Thursday, December 13, 2018

Barbara Kratus (Infinity Drain) Recognized as 2018 DPHA Manufacturer Professional of the Year


Barbara Kratus (Infinity Drain) was named as the 2018 DPHA Manufacturer Professional of the Year at  the 2018 DPHA annual conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. The Award recognizes a DPHA manufacturer professional for his or her outstanding contributions to advance the decorative plumbing and hardware industry based on the following criteria:
  • Degree of involvement in DPHA activities
  • Personal achievements in the industry
  • Pursuit of personal improvement and education
  • Job performance and accomplishments
  • Involvement in, and support of, other DPH-related organizations
  • Public recognition of a deed or accomplishment, which may or may not pertain to the DPH industry but reflects favorably on the individual as a DPHA member.
Barbara likes to joke by saying that she received an MBA from the School of Hard Knocks. She originally got into the DPH industry by answering a Craigslist ad for an interior designer who had launched a line of bathroom cabinetry at KBIS and "whoops", she was in business. Neither of them knew beans about decorative plumbing, who the players were, or even how the discounts worked (Barbara was easily three months into the job until a kind rep explained the math on how 50/10 was calculated). They had no reps and possibly two customers, but Barbara had a marketing background and knew how to deal with demanding customers from her advertising agency days, so they had a place to start. 
 
According to Barbara, her time at Waterfall Bathroom Furniture remains one of her biggest personal achievements in this industry. They were a fledgling company who launched right before the recession, but somehow, they managed to learn an industry, gain a following of loyal showrooms and trade professionals who loved their product and mission, and built a 3-person business into a brand that was ultimately purchased by Artistic Tile in 2011. They trusted their mentors in the industry, did everything they could for their customers and built a business from the ground up. There is nothing more exhilarating or satisfying than that.  
 
Barbara's positive and energetic thinking is obvious from the moment you meet her, and she is passionate about educating others in the industry.  As one of her nominators said, "Barbara is a great educator. She's been training in showrooms and specifier conference rooms for 10 years. She's worked many, many trade shows for Infinity Drain and has a smooth, calm and engaging way of educating people about plumbing in general, and drains in particular."  Another person added, "Barbara is a CEU machine educating dealers, architects, designers and NKBA members in the U.S. and Canada. She does more CEUs than any other person I know."
 
Or as Barbara told us, "Educating members of the industry, whether they are selling, specifying, or installing product is my favorite part of the job. I will talk about drains to anyone who will listen. I pity the person who asks me what I do for a living because they are about to get a mini-power PK on Infinity Drain. Education is essential because the goal is to simplify a product to the point where the sales associate, specifier or installer has no excuses not to use your product." 
 
Barbara has most certainly led the charge with marketing Infinity Drain over the past ten years, where she has been the national sales manager since 2008.  Working along with the owner and staff, she has promoted the use of linear drains in general, and in particular for high-end linear drains. Barbara is also appreciated by showroom managers and showroom staff for her active involvement with all aspects of the sales - education, sales tools and after-sales follow-up. She is an organized manager who is great with social media and marketing savvy.  Barbara also is "hands on" in helping installers get out of their comfort zones while getting comfortable with the installation of high-end decorative drains.
 
For her professionalism, positivism, knowledge, expertise and humility, DPHA was delighted to name Barbara its 2018 Manufacturing Professional of the Year.
 

No comments:

Post a Comment