Friday, May 29, 2020

New iWash Bidet Seat by Icera is a Smart and Stylish Upgrade to the Bathroom.

Introducing the iWash S-11 bidet seat, the latest addition to Icera's iWash product line, created to enhance the functionality of a traditional toilet with features focused on comfort and superior hygiene. The system includes a stainless-steel self-cleaning sprayer with customizable spray options. The iWash's ceramic water heating system provides an instant and unlimited warm water spray and allows for a tankless design with a slim 5" profile. Users can also choose settings for water temperature and pressure and enjoy a heated seat and warm arm dryer. The iWash can be programmed with two memory presets for ease of use. Other favorite features include a built-in deodorizer, in-bowl nightlight, silent close lid and a wall-mounted remote control with LED-backlit buttons.

DPHA's Next Panel Discussion: Manufacturing in the New DPH World.

First, we had a designer panel, then a dealer panel, now it is time for our manufacturers! The economy is slowly opening up, and our manufacturer members have had very different experiences over the past three months. Please join Infinity Drain Director of Sales and Marketing Barbara Kratus, hansgrohe President Oliver Bahr and Amerock Senior Channel Marketing Manager, Distribution and Showroom Direct Keely Roberts as we discuss what the new DPH world looks like for our manufacturing members. 
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Native Trails Introduces the Murano Collection: Fine Art for the Bath.

The Murano Collection perfectly combines age-old artisan tradition with contemporary design and function. Expert Italian glass-makers produce these spun-glass sinks utilizing techniques handed down over many generations. The result – exquisite, one-of-a-kind statement pieces for luxury design. The Murano Collection consists of five Design Series that incorporate colors and patterns inspired by views of the Italian coastline.

TUBO by Aquabrass - Distributed by AD Waters.

The TUBO single hole lavatory faucet from AB’s SOLO lavatory faucet series is the result of a creative design that combines robust, yet contemporary features. While reminiscent of different era’s water pipes and shut-off valves through its shape and lever, it undeniably draws its look and feel straight from the industrial era. TUBO is offered in black, brushed gold and polished chrome.

Franz Viegener Wins NYCxDESIGN Award for its New Kitchen Collection.

Franz Viegener is proud to announce that their Kitchen Collection has won the NYCxDESIGN Award in the Kitchen Fittings category, which was announced live on DesignTV by Interior Design magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen.

The Franz Viegener Kitchen Collection is available in the standard-sized and a larger pro-style faucet. The faucet’s powerful performance is bolstered by elegantly curved modern lines, while its inherently utilitarian nature is elegantly integrated into a contemporary design that recalls the professional-grade kitchen in the home. Available finishes: polished chrome, polished and brushed nickel (PVD), polished and brushed gold (PVD), polished rose gold (PVD), satin black (PVD), and polished and brushed unlacquered brass.

Are You Ready to Add Talkies to Your Product Pages? Thoughts from Fellow Jeffrey Valles.

Lately vendors and showrooms have been speeding around gathering as many images as we can for our websites. Quality is not really a factor, as any image is better than having the customer search for a specific item and see “No Image Available.”

Your customers hate it, you hate it, and most of all, Google ignores it. So, you chase any image you can and make the product web page complete. Voila, all are now happy. My page looks every bit as good as Amazon and my competition. Congratulations, you have leveled the playing field. Job well done.

Now what is next? I suggest it is time to add videos.

As a product description without an image is a shallow story, a product image and description without a complimenting video is passé.

SnapChat videos and Instagram stories are grabbing people’s primary attention and TikTok’s unique users have almost doubled in the last six months[1]. All are adding simple click to buy capabilities. Video is now the norm and we all have new work to do.

Take a moment to see how the world wide web has changed during the last few years. Amazon’s go-to-market strategy of selling everything possible and delivering it to you as fast as they are able is an amazing feat. Google’s algorithm promotes websites that continually offer new products that are supported by best in class content.

These two companies have dictated how we build our individual websites. We mimic Amazon's product page and enter all the data that Google is searching for. If it works for Amazon, let’s do it. If this is what Google is looking for, let’s give it to them. And with all that hard work, we all look the same. The Internet is a huge place full of potential and to succeed in winning a luxury market we need to be unique. Frustrated? Yep! Confused? I found this roundup from a16z quite helpful in better understanding what is working.

Imagine a client is looking for a specific product. They visit several websites and find similar product pages. The product looks the same on each site. The descriptions are similar, and the pricing and delivery times are comparable. Take a moment and search for a product you sell and see what you find.

What can a vendor or distributor do to break this tie? Add short, focused video stories to each product page. Each product does not require an individual video. Just a quick story of the many things that make your brand unique.

Start by making ten 15 to 30 second videos that celebrate what your brand does well and what makes you unique. Then take these videos and partner them with products on your website product pages. These videos will also play nicely on Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat. Distributors and vendors can share them to tell why they work together and expand each other’s video libraries.

Do not overthink or overdo these videos. Yes, you can bring in a crack crew with a talented director and spend a lot of money to create fine contact. You can also enlist your team to tell honest, authentic stories about your products, about your service and about your strong brand history. These can be recorded on a smartphone.

While the big companies are taking the time to plan each step, you can have 10 videos ready to go live in weeks. Then 20 in a few more weeks. Once you learn how to do this, you will be surprised how easy they are to craft and how effective they will be. Simple stories about styles you love, customer service stories you are proud to share and quick chats with clients.

The Internet has grown past text and images and is asking you for video stories about who you are. I think you know the script. It’s all in your head.

When the Crystal Ball is On the Fritz.

Our crystal balls are on the fritz. We don’t know what is going to happen. We can’t predict how many of our customers are going to return to our showrooms once we become fully operational. We’re not sure of the impact of the economic fallout from this crisis will have on our business. All of this uncertainty causes anxiety and stress. There’s no guide, standard operating procedures or even experiences that showroom owners can turn to for direction. We know of some owners that have had to take pay cuts, furlough great team members and be the bearer of bad news. Plus, working from home is not easy, especially if your role also includes home schooling and being proactive so your kids don’t bounce off the walls.

At a time like this, it’s easy to be stressed out, but don’t let it happen. Rich Fernandez is the CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute that specializes in mindfulness and emotional intelligence programs. He advises that the most important leadership decision you can make during this crisis is self-compassion. It’s not about being soft or letting things go. It is about empathy and not beating yourself up for everything that is not perfect.

DPHA started the year with a bang. There was lots of positive energy. Making a prediction about what will come next is nearly impossible. However, that will not deter DPHA from staying true to its mission of being the source for education, connection and elevation. We continue to help members keep their fingers on the pulse of what’s happen through our newly established webinar program and in our weekly e-newsletter, Connections. Fernandez advises not to lose site of the big picture even though the pursuit of your team’s and business goals may have been temporarily put on hold.

Think positively and recognize that your team needs you now more than ever. They need guidance and want to be reassured that they continue to contribute meaningfully. Focus on small victories that you and your team can celebrate.

Additionally, remember to take care of yourself. In addition to eating healthier and getting enough sleep, make time to exercise. Note author Dan Pink offers guidance to motivate yourself. Don’t state that you need to exercise. Rather, state that you get to exercise. When you need or have to do something, it’s being forced upon you. When you get to exercise, it is your choice.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Meet Amba's Newest Hire, Irie Mitchell.

Irie Mitchell is the newest member of the Amba Sales Support team with experience in Business Development and Marketing Public Relations. Irie is a Georgia native and recent graduate from the University of West Georgia and has a background in marketing and communications. She joins us with prior experience in business development and marketing public relations and looks to expand upon that experience. She is an energetic, ambitious leader and very excited to be joining the Amba Products team as we continue to grow!

Amerock Redefines Minimalism with the New Extent Collection.

Extent blends minimalist design with distinctive angles, creating an unexpected aesthetic. The result is a modern simplified form that is approachable and impactful. Available in four edge pull sizes up to 11-11/16in (297mm) overall length, Extent is offered in four finishes: Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, Satin Nickel and Black Chrome.

Extent is one of four new collections in Amerock’s launch of European-inspired contemporary designs.

Lenova Launches Germ-Killing Faucet.

The Aqualogic Ozone Faucet Line is the first conventional hot/cold faucet line that is also an ecologically safe way to clean food, and any other water-safe surface without any chemicals or chemical residue. Available as a standard single hole or pull out side spout, the faucets feature a small, thin ozone generator that uses regular house current to economically and naturally produce ozone water. The Aqueous Ozone produced is a powerful, clinically proven and extensively tested broad-spectrum microbiological agent which kills viruses, bacteria, mold, yeast and algae within seconds of contact. Aqualogic Faucets are simply as elegant in design as they are extraordinary in function.

California Faucets Makes Masks and Pet Videos to Support Community.

Although California Faucets has paused standard operations during the COVID-19-related “stay at home” orders, the company remains hard at work in an effort to help keep employees, friends, and neighbors safe. In addition to using its 3D printers to generate components to produce hospital masks and face guards critical for front-line medical professionals, the company has produced a public service announcement dubbed, the “Wash Your Paws” campaign to encourage nationwide hand washing while bringing a smile to peoples’ faces.

Check our their Instagram to watch the "Wash Your Paws" videos!

Lend an Ear.

Listening is an art form and there is a sound argument that listening is as important, if not more important, than presentation abilities. In a recent interview, co-founder and CEO of the private equity firm Blackstone Group, Steve Schwartzman, was asked what it takes to be a really good leader. He responded, “to be a leader you have to be a really good listener. You need to understand what goes on around you.”

One of the keys to becoming a more effective listener and a really good leader is to actually care about what someone else has to say. This is accomplished by recognizing both the verbal and nonverbal cues the person speaking to you is trying to convey. Not only do you need to carefully listen to the words someone is saying, but you must also be aware of tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. Next, you need to have the ability and the desire to process information received. Finally, you need to respond appropriately to validate that you understood what the information conveyed.

Validation takes many forms. One is to nod, signifying that you understand. Another is to paraphrase what you heard and obtain affirmation that your understanding is accurate. You need to be fully present and in the moment with the person who is speaking.

To be fully present, look through the lens of the person who is speaking. Where are they coming from and why? What problems are they trying to solve. What guidance are they looking for? When you look through the speaker’s lens, they will appreciate your effort to really understand what is important to them.

Another key is being focused. To demonstrate to your customers and clients that you are listening to them actively and are in tune with their needs and desires, consider taking notes during these conversations. On one side of a piece of paper write general notes about what customers are looking for, and on the right hand side jot down the most valuable pieces of information conveyed that may relate to style, budget, concerns, etc.

Most people engaged in conversations are focused more on what they are going to say next than they are about listening to what another person has to say. It's hard to stay focused if you are the person in a conversation that does most of the talking. Another reason for your mind losing interest is that you editorialize the points that the person is trying to make. This prevents you from fully focusing on what is being said. Pay attention to what makes you lose interest, and then shift your focus back to what the person is trying to say.

Emotions can also prevent you from listening. Have you ever noticed when someone becomes highly emotional that they don't hear a word you are saying? When someone vents, we often let him or her finish before responding. That's not always the best way to demonstrate that you have heard what they are trying to say. To help better understand the root of the person's anger or point, ask questions. Asking someone what makes them most angry or what they are most worried about forces the other person to focus on the incidents that caused an emotional response. It also demonstrates that you have listened to them and are concerned for their particular predicament.

Becoming a better listener makes you a better communicator. The customer who is talking to you realizes that you care about what they have to say, and when you demonstrate that you care, you establish trust. People will purchase from those whom they trust.

The Case of the Scratched Part, A Whodunit for the Ages: Thoughts from Fellow Jeffrey Valles.

When we talk of customer experience it is mostly related to the time when we are face-to-face with our customers, when we have a bit of control over the situation. But what happens if a situation arises when we are not by our client’s side? This is the moment of truth. The moment that we can show off our customer service and remove all that FRICTION.

For example, a large remodel is wrapping up right on time for the homeowners to host their daughter’s wedding. The plumber is trimming out the master bathroom. They open a box that contains a large part with a mysterious deep scratch and needs to be replaced. However, the product is handcrafted with a 6 to 8 week lead time. The clock is ticking, and time is not on anyone’s side. 

The plumber calls the showroom and is asked how it happened. Who did it? Not, let me call the vendor and see how fast we can get a replacement. DPH showrooms want to play Sherlock Holmes and find out who is guilty in “The Case of the Scratched Part”. Finally, after some very raucous back-and-forth, the showroom calls the vendor and they also want to know how such horrible disrespect for their handcrafted and lovingly packaged product occurred. Everyone is in lynch mode. All this accomplishes is increased FRICTION, damaging both the showroom and vendor brands.

All the plumber wants to do is get the part and get off the job. All the builder wants to do is wrap up the build and turn the home back to its owners. And all the homeowners want is to resettle in their abode and prepare for the big event. Does it really matter who is guilty? Is it worth the time to find out who damaged a $200 part? What about a $1000 part, which is more likely with a custom ordered piece? Let’s not lose sight of the reason we open our doors every day and why our customers choose us.

The word-of-mouth damage that the plumber, builder and homeowner can inflict on the vendor and showroom is substantial. But the benefit they can do is tremendous, if they know you’re there to help make it right. Why not eat the part and use this as a PR win? Look like a hero!

May I propose a new process for a field-damaged part:
  • When a call comes into the showroom, the first step is to properly identify the problem, agree on what is needed and understand the timeline.
  • When the showroom explains the situation to the vendor, the vendor investigates when the product can be made or assists in locating it and gives a firm ETA.
  • The showroom informs the plumber with the part information and makes any other follow up calls as deemed necessary to the parties affected.
  • The vendor delivers the part as promised.
Simple...Right? Decrease FRICTION, increase TRUST.

According to Narvar’s 2018 Consumer Returns Report, 89% of repeat customers who have a good return experience are likely to buy again. Offering a pleasant return experience can potentially improve your retention rate and increase revenue!

A few decades back, management was charged to make every company division a profit center. In fact, for quite some time, one plumbing manufacturer’s replacement parts sales were contributing a very high percentage to its bottom line. In a spreadsheet world I can understand that, but it does not help to build trust in the brand. PR, good or bad, does not show up as a black-and-white number in a spreadsheet but it does strongly influence the sales numbers.

Save your teams huge aggravation and gain a lot of positive word-of-mouth trust. Please repeal the process to investigate and punish the perpetrator in “The Case of the Scratched Part”.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Meet Samuel Heath's Newest Hires.

Heidi Jay joined Samuel Heath in April of 2019 to look after the Southern California and Texas markets. Heidi comes to Samuel Heath with over 20 years in the building industry. She started her career working in a builder design center for Braemar Homes in 1998. Since then she has worked for General Designs, D.R. Horton, Creative Touch Interiors, and Pirch. She is excited to bring the knowledge and experience she has gained to her new role with Samuel Heath. Heidi lives in Sherman Oaks California with her husband Jimmy and 9-year-old son Jonas.

Charlie Tull recently joined Samuel Heath to look after multiple metro markets to include Chicago, New England, Pennsylvania, D.C, Georgia and Florida. Charlie joins Samuel Heath following on from 13 years working for Victoria + Albert Baths for the UK market initially and then in the US and Canada. Most recently he has been working with Dornbracht on Multi Family and Hospitality developments based out of New York City.

Is Your Sales Team Ready for a Video Showroom Specification Visit? Thoughts from Jeffrey

As of today, a significant percentage of your good clients will be leery about visiting a showroom. Add in the fact that many homeowners, the money on the job, will share the same uneasiness, and you have as much as 50% of your good clients with jobs in queue that might not want to visit your showroom. What about the clients that do come into your showroom? You will likely only be able to allow a certain number of people in your showroom at one time to keep them a minimum of 6 feet from each other. What will you do?

Some showrooms have turned toward online, un-guided, virtual showroom tours. I think this is an easy proposed solution, but not a luxury answer. They can often be difficult to navigate on a desktop or tablet. It reminds me of jumping to warp speed in the Starship Enterprise when you move from room to room. Then, if you find the right room, viewing specific products is difficult. Today, there is a better solution.

Before the pandemic, Design Within Reach had added an in-showroom video option to its online chat tool. While a showroom sales associate is digitally chatting with a client, they can switch to a video chat mode and walk the client through the showroom and show them the actual products they are discussing. Not exactly the same as being there, but a very good way to keep the virtual visit in the hands of a capable salesperson and leveraging a well-curated showroom. Listen here for more information in DWR’s virtual video enabled chats.

My suggestion is to train your sales team how to use tablets with a video meeting app, Zoom, FaceTime, Ring Central, there are many options. This will take practice and, as with any new sales tool, some team members will dive right in and succeed, some will fight it every way and others just will not be able to add this emerging, essential sales technique to their toolbox.

Managing a video showroom visit is not that different from a pre-COVID-19 tour. 


  1. Get to know the client and gain a solid understanding of the job and clients style taste.
  2. Take them, via your tablet, to see the product you would like to start off the selection process or products they have mentioned. Then follow your regular sales process.

What you may have a harder time showing with this tool is taking in a view of the complete showroom. This impression helps customers understand the totality of your brand’s offering and the opportunity to discover what might be new and exciting for their job. This view is even more important for the designer’s client. Their client does not work with you often and these topics of excellent product curation and your steady stream of new product additions must be worked into your sales associates’ presentations. Each sales associate will have to develop poignant comments on these brand defining issues while also reminding all how you will be with them every step of their building process.

To start, each sales associate should have a tablet and complete Bluetooth headset to limit the background noise for both the client and associate. The right tools will lead to better results. Please, do not be frugal here.

The #1 rule is to take your time. While working with clients in a busy showroom, there are many distractions. In a virtual guided tour, they will only see what the salesperson presents. Instead of seeing 40 faucets, they will see one, two or three products at a time. Each possible product must be presented respectfully and on the client’s timetable. The client must dictate the pace. If they want to see another 5 faucets, so be it. If they are ready to move on to toilets, so be it. They do not know your showroom layout and will ask to go where they are interested in next, which may cause a lot of back and forth for the associate. In the beginning, this will be a frustrating sales process. Over time a good sales associate will implement digital video visits with ease. For now, they must listen, learn and remain patient.

This is the time to practice. It will be difficult for even the best sales associate to listen to the clients, comment effectively, continually point the tablet’s camera at the appropriate products and take notes. The only way to learn how to juggle all this is with practice. More prep time may be needed before the meeting in order to make the meeting more effective and efficient. Consider sending out a pre-visit questionnaire to better understand your client’s needs so that you can pre-select what you want to show them.

Separate your sales team into pairs. Send one from each team and their tablet to a separate work area outside of the showroom. They will play the client. The team member remaining in the showroom will ring them up on their tablet and start the showroom tour. Make sure you have at least three pairs practicing at the same time. It is important the associates not only learn to use the digital video tool, but also understand how to dance around people while digitally interacting with their clients.

Keep it simple at first, working on a powder room or a front door specification. Once they finish with the first round, get all the teams together and go over the trials. Do not rush this. Sharing everyone's experience will help others learn what works and what does not. Now switch roles and restart. This is going to take time and will require patience from everyone, including managers and owners.

Then comes the showroom visit follow up. This will consist of emailing wrap-up notes and, hopefully, a job quote. And, if the client requests actually seeing the noted product samples in person, delivering those showroom samples. Yes, in this new world you will have to live with a showroom that is missing popular products. That will be difficult for some of us perfect showroom people. You will get over it, and sharing samples will be an important part of building a deeper trusting relationship with your good professional accounts. You might have to double-up on more popular products to make sure you do not disappoint a customer.

For the time being, you will only be able to allow a limited number of people into your showroom at any time. Showroom traffic will be governed by your locality’s pandemic guidelines and customer comfort. This will make digital video call specification sessions a significant part of your business. This was coming for quite some time and COVID-19 has pushed us into adding virtual meetings to all our sales repertoires, NOW.

Initially these calls will be a pain and very frustrating for both your sales team and customers. As all sides orchestrate more calls, they will improve the dance and your team will take pride in being the best. Once this happens your strong brand will increase its stature in your market. There will be a silver, video lining.

Articles of interest:


Soul-Soothing Solid Brass Handshowers from California Faucets.

California Faucets’ new All-Brass Multifunction Handshowers are a quick and easy way to enhance the overall bathing experience while adding a spa-like sense of luxury to the bath. Bathers can select from three spray settings to soothe tired muscles, refresh the spirit, or invigorate the body and mind. Each ergonomic handshower is made from solid brass. Plus, with a choice of four designs and over 28 artisan finishes, the handshowers offer a no-fuss way to personalize the bath.

Each handshower comes in four unique design aesthetics: Traditional, with a slight curve and ring detail; the streamlined and tubular Contemporary; Industrial, which features a circular knurling detail on either end of the handle; and the vintage Steampunk with markings reminiscent of a steam valve gauge. Users can further customize their shower experience by selecting any of three functions: Jet for a vigorous spray, Massage for relaxation, and Air for a lighter, gentle sensation.

Watermark Introduces Automatic Faucets System to Entire Lavatory Faucet Line.

Watermark’s automatic faucet system offers a hygienic yet sleek approach to faucets making them perfect for commercial and residential settings. Ideal for staying safe and clean, conserving water and incorporating style and design, our automatic system is available with any spout in any finish. Watermark offers two versions: pre-mixed water or with temperature control. This system is available with sensor and touch options, and both are available with metering. The automatic system is battery operated, so there is no need for hard wiring, which leaves for a simple installation. The adjustable settings and features make this system perfect for luxury residential applications.

BLANCO Introduces the RIVANA Faucet Collection.

Featuring modern, geometric styling with functionality home chefs will appreciate, the new BLANCO RIVANA collection includes semi-professional, pull-down and bar faucet options along with a coordinating soap dispenser.

Available in Polished Chrome and Stainless Finish, the RIVANA semi-professional and pull-down faucet models help make clean-up more efficient with their easy to maneuver design and powerful dual spray features. An innovative magnetic handspray holder on the Semi-Professional model enhances ease-of-use. A bar faucet and coordinating soap dispenser round out the collection allowing for a seamless design when incorporating additional sinks into other areas like a wet bar or kitchen island.

How to Not Miss When Interviewing Job Candidates.

If there is a silver lining to the coronavirus cloud it may be the ability to hire best-in-class talent that have been furloughed or lost their jobs because of the pandemic. If you asked most showrooms on March 1 what their biggest challenge was, personnel would have been the answer almost all of the time.

With more than 36 million Americans losing their jobs in in the last eight weeks, there’s an exceptional talent pool waiting for new positions. How can you find the best match for your team and your culture? Know the right questions to ask, explains University of Pennsylvania Professor and author of Originals Adam Grant.

Grant believes most job interviewers ask questions that are too easy to answer or prompt the candidate to tell the interviewer what they want to hear. It’s easy to fake a response to questions about your greatest strength, weakness, goal, etc., explains Grant. Instead, he advises that interviewers ask behavioral questions such as “Tell me about a time when a project did not achieve desired results. What happened?” Past behavior can predict future behavior. Another technique to gain behavioral insight is to ask “what if” questions such as what would you do if an angry homeowner stormed into your showroom to complain that their cabinets were not the color they wanted. What would you do if a subcontractor missed a deadline or did not perform to your standards or expectations? What would you do if your team did not show up to the homeowner on time?

Noted HR consultant Ed Kelly defined a resume as a balance sheet without liabilities. Interviewers tend to focus on the wrong criteria, explains Grant. People tend to like people who are similar to themselves. If you are a fan of a professional sports team you will attracted to a prospective team member who also is a fan of that team. Grant points out that having a birthmark, being pregnant or overweight can put job applicants at a disadvantage. “And believe it or not, bald men are seen as having more leadership potential if they shave their head.”

You can avoid inherent biases by identifying the skills that a candidate must have to perform the jobs and creating a standard set of behavioral and situational question that are asked of every applicant. Grant advises that you pose the same questions to your top performing team members and compare their question responses to those of job applicants.

A third problem is to see through the best communicators. Almost everyone who wants the position you have available will stretch their qualifications and experience. They are selling themselves and the best salespeople often win. To overcome a bias for more effective communicators, ask candidates to provide examples of their work. It may be from another showroom that they worked at previously or a procedure that they developed to improve efficiency.

Most restaurant owners will ask a prospective chef to prepare a meal. Actors have to audition to obtain their roles. If you are hiring a designer, ask them to design a kitchen. If you are hiring a salesperson, have the candidate convince you to buy a rotten apple, suggests Grant.

Bottom line is resumes and experience can be misleading, especially if candidates are not motivated, don’t have the willingness and ability to think creatively, and do not want to be part of a high-performing team.

Friday, May 8, 2020

The Top 10 Metrics That Matter Most For Your Business In Today’s Economy


In today’s data-driven economy, marketers and entrepreneurs alike are constantly trying to capture and decipher data to understand their target audience’s behavior, determine buying patterns, and maximize marketing ROI.

Many experts claim that marketers and entrepreneurs should be tracking many different metrics and KPIs, resulting in an overwhelming list.

However, we are willing to bet that most of the metrics on your list are vanity metrics and won’t REALLY provide your business much insight or value.

If gaining market share and propelling profit in today’s economy is a goal for your business, then this article is for you. In this article, we will review the top 10 metrics that matter most for your business.

1. Website Traffic

Let’s say your website gets around 1,100 visitors per month. That’s great and all, but do you know which pages they visit? Where are your visitors spending the most time on your website? What exact words are they reading on each page? Where are they clicking and what are they clicking on? This is where a heat map comes in handy.

A heat map records (via a video) cursor clicks and all mouse movements, and it also shows you the “scroll depth” of all visitors, which tells you the overall effectiveness of your website design. See the screenshot below, which looks like a weather map. The yellow and red spots are where your visitors are scrolling and clicking most. 
A heat map gives you an idea of what draws people’s attention when they are on your site so you can “read their minds” and understand their thought processes. This image is a 30-day sample for the homepage of a client. However, you can run heat-map reports for individual pages on your site. For example, you may want to know how a landing page is performing for a particular advertising campaign, how web visitors from specific keywords or zip codes are doing, and so on. 2. Audience BehaviorThe screenshot below shows a comprehensive dashboard with key metrics, which include the following:
  • Average time spent on site
  • Bounce rate (which is how many visitors DO NOT visit a second page on your website)
  • % of mobile users (knowing this is critical for businesses with an unfriendly mobile site)
  • Top pages viewed on your website
  • Total number of inquiries (phone calls, form fill-outs, live chats, and wishlist submissions)

The dashboard shows some important metrics about how your marketing information is leading to sales opportunities at your company, which most analytics tools do not include. Most “dashboards” focus solely on marketing metrics and overlook what matters most: attributing sales opportunities and revenue from all of the activity you are getting on your site.

Perhaps one of the most important on this list is the number of inquiries, which refers to the number of calls, form fill-outs, and chats initiated from your website. Are you currently tracking these from your website?! 

After reviewing the number of inquiries, your team should then export this list into a spreadsheet for each of our customers. This way, every inquiry acts as a ‘line item’ on a spreadsheet/CRM. (See screenshot below.) This way, you’ll be able to accurately create an ‘inquiry pie’ so that you can calculate cost-per-lead, per channel via the web (i.e., CPL).If your company isn’t running more efficiently and transparently with this granular-level reporting each month, then there is likely something happening on a MUCH larger scale. 

3. What is The “Source” For Each Inquiry? “Source” indicates how a visitor found and arrived on your website. In most cases, this is a Google (or search engine) search or a live ad that you’ve placed on Google through the Google AdWords platform. The third type is “direct” in Column F, which means a visitor typed in your website domain directly into the search bar on their browser. This also means the visitor didn’t visit any other source before landing on your site (i.e., they already knew of you).

At this point, just know every visitor on your website can be put into a pile. After you put every visitor into their appropriate “pile,” you can then see what source is bringing you the most inquiries (because you’re tracking calls, forms, live chats, wishlist submissions, and so on) and what business development initiatives are bringing in clients, and at what cost per each acquired! 


4. Average Time Spent on Site
The average time on site refers to all visitors. In this case, approximately 1,100 visitors spent an average of one minute and 14 seconds on your site. Obviously, the more time spent on your site, the better. This is a good indication that your visitors are actually reading and engaging with your content and that your website design is effectively giving visitors what they want.

However, if you’re looking to yield a 3:1, 5:1, 10:1+ return on investment form the online channel, the number of inquiries you’ve received from the 1,100 web visitors who reached your site is much more impactful than knowing how much time they spent on your site.

5. Bounce Rate

This refers to how many people “bounce” off your site. This typically means that visitors only visit one page after landing on your site and then leave. This also means that they don’t click on any other pages.

Don’t let this metric fool you. If a website is providing people what they’re looking for, a high bounce rate isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, you can only prove this to be the case if you are tracking every inquiry that comes from the site, especially phone calls.
 
6. % of Mobile Users

This means out of all the visitors that land on your site, 43 percent (in this example) is the portion that accesses your site using a mobile device. This metric is important if your website design isn’t “responsive”, or displaying optimally on all devices and if you are running paid advertising that shows for mobile searches and bringing ideal buyers back to a non-mobile-friendly website. Other than that, it is always a good idea to maximize the mobile experience on your website for visitors. 
Your website performance...
                        

7. Top ChannelsThe top channel is displayed as a pie chart, which shows the top sources or channels that visitors used to find your site. In the example below, the bulk of the traffic came from a paid source, such as a live ad campaign like Google AdWords, Bing ads, Houzz Ads, or other directory sites. Organic traffic makes up approximately 15 percent of the total website traffic in this example. We also see several direct searches, some social media, and a referral. A referral might be visitors who come in from a third-party directory or review site, for example.                           You can also click on “Top Pages Viewed” to see which pages your visitors viewed and spent the most time on. One thing to keep in mind is this metric captures the total page views. This means that one visitor may visit a page five times. This is why the number of page views is often higher than the number of visitors. Finally, if your contact page has many views in comparison to how many people have inquired, then you may want to look at optimizing that page because just visiting the contact page alone shows a high intent to buy or reach out to your company to get questions answered.


8. Cost Per Lead (CPL)For those doing paid advertising, this is one metric that you probably aren’t tracking as well and as accurately as you should be... YET! The cost per lead (CPL) is what it essentially costs your business to attract leads from your website. The CPL is calculated by taking your total advertising spend and dividing it by total inquiries, minus duplicates, spam, and solicitation. This number can fluctuate depending on the season, ad budget, market share, and so on. So, don’t panic if this number is higher or lower at various times.
                   

9. Top Keywords

Keywords are the most powerful thing to reference when creating content like blogs, videos, e-newsletter copy, press releases, or Google ad campaigns. This list shows the top 10 keywords that brought visitors from Google to this company’s website. To reference an earlier portion of this post; you may want to look at heatmaps from visitors to your site from just these words.

By understanding your high-performing keywords you can further optimize your advertising copy, website content, and messaging during your follow-up efforts as well as what to do during the sales process that will generate revenue faster and in a more systematic fashion! 

Again, this list can fluctuate due to seasonality, inventory availability, and other market trends. So, it is important to monitor this list periodically and ensure that your mix of keywords makes sense to what it is that you want to transact on the most at your business. 
10. Zip Codes Website Visitors & People Clicking Ads Come From
Finally, here is a chart that shows the distribution of calls. The green block indicates the number of people who called from an ad (that never even visited your website). The blue indicates they called after clicking on one of your ads, visiting your site, and then decided to reach out. 

 




If you found any of the information contained in this blog post beneficial, or if you would like a complementary video analysis to learn more about how your company is positioned in today’s economy, please reach out to John Gosselin and he’ll work with his award-winning team take action on getting your company the best game-plan for “winning” more business, gaining more market-share and being more high-tech and high-tech on the internet immediately!



John’s email is John@EarnMoreDoLess.com and his phone number is (781) 780-2110.

Google Offers Free Listing On Google Shopping.

Google is offering free listings to all U.S. retailers to help them adapt to the challenges of the current e-commerce-focused market. With this change, brands will receive free exposure to the millions of people who use Google Shopping—for shoppers, it means more product options from more stores.

Google Shopping has been an integral part of the company’s search engine for nearly two decades (it was initially named Froogle). In that time, it’s grown as an alternative to e-commerce giants like Amazon or the websites of traditional retailers like Best Buy and Walmart by letting retailers list their direct website links and allowing customers to comparison shop while searching for products.

Social Media Today sees the move as a way for the company to boost its stake as an e-commerce player, reporting that the update has been under development for some time, but Google made the decision to expedite it as a way to assist both consumers and retailers grappling with COVID-19 shutdowns.

Amerock's New Separa Collection Raises the Bar on Sleek Elegance.

The intrinsic beauty of simple forms is realized in Separa. The collection boasts thoughtfully tailored lines and an architectural profile that resonates with elegant visual impact.

Available in three pull sizes up to 12-5/8in (321mm) overall length, Separa is offered in three finishes: Polished Chrome, Silver Champagne and Black Brushed Nickel. Pulling from emerging trends in home décor, these finishes are designed to coordinate with those at the forefront of lighting, plumbing, and appliance design.

Separa is one of four new collections in Amerock’s launch of European-inspired contemporary designs.

Stone Forest Continues to Expand Award Winning Elemental Collection.

Elemental is a unique, modular concept that allows you to combine integral stone sinks, wood drawers, and steel, wood or stone shelving in unlimited combinations. Brass legs with knurled fittings support the components and are available in aged brass, polished nickel and matte black. Custom brass finishes are now available, including polished chrome and gunmetal.

Impressive double basin Elemental sinks combine with ample storage options for the master bath. Double Basin Ventus (pictured here) or Double Basin Terra Bath Sinks. Both available in Carrara Marble and Antique Gray Limestone. Limitless configurations. Custom order only.

Hansgrohe Honors All Medical Personnel, First Responders and Active Military Members.

Hansgrohe wants to thank all first responders for being on the frontlines and keeping our communities healthy and safe. After they’ve worked so hard, it's time to wash the day away.

To show their heartfelt gratitude for the dedication and bravery in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, hansgrohe will be offering an additional 25% discount off the standard net price to the supplier for qualified participants to the local heroes in the United States. They will also waive drop-ship fees and include Free Freight Allowance. The discount can be used for AXOR and hansgrohe products. To learn more, reach out to your local Hansgrohe rep.

Council of Fellows' Scholarship Open for Applications.

2020 Council of Fellows' Scholarship nominees are now able to submit their applications through our brand new website! Established in 2008 by the DPHA Council of Fellows, the Scholarship Foundation honors the memory of all industry leaders and is presented at the DPHA Annual Conference held each fall. The Scholarship Fund is a monetary award to further the college, trade school or other postgraduate education of a child or grandchild of any individual working at a Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association member business. Application deadline is July 31, 2020.

Monday, May 4, 2020

BLANCO Offers Food Safe Solutions that More Easily Maintain Hygiene in the Kitchen.

Kitchen sinks and faucets are on the front lines of keeping a home clean and safe – used continuously for food preparation, hand and dish washing. Food safe and easy-to-clean surfaces that reduce bacterial growth as well as hands free solutions for faucets will help future-proof kitchen design by adding features that enhance wellness while still looking contemporary as well as beautiful.

BLANCO’s patented SILGRANIT kitchen sink material has benefited from over 35 years of manufacturing and continuous development. BLANCO’s proprietary Hygienic Plus surface acts as a shield against dirt and bacteria while reducing bacterial growth by up to 98%. SILGRANIT doesn’t require harsh chemicals to keep clean – just soap and water or baking soda, since the hydrophobic surface pushes away dirt and water, so it easily drains away.

The SOLENTA semi-pro faucet collection offers superb quality with innovative design elements. Engineered with a solid brass body and a flexible, high-quality hose encased in stainless steel makes this faucet both durable and easy to clean. The SOLENTA Senso provides the ultimate hands-free experience by combining reliable materials with a sophisticated start-stop technology.

Friday, May 1, 2020

DPHA Launches New Website!

The DPHA team is proud to announce the launch of the new DPHA.net! The site features a more stream-lined look, user-friendly navigation and new resources like a member benefit breakdown and COVID-19 Resource section.

Please note that due to lack of use, the door hardware takeoff tool is no longer available.

Introducing The Blake by MTI Baths. 

MTI Baths is pleased to unveil their newest freestanding tub – The Blake – born from a creative partnership with a renowned NYC design firm. The tub was created in collaboration with Studio DB, an acclaimed architectural and interiors company, as part of an upscale Brooklyn condominium project. The result was so successful that The Blake has been launched as part of MTI’s exclusive Boutique Collection and made available to designers and consumers alike as a luxurious soaker or air bath.

This sleek tub is notable for its distinctive lip that accentuates its elegant silhouette and invites adding a contrasting exterior color. The Blake is available in material colors of white or biscuit, in either matte or hand-finished deep high-gloss, with eight optional exterior colors, including the two newest colors, Sapphire Blue and Stratus Gray.

Newport Brass and GINGER Expand Collections.

Newport Brass has announced that it is incorporating more products and designs from its sister brand GINGER into the Newport Brass product line. Jointly, the brands will offer expanded collections, finishes and designs. Each brand will retain their individual brand identities; however the collections of each will more formally and completely complement one another.

Newport Brass has long been known for its precision-engineered products and diverse finish selections, while GINGER has a well-earned reputation for the breadth of its accessory offerings and cutting edge designs, so the marriage of these two well established brands is a win for customers who now enjoy additional design and product options.

Take Sanitation to the Next Level with Lacava's Electronic Faucets and Soap Dispensers.

The Zoom line of touchless commercial grade faucets and electronic soap dispensers from LACAVA is a great fit for the current social and environmental circumstances that helps to limit exposure to pathogens! The collection is available in 6 unique finishes and features an array of shapes and sizes for deck or wall-mount installation. The faucets are 1.0 GPM Watersense Certified, CAL-GREEN compliant and can be outfitted to run as little as .35 GPM. The fittings with AC/DC power source are suitable for residential or commercial use to keep your family and guests safe and provide touch free hygiene.