The impacts of the current pandemic are widespread, and the construction industry (and its economy) is no stranger to its effects. The impact of COVID-19 on home improvement projects has become a challenge for many manufacturers and retailers.

A few purchasing trends have changed significantly, especially with DIY projects and research around home improvement products. If you’re selling to DIYers and home improvement contractors, there are a few things to note when it comes to selling your product during the current COVID crisis. 

In the first quarter of 2020, the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) partnered with The Farnsworth Group to survey more than 500 contractor professionals to gain their insight into the labor shortage and how it has impacted their business. Here are a few highlights:

• Half of the professionals surveyed said that at least one of their projects was delayed due to the labor shortage and of these, 35% experienced significant delays of more than 3 weeks.
• 53% of contractor professionals are taking on fewer projects in order to combat the labor shortage. Others are narrowing the types of projects they’ll take on and/or the geographic region they will service. 

To learn more about the labor shortage in the construction industry, download this free infographic detailing results from the HIRI 2020 Contractor Topic Study.