The
DPHA Faces-of-Our-Future Program recognizes up-and-coming influencers
in the decorative plumbing and hardware business. This program will
profile DPHA members with 10 or less years of experience. Each
month from June through October 2018, members will be inducted into
the Faces-of-Our-Future Club, and their stories will be featured in
DPHA's weekly newsletter, Connections. This week we recognize Diane
Hutter, Midwest and Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Keuco America,
who is based in Chicago, IL.
Diane joined KEUCO in October of 2017, after five years of
working at a premier showroom in Chicago. Originally from Virginia, she
started her career after college as a graphic designer, before moving
to the Windy City, where she quickly rose to lead sales advisor,
producing more than $1,000,000 in annual sales for her team. During
this time Diane was able to forge strong and lasting relationships with
key interior design and architecture firms, collaborating with them on
some of the most illustrious properties the city has to offer. In her
new role as Regional Sales Manger for the Midwest and Northeast regions
at KEUCO, she has become an integral part of their team, based on her
ability to learn very quickly and her open and engaging personality.
Diane was instrumental in finalizing the new KEUCO programs and
initiatives rolled out this year, and she has already become a valued
and trusted business partner for their independent representatives,
showroom partners and specifiers in the two regions she manages.
Connections: How long have you been in the DPH industry?
Diane: 6 years
Connections: What has surprised you about the industry?
Diane: My biggest surprise about our
industry is how much of a family everyone is. No matter who you work
for, work with, compete against, etc., we're all one big happy family at
the end of the day, supporting and learning from each other.
Connections: What is the biggest challenge you have faced in our industry?
Diane: I think one of the biggest challenges
I face in the industry is communicating the value of a premium product,
and justifying the price that comes along with that level of luxury.
There's a lot of education that comes with selling luxury goods, and
with the availability of sub-par competition (Home Depot, IKEA, etc.)
and avenues in which to shop (Internet), it's often a challenge to get a
client to wrap their brain around the value that a luxury purchase can
add to their project.
Connections: What do you enjoy about being in this industry?
Diane: I love beautiful things,
and I'm lucky enough to work in an industry where I am surrounded by
beautiful and innovative products each and every day. I love teaching
people about a product they didn't know existed, and watching them light
up as they find solutions for their clients. And finally, I love the
people. I've been welcomed with open arms into the industry, and look
forward to seeing old friends at every conference.
Connections: Anything else you would like to add?
Diane: I'm thrilled and honored to have been
nominated as a face-of-the-future, and thankful to all those who have
helped me grow. That being said, I still have a lot to learn, and am
thankful to be part of such an amazing community that constantly
supports, challenges, and teaches each other for the betterment of
themselves and their respective companies.
If you would like to nominate someone for inclusion in the Faces-of-Our-Future program, click here to download the nomination form, complete it and send your nomination to Jim Babbitt via email at jbabbitt@dpha.net or
fax to 866-623-6180. It takes only a few minutes to complete a
nomination form, but isn't that time well spent for recognizing someone
who is making an impact on your business and/or our industry?
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