The criteria used to select the DPHA Showroom of the Year are:
- Training programs
- Marketing programs
- Customer service
- Involvement and support of the industry
- Merchandising
- Innovative presentation of decorative plumbing and hardware products within the showroom
Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply's new showroom in
Detroit, MI, is most definitely deserving of recognition as this year's
DPHA Showroom of the Year. Located in the heart of the design district,
this new showroom became the first ever decorative plumbing showroom to
be opened within the Detroit city limits. The 5,000 square foot
showroom, which was transformed from an unsightly building on Cass
Avenue into a destination location, features a newly renovated
historical facade that dates back to 1918. As one manufacturer told us,
"They have embraced the 70+ year old structure and their 100 year
history to create a new space that feels as if it had been there when
Henry Ford was remodeling his home."
Advance attempts to display products so that the majority of
them are working models. In that way, their customers can actually
experience the product before deciding to purchase them. They have five
working system tubs, 20 working kitchen and lavatory faucets, five
operational toilets, 50 actively functioning shower devices (shower
heads, hand showers, body sprays and rain heads), two working steam
systems (one with electronic shower controls) and live heated towel
warmers. They also have LED lit drawers with bath, kitchen and bar
sinks.
The folks at Advance are also very committed to product
knowledge trainings, holding them every week at both their Walled Lake
and Detroit locations. They also like to bring the manufacturer sales
managers in to do some of these training sessions so that they can get a
different perspective on the product line from what is communicated
almost daily by their local reps. Advance also sends their showroom
sales team members on manufacturer trips when they are offered. And for
their new hires, they utilize the DPHA Education Manuals, which help
get them started with an overall understanding of the many plumbing
categories.
Advance certainly prides themselves on having an outstanding
customer service team, which begins with their sales team taking a
proactive approach to educating their customers while discussing their
projects. Additionally, they have a dedicated warehouse team to help
with pulling and delivering the orders. This then continues after the
sale has been completed. The dedicated customer service team handles
any and all issues, and they pride themselves on constantly going "above
and beyond" the call of duty to make sure their customers are happy
regardless of whose fault the problem is attributable to.
At the national level, Advance belongs to many groups,
including DPHA and ASA, and they attend major industry shows like KBIS,
ICFF, ISH and DPHA. At the local level, they organize CEU events and
lunch-and-learns for the A&D community, and they hold various events
for their builder and plumber clientele. Advance also sponsors the
Detroit Home Tour and the Detroit Home Design Awards, and they
participate in local area home shows.
A fabulous showroom combined with an expert staff that
understands not only product, but consumer needs, wants and desires,
certainly makes Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply a most worthy
recipient of DPHA's 2018 Showroom of the Year award.
