SolarGlass

Monday morning, September 15, 2008, Hurd Windows and Doors filed a voluntary petition for a Chapter 11 reorganization under the bankruptcy codes. One of a number of public stories regarding this turn of events can be found here. As one of Hurd’s top customers, I had the good fortune to be in Medford Wisconsin for meetings with Hurd’s senior leadership team the very evening of the filing and throughout the next day.

SolarGlass has distributed Hurd’s products for over twenty years and has long represented them as a great value for the money built by a team of capable, caring people. Certainly there have been smaller and larger bumps along the way but I don’t believe any business can claim otherwise. Hurd’s President is optimistic that this reorganization will make them a more focused provider of quality wood clad windows and doors, end the distractions associated with vinyl window production, and clear the way for continued innovations in energy performance. Additionally, Hurd executives expect the reorganization process to be relatively short-lived.

That said, a bankruptcy filing raises questions. Our obligation at SolarGlass is to ensure we honor the faith and trust our building professional and homeowner customers have placed in us with a thorough analysis of the situation and a decision to either continue to stand behind the Hurd product and team, substitute products we already distribute, or source a quality alternative. Paramount to us is the ability to provide solutions for residential and light commercial construction in which we are 100% confident and that can be relied upon for the life of the window or door.

To that end, I have asked Hurd’s president to provide information we will use to inform our decision making. Specifically, I have requested assurances regarding the continued availability of raw materials with which to continue production; access to cash and lines of credit sufficient to sustain operations throughout the duration of this process; warranty commitments to products purchase prior to and during this bankruptcy period, and Hurd’s ability to implement their well-developed plans for meeting 2009’s more stringent Energy Star requirements.

These are difficult times and the Hurd team has done much to support SolarGlass and offer great value to our customers. We appreciate their candor and in turn promise open and transparent communication to our customers and employees. I will post our next steps on or before September 21, 2008.

Best regards,

Gwenael Hagan
Owner
SolarGlass Window & Door