The Cocooning Effect

According to one survey, our neighbors to the north are planning to spend more money on their homes in 2009. HGTV conducted a survey of 1004 Canadians and found that “nearly two-thirds of the population will embark on a home renovation project in the next 12 months. And despite reports of what is happening in the United States real estate market, nine out of 10 Canadians still believe that their home is a more secure investment than the stock markets.”

I really think that 2009 will bring what I call “the cocooning effect.” Homeowners will spend more time in their homes to shield themselves from the doom and gloom that awaits them in the outside world. Once there, they will begin to think about how they can make their homes even more safe and secure against the realities outside. Couple that with almost round-the-clock television programming about home improvements and travel and you have a situation reminiscent of the early 90’s when homeowners who couldn’t move decided to stay put and remodel instead.

So keep yourself and your company positioned for the potential growth in 2009. Keep your name out there in front of your customers and in front of new potential customers. Lets stay positive and focused.