2020 was an unprecedented year. Last January, undoubtedly, no one would have predicted that the COVID-19 global pandemic would strike with such force and stop “normal” life for so many people. Overall, North American fabricators have stayed afloat – navigating many obstacles and uncertainties. And while what the near future has in store is still unclear, Stone World’s recent Fabricator Forecast, which is conducted by Clear Seas Research Department at BNP Media (Stone World’s parent company), shows that more than two-thirds of fabricators polled are hopeful that business will fare well this year.
The survey indicates that two-in-five respondents (40%) have seen an increase in their companies’ gross annual sales over the last year, by an average of 32%, while more than one-third (35%) of respondents report that their companies’ gross annual sales have declined over the last year, by 24%, on average. Last year, 62% reported an increase, while only 7% saw a decrease in gross annual sales. A total of 25% of respondents said that their gross annual sales in 2020 remained steady from the previous year, compared to 31% who reported a decline in 2019.