Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Newport Brass Introduces the Muncy Kitchen Collection.
Franz Viegener Releasing Innovative New Finish: Satin Greystone.
Now Open for Order: Odin® Kitchen Collection by Brizo®.
Varied by Nature. United By Vision.
MrSteam Adds New Video "How to Sell Steam: Wellness Benefits."
Learn more about what steam has to offer your customers in this short video.
Friday, September 25, 2020
Helping Your Team Navigate Uncharted Waters
Everyone has had to change work schedules and processes, and change is stressful. Nearly 70% of American workers report that COVID-19 is the most stressful time in their professional careers, writes Professor Eric Anicich of the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. The source of COVID-19 stress is a loss of autonomy or the ability to control actions and be yourself, claims Anicich. Loss of autonomy adversely effects team member performance and well-being.
Team members are worried about the threat COVID-19 poses to their family’s health, job, freedom of movement and mandatory work from home requirements. Anicich researched employees from 41 different community colleges during the initial lock down in March to determine how those employees felt about the control they had over their lives and whether they could be themselves. The research found that after an initial feeling of loss of control, employees recovered quickly and adapted to the new normal.
How to Regain Control
Anicich recommends that if you are working from home, clearly define workspace from home space. If you have a dedicated office, that’s fantastic. If not, create a dedicated space with a door where you work privately and family members know when the door is closed, you are at work. Take advantage of the benefits of working from home. Use the time that you would have otherwise spent commuting to be more productive, to get more sleep, exercise, connect with friends, increase quality time with family or anything else that makes you feel good. Take care of yourself. Eat healthier. Exercise. Spend some time on just you. Consider earmarking funds that you typically would have spent on going out, traveling or commuting on your and your family’s well-being.
Helping Team Members Cope
Regularly check in with team members. Understand that typical schedules are anything but typical, especially among team members whose children are attending virtual school. When possible, add flexibility to team members’ schedules by not focusing on when or how much the team works, but rather emphasize what is accomplished. Also, set expectations for the team and standards for those who are working from home. You can boost team member morale by frequently recognizing and rewarding team members who are aligned with your corporate culture and values.
Anicich’s research found that neurotic employees recovered their autonomy fastest during the pandemic. They could prove to be your most reliable and effective team members.
Another lasting effect of COVID-19 will be the future of work. Many companies are questioning if team members have to be present from 9 to 5, five days a week. Work from home will be a component of the future of work. The adoption of technology will continue to accelerate due to enhance efficiencies and ease of operation. Anicich believes now is the time to take as step back and ask the question, “What would an ideal world of work look like for this organization and what step can we take now to create this future?
As This *%#! Summer Ends, Where Are Your New Opportunities? By Jeffrey Valles, Colonial Bronze
With Wallpaper magazine images and a massive increase in Instagram followers circling in my mind; I called our killer, local distributor. I enthusiastically related the information and was absolutely blindsided with the response. Sounds interesting, have them give us a call…*%#!...
And the most frustrating thing was that this is not the first time this has happened. Throughout my four decades in the DPH industry, this has happened time and time again. And it happens when I have contacted the very successful showrooms!. Why do these players run their business by a Hollywood dream, if we build it, they will come?
Top luxury showrooms are busy and business is good. Their engaging teams are focused on their regular customers, plus pandemic demands. But should a sales relationship reliant business leave an order opportunity, and a possible profitable long term relationship, to chance? I think not. Jack Welch always preached, “Control your own destiny or someone else will.”
Even in good and 2020 crazy times, we need to always make sure we are focusing on what is best for our business’ future. This sounds easy, but it requires management to take time from all the day-to-day noise and assess how their business is performing. Not simply the regular performance matrices, but how is the team functioning. What is working well and what is not. Who is stressed and who is not, and what might be slipping through the cracks.
You cannot be everything to everybody, but wouldn’t you rather have the opportunity to make the call if the client and the job is a profitable fit for your business’ model?
Whether it is a one-time lead, a good client asking you to enter into a new product category, or taking a calculated risk on an interesting but precarious opportunity, wouldn’t you prefer to have a hand at the table? In Maria Konnikova’s new book, The Confidence Game, Why We Fall For It...Every Time, she writes, “To do nothing is within the power of all men.”
A beautiful showroom with many talented people is a wonderful thing. A beautiful showroom with many talented people that is aggressive, accommodating and imaginative is a market-dominating machine.
Best of luck out there and please be safe.
Monday, September 21, 2020
Nood Co Welcomes You to the Modular Freestanding Basin Range.
A new consciousness in modular bathroom design is here:
- 7 circle basin options
- Reversible tray option
- Adjustable foot base
- 14 color options
- Shadowline base
- 870mm height
- Wall mount bracket
- Simple assembly
New Custom Furniture Program from Wetstyle.
Send in your drawing along with the quotation form and they'll return a quote within 5 business days. Once the quotation is approved, your very own custom furniture piece will be built to specs by Wetstyle's skilled artisans at their woodworking shop in Montreal, Canada.
Combine YOUR DESIGN with WETSTYLE'S CRAFTSMANSHIP to create the perfect furniture piece for your next project!
Meet Eaton, a Summer 2020 Introduction from Kalco.
Kalco’s newest bath vanity lighting collection is The Eaton Collection, which is perfect for spaces that call out for something a little different. Not satisfied with classic bathroom lighting shapes, Kalco cleverly uses circular downlights to provide the perfect amount of lighting over a mirror. Shown in Satin Nickel.
Introducing Instant Hot and Beverage Faucets from Brizo®.
New Brizo Beverage faucets are compatible with an array of filtration systems - and are designed to beautifully compliment your existing décor and fixtures.
From traditional to modern, Polished Chrome to Matte Black, these faucets are available in a broad range of styles and finishes.
Friday, September 18, 2020
The Effect of COVID-19 On Home Design.
Homes will tip their hat to mother nature. Natural light, open windows, small balconies and terraces and skylights will pay homage to nature and provide more opportunities for homeowners to experience the benefits of natural light, fresh air and green spaces.
Open floor plans will wane. This trend started before COVID-19 and most likely will accelerate through the end of the decade. Homeowners will want defined spaces that separate work from home. That does not necessarily mean more walls or enclosed spaces. What it does mean is that there will be distinct spaces separated by interior windows and strategic sight lines.
Millennials will move to the suburbs, which is turn will result in home design and amenities becoming more urban.
There will be an expanded emphasis on health and wellbeing. Instead of having a fitness room, homes will feature yoga studios, meditation rooms, steam rooms and infrared saunas among other amenities and systems that allow family members time to reflect and recharge their batteries. Great showroom opportunity to tout the products that reduce stress, promote wellness and wellbeing.
Furniture goes on a diet. Sofas and other furniture will become thinner and more compact.
Handwashing increases permanently. The Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 is responsible for the creation of the powder room and popularity of easy-to-clean white subway tile. Look for COVID-19 to create vestibules and mudrooms that include sinks and package and shoe storage spaces. A great showroom opportunity is to promote sinks and smaller vanities that fit in vestibules or mudrooms.
Multigenerational households make a comeback. The high cost of housing and independent living will result in more multigenerational households with separate spaces or even in-home apartments for parents and adult children.
Design softens. Hard edges in design will give way to curved countertops, walls and woodwork to provide the look and feel of harmony and warmth.
Increased investment in quality rather than pieces that cost less whose price tag is directly related to quality or indistinguishable design.
Work from home will be the norm and defined spaces will be designed to respond to this trend. In addition, there will be multiple venues within a home and outside that enable family members to work from home, participate in video conferences and charge devices.
DPHA New Member Spotlight: Meet Foster.
Founded in 1973, Foster is an Italian company that operates in more than 50 countries worldwide. With five highly specialized manufacturing units, Foster is an integrated organization with headquarters in in Brescello, Italy. The Terranova palace - the Foster headquarter - is a former 17th century Franciscan convent, and it's not just a building, it is the expression of Foster’s love for art. Foster breathes passion for beautiful things, respect for the environment that surrounds them and a love for quality, hence their commitment to excellent service to meet the demands of a market increasingly sensitive to technological development and environmental protection.
Today Foster can offer solutions to an entire kitchen, in which each element is characterized by the functional design, for the high quality of the materials selected and its advanced technology.
Freestanding Bathtubs – Perfect for Outdoors by Liz Nass, DADOquartz
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DADOquartz Anahita freestanding bathtub at Cheetah Plains. |
Summertime outdoor bathing makes the most of any private garden or patio space, 5-star game lodges, resorts, day spas and hotel suites with a view – offering you fresh air, natural scenery, sunlight and moonlight. The natural greenery or outdoor city ambience showcase freestanding bathtubs as unique focal points, creating an exclusive outdoor sanctuary.
The primary consideration when installing an outdoor bathtub is whether it can withstand harsh natural elements – whether you are in the middle of an urban setting or part of the great outdoors.
If you are ready to combine your love for the outdoors with a luxury bathing experience, then here are 3 things to look for with your freestanding bathtub:
#1 UV Resistant
Placing a freestanding bathtub outside or closest to floor-to-ceiling window as part of your bathroom design plan requires you to consider the material of the bathtub and whether it can withstand harsh sunlight and UV rays. Make sure the bathtub you choose is resistant to UV rays and stains, allowing them to be exposed to outdoor elements and to the sun without discoloring.
#2 Non-Porous and Easy Maintenance
You will want to make sure that the bathtub you select is non-porous and free of hairline cracks, ensuring an easy to clean surface that is also resistant to micro-organisms and bacterial growth – perfect for the outdoors.
#3 Tolerance for Extreme Outdoor Conditions
Not all bathtubs are created equal, and not all will work for exterior applications. A tub boasting a full-bodied, solid structure will likely work best for this application. This might sound technical, but the advantage of this for outdoors is that each bathtub has the strength to withstand harsh elements and outdoor conditions without losing its natural beauty and polished satin appearance.
An outdoor space that has iconic city views, skyscrapers, a mountain range, a sea view or even an ivy-covered garden wall becomes the opportunity to create an outdoor bathing haven of relaxation and pure happiness.
Thursday, September 10, 2020
19 Years Later: Remembering 9-11.
DPHA takes time today to remember the 3,000 lives lost during the events that took place nineteen years ago today. The impact of this catastrophic event is still being felt today throughout the economic effects, subsequent illnesses and residual physical and psychological damage of all of those near and dear to New York City. Today is meant to be a day of reflection and remembrance of what that day represented and the community and banding together our country provided in days and months following the attack. We are feeling much of the same emotions throughout 2020 and with community and sharing our stories with our peers, we will get through another major historical moment in our timelines together.
DPHA’s own New York bred Kymberly Glazer shares with us her September 11th memories. Keep the stories alive and how these moments in history have shaped you. “On September 11th, 2001 I was a sophomore in college at Colorado State University. It was very early in the morning and my phone was ringing off the hook. I ignored it because, well, I was 19 years old and it wasn't even 7 am! Finally, one of my sorority sisters came bursting into my room, woke me up and said, ‘you need to come downstairs and see this.’ I went downstairs, to the only TV in our sorority house, and watched in horror as the second plane crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 am ET.
I grew up just an hour north of NYC and had several friends and family members who were living there. It took me over 5 hours to get ahold of my parents. Every one of my sorority sisters was trying to call, but the phone lines in NY were impossible to get through. All I could do was sit and watch in complete shock. I don't think I even cried until over a month later when I finally got to hug my parents.
I am thankful I didn't know anyone who perished that day. There were some miracles in my world on that morning - one of our closest friends who worked at the WTC was running late. Another had a meeting across town.
We all have stories of where we were that day, and this was mine. What is yours?”
Join DPHA on September 16th for the Next Wednesday Webinar: DPH and the Internet - Part 2.
House of Rohl Launches A Closer Look Academy: First Webinar is September 15th.
and clay, brass and steel, to be poured and casted, glazed, fired, and transformed into the finest of fixtures, they also see our collective potential to transform houses to homes by elevating your unique design style.
Join House of Rohl on their quest to curate the best; the best products, the best designs and most importantly, the best people. There are stories in every detail and the closer you look, the more you’ll see your own story of a life well crafted.
Newport Brass Introduces New Finish: Midnight Chrome.
Midnight chrome brings an element of sophistication to what the industry knows of chrome; the finish takes on slightly different hues depending on the light. This new finish brings the total number of available finishes from Newport Brass to 28. Midnight Chrome includes a 10-year finish warranty and is available on all Newport Brass products.
Add a Touch of Flair to Your Kitchen Sink with Mountain's Duet Finishes.
Combining their modern Matte Black finish with four complementary colors (Brushed Nickel, Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, Champagne Bronze), specific details of each part stand out.
Americh Launches Urban Bath Apron Storage.
The Urban Bath Apron is available on baths with add-on skirts for a list price of $895. It is not currently available on the seamless skirt category.
New Member Spotlight: Meet DADOquartz by FC Bathrooms
What began as a small family business in 1998, conquered the bathware market with their authentic, creative and innovative approach to design and manufacturing. Their hand-crafted bathtubs and basins have been featured in deluxe hotels and resorts globally and have been selected by the most experienced and skilled architects and designers from all around the world.
DADOquartz® bathware is available in two collections namely Sirene, the premium brand and ULIA, the premium luxe brand. Both the ULIA and Sirene collections feature products with two edge options wide edge and thin edge. To demonstrate confidence in the quality and reliability of their products every bathtub and basin is backed by a lifetime warranty.
An expert in-house design team is able to translate and bring any concept to life. Using state-of-the-art technology, they produce their own molds, giving them a significant advantage in turnaround time and cost in a highly stringent international market.
The exceptional customer support includes marketing and sales teams that offers personalized distinctive bathware solutions with sale drives, brand awareness and run various informative online platforms to assist customer care.
Their ability to customize is unparalleled, making DADOquartz® a favorite among contractors, designers, builders, and resellers.
The Updated Outlook for Kitchen and Bath from NKBA
The optimistic prediction at the start of the year, like most everything else that has occurred in 2020, took a dramatic about face when sheltering in place orders were issued in the middle of March. Word from DPHA showrooms is that they are busy, some having record months since COVID began. The National Kitchen & Bath Association publishes an industry outlook each year, and recently updated its outlook to account for the impact of COVID-19. The updated study found the following according to a recent article in Kitchen & Bath Business.
- 11% of planned kitchen and bath remodeling projects as of mid-April were cancelled or postponed because of the virus
- Spending on kitchens fell 25%, master bath dropped 18% and second baths dipped 14%
- Spending on medium and larger K&B renovation projects is expected to drop by 22%, while spending on smaller projects is expected to fall by 14%
- Projects that continued saw reliance on designers at 25% compared to 38% before COVID-19
- Homeowners who continued with their projects during the pandemic opted for lower priced products and were more likely to use DYI labor
Nearly 33% of Americans reported that they have changed the way they view their kitchens and baths as a result of COVID-19, focusing on health and safety, quality, function and design. For Americans working from home, 38% have changed the way they think about their kitchens and baths and 19% of those working from home reported wanting to renovate their kitchen or bath.
The report is free to NKBA members. Call 800-843-6522 to order 2020 Kitchen & Bath Market Outlook: Q1 Update. The full article can be found here.
Friday, September 4, 2020
Celebrate Labor Day with Gusto.
Most Americans associate Labor Day as summer’s last hurrah. It’s a welcomed three-day weekend to go to the beach, mountains, barbecue or simply hang out in a safe socially distanced environment while we are in the middle of a global pandemic.
Here are a few fun facts about Labor Day that you may not have known:
The History. The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City, September 5, 1882. At that time, most Americans worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. The irony of that statistic is that there are more than a few DPHA members who are working as if it was 1882. American labor law changed with the passage of the Adamson Act on September 3, 1916, officially establishing the eight-hour workday.
White is Alright. The fashion world continues to debate if it is okay to wear white after the first Monday in September. This no white clothing after Labor Day stems from a class distinction in the early 1900s. After the Civil War, it became more difficult to distinguish women who came from old or new money. The ban on white clothing is reportedly attributed to “old money” patrons to identify those with new money who did not belong in their social circles. There are other theories about no white after Labor Day. Traditionally, the fashion industry introduces its new fall lines to stores that historically did not feature white clothing. A third theory is that Labor Day marks the end of the summer, lighter clothing is no longer needed.
Irony of Labor Day. Another irony of Labor Day is the burden it has historically placed on brick and mortar retail. In a pre-Covid-19 world, retail workers, which used to represent 6% of the American workforce, had to put in 10 and 12 hour+ days. Others who work on Labor Day include police, firefighters, medical professionals and others whose job it is to protect us.
Go to the Dogs. The National Hot Dog & Sausage Council claims that Labor Day marks the end of the hot dog season. Why?
Be Careful Out There. Labor Day is the second most dangerous holiday to drive behind Memorial Day.
Are You Ready for Some Football? Labor Day also has traditionally marked the beginning of the NFL season in a pre- and post-COVID world.
Last One Until Thanksgiving. Another reason to celebrate Labor Day with gusto is it is the last federal three-day holiday until Thanksgiving.
Thursday, September 3, 2020
Where Do You Put The 800 Pound Gorillas in Your Showroom? Thoughts from DPHA Fellow Jeffrey Valles, Colonial Bronze
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| Central Arizona Supply Showroom Designed by SH Design Build. |
You are laying out your showroom, starting with placing the most popular brands in the market. These are the big brands that spend a lot of money promoting their products and that help motivate people to visit your showroom. So, you place these asked for companies right up front. Your customers will immediately know that you are THE place for big brands A, B and C. Life will be good.
However, how many other showrooms in your market also proudly shout they distribute these mega lines? In addition to those competitors, the local big box stores are also proud distributors, and then there are all the internet companies that would be happy to sell these customer-trusted brands. In reality, these best-known industry brands are being sold by a lot of companies that are targeting your core customers. With all this competitive noise, is it a sound merchandising move to set these familiar and heavily distributed brands front and center? Do you really want them to be the first products your customers see and align with your brand? Does this initial hit move your client to think your showroom is different from all the others in your market? Is this a way to help improve quote closure and profit? Life will be tough.
Today’s experience-craving customers are looking for showrooms to introduce them to new brands, new products and creative applications. Luxury and premium designers, architects and design enthusiasts want to see and interact with the latest and greatest, not necessarily the most advertised stuff. If they are using your showroom to simply buy products that they have seen in their email feed, you are no longer a go-to showroom and can easily lose the customer to your local big box or ecommerce site. What story do you want your professional design, build and homeowner clients to share? Buy it here! Or, let us help you design your best space. Life will be a story.
For a lot of showrooms these broad reaching brands are your top sellers, actively drive customer to your front door and are good partners. I am not saying that the lines should be removed. I am saying that they should be moved from the front and set elsewhere in the showroom.
We all know why supermarkets set the milk and bread in the back of the store. Customers must walk through the entire store to see all the fabulous brands and products they offer. Maybe they will add a few items to their cart that they had not intended to purchase on this shopping trip. Simple and time-proven. So why not do the same in your showroom?
Most of your business is from your returning design and building trade professionals. If the everyday brands are in the back, the wandering eyes of your good customers will see some of the smaller designer brands you offer, the new products you have just set and the smashing vignettes you have created. You want them to know you are so much more than just the big brands. You want them to understand that they can rely on you to show them the latest and greatest from the most obscure company to the household names.
People are becoming increasing comfortable buying on their computer and the pandemic has increased the speed of this change. Just look at the sales at Wayfair. They were given up for dead in January, now they are a Wall Street darling. You must make your showrooms a step above and away from your many levels of competition. It must scream different. They have to see what it is that makes the trip to your showrooms special and by placing the known brands in the back you will help your customers better understand the amazing possibilities you have found for them.
Most important of all, your client has to know and appreciate you are the very best partner in the analog and digital worlds to help them design, order and install the right products to create great spaces. Your team knows how to help them put it all together. You want to make sure all customers know your showroom is a place to build something, not simply buy. That is the story you want your customers to share. Afterall, life is a story.
Don't Miss Professional Development Training at DPHA CONNECT 2020.
Your customer needs your empathetic ear and a willingness to meet them in their own comfort zone now more than ever. Customer service expert Teresa Allen will share an interactive virtual program that will enable you to grow sales through common sense service encounters. Explore how to navigate through conflicts and ask the right questions to become more than an order taker. Learn how to build confidence and generate referrals by taking a genuine interest in your customer’s life and the unique challenges they are facing in today’s anything but normal world! This will be a Zoom Meeting with a limited attendee list and video will be required.
New Summer 2020 Introduction from Allegri Crystal by Kalco: Nuvole.
New DPHA member Allegri Crystal by Kalco recently launched its Summer 2020 lighting collections that highlight quality crystal and contemporary designs. Allegri’s Nuvole Collection features Firenze crystal situated within an individual chrome square, allowing enough movement to ensure brilliant refracted light. The overall gently sloping domed shape was designed specifically to cast a warm glow. The Nuvole collection is offered in an island and four pendant sizes.
Barclay's Newest Arrival: Winslow.
Be ready to enjoy a Zen moment any day in this relaxing bathtub.
DDI System's September Webinar on Conquering Disruption.
Inform ERP Software is a single-source solution that equips wholesale distributors and showroom businesses with the tools they need to create an exceptional customer experience and profitably manage their business operations.
Thursday, September 17th at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT
Learn how distributors are succeeding with Inform ERP's industry-specific technology and continuous innovation to reach customers whenever and wherever the market takes them.
- Increase Customer Engagement - Easily track and report on detailed customer information, allowing your sales team to be proactive and equipped with conversational touch-points related to contact activity and order history.
- Keep Up with the Modern Buyer - Real-time Inform ERP & eCommerce Pro integration provides a connected online storefront with customer self-service access and the ability to take orders 24/7.
- Gain Speed and Efficiency at the Sales Counter - With single-screen order entry, Inform allows you to provide fast, personalized customer service, leaving a lasting impression with potential buyers.
- Manage Your Business On-the-Go - Enable your sales team with the information they need to take immediate action. Touch-screen technology lets you easily create a quote or order and see customer service details.
Brizo® Announces 10 Year Anniversary with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®
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| St. Jude patient, Ashley |
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