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Brand Use Study for BUILDER INSTRUMENTS

Survey Years:
Quality Rating
Awareness & Use
About the Study
BUILDER INSTRUMENTS-2003-Quality Rating

Quality Rating

How do you rate the QUALITY of each brand you are familiar with?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders
Calculated Industries4.24.4*4.1*4.3*3.8*
DeWalt4.24.34.24.34.1
Spectra Physics4.24.0*4.0*4.1*4.7*
Berger4.13.9*4.5*4.0*4.0*
David White4.14.1*4.14.14.0*
Laser Alignment4.03.8*4.1*3.9*4.3*
LS Starrett4.03.8*3.8*4.1*4.1*
Topcon4.04.1*3.9*4.1*4.1*
Laser Tool3.93.9*4.0*3.9*3.9*
Levelite3.83.8*3.2*3.9*4.1*
Macklanburg-Duncan3.74.0*3.3*4.1*3.3*
Zircon3.73.9*3.6*3.5*3.9*
CheckPoint3.6*3.3*3.3*3.7*4.0*
Sokkia3.5*3.0*3.8*3.5*3.3*
Toolz3.3*3.0*2.7*3.6*3.5*
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders
Calculated Industries3.9*4.4*4.2*4.2
DeWalt4.5*4.24.24.2
Spectra Physics4.3*4.2*4.3*3.9
Berger3.5*4.2*4.4*3.9
David White4.3*4.04.14.0
Laser Alignment4.3*3.9*3.9*3.9
LS Starrett3.5*3.9*4.2*4.1
Topcon4.0*3.8*3.9*4.4
Laser Tool4.4*3.8*4.1*3.7
Levelite4.7*3.8*3.6*3.6
Macklanburg-Duncan3.7*4.0*3.4*3.8
Zircon4.0*3.5*3.8*3.6
CheckPoint4.5*3.3*3.6*3.3
Sokkia4.0*3.5*3.4*3.0
Toolz3.3*3.3*3.5*3.2
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders
Calculated Industries4.2*4.2*4.0*
DeWalt4.24.34.2*
Spectra Physics3.9*4.3*4.5*
Berger4.2*3.94.7*
David White4.04.24.0*
Laser Alignment4.0*4.0*3.7*
LS Starrett3.6*4.1*5.0*
Topcon4.1*4.1*3.9*
Laser Tool3.9*3.94.3*
Levelite3.9*3.8*
Macklanburg-Duncan3.4*3.8*
Zircon3.7*3.73.6*
CheckPoint3.8*3.5*
Sokkia3.8*3.2*4.0*
Toolz3.0*3.6*3.0*
BUILDER INSTRUMENTS-2003-Brand Familiarity
Select Detail Statistics:

Brand Familiarity

Which brands have you HEARD OF?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders486.070.0145.0188.082.0
DeWalt75.0%74.0%79.0%72.0%78.0%
David White40.0%41.0%41.0%36.0%43.0%
Zircon31.0%31.0%34.0%23.0%41.0%
Laser Tool26.0%34.0%25.0%24.0%23.0%
Berger25.0%34.0%19.0%27.0%23.0%
Laser Alignment21.0%26.0%22.0%19.0%18.0%
Topcon18.0%20.0%17.0%18.0%17.0%
Levelite16.0%20.0%13.0%15.0%23.0%
Calculated Industries15.0%16.0%13.0%16.0%13.0%
LS Starrett15.0%26.0%14.0%11.0%16.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan13.0%13.0%17.0%11.0%13.0%
Spectra Physics12.0%10.0%12.0%12.0%13.0%
CheckPoint8.0%10.0%6.0%8.0%10.0%
Toolz8.0%11.0%6.0%9.0%10.0%
Sokkia7.0%6.0%6.0%9.0%7.0%
other3.0%4.0%2.0%3.0%2.0%
indicated one or more84.0%89.0%87.0%78.0%88.0%
no answer14.0%9.0%12.0%20.0%11.0%
none2.0%3.0%1.0%3.0%1.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders48.0135.0139.0153.0
DeWalt81.0%76.0%75.0%74.0
David White54.0%38.0%36.0%39.0
Zircon48.0%35.0%31.0%22.0
Laser Tool29.0%27.0%28.0%21.0
Berger31.0%27.0%24.0%23.0
Laser Alignment27.0%20.0%20.0%20.0
Topcon27.0%21.0%12.0%17.0
Levelite25.0%16.0%17.0%12.0
Calculated Industries23.0%13.0%18.0%11.0
LS Starrett25.0%14.0%15.0%11.0
Macklanburg-Duncan27.0%9.0%15.0%10.0
Spectra Physics17.0%10.0%12.0%12.0
CheckPoint13.0%6.0%7.0%8.0
Toolz19.0%9.0%5.0%7.0
Sokkia19.0%7.0%6.0%5.0
other6.0%2.0%3.0%1.0
indicated one or more90.0%83.0%84.0%83.0
no answer8.0%16.0%14.0%14.0
none2.0%1.0%1.0%3.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders179.0233.071.0
DeWalt78.0%78.0%62.0%
David White46.0%37.0%30.0%
Zircon35.0%29.0%27.0%
Laser Tool25.0%28.0%18.0%
Berger32.0%22.0%17.0%
Laser Alignment22.0%22.0%13.0%
Topcon19.0%17.0%17.0%
Levelite15.0%18.0%15.0%
Calculated Industries15.0%16.0%10.0%
LS Starrett17.0%14.0%11.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan17.0%10.0%14.0%
Spectra Physics12.0%13.0%7.0%
CheckPoint8.0%8.0%8.0%
Toolz11.0%8.0%6.0%
Sokkia11.0%6.0%4.0%
other3.0%3.0%1.0%
indicated one or more85.0%86.0%72.0%
no answer12.0%12.0%25.0%
none3.0%1.0%3.0%

Brand Innovation

Which ONE brand is leading this category in the area of INNOVATION?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders486.070.0145.0188.082.0
DeWalt16.0%17.0%18.0%18.0%10.0%
David White3.0%6.0%3.0%3.0%2.0%
Berger2.0%3.0%2.0%1.0%1.0%
Calculated Industries1.0%3.0%1.0%1.0%0.0%
Spectra Physics1.0%0.0%1.0%1.0%1.0%
CheckPoint0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Laser Alignment0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%1.0%
Laser Tool0.0%0.0%1.0%1.0%0.0%
Levelite0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%
LS Starrett0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Sokkia0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Toolz0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Topcon0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
Zircon0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%1.0%
other1.0%1.0%1.0%2.0%0.0%
no answer71.0%67.0%70.0%69.0%77.0%
answered multiple3.0%1.0%3.0%4.0%5.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders48.0135.0139.0153.0
DeWalt25.0%12.0%21.0%14.0
David White2.0%4.0%3.0%4.0
Berger0.0%2.0%1.0%2.0
Calculated Industries2.0%1.0%1.0%1.0
Spectra Physics0.0%1.0%1.0%1.0
CheckPoint0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
Laser Alignment0.0%1.0%1.0%0.0
Laser Tool0.0%1.0%1.0%0.0
Levelite0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0
LS Starrett0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0
Macklanburg-Duncan0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
Sokkia0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
Toolz0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0
Topcon0.0%1.0%1.0%0.0
Zircon0.0%0.0%1.0%1.0
other2.0%2.0%0.0%0.0
no answer67.0%71.0%67.0%75.0
answered multiple2.0%4.0%3.0%4.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders179.0233.071.0
DeWalt16.0%18.0%15.0%
David White3.0%4.0%3.0%
Berger3.0%1.0%1.0%
Calculated Industries1.0%1.0%0.0%
Spectra Physics0.0%1.0%1.0%
CheckPoint0.0%0.0%0.0%
Laser Alignment1.0%0.0%0.0%
Laser Tool1.0%0.0%0.0%
Levelite0.0%0.0%0.0%
LS Starrett0.0%0.0%0.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan0.0%0.0%0.0%
Sokkia0.0%0.0%0.0%
Toolz0.0%0.0%0.0%
Topcon1.0%0.0%0.0%
Zircon1.0%0.0%0.0%
other1.0%1.0%1.0%
no answer70.0%69.0%75.0%
answered multiple4.0%3.0%3.0%

Brands Used the Most

Which brand(s) does your firm USE THE MOST?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders486.070.0145.0188.082.0
DeWalt34.0%33.0%36.0%32.0%34.0%
David White12.0%7.0%12.0%11.0%16.0%
Zircon4.0%6.0%3.0%3.0%7.0%
Berger3.0%9.0%3.0%3.0%0.0%
Calculated Industries3.0%6.0%5.0%3.0%1.0%
Laser Alignment3.0%3.0%3.0%1.0%6.0%
Laser Tool3.0%4.0%4.0%2.0%4.0%
Topcon3.0%3.0%5.0%2.0%5.0%
Spectra Physics2.0%1.0%4.0%2.0%1.0%
Levelite1.0%3.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
LS Starrett1.0%4.0%1.0%0.0%0.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan1.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%1.0%
Sokkia1.0%0.0%1.0%1.0%2.0%
CheckPoint0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%
Toolz0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0%0.0%
other2.0%1.0%1.0%2.0%2.0%
indicated one or more50.0%50.0%55.0%44.0%55.0%
did not indicate33.0%37.0%31.0%32.0%33.0%
no answer13.0%9.0%10.0%18.0%10.0%
none5.0%4.0%4.0%6.0%2.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders48.0135.0139.0153.0
DeWalt42.0%36.0%34.0%29.0
David White13.0%12.0%13.0%10.0
Zircon4.0%7.0%4.0%2.0
Berger0.0%6.0%4.0%2.0
Calculated Industries4.0%6.0%2.0%3.0
Laser Alignment0.0%4.0%2.0%3.0
Laser Tool2.0%4.0%3.0%3.0
Topcon6.0%2.0%2.0%4.0
Spectra Physics0.0%6.0%1.0%1.0
Levelite0.0%1.0%0.0%1.0
LS Starrett0.0%2.0%0.0%1.0
Macklanburg-Duncan0.0%1.0%1.0%0.0
Sokkia2.0%1.0%1.0%1.0
CheckPoint0.0%0.0%0.0%1.0
Toolz0.0%1.0%0.0%0.0
other4.0%1.0%1.0%0.0
indicated one or more58.0%59.0%48.0%40.0
did not indicate29.0%24.0%35.0%42.0
no answer8.0%13.0%13.0%12.0
none4.0%4.0%4.0%7.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders179.0233.071.0
DeWalt33.0%37.0%24.0%
David White16.0%9.0%8.0%
Zircon4.0%5.0%3.0%
Berger4.0%3.0%3.0%
Calculated Industries3.0%4.0%1.0%
Laser Alignment4.0%2.0%1.0%
Laser Tool3.0%3.0%3.0%
Topcon3.0%4.0%3.0%
Spectra Physics2.0%3.0%3.0%
Levelite0.0%1.0%0.0%
LS Starrett1.0%1.0%1.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan1.0%0.0%0.0%
Sokkia2.0%1.0%0.0%
CheckPoint0.0%0.0%0.0%
Toolz1.0%0.0%0.0%
other2.0%2.0%0.0%
indicated one or more52.0%54.0%32.0%
did not indicate33.0%31.0%39.0%
no answer11.0%11.0%23.0%
none4.0%4.0%6.0%

Brands Used in Past 2 Years

Which brands has your firm USED IN THE PAST 2 YEARS in the homes you've built (including brands you subcontracted with others to install)?

Census Region
TotalNortheastMidwestSouthWest
base: BUILDER builders486.070.0145.0188.082.0
DeWalt56.0%57.0%58.0%54.0%55.0%
David White23.0%21.0%23.0%20.0%30.0%
Zircon12.0%11.0%13.0%7.0%18.0%
Laser Tool10.0%17.0%10.0%9.0%7.0%
Berger9.0%17.0%8.0%10.0%4.0%
Laser Alignment8.0%10.0%10.0%5.0%10.0%
Calculated Industries7.0%11.0%7.0%7.0%2.0%
Topcon7.0%7.0%9.0%7.0%6.0%
LS Starrett4.0%6.0%4.0%3.0%5.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan4.0%3.0%4.0%3.0%6.0%
Spectra Physics4.0%1.0%7.0%3.0%5.0%
Levelite3.0%3.0%3.0%4.0%4.0%
CheckPoint2.0%4.0%1.0%1.0%1.0%
Sokkia2.0%0.0%3.0%1.0%4.0%
Toolz2.0%1.0%1.0%2.0%1.0%
other2.0%1.0%1.0%2.0%2.0%
indicated one or more72.0%77.0%75.0%66.0%73.0%
no answer14.0%9.0%12.0%20.0%11.0%
did not indicate12.0%10.0%12.0%11.0%15.0%
none3.0%4.0%1.0%4.0%1.0%
Average Sale Price
Under $125K$125K-$199K$200K-$349K$350K+
base: BUILDER builders48.0135.0139.0153.0
DeWalt63.0%55.0%55.0%57.0
David White33.0%21.0%24.0%20.0
Zircon17.0%15.0%13.0%7.0
Laser Tool6.0%12.0%12.0%8.0
Berger13.0%10.0%8.0%8.0
Laser Alignment8.0%7.0%8.0%8.0
Calculated Industries4.0%8.0%9.0%5.0
Topcon10.0%8.0%6.0%7.0
LS Starrett4.0%3.0%5.0%4.0
Macklanburg-Duncan0.0%2.0%7.0%3.0
Spectra Physics0.0%7.0%4.0%5.0
Levelite4.0%3.0%3.0%3.0
CheckPoint2.0%1.0%1.0%3.0
Sokkia4.0%2.0%1.0%1.0
Toolz2.0%2.0%1.0%1.0
other4.0%1.0%1.0%0.0
indicated one or more77.0%75.0%68.0%70.0
no answer8.0%16.0%14.0%14.0
did not indicate10.0%8.0%16.0%12.0
none4.0%1.0%1.0%5.0
Units Built
1-45-4950+
base: BUILDER builders179.0233.071.0
DeWalt58.0%61.0%38.0%
David White26.0%22.0%17.0%
Zircon13.0%12.0%7.0%
Laser Tool9.0%12.0%4.0%
Berger11.0%9.0%6.0%
Laser Alignment7.0%10.0%4.0%
Calculated Industries7.0%9.0%1.0%
Topcon6.0%9.0%7.0%
LS Starrett3.0%5.0%1.0%
Macklanburg-Duncan6.0%3.0%0.0%
Spectra Physics3.0%6.0%3.0%
Levelite3.0%5.0%0.0%
CheckPoint2.0%2.0%0.0%
Sokkia2.0%2.0%1.0%
Toolz2.0%2.0%0.0%
other2.0%2.0%0.0%
indicated one or more74.0%76.0%51.0%
no answer12.0%12.0%25.0%
did not indicate11.0%9.0%21.0%
none3.0%2.0%3.0%
Purpose

The findings cited in this report are based on a survey sponsored by Hanley-Wood, LLC, on behalf of their publication, BUILDER.

The purpose of this research project was to provide the editors and advertisers with a profile of the brands used by builders in the BUILDER audience. Specific areas of inquiry included:

  • The number and average sale price of residential units built by respondents' firms in 2004.
  • Respondents' familiarity with, use of, and opinions about brands in 69 product categories.
  • The one brand within each category respondents feel is best at communicating with them.
Method

The survey sample of 6,250 was selected in systematic fashion by Palm Coast Data, Inc., and Readex from BUILDER's domestic, qualified "builder" circulation of approximately 125,000 recipients at the time of sample selection.

Five versions of an 8-page questionnaire were designed jointly by BUILDER and Readex. Each version contained two questions common to all versions, with the remaining brand-specific questions unique to each.

Data was collected via mail survey from October 18 to December 11, 2000. To ensure the value of this brand use data to manufacturers, the findings cited in this report are based on the 2,247 respondents who indicated their firms built residential units in 2000 (36% of the survey sample).

The margin of error for percentages based on all 2,247 usable responses is ±2.0% at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error for percentages based on smaller sample sizes—census regions, for example— will be larger.