People On The Move

Craft-Art, a manufacturer of solid wood countertops, appointed Colin Maclean (pictured) to the new position of general manager. He will be responsible for all company operations.

Saniflo named Christopher Peterson West Coast regional sales manager. He will manage its network of independent sales representatives in the 23 U.S. states located west of the Mississippi River and report to Saniflo national sales manager Bob Lechner.

Also, Debbie Eisenbrey was named office manager for Saniflo’s Edison facility, and Robert Irvin was appointed technical service manager for the U.S.

Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath named Joy Archer director of customer service. She has 20 years of experience in customer service and software systems.

Companies Making News

Villeroy & Boch hosted the Triangle of Weimar, a summit between German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Jacques Chirac and Polish President Lech Kaczynski to discuss Franco-German-Polish relations, at its Old Abbey headquarters in December.

For the next six months, F.W. Webb is inviting contractors at its local F.W. Webb locations to enter “F.W. Webb’s, Watts WaterPEX Challenge” and try their skills by completing a series of standard PEX plumbing tasks. The champion will drive away in his/her choice of a 2007 pick-up truck or professional contractor’s van.

The American Standard Ingenuity Tour, a mobile showroom, visited Murray Supply Co. in Winston-Salem on Nov. 8 and the wholesaler’s Fuller House Kitchen and Bath showroom on Nov. 10.

The mobile showroom displays the latest innovative designs and exclusive technologies available from American Standard. Products range from faucets with self-cleaning features to relaxing whirlpool tubs.

InSinkErator awarded a $10,000 kitchen makeover to Jill Thaxton of Del Rio, TX, the grand prize winner of its “If You Can Stand the Heat, Get in the Kitchen” contest. She submitted a 100-word essay that described the role an InSinkErator instant hot water dispenser would play in her dream kitchen. InSinkErator also awarded 50 other essay writers with an instant hot water dispenser.

Speakman Co. says its showerheads are now the specification standard in bathrooms of half a million hotel and motel rooms in North America, including Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Sheraton, Doubletree, Courtyard, Wyndham and Westin hotels.

Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath says an actual Jacuzzi-brand toilet was selected to serve as the model for the one “starring” in the computer-animated adventure film, “Flushed Away.” 

Julien Home Refinements™ teamed up with designer Troy Adams to create the “Julien Bathroom Suite by Troy Adams Design,” which marries his sophisticated style and design with Julien’s hand-crafted stainless steel. Featured components from the suite include a freestanding-island vanity and wash area, a teak-framed stainless steel soaking tub, a foot bath, Tansu step cabinet and a concealed toilet bench.

Swanstone released a Green Building brochure to educate builders and remodelers on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for sustainable materials. It provides information on the LEED requirements and the credits that can be earned for using Swanstone products.

PremierDPH , a new decorative plumbing and hardware buying group, held its kick-off conference in Dallas in December. The group, formed by Buying Group Services, began operations in September and includes 17 members with 24 showrooms.

Bill Mathisen is executive vice president of Buying Group Services, which also manages the Bath & Kitchen Buying Group (BKBG).

THG USA , the importer of luxury bath products from the House of Tetard-Haudiquez-Grisoni (THG) in Normandy, France, has partnered with designer Jamie Drake to offer The Jamie Drake Bath Collection by THG. The collection was unveiled last spring at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. A dreamlike bathroom suite, framed by light blue walls and sheer, silky curtains, featured bathroom fixtures lined with faux crystals.

New Showrooms

Security Supply, based in Selkirk, NY, relocated its Glens Falls branch to a new facility in Nov. 2005. The move to a single-story, 24,000-sq.-ft. building enabled the wholesaler to double the size of its Bath Expressions showroom.

A grand opening was held last September for more than 125 guests, including Glens Falls Mayor Roy Akins, manufacturers reps, Security Supply’s corporate officers and associates from the five local branches, as well as builders, contractors and designers.

This 'n That

Eljer says the most effective way to reduce the sewage flow from a house is to reduce the toilet waste, which usually accounts for about 40% of the sewage flow. Using a 1.1-gal. toilet rather than a 5-gal. toilet will reduce sewage flows from a home by about a third. This means longer periods of time between septic treatments and less chance of having a septic emergency.

With support from Whirlpool Corp., Remodelers Advantage® , a consulting firm specializing in the remodeling industry, has culled business tips from remodelers across the country to present “101 PowerTips: Great Business Ideas from America’s Top Remodeling Companies.” The book offers industry-tested ideas for running a more effective, efficient and profitable remodeling company, including marketing tactics for attracting top clients, production tips for employees, actions to “wow” customers, resourceful ways to manage finances and techniques to make remodelers’ businesses synonymous with high-quality workmanship.

Product Development