The Fox Report: Thoughts on the Coming Year

by Greg Fox, VP of Sales

As I write this, it's December.  As you read this, it's January.  The New Year is upon us.  It's a time of moving forward from the past, setting goals and resolutions, and even making predictions as to what the future may hold.  Like many in the industry, we speculate on the health of the marketplace and the business opportunities it will present.  I can share with you that I believe our recession fears of late 2022 have been mitigated by what economists term a "soft landing".  Somewhat surprisingly, our industry has absorbed the inflation and higher interest rates without overwhelming disruption.  Moving forward, inflation has moderated and interest rates are stabilizing.  Many economists are forecasting rate declines in the latter half of 2024.  In my opinion, these factors, coupled with the intrinsic demand for housing and infrastructure improvements, portend an improving market as we move through 2024.  As we cross into 2025, I believe our industry is poised for a healthy run. 

However, as my Grandmother always said, “we never know what tomorrow will bring” - much less next month or next year.  She was a strong woman, my Grandmother, and I think of her often – especially around the holidays and with the new year upon us.  A single mother, divorcee actually, she raised two girls while working full-time in a paper mill in south Alabama and found time to sell gravesite head stones on the weekend.  Eventually, she left the paper mill and bought the monument business – “on time,” as she would say.  She was a woman that life, for better or worse, continued to offer unexpected turns.  Yet, she embraced the challenges, always facing “what tomorrow brought” with resilience. She set a strong example for her children and grandchildren.  

Regardless of “what tomorrow will bring”, we at SIGMA will continue to invest in our people, our customers and our industry.  We believe this investment will prepare us for both the short- and long-term future. 

I wish each of you the most healthy and prosperous New Year.