Change Happens – Embrace It

The world and our industry are changing with incredible momentum. Fortune magazine named the construction industry as the #1 industry ripe for disruption. Don't just maintain or protect your position. Look forward and be part of the transformation - or be a victim of it.

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Decluttering is for brains, not just closets

Our brains are bogged down in the digital era, where an entire world of by-the-minute information is at our fingertips. Always. How do you get creative in the midst of such mental messiness? Senior art director Dave Behm uncovers some methods for quieting the madness that help him stay creative.

The Leader’s Trap

Taking risks is hard. It’s even harder when you’re comfortable. It’s why companies with the biggest share of the market so often fail to exercise true market leadership. At one time, they must have been consciously seeking to advance the market by aggressively taking advantage of unusual, growth-oriented opportunities. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have become so large. So, what caused them to alter their mindset and actions? Learn more about “the leader’s trap” and how to avoid it.

What a box of Legos can teach us about the power of built-in branding

As marketers, there’s a lot we can do to build a compelling story around a brand or product. But when users can readily and consistently separate your product from the competition, you’ve got something special. Our Director of Brand Content Jen Molnar explains how a Lego sorting session sparked an ah-ha moment on the importance of developing distinctive (and memorable) physical product features.

AI is here to stay. Are you ready to leverage it?

The building materials industry is at a unique crossroads: customers want more personalized service than ever before. And AI may lend itself best to the needs of the building materials industry to deliver that. Executive Creative Director and Brand Strategist Anita Holman explores how this game-changing tool could enhance every brand’s ability to develop personalized advice in ways that were never humanly possible before.

When the brand is you: two companies that made our individuality their success

The strength of your “fan following” is also the strength of your brand. And one powerful way to build that loyalty is to allow your customers’ creativity to shine through in your marketing. Associate creative director Erin Kunz explores the brands that shaped her adolescence and how embracing user-generated content helped them build an even stronger identity.

One House, Multiple Families: Why America Needs Multigenerational Housing for the Masses

The sandwich generation isn’t just a social problem; it’s an innovation problem, too. At some point in our lives, many of us become filling for the so-called sandwich—caring for our own children and our aging parents at the same time. Or we experience transition, in our jobs, relationships, or health, and need to live with family or friends to bridge the gap. This need for multigenerational housing is in direct opposition to our current priority building single-family, nuclear homes in the U.S. Here’s why one writer believes that needs to change, and why it’s an untapped opportunity for the construction and design industries.

Home Affordability Gone Wild

Home ownership is a core part of The American Dream (if not *the* American dream). What does it mean for the construction building materials industry that so many potential buyers are squeezed out of the process? We explore the factors and how these players might best respond to the coming consequences for multifamily building and material costs.

How adaptive ball fields are bringing a community together—and what it can teach us about inclusive building  

When the city of Mason approached the Challenger Baseball League about building an adaptive field, Jen Christmas was all in. Not only did she co-lead a $2.5 million capital campaign—she discovered the game-changing power of having the right people ask the right questions. It leads to adaptive construction that does more than comply with laws; it brings together a community of people in ways that weren’t possible before.

The new, targeted TV landscape—and how not understanding it could cost you wasted ad dollars

In the world of advertising, endings can bring about better beginnings. The decline of cable in favor of streaming means the ability to target TV audiences at a more granular level than ever before. Learn how Connected TV (CTV) and Over The Top television (OTT) give you key advantages when trying to use your ad dollars as wisely as possible.

The Problem with a Conversions-First Mindset

An online advertising strategy that’s focused solely on calls to action may be working against your marketing goals in ways you don’t realize. While results matter, you can’t produce them without the right approach. Just like you wouldn’t ask someone to purchase something right when they walk through the doors of a brick and mortar store, your online messaging should take customers on a journey that’s more than transactional.

are you really growing?

Many companies are increasingly enamored with their earning numbers, reflecting the cocktail of low supply and high demand that’s taken hold recently in the building materials industry. But what are the consequences to your business when you become too content with the status quo? Read on to understand why this thinking is ultimately dangerous to the bottom line.

Why you should be wary of the free Wi-Fi (and opt for a VPN)

Summer doesn’t just signal vacation season—it also means more remote work in more places. That “free” connection you’re latching on to during your work at coffee shops, hotels and more could be doing more with your data than you bargained for and can pose a major threat to your whole organization. Our IT expert Matt Wittman weighs in on why a VPN should be one of the main tools in your remote work arsenal.

Go beyond the straight sales pitch

Taking the lead in your category involves more than just creating a superior product. It also requires becoming your customer’s go-to authority on the subject, with content, tools or support that show you’re as invested in their project as they are. Learn how we helped MoistureShield composite decking build an outdoor planning resource that does more than deliver a simple sales pitch, earning customer trust and reinforcing their reputation.

Experience The World (While You Work): How to Succeed as a Digital Nomad

Work From Home has become almost commonplace, but what happens when you set up your laptop from much further away than the kitchen table? Airbnb’s recent “work from anywhere” announcement reflects a trend toward embracing more varied and distant remote work locations. To pull it off, you'll need more than strong Wi-Fi—you’ll have to think differently (and proactively) about how fully remote workers participate in a hybrid workplace. Our resident digital nomad shares her strategies.

How Technology Impacts Customer Engagement

Is technology changing to meet consumers’ evolving needs or are consumers changing as a result of what technology enables? Like the chicken and the egg, it really doesn’t matter which came first. Consumer expectations and technology will keep changing, and if your brand is too chicken to keep up, you may be left with egg on your face (pun intended). Read on to learn why sharpening your digital CX is essential to your business survival.

The Art of Rejection

The job interview process, like every process where we present ourselves for selection, is vulnerable. And like any environment where we play the role of hopeful candidate—romance, for example, or academics—hearing “no” hurts. How employers deliver that no makes all the difference.

The Road Ahead

Your office space could become someone’s home; states like Arizona will experiment with modifying the weather; and the pandemic will continue its’ disruption. These are just some of the ideas and events that lie ahead according to our Director of Strategic Insights Sandy Embrescia-Hridel's 2022 predictions. Read ahead for the 10 trends he believes will impact the building materials industry in the coming months.

Insights into the Future of Work

In the wake of a pandemic that transformed our business interactions nearly overnight, many are asking, “What is the future of work?” From changing dress codes to reconfigured office spaces, companies and employees alike are trying to understand which aspects of the pandemic-driven changes will stick, and how to move forward.

How Building Materials Brands Can Do Better For New Homeowners (From Two First-Time Homeowners)

Building materials brands need to pay attention to the unique needs and problems of millennial homeowners. It’s a key factor to understanding your target audience, or the end-enjoyer. Yes, Millennials are turning 40 and they own homes. Take a note from two brand new homeowners on the Interrupt team—Aly and Ernest. From power tools to apps, get two insights from people living the dream right now.

2020 in Hindsight: What Would You Have Done Differently?

2020 felt a little bit like the plot of Groundhog’s Day – from dealing with the pandemic to being at home more often, it’s taken a toll on all of us. Here at Interrupt, we believe that if you stay true to your core values and create experiences that keep your customers coming back to you time and time again, the upcoming months should be smooth sailing. Read on to hear from our team about what they might’ve done differently last year if they had the knowledge and insights they do now.

The Home Automation Opportunity

Smart home products are everywhere. If your lights aren’t controlled by a simple Alexa request, are you even living? In reality, home automation is on a steep incline. By 2025, the industry is expected to grow by at least $25B. And with big players like Google, Amazon, and Facebook digging their heels in, it’s important to pay attention—especially if you build or sell materials for the home.

2021 Predictions Impacting Our Industry

Sometimes it feels like we’re living the plot of Groundhog’s Day as we battle the ongoing pandemic and its innate instability. But, we believe that if you stay focused on your core values and create an experience that keeps your customers coming back for more, you should sail smoothly through the coming months. Read on to discover our predictions for what will impact us in 2021.

NeoCon Overview 2019

NeoCon, hosted annually in Chicago at theMART, provides a massive snapshot of the commercial design industry’s latest innovation. Team Interrupt was there this past June to take in the sights and offer their perspective on the current state and future of the show and the industry.