Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Thank You, DPHA Leaders!

The DPHA Board of Directors met last week, January 22nd, in Dallas, TX. The goal of the Board meeting was to finalize action plans for committee activities in 2019. Among the goals for the year are:
  • Updating and digitizing education program manuals to help assure they reflect current industry practices and customer experience expectations.
  • Improving the Recognition Program to reward and recognize showroom sales professionals for their product knowledge and sales skills.
  • Leverage the success of the 2018 Annual Conference and Product Showcase to continue providing compelling content that improves DPHA member businesses and provides the industry's most effective venue to showcase new products.
  • More effectively communicate that DPHA provides a tremendous return on members' dues investments.
  • Provide multiple opportunities to recognize outstanding individuals, companies and products.
  • Deliver compelling content weekly that offers business practice guidance, sales training and industry updates that allow DPHA members to keep their fingers on the pulse of their industry.
DPHA again wants to recognize and thank those who dedicate their time and expertise to better the association and industry by serving on the 2019 DPHA Board of Directors:

Officers:

  • President: Gary Erickson (Renaissance Design Studio)
  • President-Elect: Ryan Paul (Summit Architectural Resource)
  • Immediate Past President: Cynthia Carter (Next Generation Marketing)
  • Secretary: Phil Hotarek (Lutz Bath & Kitchen)
  • Treasurer: Michael Pechar (MDP Group)
At-Large Executive Committee Members (subsequently selected by the President and approved by the 2019 Board of Directors):
  • Kate Brady (General Plumbing Supply)
  • Richard Campbell (Belmont Hardware)
  • Traci D'Antoni (D'Antoni Sales Group)
Directors:
  • Oliver Bleich (Keuco)
  • Robert Calabrese (Oceania Baths)
  • Tony Carter (Carter Hardware)
  • David Crossley (Baci by Remcraft/Colonial Bronze/Lisa Jarvis Jewelry)
  • Anthony Hajjar (JACLO Industries)
  • Sarah Jenkinson (Barber Wilson/Sterlingham)
  • Kim Killgore (The Rain Company)
  • Nat Mucha (Fairmont Design)
  • John Smithman (The Plumbing Place)
  • Debby Stehr (Stehr Enterprises)
  • Patrick Weidl (Thermasol)
  • Steve Weinberg (California Faucets)
Thanks again to all of you for your continued service in leading the association in 2019! 

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, But Here's a Few Things You Might Not Have Known ...

In case you forgot, Groundhog Day is tomorrow, February 2nd. It's also true though that most of us don't know much about the day except for what we remember from the movie of the same name, Groundhog Day, which starred Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  That story is about a man who, while in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the Groundhog Day event, goes to bed at the end of the day and wakes up the next morning to find it is Groundhog Day all over again, a personal infinity loop.
  
For those who can't remember the particulars of the day, here are some of the specifics.  Every February 2nd, people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, to watch Punxsutawney Phil look for his shadow. If he sees his shadow, it means six more weeks of winter. If he does not see his shadow, it means spring is just around the corner.
 
The legend of Groundhog Day is actually based on an old Scottish couplet - "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year." But while we're at it, here are a few other obscure things you probably didn't know about groundhogs and Groundhog Day:
  • Falling midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, February 2 is a significant day in several ancient and modern traditions. Germans developed their own
    take on the legend, pronouncing the day sunny only if badgers and other animals glimpsed their own shadows.
  • When German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, they brought the custom with them, choosing the native groundhog as the annual forecaster. They used the holiday as an excuse to get together and party, which seems as good a reason as any for a get-together.
  • The first official Groundhog Day celebration took place on February 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. It was the brainchild of local newspaper editor Clymer Freas, who sold a group of businessmen and groundhog hunters - known collectively as the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club - on the idea. The men trekked to a site called Gobbler's Knob, where the inaugural groundhog became the bearer of bad news when he saw his shadow.
  • Punxsutawney Phil has a downright awful success rate. When you compare Phil's predictions against information from the National Climatic Data Center, Phil's success rate is 39%. Of course, if you ask the members of the Punxsutawney Groundhog club, they'll tell you he's right 100% of the time.
  • Groundhogs are really deep sleepers. Groundhogs hibernate through the winter, slowing their breathing and heartbeats and letting their body temperatures fall not too far above freezing. They survive the hibernation living off the fat they stored during the summer and fall months. In warmer climates groundhogs may only hibernate for as little as three months, but in colder regions it can last as long as six months.
  • Punxsutawney Phil has an awesome full title! Phil's full name/title is Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary. He was given that name by the editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper in 1886.
  • Groundhogs are actually far from the "warm and fuzzy" creatures you might think they are.  As with most wild animals, their natural inclination is to be aggressive. They can be socialized if raised with lots of human contact, but in the end, you're still dealing with a wild animal, so proceed with caution.
  • Nowadays, the yearly festivities in Punxsutawney are presided over by a band of local dignitaries known as the "Inner Circle". Its members wear top hats and conduct the official proceedings in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect. (They supposedly speak to the groundhog in "Groundhogese.") Every February 2, tens of thousands of spectators now attend Groundhog Day events in Punxsutawney, a borough that is home to only about 6,000 people.
  • The 1993 film "Groundhog Day," which many of us will probably watch again sometime over this weekend, was actually shot in Woodstock, Illinois.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Going to KBIS 2019 in a Few More Weeks? Make Sure Your Tour Includes DPHA Member Exhibitors

If you are going to KBIS in a few more weeks, February 19-21, 2019 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, please make sure that your tour of the exhibit concourse includes the following DPHA members:  


  • ACO Shower Drain - SL3848
  • AMBA Products - C9522
  • American Standard - N3004
  • AXOR - N3263
  • Bellwith-Keeler - N2171
  • Berenson Corp. - N2277
  • Brizo - N2332
  • Danze - N3151
  • Delta Faucet Company - N1933
  • DXV - N3004
  • Easy Drain USA - SL3971
  • ELKAY - N3026
  • Fairmont Designs - N1971
  • Fleurco Products - SL737
  • Franke Kitchen Systems - N2163
  • GROHE - N3004
  • Hansgrohe - N3263
  • Hardware Resources - N2763
  • Hastings Tile & Bath, Inc. - BL20024
  • Infinity Drain - SL4001
  • Kraus USA - SL1425, N2759
  • LIXIL Water Technology - N3004
  • Mila International - SL3460
  • Nantucket Sinks - BL20019
  • Native Trails - BL20015
  • OMNIA Industries - SL1042
  • Pentair Everpure - SL1048
  • Perrin & Rowe - N2719
  • Professional Home Supply - SL4611
  • QM Drain - SL1643
  • Riobel - N2719
  • Robern - N2104
  • ROHL - N2719
  • Shaws - N2719
  • ShowroomMarketing.com - BL50022
  • The House of ROHL - N2719
  • Top Knobs - N2763
  • TOTO - N2639
  • Victoria + Albert Bath - N2719

App of the Issue: Pocket (Thanks, Steven Weinberg)

Use Pocket to capture the content that comes at you all day long, and curate your own space filled with only the topics you care about. Save the latest stories, articles, news, sports and videos from any device, and any publisher or app. Then fuel your mind with a reading, watching, and listening experience designed for calm eyes, free hands, and fresh focus.
 

Save the latest news, magazine articles, stories, videos, recipes, web pages, how-to information – anything you discover online or subscribe to, from any publisher. User favorites include: New York Times, The Guardian, Washington Post, Flipboard, The Atlantic, New Yorker, Lifehacker, Business Insider, The Verge, BBC News, Google News, Buzzfeed, Vox, engadget, Medium, Newsweek, Twitter, Youtube.
 

Pocket's clean layout and customizable display make for a relaxing reading experience that clears out the visual clutter, gives your eyes a rest, and lets your mind focus on the information at hand. Love long reads? Pocket's typography and layout keep reading comfortable for longer stretches. Love to read before bed? Try our new dark and sepia themes to reduce visual stimulation before you sleep.
 

Pocket's listen feature turns any news story, article, or blog post into a hands-free, eyes-free learning experience. Now you can turn content into knowledge while you cook, commute, work out, walk, or just relax and listen.

If it's in your Pocket, it's on your phone, tablet and computer – even when you're offline. Whether you're taking a news break, reading from bed, or breezing through articles on your commute, Pocket makes the most of your time by getting you straight to the news feeds, magazine articles, stories, information, news, and sports that are compelling to you. And estimated reading times help you turn any time into quality time.
 

Pocket is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, the web, and any other phone or tablet.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

App of the Issue: A Timely One, For Sure

The MyTSA app provides airline passengers with 24/7 access to the most frequently requested airport security information on any mobile device. Save time and money with their helpful tips for preparing for security, including a searchable database of items that can and can’t go in checked or carry-on bags.

With “MyTSA”, you can:
  • Quickly search which items you can bring with you through the checkpoint onto the airplane.
  • Check the delay information and current weather conditions at your favorite airports nationwide.
  • Check how busy the airport is likely to be on your specific day and time of travel based on historical data.
  • Consult the TSA Guide on how to prepare for and get through the security checkpoint quickly.
  • Discover which airports and airlines support TSA Pre®, and learn how to sign-up.
  • Request live assistance from TSA through the AskTSA social media integration (right now, this portion isn't active due to the government shutdown).

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Did You Know You Can See Conference Speaker Videos on Our Website?

Many of you may not know that you can speaker videos from our past three annual conferences on the members-portal portion of our website, including the following from our 2018 annual conference (unfortunately, we were not allowed to video record Bob Phibbs' presentation):
  • 2018 Product of the Year Awards
  • Avish Parashar: When Ding Happens
  • Ty Bennett: Partnership is the New Leadership
  • 2018 Saturday Awards Luncheon and Professionals of the Year Awards
To view the videos, log on to the Members Portal side of www.dpha.net, follow the path "Member Resources > Resources to Train Your Team", click on the 2018 Conference Videos entry and then click on the link of the video you wish to view (or if you want to vier the 2016 and/or 2017 speakers, click on those corresponding links). If you need your login information and/or the password for the videos (which is also listed on the 2018 Conference Videos page), please email Rebekah Covay at rebekah@dpha.net.

A Special Thank You to Our Awards Committee

We often take the time to thank the association's officers and our Board of Directors for everything they do, but forget to thank those persons who really make things happen for DPHA - our committees and their chairpersons.  The committees are the ones where truly, "the rubber meets the road" - they do the real work that makes our association grow, refine current programs and develop new ones that help deliver more ROI to our membership.  These committees meet by conference call once a month (usually lasting 30 to 60 minutes in length) and in reality, help drive the success of DPHA. So now, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge all those folks who work so diligently, and usually without any fanfare or praise, on our Awards Committee (and over the next month, we will feature the other Committees as well). 
  •  Awards Committee - meets the first Monday of every month at 4 p.m. eastern time
    • Co-Chairpersons: 
      • David Crossley (Baci by Remcraft/Colonial Bronze/Lisa Jarvis Jewelry for the Bathroom)
      • Dennis Mezzapesa (TCB Sales)
    • Committee Members:
      • Susan Butler (SIGMA Designer Faucetry)
      • Robert Calabrese (Oceania Baths) 
      • Cynthia Carter (Next Generation Marketing)
      • Kim Frechette (Americh)
      • Sarah Jenkinson (Barber Wilson/Sterlingham)
      • Barbara Kratus (Infinity Drain)
      • Bob Lando (Council of Fellows)
      • Jeff MacDowell (Luxury Products Group)
      • Betsy O'Day (Nostalgic Warehouse)
      • Cody Robbins (XOLogic)
      • Jeff Robboy (Baci by Remcraft)
And one other thing should be pointed out here - members of the Awards Committee serve with the understanding that neither they, nor their companies, are eligible to receive any of  the six Professional of the Year awards while they actively sit on the Committee.  So to everyone on the Awards Committee, thank you so very much for your selfless service!

Next week we will feature the Education Committee, but if you are interested in serving on any of our committees (Awards, Education, Marketing or Program & Showcase), please contact Rebekah Covay.  And don't worry about signing up but not being able to make all of the committee conference calls - attendance is mandatory for staff only(Rebekah Covay and JIm Babbitt) - we are a volunteer association, after all.  Here's your chance to not only network with more industry professionals, but help make a difference!

We Get Asked This a Lot!

"How do we get some of our new product offerings or news updates about our company published in Connections."  You might be surprised to hear how often we receive this inquiry at our offices.  In fact, we have been asked this question so often over the past few months, that we wanted to let everyone know exactly how this process works.
 
The items featured in Connections in the "Vendor News, Updates and Cool New Stuff” section, and which are then subsequently posted on our social media the following week, are available to any of our members with no charge involved, since this is considered a benefit of membership.  So please feel free to send any announcements about new products or company updates to Jim Babbitt, and we will be happy to include them in upcoming issues of Connections (also, please include an image, if at all possible).  
 
There is no limit to the amount of things you can send, but you should also be aware that we use no more than 5 articles per issue, and if we have more than that we give preference to those companies who have not been mentioned most recently.  We may also condense some of the items to not only avoid having them be too long, but to make them also NOT sound like an advertisement, which can often be the case when we get announcements.  And once we use the items in an issue of Connections, they are then scheduled to be posted on our social media sometime the following week.

And since we publish Connections on a weekly basis, there is no deadline.  Just send Jim things when you have them, and we will use them as described above.

Thursday, January 17, 2019

App of the Issue: Here's Looking at You Kid

Large gatherings such as weddings and conferences can be socially overwhelming. Pressure to learn people's names only adds to the stress. A new facial-recognition app could come to the rescue.

The app, called SocialRecall, connects names with faces via smartphone cameras and facial recognition, potentially eliminating the need for formal introductions. 

After receiving an invitation to download SocialRecall from an event organizer, a prospective user is asked to take two selfies and sign in via social media. At the event, the app is active within a previously defined geographical area. When a user points his or her phone camera at an attendee's face, the app identifies the individual, displays the person's name, and links to his or her social media profile. To protect privacy, it recognizes only those who have consented to participate. And the app's creators say it automatically wipes users' data after an event.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

It's a New Year, Which Means It's Time to Re-Register for the 2019 Recognition Testing Program

It is the beginning of a new year, which also means that it's time for participants in the Recognition Program to re-register for the testing program. There will be several revised exams by the end of March, and those tests will need to be completed before someone receives their completion certificates for each of the three subject categories - Bathroom & Kitchen, Hardware and General Knowledge. Also, a new twist was added a few years ago - when a participant successfully completes every test in all three categories, a desk plate with their names and the year of successful completion will be sent to them.

The goals of the DPHA Recognition Program are to:
  • Provide an easily accessible and cost-effective program that showrooms can use to recognize the expertise of their staffs.
  • Demonstrate to showroom staff that they are involved in a professional industry that celebrates knowledge and sales skills.
  • Encourage ongoing professional development to help improve the quality of service that DPHA member showrooms provide to their clients and customers.
The Recognition Program is currently only available to DPHA members and is housed on the members-only section of the DPHA website, www.dpha.net. The Recognition Program includes a series of exams based on a showroom professional's understanding of different products and ability to explain the technical, functional and aesthetic differences of products sold in showrooms and those that can be found elsewhere. The test questions have been developed from content found in the DPHA Education Program manuals. Currently, there are 22 different tests included in the Recognition Program as follows:
  • Bathroom and Kitchen Category:
    • Accessories
    • Bathroom Furniture
    • Bathroom Lighting
    • Baths
    • Drains
    • Faucets
    • Kitchen Faucets
    • Showers
    • Sinks
    • Steam Systems
    • Supplies and Waste Assemblies
    • Toilets and Bidets
  • Hardware Category:
    • Adorning the Door
    • Cabinet Hardware
    • Hinges
    • Locks and Latch Sets
    • Multipoint Locks
    • Protecting the Door
  • General Knowledge Category:
    • Care and Maintenance
    • Finishes
    • Greening the Bath
    • Universal Design
The cost to participate in the DPHA Recognition Program is $60 per person per year. Sign up at www.dpha.net. In order to pass a test, showroom professionals need to answer all of the questions correctly. Those who successfully pass the Recognition Program tests will be emailed a certificate that they can print and display at their work areas in their showrooms and scan and place on the company website. 

And for those who think they probably don't need any "refreshing," try taking our sample Recognition Program by clicking here. This sample test contains one question from 21 of our 22 Recognition Program tests, and we can tell you that no one has come close to getting all 21 questions right on their first attempt. If you take the test, you will get your results almost immediately (if you enter your email address correctly, that is), and only you and Jim Babbitt know the results (and Jim promises he won't tell on any one). Go ahead and try - the results might surprise you, and don't worry, you can verify all the answers by re-reading the 22 different Education Manuals.

Want to Try Your Hand at Writing an Article for Connections?

We have heard from many members how much they enjoy reading the monthly (or sometimes every other month) Helpful Hints articles that appear in issues of Connections, written by members of the Education Committee.  Did you know that you can view any of these articles (which began in January of 2014) by going to the Members Portal of our website and following the path "Resources to Train the Team > Helpful Hints and 5 Things You May Not Have Known Articles"?  Just click on any of the articles to download the .pdf of that particle piece.
 
And while we're talking about Helpful Hints articles, the Education Committee has decided to offer to every DPHA member the opportunity to write one of these articles, regardless of whether or not they are a member of the committee.  If you're interested in writing one of these articles that will appear in Connections (you can pick the topic), just send a brief email to Jim Babbitt at jbabbitt@dpha.net, and he will get back to you with more details.  If you have ever wanted an opportunity to try showcasing your business talent and expertise, here's your chance!

Did You Know About DPHA's Video Library?

Did you know that DPHA created a library of educational videos developed by DPHA manufacturers? The videos range from how to install different products that manufacturers make to product and company stories. There are more than 500
videos available to you and your team for training and education, and watching these videos can help make you smarter and better informed. The DPHA Video Library can be found on the members-portal side of www.dpha.net by following the path "Member Portal > Resources to Train the Team", and then clicking on the "Video Library" link.

Thursday, January 10, 2019

App of the Issue

This is a new feature for Connections.  Regularly, DPHA will highlight applications that can make your job and life easier. If you have an app that you particularly enjoy and that you believe could benefit your fellow DPHA members, please forward the information to Jim Babbitt at jbabbitt@dpha.net.
   
In 2018, Apple introduced a virtual reality tape measure called Apple Measure, an app that enables you to use your iPhone or iPad camera to measure different objects.  Simply point the phone camera at a surface and hit the + button. You can quickly gauge the size of objects, automatically detect the dimensions of rectangular objects, and save a photo of the measurement for later.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Congratulations to the DPHA 2018 Recognition Program Graduates!

DPHA is pleased to honor the 2018 graduating class of DPH professionals who have successfully passed all of the DPHA Recognition Program examinations. They are:   

Bath & Kitchen Category:

  • Amber Ballew, ProSource
  • Danielle Buckley, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone
  • Kason Fogarty, Sandpiper Supply
  • Janet Galchus, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone
  • Anne Kelleher, Immerse
  • Peter Loucks, Pierce Hardware
  • Paul Martin, Simon's Supply
  • Brittany Miller, Sandpiper Supply
  • Tami Miller, Immerse
  • Mary Murphy-Overman, Immerse
  • Stephanie Nunez, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone
  • Jared Prewitt, Pierce Hardware
  • Paul Reigelsberger, Immerse
  • Harlin Robeson, Santa Fe by Design
  • Shelby Rubera, Simon's Supply
  • Jennifer Shorthouse, Astro Design Centre
  • Filomena Silva, Simon's Supply
  • Dorian Skrobisz, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone
  • Laura Sullivan, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone
  • Damaris Sulsona, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone
  • Jen Zilka, Immerse

Hardware Category:

  • Amber Ballew, ProSource  
  • Kason Fogarty, Sandpiper Supply
  • Caroline Kourkaji, Renaissance Design Studio 
  • Peter Loucks, Pierce Hardware 
  • Paul Martin, Simon's Supply 
  • Brittany Miller, Sandpiper Supply
  • Kim Porter, Sandpiper Supply 
  • Jared Prewitt, Pierce Hardware
  • Kathy Richardson, Pierce Hardware 
  • Harlin Robeson, Santa Fe by Design
  • Shelby Rubera, Simon's Supply
  • Kathy Sanders, Pierce Hardware 
  • Filomena Silva, Simon's Supply

General Knowledge Category:

  • Amber Ballew, ProSource
  • Danielle Buckley, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone
  • David Covington, Pierce Hardware 
  • Kason Fogarty, Sandpiper Supply
  • Anne Kelleher, Immerse 
  • Peter Loucks, Pierce Hardware 
  • Paul Martin, Simon's Supply 
  • Brittany Miller, Sandpiper Supply 
  • Tami Miller, Immerse 
  • Mary Murphy-Overman, Immerse
  • Jennie Persell, Immerse
  • Joann Powell, Immerse 
  • Jared Prewitt, Pierce Hardware
  • Christian Ramos, Thomas Ramos & Company 
  • Paul Reigelsberger, Immerse 
  • Harlin Robeson, Santa Fe by Design
  • Shelby Rubera, Simon's Supply 
  • Filomena Silva, Simon's Supply
  • Damaris Sulsona, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone 
  • Jen Zilka, Immerse

Special Acknowledgement to those who have completed all THREE categories - Bath & Kitchen, Hardware and General Knowledge:

  • Amber Ballew, ProSource 
  • Kason Fogarty, Sandpiper Supply 
  • Peter Loucks, Pierce Hardware 
  • Paul Martin, Simon's Supply 
  • Brittany Miller, Sandpiper Supply 
  • Jared Prewitt, Pierce Hardware 
  • Harlin Robeson, Santa Fe by Design
  • Shelby Rubera, Simon's Supply
  • Filomena Silva, Simon's Supply

The DPHA Recognition Program recognizes DPH showroom professionals for their product knowledge and sales expertise. The program is available only to DPHA members. The series of exams are based on information contained in the DPHA Education Program manuals, and each exam relates to an individual product category (e.g. lavatory faucets, tubs, cabinet hardware, etc.). To be recognized in each category, participants must answer 100% of the questions correctly. DPHA will electronically issue certificates to those participants who successfully pass all of the bath and kitchen, hardware and/or general knowledge programs. 

Additionally, the Education Committee, under the leadership of Fred Felder (Simon's Supply) and Kelly DeSola (Watermark Designs) introduced last year a new benefit for the Recognition Program participants - anyone who successfully completes all 22 testing modules in 2018 has received a desk name plate announcing their accomplishment. 

For more information on the DPHA Recognition Program, visit the member's side of www.dpha.net or email Rebekah Covay at rebekah@dpha.net.

Welcome to Our New Members - 4th Quarter of 2018

As is our quarterly custom, we would like to welcome those new faces who joined our DPHA family during the last quarter of 2018:
 
Dealers:

Motif Hardware
7700 N Hudson, Suite 7
Oklahoma City, OK  73116
405-312-0112
Garvin Boyd
garvin@motifhardware.com

Manufacturers:

Bocchi USA
11350 Old Roswell Rd., Suite 600
Alpharetta, GA  30009
404-432-8014
Dawn Robinson
dawn.robinson@bocchiusa.com
www.bocchiusa.com
 
Representatives:

Hollabaugh Brothers and Associates
3028 SE 17th Avenue
Portland, OR  97202
503-238-0313
Jaliene Hollabaugh
jaliene@hbarep.com
www.hbarep.com

Personal Touch Sales
4075 Janewood Lane
Melbourne, FL  32934
321-288-5580
Gerry Weber
gerry@personaltouchsales.com

If you know of a dealer, manufacturer, professional member, representative and/or trade associate company who you believe should be a DPHA member, please forward their name and contact information to jbabbitt@dpha.net.

Going to the 2019 Interior Design Show? Make Sure Your Tour Includes DPHA Member Exhibitors

If you are going to next week's 2019 Interior Design Show, January 17-20, 2019 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto, Canada, please make sure that your tour of the exhibit concourse includes the following DPHA members (booth numbers are not yet available on their website):  
  • ACO Shower Drains
  • Fleurco Inc.
  • House of ROHL
  • LIXIL
  • Native Trails
  • Rubi
  • Zitta

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

App of the Issue

 
This is a new feature for Connections.  Regularly, DPHA will highlight applications that can make your job and life easier. If you have an app that you particularly enjoy and that you believe could benefit your fellow DPHA members, please forward the information to Jim Babbitt at jbabbitt@dpha.net.

Tired of getting spam?  Get rid of it with Unroll.me.  Decluttering your inbox has never been so easy, or looked so good. With Unroll.Me, you can unsubscribe from unwanted emails, consolidate sales/newsletters/listserv emails into a convenient daily digest called the Rollup, and keep the rest in your inbox.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

The Best Bang for Your Buck? Become a 2019 DPHA Corporate Sponsor

As we welcome in the new year, DPHA wants to remind our members of the menu of sponsorship opportunities available to showrooms, manufacturers and representatives. Each level of sponsorship provides different marketing benefits. However, the most significant benefit that you receive when electing to serve as a DPHA corporate sponsor is the statement you make to the industry. Your sponsorship tells the industry that you believe in DPHA's mission and programs. You are not only talking the talk, you are walking the walk to enhance professionalism and improve quality in the decorative plumbing and hardware industry. 
 
PLATINUM ($11,000)
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Newsleak
  • 25% discount on Newsleak and Connections advertising
  • A corporate/product profile in Newsleak
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Connections
  • Product spotlight in Connections
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor on the Web Page
  • Recognition in each updated and new installment of the DPHA Education Program
  • First opportunity to reserve display space at the Product Showcase
  • Two complimentary conference registrations
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference prospectus
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference program
  • Profile in the conference program
  • Product spotlight in the conference program
  • Four ads in Connections
GOLD ($6,500)
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Newsleak
  • 25% discount on Newsleak and Connections advertising 
  • A corporate/product profile in Newsleak
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Connections
  • Product spotlight in Connections
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor on the Web Page
  • Recognition in each updated and new installment of the DPHA Education Program
  • Second opportunity to reserve display space at the Product Showcase
  • One complimentary conference registration
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference prospectus
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference program
  • Two ads in Connections
SILVER ($3,750)
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Newsleak
  • 25% discount on Newsleak and Connections advertising
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Connections
  • Product spotlight in Connections
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor on the Web Page
  • Recognition in each updated and new installment of the DPHA Education Program
  • Third opportunity to reserve display space at the Product Showcase
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference prospectus
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference program
BRONZE ($1,750)
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Newsleak
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor in each Connections
  • Product spotlight in Connections
  • Recognition as a corporate sponsor on the Web Page
  • Recognition in each updated and new installment of the DPHA Education Program
  • Fourth opportunity to reserve display space at the Product Showcase
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference prospectus
  • Corporate sponsorship recognition in the conference program
Members that are interested in keeping their name and web sites in front of the most influential members of the DPH industry continuously and want to take advantage of DPHA sponsorship opportunities should contact Jim Babbitt at jbabbitt@dpha.net or call him at 224-999-0434. You can also download the 2019 Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Form simply by clicking here.