Join These 2019 Conference Sponsors and Make a Big Splash in Seattle with a Conference Sponsorship

Conference registration hasn't even started yet, but we would like to thank those companies who have already signed up to be sponsors at the 2019 DPHA Annual Conference and Product Showcase:

• Saturday Night Banquet Sponsor - Mountain Plumbing Products
• Ice Luge Sponsors
• Hamat USA
• ICERA
• Saturday Awards Luncheon - California Faucets
• Lanyard Sponsor - Berenson & R Christensen Hardware
• Key Card Sponsor - AXOR/hansgrohe
• Saturday Morning Bloody Mary Sponsor - Julien Home Refinements
• Saturday Morning Mimosa Sponsor - Barber Wilson/Sterlingham
• Council of Fellows' Food & Wine Tour -
• Baci by Remcraft
• Barber Wilson/Sterlingham
• Salmon Fishing Tour - Amerec
• Friday Charging Station Sponsor - AD Decorative Brands
• Conference Giveaway Sponsors -
• Infinity Drain
• Keuco
• Breakfast Sponsors -
• Accurate Lock & Hardware
• Hastings Tile & Bath
• Friday Night Bar Sponsors -
• Frank Allart & Company
• Kartners Bathroom Accessories
• Lenova

Want to join this distinguished list? DPHA offers a menu of conference sponsorship opportunities available to showrooms, manufacturers and representatives. Each level of sponsorship provides different marketing benefits. However, the most significant benefit that you receive for serving as a DPHA conference 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. Those sponsorships still available are:



• CONFERENCE DEALER GIVEAWAY SPONSORS ($2,000 each, 1 sponsorship is still available, and sponsor is also responsible for the cost of the giveaway item)
• Company's name and logo will appear on the giveaway item
• Specified announcement time for giveaway handout drawing traffic into your booth (2 announcement slots on Friday and one announcement slot on Saturday)
• Recognition as a giveaway sponsor in the meeting Newsleak
• Premier signage at the conference
• Ability to show PowerPoint during the conference registration along with the other conference sponsors
• Must have giveaway approved by staff prior to distribution

• COFFEE BAR SPONSOR, FRIDAY ($3,000)
• Sponsorship is for all coffee set-ups on Friday during the Product Showcase, which includes company logo on the coffee sleeves
• Recognition as the Friday coffee bar sponsor in the meeting Newsleak
• Premier signage at the coffee service on Friday
• Ability to show PowerPoint during the conference registration along with the other conference sponsors

• COFFEE BAR SPONSOR, SATURDAY ($3,000)
• Sponsorship is for a deluxe coffee set-up on Saturday morning during the Product Showcase, which includes company logo on the coffee sleeves
• Recognition as the Saturday coffee bar sponsor in the meeting Newsleak
• Premier signage at the coffee service on Saturday
• Ability to show PowerPoint during the conference registration along with the other conference sponsors

• SATURDAY CHARGING STATION SPONSOR ($2,000)
• Recognition as Saturday charging station sponsor at the charging booth
• Recognition as charging station sponsor in the meeting Newsleak
• Premier signage at the conference
• Ability to show PowerPoint during the conference registration along with the other conference sponsors

• BREAKFAST SPONSOR ($1,500, three sponsorships still available)
• Recognition as breakfast sponsor at breakfast
• Exclusive opportunity to show products on PowerPoint played during the breakfast
• Recognition as banquet sponsor in the meeting Newsleak
• Premier signage at the breakfast
• Ability to show PowerPoint during breakfast

• SATURDAY NIGHT BAR SPONSOR ($1,500, all three sponsorships still available)
• Recognition as a bar sponsor at banquet
• Recognition as a bar sponsor in the meeting Newsleak
• Premier signage at the bar
• Ability to show PowerPoint during the conference registration along with the other conference sponsors

If you are interested in taking a conference sponsorship, email Rebekah Covay at rebekah@dpha.net or click here to download a copy of the DPHA 2019 Conference Sponsorship Opportunities Registration Form.

DPHA Members' Blog - May 31st

Each week DPHA publishes a new post to our Members' Blog. This blog is available to DPHA members only. As a DPHA member you may use this content as your own in any of your marketing efforts, including your website, emails, newsletters and more. Use images of spaces you've designed to accompany content and insert your market territory, showroom name and contact information as applicable.


Creating Additional Space Is an Art

 

Imagine creating an in-home spa where you can wash away the stresses of the day and enjoy a few precious moments that are all your own. Maybe your new sanctuary features a large soaker tub, steam shower with light- and aroma-therapies, dual vanities, beautiful sinks, faucets and mirrors, an elegant chandelier, breathtaking sconces and lots of storage possibilities. After visiting Pinterest, Houzz and a few design sites that got your creative juices flowing, you plan to visit a showroom. Suddenly, the reality of space and budget cause you to pause. Maybe you don't believe that the footprint of your existing master bath or your budget will allow for your dreams to be realized. That doesn't mean though that you can't get the master bath you want. 

Click here to access the blog.

In Case You Missed Last Week's Notice - Registration for Booth Spaces is Now Available to Our Membership for the 2019 DPHA Product Showcase

Do you want to end your year with a bang? If so, DPHA is providing an opportunity for member companies to place their products in front of an elite group of experienced and market-savvy distributors that run the best showrooms in North America. Plan to exhibit at the 2019 DPHA Annual Conference and Product Showcase, November 7-10, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Seattle in Seattle, WA.

 

This year's showcase will once again be a must-see event! DPHA will conduct a multifaceted marketing campaign targeting hundreds of dealer showrooms throughout North America. This effort will provide multiple reasons for dealers to attend. We will partner with every one of the Showcase exhibitors to promote new products, existing products and current best-selling products through Connections and creative eblasts.

We will work with each exhibitor to identify dealers that would benefit from attending the Conference and reach out to help encourage them to attend. DPHA will create an easy button that Showcase exhibitors can use to promote their participation at the Conference by providing compelling content that you can issue to your customers and prospects that explain the benefits dealers will receive from attending the Conference.

The venue offers another incentive for DPHA members to attend. We again will be located at a first-class hotel with all of the amenities, services and luxury experiences that you expect from an award-winning property with one exception - the price. We've negotiated an unbelievable room rate of $199 per night plus tax.

Space is already being reserved, but you still have a chance to join these other members who will be promoting their products and services in Seattle, WA (as of Wednesday evening, May 29):

• Accurate Lock and Hardware - 412
• ACO Inc. - 311
• AMBA Products - 408
• Amerec - 204
• Americh Corporation - 400
• Baci by Remcraft - 405
• BainUltra - 311 and 313
• Barber Wilson/Sterlingham - 308
• Baril - 208
• Belwith Products - 504
• Berenson & R. Christensen - 301
• Blanco America - 304
• California Faucets - 305
• CEU Events - 402
• Danze - 101
• DDI Systems - 503
• Fairmont Designs - 501
• Hamat USA - 106
• hansgrohe/AXOR - 401
• House of Rohl - 509
• Hydro Systems - 209
• Icera - 607
• in2aqua GmbH - 410
• Infinity Drain - 505
• Jaclo Industries - 404
• Julien, Inc. - 409
• KEUCO Management - 309
• Laufen - 312
• Lenova - 205
• Mountain Plumbing Products - 205
• MrSteam - 300
• Nantucket Sinks - 313
• Nikles USA - 500
• Oceania Bath - 200
• SH – Showroom Design Build - 302
• ShowroomMarketing.com - 608
• ThermaSol - 508
• Unik Stone - 105
• Waterstone Faucets - 203
• Zitta - 109

Manufacturers and others interested in displaying this year at the DPHA Product Showcase should contact Rebekah Covay at 630-854-3911 or email her at rebekah@dpha.net. Do so now, because given the initial response we've received for booth space, we expect a complete sell out in the next several weeks. And remember, if you don't exhibit, you can't promote your products or services on or anywhere near the show floor.

Reserve Your Rooms for the DPHA 2019 Conference Now

DPHA members can now reserve hotel rooms for the November 7-10 Annual Conference and Product Showcase at the beautiful new Hyatt Regency Seattle in Seattle, WA. The rate is $199 per night plus tax, and if you reserve your room now, your credit card will not be billed yet for any portion of the stay, and you have up until 48 hours prior to the start of your stay to cancel your hotel room reservation without any penalty. Click here to reserve your room.

App of the Issue: LastPass (Password Manager)

LastPass is a password manager that securely stores your passwords and personal information in a secure vault. As you visit apps and sites, LastPass autofills your login credentials. All you have to do is remember your LastPass master password, and LastPass will autofill logins for you. Stop getting locked out of your online accounts or struggling with frustrating password resets. Let LastPass remember your passwords for you, and keep you safe online. You can use LastPass across all your devices, including phones, tablets, and personal computers, for free.

Features of the free app include:

• Store usernames and passwords for all of your online accounts securely in your LastPass encrypted vault.
• With the release of iOS 12, LastPass can now autofill in-app. Simply launch your apps and LastPass will fill in your username and password.
• Autofill usernames and passwords seamlessly in Safari and other mobile browsers.
• With free syncing, anything you save on one device is instantly available on all other devices.
• Securely store information like credit card numbers and health insurance cards in the encrypted vault.
• Log in with your fingerprint for simple, secure access to everything in LastPass (iPhone users).
• Safely and conveniently share passwords with others, such as the cable login or WiFi password.
• Create secure passwords in one click with the built-in password generator.
• Multi-factor authentication secures your password vault to add a second layer of protection on your account.

LastPass never has the key to your encrypted data, so your information is available to you, and only you. Your vault is encrypted with bank-level, AES 256-bit encryption. There is also a Premium version available, but there is an annual cost for that. Some of the extra features for LastPass Premium include:

• Unlimited sharing of passwords, items and notes
• 1GB encrypted file storage
• Premium multi-factor authentication like YubiKey
• Priority tech support
• Desktop fingerprint authentication

Registration for Booth Spaces is Now Available to Our Membership for the 2019 DPHA Product Showcase

Do you want to end your year with a bang? If so, DPHA is providing an opportunity for member companies to place their products in front of an elite group of experienced and market-savvy distributors that run the best showrooms in North America. Plan to exhibit at the 2019 DPHA Annual Conference and Product Showcase, November 7-10, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Seattle in Seattle, WA.

 

This year's showcase will once again be a must-see event! DPHA will conduct a multifaceted marketing campaign targeting hundreds of dealer showrooms throughout North America. This effort will provide multiple reasons for dealers to attend. We will partner with you and every one of the Showcase exhibitors to promote new products, existing products and current best-selling products through Connections and creative eblasts.

We will work with each exhibitor to identify dealers that would benefit from attending the Conference and reach out to help encourage them to attend. DPHA will create an easy button that Showcase exhibitors can use to promote their participation at the Conference by providing compelling content that you can issue to your customers and prospects that explain the benefits dealers will receive from attending the Conference.

The venue offers another incentive for DPHA members to attend. We again will be located at a first-class hotel with all of the amenities, services and luxury experiences that you expect from an award-winning property with one exception - the price. We've negotiated an unbelievable room rate of $199 per night plus tax.

Space is already being reserved, but you still have a chance to join these other members who will be promoting their products and services in Seattle, WA (as of Wednesday evening, May 22):

• Accurate Lock and Hardware - 412
• ACO Inc. - 311
• AMBA Products - 408
• Amerec - 204
• Americh Corporation - 400
• Baci by Remcraft - 405
• Barber Wilson/Sterlingham - 308
• Baril - 208
• Belwith Products - 504
• Berenson & R. Christensen - 301
• Blanco America - 304
• California Faucets - 305
• CEU Events - 402
• Danze, Inc. - 101
• DDI Systems - 503
• Dezi Home - 303
• Fairmont Designs - 501
• Hamat USA - 106
• hansgrohe/AXOR - 401
• House of Rohl - 509
• Hydro Systems - 209
• Icera - 607
• in2aqua GmbH - 410
• Infinity Drain - 505
• Jaclo Industries - 404
• Julien, Inc. - 409
• KEUCO Management - 309
• Lenova - 201
• Mountain Plumbing Products - 205
• MrSteam - 300
• Nantucket Sinks - 313
• Nikles USA - 500
• Oceania Bath - 200
• SH – Showroom Design Build - 302
• ShowroomMarketing.com - 608
• ThermaSol - 508
• Unik Stone - 105
• Zitta - 109

Manufacturers and others interested in displaying this year at the DPHA Product Showcase should contact Rebekah Covay at 630-854-3911 or email her at rebekah@dpha.net. Do so now, because given the initial response we've received for booth space, we expect a complete sell out in the next several weeks. And remember, if you don't exhibit, you can't promote your products or services on or anywhere near the show floor.

DPHA Members' Blog - May 24th

Each week DPHA publishes a new post to our Members' Blog. This blog is available to DPHA members only. As a DPHA member you may use this content as your own in any of your marketing efforts, including your website, emails, newsletters and more. Use images of spaces you've designed to accompany content and insert your market territory, showroom name and contact information as applicable.

Open Floor Plan Baths

During the last decade, the shower has undergone a metamorphosis, especially in newly built or remodeled master baths in (service territory names). Showers are now a focal point that can set the tone for the entire bathroom. Central to the transformation of the shower has been the introduction of functionally and technologically superior showerheads, light therapy (chromatherapy), aromatherapy, steam, music systems, bluetooth applications and many other products that enable homeowners to convert what was once viewed primarily as a utilitarian area into a personal design statement and in-home refuge.

Click here to access the blog.

In Case You Missed Last Week's Notice - The 2019 Award Nominations Are Now Open

Everyone wants to be appreciated and recognized for their contributions, but few of us take the time to say thank you to our exceptional peers for what they do for our companies, our organization and our industry. We want to keep changing this trend by encouraging you to submit applications and nominations to the 2019 DPHA Awards program. The deadline to submit applications and nominations is July 15 for the following honors:

• DPHA Showroom of the Year - 2018 winner was Advance Plumbing and Heating Supply in Detroit, MI
• DPHA Showroom Professional of the Year - 2018 winner was Phil Hotarek of Lutz Bath and Kitchen
• DPHA Manufacturing Professional of the Year - 2018 winner was Barbara Kratus of Infinity Drain
• DPHA Representative Agency Professional of the Year - 2018 winner was Noel Garcia Sr. of Decorative Sales Associates
• DPHA Rep Agency of the Year - 2018 winner was D'Antoni Sales Group
• DPHA Manufacturer Customer Service Department of the Year - 2018 winner was Americh Corporation
• DPHA Products of the Year (POTY) -
• Plumbing Product, Fixtures (sinks, tubs, toilets) - 2018 winner was Zitta's Materia Shower Enclosure
• Plumbing Product, Water Delivery (faucets, showerheads and valves) - 2018 winner was SIGMA's Sigma Flo
• Furniture - 2018 winner was Stone Forest's Elemental Collection
• Hardware - 2018 winner was Colonial Bronze's Empire Collection
• Accessories - 2018 winner was Infinity Drain's Compact Floor Drain Body
• Dealers' Choice Award - 2018 winner was California Faucets' Morro Bay Single-Hole Faucet

Now is your chance to recognize peers for their outstanding contributions to the industry and Association by clicking on www.dpha.net and logging into the members-portal side of the web site. Just click on the "Awards Program" menu and scroll down the page to the link for the online award nominations. For those who prefer the traditional route, you can also download form-fillable PDFs of the different award nominations by clicking on the appropriate links. Or if you would simply like us to send the application forms to you and you are a member of the Association, send an email to rebekah@dpha.net with your request.

For the Product of the Year awards (POTYs), DPHA has again assembled an independent panel of distinguished industry editors, designers and professionals for judging the five different products of the year. Those judges are:

1. Mary Jo Peterson, Mary Jo Peterson Design
2. Alissa Ponchione, Assistant Editor Hospitality Design 
3. Eliot Sefrin, Editor Emeritus of KBDN 
4. Alena Capra, Alena Capra Designs
5. Molly Switzer, Molly Switzer Designs

The Awards Committee added the Dealer's Choice Award a few years ago that provides another opportunity for manufacturers and representatives to promote their products as award-worthy in front of the staffs of every DPHA dealer. The Dealer's Choice Award works as follows:

• Every product submitted for the 2019 Product of the Year (POTYs) will be eligible to win the Dealer's Choice Award.
• Voting will take place immediately following the annual conference and will be open for approximately six weeks. 
• All dealer showroom staff members who have a DPHA login will be eligible to vote. One vote per person. 
• The winner will be announced during the opening session of the 2020 Conference.

Manufacturers - when was the last time you were handed a golden opportunity to have your new products analyzed and critiqued by leading journalists of publications that are read and respected by your clients and prospects? DPHA is providing you this opportunity. Be sure to take advantage of it.

We Must Never Forget - Thank You for Your Service

As we head into this holiday weekend, please remember the actual reason for Memorial Day - to remember those who have served our country to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today, so many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. DPHA once again wants to thank all of our members and members of their family who served in our armed forces. To you and veterans everywhere, thank you!

App of the Issue: Seated

If you like Open Table, you are probably going to love Seated. It’s a new app that offers rebates and credits on up to 30 percent of what you pay for your meal. Download the app for free from the App store. Every time you book a table, take a picture of the receipt, upload it to Seated and within 24 hours your reward will be digitally deposited into your account. 

Current rewards include gift cards to Amazon, J. Crew, Lyft, Apple, Starbucks, Lululemon and others. Seated is currently operating in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta with plans to expand to LA, Washington DC, Denver, Miami and Austin. There are a few catches though. The percentage of rebate varies according to different factors related to how busy the restaurant is and the time of day the reservation is made. Restaurants also can set a minimum that must be met to qualify for a reward.

The 2019 Award Nominations Are Open and Online Links Are Now Working

Everyone wants to be appreciated and recognized for their contributions, but few of us take the time to say thank you to our exceptional peers for what they do for our companies, our organization and our industry. We want to keep changing this trend by encouraging you to submit applications and nominations to the 2019 DPHA Awards program. The deadline to submit applications and nominations is July 15 for the following honors:

• DPHA Showroom of the Year - 2018 winner was Advance Plumbing and Heating Supply in Detroit, MI
• DPHA Showroom Professional of the Year - 2018 winner was Phil Hotarek of Lutz Bath and Kitchen
• DPHA Manufacturing Professional of the Year - 2018 winner was Barbara Kratus of Infinity Drain
• DPHA Representative Agency Professional of the Year - 2018 winner was Noel Garcia Sr. of Decorative Sales Associates
• DPHA Rep Agency of the Year - 2018 winner was D'Antoni Sales Group
• DPHA Manufacturer Customer Service Department of the Year - 2018 winner was Americh Corporation
• DPHA Products of the Year (POTY) -
• Plumbing Product, Fixtures (sinks, tubs, toilets) - 2018 winner was Zitta's Materia Shower Enclosure
• Plumbing Product, Water Delivery (faucets, showerheads and valves) - 2018 winner was SIGMA's Sigma Flo
• Furniture - 2018 winner was Stone Forest's Elemental Collection
• Hardware - 2018 winner was Colonial Bronze's Empire Collection
• Accessories - 2018 winner was Infinity Drain's Compact Floor Drain Body
• Dealers' Choice Award - 2018 winner was California Faucets' Morro Bay Single-Hole Faucet

Now is your chance to recognize peers for their outstanding contributions to the industry and Association by clicking on www.dpha.net and logging into the members-portal side of the web site. Just click on the "Awards Program" menu and scroll down the page to the link for the online award nominations. For those who prefer the traditional route, you can also download form-fillable PDFs of the different award nominations by clicking on the appropriate links. Or if you would simply like us to send the application forms to you and you are a member of the Association, send an email to rebekah@dpha.net with your request.

For the Product of the Year awards (POTYs), DPHA has again assembled an independent panel of distinguished industry editors, designers and professionals for judging the five different products of the year. Those judges are:

1. Mary Jo Peterson, Mary Jo Peterson Design
2. Alissa Ponchione, Assistant Editor Hospitality Design 
3. Eliot Sefrin, Editor Emeritus of KBDN 
4. Alena Capra, Alena Capra Designs
5. Molly Switzer, Molly Switzer Designs

The Awards Committee added the Dealer's Choice Award a few years ago that provides another opportunity for manufacturers and representatives to promote their products as award-worthy in front of the staffs of every DPHA dealer. The Dealer's Choice Award works as follows:

• Every product submitted for the 2019 Product of the Year (POTYs) will be eligible to win the Dealer's Choice Award.
• Voting will take place immediately following the annual conference and will be open for approximately six weeks. 
• All dealer showroom staff members who have a DPHA login will be eligible to vote. One vote per person. 
• The winner will be announced during the opening session of the 2020 Conference.

Manufacturers - when was the last time you were handed a golden opportunity to have your new products analyzed and critiqued by leading journalists of publications that are read and respected by your clients and prospects? DPHA is providing you this opportunity. Be sure to take advantage of it.

If You are Going to the ICFF Show Next Week, Make Sure Your Tour Includes DPHA Members

If you are going to be attending the ICFF Show next week at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, May 19-22, 2019, please make sure that your tour of the exhibit halls includes the following DPHA members:

• AMBA Products - 1481
• Belwith-Keeler - 2662
• Bocchi USA - 1671
• Brizo - 411
• Bronzes de France - 232
• Classic Brass - 2083
• Colonial Bronze Company - 2563
• Dornbracht Americas - 2439
• Frank Allart & Co. - 343
• Franz Viegener - 1857
• GRAFF - 311
• Hamat USA - 1971
• Hamilton Sinkler - 2730
• Hansgrohe - 1881
• Hastings Tile & Bath - 257
• Hydro Systems - 1379
• Infinity Drain - 2065
• Klodea - 1783
• LACAVA - 657
• Laufen North America - 151
• Samuel Heath & Sons - 1157
• Stone Forest - 569
• Sun Valley Bronze - 363
• The House of Rohl - 1563
• Turnstyle Designs - 221
• Watermark Designs - 1063

Let DPHA Help Pay for Your Child's or Grandchild's College Education

The DPHA Council of Fellows established its Memorial Scholarship in 2008 with two primary goals. The first was to honor the memory of an industry leader and the second was to provide grants to the children and grandchildren of any employee working at a DPHA dealer, manufacturer, representative agency or professional organization.

We know that with so much going on in everyone's lives right now that many people forget DPHA has a way to help the children or grandchildren of a member with the cost of college or university. But now that graduations are going on or coming up in the next few weeks, and before the summer gets here and your attention may be diverted, remember DPHA's Council of Fellows is currently accepting applications for its 2019 Council of Felllows' Memorial Scholarship Honoring Fred Silverstein. Applications must be received by July 31st, 2019. Click here to download the application.

Application Requirements: 

• Applicant must be a citizen of a North American country.
• Applicant must be the child or grandchild of anyone who works at a DPHA member firm.
• Applicant must be a high school graduate currently enrolled in a college, university or accredited trade school.
• Applications must be accompanied by a high school transcript, and if in college or trade school, a college or trade school transcript as well.
• Applicant must submit a double-spaced typed essay on "Why I Should Be Considered for the DPHA Scholarship." This essay should not exceed 1,200 words.
• Applications must also include the applicant's photo, which will be used for promotional purposes only after the winners have been decided.
• To be considered for the award during a given year, applications must be received at the DPHA office by the close of business July 31, 2019.

Selection Criteria:

• Applicant must fulfill all application requirements and complete the DPHA Scholarship Application Form.
• Essays will be judged on content, writing skills and adherence to accepted grammatical standards.
• Applicants must be well-rounded students, involved in extracurricular and civic activities and sports.
• The DPHA Council of Fellows reserves the right to interview Scholarship finalists prior to selecting a recipient.

If you have any other questions about the application process, feel free to contact Jim Babbitt at 224-999-0434 or via email at jbabbitt@dpha.net.

App of the Issue - Battery Saver (Wish I Had Had This Before Going on Vacation)

Battery Saver is a super simple and beautiful app to check your battery status and system status. 100% FREE battery saving tips available!

• Accurate battery percentage view
• Check your RAM Usage and status
• Check your Disk space
• Tips for battery maintenance

DPHA Members' Blog - May 17th

Each week DPHA publishes a new post to our Members' Blog. This blog is available to DPHA members only. As a DPHA member you may use this content as your own in any of your marketing efforts, including your website, emails, newsletters and more. Use images of spaces you've designed to accompany content and insert your market territory, showroom name and contact information as applicable.

The Current State of Bathroom Design

Bathroom design has climbed numerous notches in the past decade. Today, successful design in (service territory names) focuses on creating a personal oasis that provides an escape from the outside world. It is a space that you call your own, devoid of texts and tweets, and a space that enables you to literally wash away the stresses of the day.

Click here to read more.

Fred Silverstein, 1932 - 2019

It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that DPHA and its members learned of the unexpected passing of Fred Silverstein on April 28th. For anyone who knew Fred, many words come to mind - gentleman, icon, mentor and Fellow (to mention a few) - but perhaps the best word that would describe Fred to the decorative plumbing and hardware industry is "pioneer."

A true pioneer of the decorative plumbing industry, Fred Silverstein founded Plumbing World, a small plumbing supply house in Long Beach, California, back in 1977, and was willing to take the risk of being an early adopter, building out an extensive showroom, and becoming one of the first distributors to promote such lines as Grohe, Artistic Brass and Harden.  He never looked back, and spent every year since then innovating and supporting not only the decorative plumbing industry, but also the independent channel.

 

After growing Plumbing World into a local decorative plumbing destination and a brief stint distributing decorative faucets on the West Coast, he created California Faucets in 1988. In an industry that accepted 6 to 8 week lead times as normal and acceptable, Fred strove to do better. Through improved operations, the entire industry now benefits from this massive shift as what is viewed as an acceptable lead time.

 

While the two companies Fred founded obviously speak to his exceptional entrepreneurial talents, they also represent a very rare accomplishment: Fred was a pioneer on both the dealer and manufacturer sides of the business.  He intuitively understood the nature of each, and he was undoubtedly among a very small group of individuals who truly developed and deeply impacted the growth and trajectory of the decorative plumbing industry we know today.

 

As Fred liked to say: “You can tell if you have a real partner, not when things are going well, but when there is a problem. That’s when you find out who’s really supporting you." In plumbing, there are always going to be occasional problems, but for Fred it was how you handled those problems that truly define the success of the business relationship.

 

As for Fred’s support of DPHA, he was a charter member of the organization and continually supported it, not only with annual sponsorships and exhibiting at the annual conference, but by encouraging key people in the company to get involved. Most notably, when past DPHA President, Steven Weinberg, joined California Faucets, Fred encouraged him to continue his involvement by remaining on the Board.  By nature, Fred was not a public figure.  Not everyone contributes the same way to organizations or industries.  Fred was an intense behind-the-scenes “doer” by nature, but his impact was large.

Our heartfelt condolences go to the entire California Faucets and Silverstein families. Fred will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.