diameter, the mini brush cutter gives operators the capability to take on demanding clearing work without giving up the maneuverability they need to reach it.

Clearing unpredictable terrain also means encountering what operators can’t always see. Two swing-away blades and an integrated stump jumper add protection when the cutter strikes stumps, rocks and other obstacles, helping crews keep working through challenging conditions. A lift restriction chain limits how high operators can raise the attachment, helping control debris discharge. An optional push bar provides added control when taking on taller brush and small trees.

Effective clearing is about more than knocking down tough vegetation. It’s about leaving a quality finish in as few passes as possible. A cutting height of less than 2 inches helps leave a clean, manageable surface behind, reducing the need for additional passes or follow-up work. At 451 pounds and 47.29 inches wide, the attachment maintains the compact footprint that makes smaller equipment valuable for tight-access landscape work.

A dual-interface mounting system adds another layer of versatility, allowing the mini brush cutter to connect with both mini bob-tach and CII carriers. For landscape professionals managing mixed fleets, that means one attachment can work across more machines, helping crews make better use of the equipment they already own.

Expanding landscape capabilities

That versatility extends beyond a single attachment. The mini brush cutter adds vegetation clearing to Ignite’s growing portfolio of landscape management attachments. From site preparation and grading to material handling and land management, the company continues to expand its offerings around the work landscape professionals tackle every day.

“Our customers are the ones out there doing this work every day, so we listen when they tell us what they need,” Gronwold said. “Those conversations help us see where there are gaps in our lineup and where we can make a real difference. We want to give landscape professionals more ways to tackle the job with the equipment they already own.”

The result is a broader lineup that helps landscape professionals take on more stages of a project with the equipment already in their fleets.

The Ignite edge

Ignite pairs dependable attachments with a hassle-free buying experience designed to keep projects moving. Customers can access product specifications, transparent pricing and inventory availability online, while Fit Finder® helps take the guesswork out of attachment compatibility. Fast, free shipping gets the right attachment where it needs to go without adding unexpected freight costs.

It’s an approach built around making attachment ownership easier, from finding the right fit to putting it to work.

Learn more about the mini brush cutter and Ignite’s full line of landscape management attachments at igniteattachments.com. Equip Exposition attendees can also see the mini brush cutter in person at Ignite Attachments Booth 4041.

About Ignite Attachments

Ignite Attachments, headquartered in Moorhead, Minnesota, offers accessibly priced attachments and 3PT implements for compact equipment for agriculture, landscape, rental and construction in a digital, direct-to-consumer storefront and brick-and-mortar resellers. With the promise to deliver attachments and implements compatible with most compact equipment makes and models at the right price, at blazing-fast delivery speeds, Ignite is committed to helping its customers get more done for less. Since its launch in November 2022, Ignite products for compact tractors, loaders, excavators and more have met the demands of business owners and homeowners with acreage across the United States. For more information, visit igniteattachments.com.

By Emma Peterson. 

A nationwide analysis of more than two million mowing jobs revealed a growing culture of appreciation that is putting extra money in contractors’ pockets. 

For most professionals in the lawn care industry, while tipping is not as expected as it is in the food service, it is always appreciated. As David Beacgh of Westside Mowing in San Antonio put it, “I'm usually [pleasantly] surprised by the tips, positive comments and 5-star ratings.” 

But exactly how common is it for lawn care professionals to see a tip? In 2025, LawnStarters conducted a study of more than two million mowing jobs across the United States and found some interesting data.  

Everything is bigger in Texas, including tips 

The highest tips reports to LawnStarters came out of Amarillo, Texas. The national average for tipping sits at 27%, in Amarillo that number is more than 50%! But even beyond Amarillo, there has been a rise in tipping. LawnStarters reports:  

Something shifted in 2025 — across more than 2,000 cities, the national tip rate jumped from 19.1% to 26.7% in a single year, with 4 in 5 markets posting gains. What’s surprising is that the average tip dollar barely budged. This wasn’t existing tippers spending more — it was an entirely new wave of people starting to tip their lawn pros for the first time. 

When looking into factors that might have driven this, LawnStarts primarily points to a generalized cultural change, similar to that of the food industry decades ago.  

The economical result of this shift 

So, what exactly did this rise in tipping mean for lawn care professionals economically? The tips received ranged everywhere from $11.68 per job (in Chattanooga) to $7.92 (in Houston). Translated into percentages, tips ranged from 19.4% of the bill to 16.4% for an average tip percent of 17.9%. 

These tips translate into very real monetary wins for professionals. LawnStarters gave an example:  

In tips, Chattanooga contractors earn more than double what Orlando pros make ($3.47 versus $1.45). That $2.02/mow gap adds up: At 6 mows/day over a 35-week season, it's worth over $2,100 in additional take-home pay. 

Overall, while tipping is still not nearly as standard in the lawn care industry than it is in the food service industry, it is clearly on the rise. And the result of this increased monetary appreciation has a very real impact on professionals’ wallets.  

Curious to see the specific numbers for your region? Check out LawnStarter’s full 2025 report!

Exhibitors & programs give trade show a robust footprint.

Equip Exposition, the industry’s largest trade show and educational event for landscapers, contractors, dealers and outdoor power equipment manufacturers, was recognized as the third largest trade show in the United States at the Gold 100 Awards & Summit.

“This designation recognizes the incredible strength of Equip’s exhibitors and the show’s programming,” says Kris Kiser, president of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns and manages Equip Exposition. “Our team works year-round to build a show that delivers. Attendees try out the latest outdoor power equipment in our 30-acre Outdoor Demo Yard, meet the manufacturers who make the equipment they rely on daily and attend workshops that address the biggest business challenges they face.” 

For the fifth year in a row, Equip’s trade show floor sold out months ahead of the show with available exhibit space selling out at earlier dates every year. Last year, Equip drew 30,000 registered contractors, dealers and manufacturers to its 1.2 million square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space. In 2025 the show grew its landscaper attendance by 12 percent and dealer attendance by 17 percent. 

The blockbuster trade show was named a finalist this year in three categories for Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 Grand Awards: “The Marketing Genius Award,” “The Best Attendee Acquisition Model,” and “The Stickiest Show Floor in 2025.” 

Since OPEI took management of the trade show in-house and rebranded it in 2022, Equip has been nominated for 19 Grand Awards and has brought home trophies for “The Greatest Trade Show of 2024,” the “Against All Odds Award,” the “Most Innovative Show” and “Best New Idea.” 

This year Equip Exposition will be held October 20-23 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The show will begin a two-city rotation in 2029, biannually moving between Louisville and Orlando. Equip will be held in Orlando in 2029 and 2031 and will be held in Louisville in 2030 and every other year thereafter. 

In the show’s unique 30-acre Outdoor Demo Yard, attendees can “get their hands dirty” by mowing, mulching, cutting, chopping, digging, driving and more with the latest, most cutting-edge equipment. They can also get behind the wheel and try out the latest four-wheel workhorses on the UTV Test Track which offers a track with mud, rocks and curves.

Equip also gives its attendees a unique platform to learn from each other through peer to-peer networking events and classroom, training and education sessions. A new education offering called Equip Academy will send workshop content home with attendees and expand what they can learn exponentially.

Event registration also includes a Tuesday opening Welcome Reception at Churchill Downs sponsored by Caterpillar, a Wednesday Fourth Street Live! Concert downtown sponsored by the Propane Education & Research Council and a Thursday closing Paristown Block Party at Old Forester's Paristown Hall and the surrounding block sponsored by Gravely.

Trade Show Executive’s prestigious Gold 100 Awards & Summit recognizes the top trade shows held in the U.S. and offers associations and independent show organizers an opportunity to highlight their achievements. 

Register for Equip at the price of $60. Registration costs rise to $120 on October 20, 2026. Visit www.equipexposition.com to register and book hotel rooms. 

About Equip Exposition

Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition, is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky and is one of the top three largest trade shows in the United States. The show is a Trade Show Executive Gold 100 Grand Award Winner, including “Greatest Trade Show of 2024,” and is co-located with Hardscape North America. Equip publishes “equip" magazine and is owned and managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association representing manufacturers of outdoor power equipment, parts, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles and golf cars and their suppliers. For more information visit www.equipexposition.com.  

By Emma Peterson. 

LawnStarter’s 2025 analysis shows how climate, season length and weather patterns create vastly different conditions for lawn care professionals. 

Lawn care is one of the outdoor markets that can vary greatly from region to region. To showcase regional differences across the country, we wanted to highlight LawnStarter’s 2025 snapshot of the American lawn care industry. This snapshot takes data from 2+ million mows across 2K+ cities in the United States to showcase both the similarities and differences. 

The similarities 

In 2025, LawnStarter found that the most popular mowing month was July. In fact, the peak mowing day recorded (which saw 12,050 mows) was July 3, 2025!  Alternatively, January barely had any mowing movement, specifically 6.5x less than July.  

Beyond the seasons, there were also national trends surrounding lawn care workdays. Overall, 82.1% of all mows occurred during the work week with 10.7% of that remaining percentage going to Saturdays and only 7.2% on Sundays. Additionally, most of this mowing is performed on a biweekly schedule (72.9% to be exact). 

Another similarity across regions was the rise in price with seasonal temperatures. LawnStarter explained:  

Average price per mow climbs from $49.28 in January to $54.66 in August — a 10.9% premium just for it being peak season. Prices per mow also rose +6.6% year-over-year vs. 2024. Demand-side pricing at work. 

The differences 

One of the biggest differences that LawnStarter noted in their data was the length of work seasons. The longest seasons reported were 11 months long and came from Floridian, Texan and Louisianian professionals. The shortest seasons were just 6 months and came from Minnesotans, Vermonters, New Hampshirites, Montanans and Wyomingites. The LawnStarter team explained the pattern here:  

Your latitude determines your lawn care calendar. Gulf and Pacific Coast states run nearly year-round. Upper Midwest and New England states race through a brief warm-weather window. The difference reshapes what homeowners spend and how pros plan their business. 

Similarly, there was a huge difference between states on how often weather events disrupted their market. In some, 1 in 10 mows were disrupted by rain, wind or storms. In others, it was as low as 1 in 30. The hotspots for disruption centered around the Mid-Atlantic states (with their coastal storms and nor’easters) and the Gulf states (hurricanes and moisture) while the most reliable markets were in the Desert Southwest and Pacific Northwest.  

These are just some of the similarities and differences that LawnStarter’s 2025 report found. Learn about them all in their full report!

By Emma Peterson. 

September’s most popular articles explored ways contractors can improve operations, prepare customers and position their businesses for future success. 

September might be one of the last months to hit the pool or the barbeque, the outdoor industry doesn’t slow down just because the weather shifts. In fact, the off-season is the perfect time to lay some groundwork for the next summer season! What type of groundwork? Our top articles from September 2026 showcase some great options for off-season operations.  

Some of the best tasks for the off-season are focused on preparing your team and company for success in the next busy time. Looking at our September top five list, Jesse Sanchez’s article about how Fox & Partners helps contractors create financial clarity in their businesses and Emma Peterson’s article discussing three trends that Paul Trombitas saw in FMI Consulting’s new report are great reads for those looking to be better prepared this upcoming year. 

Another way to fill your off-season time is to help your customers prepare. This last month’s top list also had some articles full of helpful information for this front. One was an article about helping customers prepare for severe weather, highlighting Flash Weather AI's innovative technology. The other was an article I wrote that highlighted how customers and contractors can work together to build more sustainable job site solutions. 

Overall, from training your teams and reorganizing your company’s management structure to helping customers prepare their spaces for storms and get holiday lights up, there’s plenty to keep contractors busy even as the sunny weather disappears. 

Read more about the top September articles 

5 - Turning financial disorganization into clarity by Jesse Sanchez 

4 - What FMI’s latest outlook report says about the industry by Emma Peterson 

3 - Severe weather underscores the need to act early by The Coffee Shops® 

2 - How much wood could a Woodchuck divert? by Emma Peterson 

1 - ContractorHUB named a 2026 Venture Atlanta Showcase company among the top startups in the Southeast

Industry experts to discuss how business owners can support thier companies. .

Finding good employees. Protecting profit margins. Getting more done with fewer people. Winning profitable customers. Preparing a business for whatever comes next. The managed landscaping industry is confronting these challenges every day. Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition, will bring landscape professionals and contractors together this year with industry experts, dealers, business experts, industry leaders and equipment manufacturers for four days of hands-on equipment demonstrations, business education and networking that provides answers.

“Landscapers aren't just coming to Equip this year to see what's new, they’re here to learn how to compete and thrive given uncertainty around interest rates, fuel costs, immigration policy and many other key drivers of our industry,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), which owns and manages Equip Exposition. The event will be held October 20-23 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. “Those who attend in 2026 will definitely have an edge given what Equip will be delivering this year.”

Here are five major business challenges facing landscape professionals, and the ways Equip will help tackle them.
 
1 - Finding and keeping a skilled workforce
Finding qualified employees is difficult, and keeping good ones and developing them into effective crew leaders can be just as challenging.

Equip Academy's Leadership & Culture education track focuses on building stronger teams, developing leaders and creating workplace cultures that support productivity, accountability and employee retention. Select crew leadership education is also offered in Spanish, helping companies invest in the development of more members of their workforce.

2 - Controlling costs while protecting profit margins
Rising labor, fuel, equipment, material, insurance and operating expenses put constant pressure on landscape company margins. Landscapers and contractors have to understand what work actually costs, price it appropriately and identify where profit may be slipping away.

Several of Equip Academy's education programs address bidding, sales processes, revenue opportunities and importantly - profit leaks. Additional business education gives owners and managers opportunities to benchmark their operations and learn from other successful landscape companies.

Nearly 1,100 exhibits also give contractors the opportunity to compare equipment, technology, products and services in one place and evaluate which investments make the most sense for their operations.

3 - Doing more work with fewer people
When labor is difficult to find, productivity becomes increasingly important. The question for many contractors is simple: How can each crew accomplish more during the workday?

Equip Expo's 30-acre Outdoor Demo Yard gives landscape professionals the opportunity to operate equipment before they buy it. Contractors can compare machines and technologies and evaluate firsthand how new equipment might improve productivity, reduce manual labor or help crews work more efficiently.

The UTV Driving Experience provides another hands-on opportunity to compare vehicles under real-world conditions.

Inside the exhibit halls, attendees can explore the latest developments in outdoor power equipment, software, robotics, connected products and other technologies. 

4 - Winning, and keeping, porofitable customers
Growing a landscape company isn't simply about adding more customers. Contractors need the right customers, profitable work and opportunities to increase the value of existing relationships.

Equip Academy offers education to help contractors strengthen the sales process, improve bidding and uncover additional revenue opportunities with existing customers.

Equip also gives landscape businesses an opportunity to explore entirely new profit centers and adjacent services with education and exhibits covering services such as landscape lighting, irrigation, tree care and hardscaping.

The new Tree Care Arena combines demonstrations and education for professionals interested in tree care, while the co-located Hardscape North America provides access to hardscape products, equipment, demonstrations and education.

5 - Building a business ready for what's next
Economic uncertainty, changing customer expectations, rising costs and rapid advances in equipment and technology make long-term planning increasingly complicated.

Equip Academy's Scaling the Business programming explores the stages of company growth, organizational structure and lessons from successful landscape business owners. Contractors can also investigate new services and technologies that may help diversify revenue and strengthen their operations.

Just as important are the conversations that happen outside the classroom. Equip gives attendees an opportunity to compare notes, ask questions and learn how their peers are responding to many of the same challenges through a dozen networking events, including at ENERGIZE, the Welcome Reception, the new Paristown Point closing party, and other gatherings. 

More than an equipment show
Equip combines nearly 1,100 exhibits, a 30-acre outdoor demonstration area, hands-on equipment experiences, Equip Academy education, the Tree Care Arena, Hardscape North America and contractor networking opportunities in one place.

For landscape professionals, that means the opportunity to see what's new while also addressing the bigger question: What can make my business better?

“Landscape contractors are entrepreneurs,” said Kiser. “They're constantly looking for ways to improve their operations, take care of their people, serve their customers and build stronger companies. Equip Expo gives them the opportunity to see, learn, test and connect, all during Equip.”

Equip attendees come from across the U.S. and 52 countries.

For registration, education schedules and additional information, visit EquipExposition.com.

Mulligan’s 5K Fun Run & Walk and the 8th Annual Mulligan’s Mutt Madness return to Louisville to benefit Kentucky Humane Society.

The TurfMutt Foundation is getting ready to roll out the green carpet as its beloved signature events return to Equip Exposition this October. Attendees will have the chance to move their “paws” for a purpose during Mulligan’s 5K Fun Run & Walk on Wednesday, October 21 and meet their next four-legged family member at the 8th Annual Mulligan’s Mutt Madness pet adoption event on Thursday, October 22.  

Both events benefit the TurfMutt Foundation’s longstanding partner, Kentucky Humane Society (KHS). Led by TurfMutt’s “spokesdog” Mulligan the TurfMutt, a rescue herself who was adopted at the 2019 Mutt Madness, these events showcase the green industry’s connection to creating the yards and parks people and their pets use. 

“Whether you’re catching the sunrise over the Ohio River during the 5K or strolling through Mulligan’s Garden Park at Equip to meet a dog who needs a home, it all comes back to appreciating our green spaces and the pets who enjoy them with us,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “Plus, as someone who adopted Mulligan at Mutt Madness back in 2019, I know firsthand that you just might go home with a new best friend.”

The action kicks off early Wednesday morning with Mulligan’s 5K Fun Run & Walk. Participants will set off from the TurfMutt Foundation Great Lawn at Waterfront Park and cross the Ohio River via the historic Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, taking in sweeping views of downtown Louisville. All registrants receive an official commemorative shirt and finisher medal, with proceeds going directly to KHS. 

On Thursday, the puppy love moves into the Kentucky Expo Center for Mulligan’s Mutt Madness. Held in Mulligan’s Garden Park, a specially built indoor green space designed to look and feel like a real park – attendees can meet, play with and adopt rescue dogs from KHS. Since its inception, Mutt Madness has matched over 130 dogs with industry professionals and attendees. 

"When two organizations with a passion for pets and green spaces team up, incredible things happen," says Alisa Gray, president and CEO of KHS. "Seeing over 130 shelter dogs find loving homes through this partnership isn't just about the numbers. It's about 130 fresh starts and the absolute joy these dogs bring to their new families. Mutt Madness is one of our favorite events of the year, and the Equip Expo crowd steps up for these animals in a big way every time."

Both events are open exclusively to Equip attendees. To learn more about the TurfMutt Foundation and discover how to create pet-friendly outdoor spaces, visit TurfMutt.com. 

About the TurfMutt Foundation

TurfMutt, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024, was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. The Foundation is title sponsor of “Lucky Dog,” the Emmy Award-winning CBS broadcast television show in support of dog rescue and rehabilitation. Both TurfMutt spokesdogs have been rescue dogs, and Mutt Mulligan is a cast character on the show, where her “Mulligan Minute” segments teach viewers about the benefits of green space. In 2024, the Great Lawn at Louisville’s award-winning Waterfront Park on the Ohio River was renamed the TurfMutt Foundation Great Lawn as part of a $1 million sponsorship. Championed by Mulligan the TurfMutt and through education partners such as Scholastic, Discovery, Weekly Reader and the USBGC Global Learning Lab, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. More information at TurfMutt.com.

By Emma Peterson. 

Paul Trombitas breaks down three major trends that construction professionals should pay attention to.  

With changing regulations and constantly evolving economic situations, it can feel impossible to make predictions or plans about the future of the industry. But just because it feels impossible doesn’t mean it really is! In this Contractor Outlook™, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Paul Trombitas, partner at FMI Consulting, to talk about their 2026 Q2 North America Construction and Engineering Outlook Report and what it tells us about the future of the industry. 

1 – Wholistic operations are growing more popular 

The first takeaway from this report was about the shift from specialized operations to wholistic ones. Paul used the manufacturing market as an example, sharing, “What's been fascinating to me is seeing large roofing manufacturers transition into building envelope manufacturers. So, instead of just making roofing materials, they’re producing products for all six sides of a building, like waterproofing and such.”  

When it comes to what’s driving this, Paul points to our modern understanding of building envelopes as one single system, rather than a variety of unique systems working together.  

2 – Sustainability remains top of mind 

In this report, the FMI team has consistently seen responders emphasize the rising demand for sustainable practices. They have also noticed an interesting dynamic surrounding the conversation of sustainability – miscommunication. Paul explained, “On the sustainability side, the challenge is that everybody defines it differently. We always ask about sustainability and the main takeaway we’ve found is that if you ask 50 people what sustainability means, you'll get 50 different answers.” He went on, “I think, unless the entire building envelope ecosystem can come to an agreement on what sustainability is and how they define it, it’s going to stay a challenge.”  

3 – Supply chains are still a concern 

The last takeaway that Paul highlighted from the 2026 Q2 report was the persisting instability of supply chains. He shared some insights:  

Logistics, like the cost of transportation, have changed and that has impacts on things like delivered costs. And I don’t think that’s going away...In fact, I think this is just the start of the impacts and that there are a lot of evolving and increasing factors that will continue to challenge our supply chains and operations.  

Conclusion 

These takeaways not only confirm the experiences of contractors around the industry, they also quantify those experiences in a way that helps contractors position themselves from success. For example, understanding the simultaneous demand for and confusion surrounding sustainability allows contractors to not only present sustainable options, but the importance of explaining and educating their customers on why the options they are presenting are sustainable. And these are just three of the takeaways that Paul shared with us based on FMI’s 2026 Q2 North America Construction and Engineering Outlook Report.  

If you want to learn more, Read the report, Listen to the whole podcast or Watch the recording. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about how major acquisitions, emerging technologies and evolving supply chains are changing the competitive landscape for contractors, manufacturers and distributors alike. 

Paul Trombitas is a partner at FMI Corporation, a consulting firm specifically focused on providing insight and data to the engineering, construction and built environment fields. He stopped by The Coffee Shops® for a recent episode of Contractor Outlook™, sponsored by SRS Distribution, to talk about the ways the industry has evolved and grown.  

The main thing that Paul has noticed recently is the restructuring of the supply side of the industry. He shared, “Think about Home Depot with SRS, GMS, QXO, Lowe's. There’s been a lot of major acquisitions in the supply sector.” And with a restructuring of this scale, the impact and effects will not only be felt by suppliers and distributors, but it will also be felt by contractors and manufacturers. Paul explained, “With distributors and suppliers consolidating at this scale, it has potentially significant downstream effects. And I think for contractors and firms, there's going to be a gap between those who are adjusting and those that are not.” 

What has created this consolidation dynamic in the industry? Paul points to technological advancements, adding, “The proliferation of AI and other technologies like eCommerce have really changed all industries, including ours. And I think that these suppliers have been able to implement these tools in a way that fosters growth and scaling that creates the consolidation we’re seeing.” 

In other words, technology’s continual development has enabled the restructuring of our supply chains, which subsequently changes how everyone in the building products sector conducts business. The best advice Paul has? Adapt with the change. He shared, “I think that competitiveness is going to be a really big pain point for those that aren’t adopting and changing.” 

Want to learn more? Listen to the episode or Watch the recording on YouTube!