Are YOU A Premier Distributor? Should You Be?

It's not too late! If you are a wholesaler/distributor of plumbing-heating-cooling-piping (including HVAC/R, hydronics, pipe-valves-fittings, waterworks), please participate in Supply House Times' annual Premier Distributors survey! It's shorter than last year's version and easy to do. Just copy and paste the following link to your browser window (preferably Internet Explorer):
http://www.clearseasresearchonline.com/R.aspx?a=127
Or contact Michelle Maki at makim@bnpmedia.com or Pat Lenius at leniusp@bnpmedia.com for a survey form.

U.S. regulators said that commercial construction loans, as well as credit cards and home equity loans, might be the next troublespot in the continuing credit crunch, according to Reuters. Also, the Department of Commerce released construction spending figures: January 2008 spending (seasonally adjusted) was down 1.7% from December's figures and 3.3% from January of last year. Construction spending has now declined for the past four months. Read more.

Northeastern Supply  (Baltimore, MD) relocated its Easton, MD, branch to a larger facility (15,000 sq. ft. of interior space, pictured left) at 28659 Mary's Court in November. The branch manager is Chris Bower.

Wm. F.
Meyer 
(Aurora, IL) opened its newest Aquae Sulis showroom at 2211 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago (pictured right). The showroom is 9,300 sq. ft. and carries more than 500 products, including plumbing fixtures from Kohler, Moen, Delta, Elkay and others. The showroom has working displays and lifestyle bath and kitchen suites. 

(L to R) Noland employees Ginger Moore and Ashleigh Hall.

A state-of-the-art multimedia display providing product information greets customers on arrival in the remodeled Bath & Idea Center showroom operated by Noland Co. (Newport News, VA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dayton, OH-based WinWholesale , at 3695 Meeting Street Rd., Charleston, SC. Product display vignettes, which are painted in Charleston's historic colors, can be rearranged for new display options and to show the latest in product technology and availability. In addition to a working showerhead display, American Standard tub and a MAAX rain forest shower, the showroom carries lines by Porcher, Villeroy & Boch, Whitehaus, Moen, Altmans, Sigma and MTI. Billy Sharpe is the Charleston branch manager.

Newport News, VA-based Ferguson says its new showroom to open in Winston-Salem, NC, will feature a "first-class gallery with fully functional displays." Its mix will include plumbing products, fixtures, appliances, luxury lighting and fireplaces. Deanna Gay will manage the new location.

Adelphi Kitchens & Cabinetry has announced a Dealer Incentive Program, rewarding its dealers who have $50,000 or more in annual Adelphi sales with cash back programs or credits and discounts toward collateral and in-store showcase displays.

Tom Stoddard

Tom Stoddard, age 96, retired Feb. 15, 2008, after 80 years of working for Speakman Co. Five years ago he received a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records for his employment record, which was unmatched. He joined the company Feb. 16, 1928, as an errand boy and timekeeper. He will continue to serve on the company's board of directors. Speakman was founded in 1869 as a plumbing pipefitting company and today offers specification quality plumbing fittings and electronic faucets.

David Crossley

Sonia hired David Crossley as Southwestern regional sales manager. His 18-plus years of industry experience includes stints with Phylrich and Duravit.

Caroma appointed Rose Swanson as business development manager for the Southeastern United States. More than 12 years of her 30 years' experience in consumer and industrial products was focused on the bathroom. Most recently she was district sales manager at TOTO USA. Prior to that, she spent 10 years with American Standard.

Environmental Water Systems  announced the top three winners of its 20th Anniversary $20,000 Giveaway and the 20 runner-ups. The year-long program honored the top sales associates in kitchen and bath showrooms across the country. The top three winners, who sold the company's whole-home filtration systems, were: Brian Dulin, Interior Trendz, Irvine, CA; Audrey Jenkins, Sante Fe by Design, Santa Fe, NM; and Susan Banks, European Kitchen & Bath, Solana Beach, CA. Among the runners-up were wholesale showroom salespeople at various Ferguson locations; Central Arizona Supply, Mesa, AZ; Morrison, McAllen, TX; Del Rey Supply, Seaside, CA; Canyon Pipe & Supply, Mesa, AZ; and Cregger, Bluffton, SC.

Geberit Starline, the Geberit North America foundry based in Milwaukee, WI, was recognized by the City of Milwaukee for its conservation efforts and commitment to exemplary environmental performance.  To ensure that no chemicals enter the wastewater, Starline stores all dangerous substances in double-walled containers. The foundry produces yellow brass castings with both gravity and low-pressure molding machines.

Uponor, formerly Wirsbo, has joined the Green Mechanical Council (GreenMech) as a Founding Member. The company supplies PEX-a plumbing, fire safety and radiant heating and cooling systems for residential and commercial buildings.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program has released a video podcast, "At Home with ENERGY STAR," hosted by Tom Kraeutler, the voice of "The Money Pit" radio program. It offers tips on how to make energy-efficient improvements to various rooms in the house.

The Feb. 26 Wall Street Journal ran an article about InSinkErator realizing impressive sales gains in Europe thanks to a marketing push for disposals as environmentally friendly products. The full article is available only to paid subscribers of the online WSJ. The print version took note of a vigorous debate over the issue, with some people contending that the energy used in making disposals and their effect on landfills and wastewater treatment make them not so green. The gist of the article, though, was that in the end they are more green than not.

Villeroy & Boch has earned two 2007 GOOD DESIGN Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum for its Soul Fittings and SmartBench WC. Pictured here is the organic-themed Soul bath faucet inspired by the shape and concentric rings of bamboo.

Craft-Art Wood Countertops announced its new Web site, www.craft-art.com, where it provides details on how custom wood countertops and other wood products can be used in a kitchen, bath or other area of the home.

The Copper Development Association launched an architectural awards program to recognize and promote innovative uses and sound installation techniques of architectural copper and copper alloys in North American building projects. The first North American Copper in Architecture Awards program is sponsored by CDA in collaboration with the Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association. Award finalists will be announced in March.

Sonia  is accepting entries for its second annual furniture design competition geared to showroom sales staff. Participants are asked to create the blueprints for a vanity or storage-related system that they think will perform outstandingly well and encapsulate the future of modernity. Designs must be for use in the bathroom or for creative storage solutions anywhere in the home. The design of the base or cabinet must include the use of solid wood (maple, ash or oak) and the top may be fire clay, glass or solid wood. The top design will be selected by Sonia's design team and management. The competition runs through July 1, 2008.

Obituary
Kenneth Harold Martin, the father of Ken Martin, senior director, commercial product development at Delta, died Feb. 25 following cardiovascular failure while scuba diving.