Duravit has opened its first stand-alone showroom in the United States. The 4,000-sq.-ft. showroom is located at 105 Madison Ave., New York, NY. Architects Schmutz & Partner designed it as a "blue space." In addition to housing products, Duravit New York will function as a training center for architects, designers, planners and specifiers. Training sessions will range from product seminars to hands-on installations to courses in wellness. Showroom hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, by appointment.

ALNO reported that more than 350 designers, architects, members of the press and ALNO dealers attended the grand opening party for ALNO | San Francisco, a 2,300-sq.-ft. showroom located in the design district of South Beach, on Nov. 6. Among the guests was Stephan Boehm of the San Francisco German Consulate. The showroom's owners, Deganit and Haim Albala (who also own the ALNO | Palo Alto showroom) led tours of the facility, which features five ALNO kitchens flanked by Julien stainless steel sinks, Hansgrohe fixtures, integrated appliances by Miele, Gaggenau, Liebherr and Elica, and CaesarStone countertops.

Divine Kitchens

The Marble Institute of America (MIA) introduced "A Homeowner's Guide to Natural Stone Countertop Installation" at StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas 2008 in Las Vegas . It was presented as a pre-sale brochure to give to homeowners, designers, kitchen & bath dealers and architects. The MIA posted a copy of the guide on its consumer Web site, www.usenaturalstone.com.

Maytag announced it is incorporating commercial-grade components into its residential laundry products with its new Performance Series washers and dryers. The laundry pairs are available in crimson, evergreen, oxide and white. Most models also feature the sanitizing power of steam. The Maytag Performance Series is also ENERGY STAR qualified.

Panasonic Home & Environment Co. is promoting its WhisperWarm ventilation fan with an online " Instant Win Game" that offers a $10,000 bathroom makeover as the top prize. The contest continues through March 26, 2009.

Whirlpool Corp. said its program for building and design professionals, The Inside Advantage, is offering 3-D appliance models that comply with the new Google SketchUp Dynamic Components standards, starting with the KitchenAid Architect Series II Suite. The 3-D appliance models provide users with easy access to information, such as SKU numbers, color and finish availability, and how each model qualifies for national green home certification programs.

Syngenta, a global fungicide producer, and National Gypsum , a mold-resistant gypsum board manufacturer, have entered into a supply and branding partnership to incorporate Sporgard brand mold protection into National Gypsum's Gold Bond brand XP family of gypsum board products. The companies plan to debut XP with Sporgard at the NextGen show home during the International Builders Show in Las Vegas in January 2009.   

DECOLAV appointed Chris Zappala to director of sales - Latin America, responsible for expanding the company's presence in Latin American markets such as Mexico, Central and South America. Formerly he was with Brooke Chase Associates where he developed new clients and recruited for all functional areas (including C-level) for the kitchen & bath industry.

The Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association  announced that Jonathan Wood, vice president of sales & marketing for Ginger/Newport Brass Hardware, has become its seventh president.

In other news, DPHA named Jim Babbitt (Hot2Cold, Northfield, IL) and Bill Fiddler (Fiddler's, Honolulu, HI) Fellows of the DPHA. The designation of "Fellow" recognizes outstanding leaders. DPHA has established a Council of Fellows to take on special projects and serve as its strategic think tank.

Wood assumed the presidency and the new Fellows were named at DPHA's annual meeting in Phoenix, AZ, in October. 

Chicago Faucets has introduced its ECAST line of durable brass faucets and fixtures developed to meet the AB1953 standard. California Assembly Bill 1953 (AB1953), which takes effect Jan. 1, 2010, requires that faucets intended to dispense water for human consumption must not exceed a total weighted average of 0.25% maximum lead content. Products affected by this bill will need to receive certification from an independent, ANSI-approved, third party testing organization in order to be sold and installed in the State of California. The ECAST line includes deck-mounted and wall-mounted faucets, metering faucets, stop valves, specialty fittings and bubblers.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) released the first comprehensive document undertaken by a federal agency regarding acquiring, constructing, operating and maintaining sustainable buildings. Sustainability Matters is a collection of case studies and industry best-practices that address GSA's sustainability initiatives and strategies at all stages of a building's lifecycle.

Haier America, a manufacturer of home appliances and electronics, has introduced NuCool, which it describes as an advanced electronics and cellular technology cooling system. It will be available in an eco-friendly 1.7 cubic ft. compact refrigerator this year and in larger capacities early next year. NuCool achieves temperatures as low as 37 degrees F (based on  70 degree F ambient room temp); it has no compressor and runs quietly while also achieving low power consumption.

Learning Opportunities:

WEBINARS

"Increasing Showroom Profits - Part 2," is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PT). Once again Supply House Times will host a free Webinar, featuring Hank Darlington, owner/founder of Darlington Consulting, on showroom best practices and Reed Fry , owner/founder of Fry Communications, on maximizing Web site traffic. Register here.
See Part 1 of this Webinar.

Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 11:00 a.m. EST DDI is offering distributors a live online demonstration of its Inform 2008 system. Coverage will include Inform's price import capabilities, streamlining Special Pricing Allowances and rebate reporting, plus advanced Lot Billing functionality. Call 877-599-4334 for more information or visit www.ddisys.com.

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

NAHB's International Builders' Show, Jan. 20-23, 2009 in Las Vegas, will offer more than 250 educational sessions covering: Architecture, Design and Community Planning;Business Opportunities and New Markets; Construction Methods and Systems; Economic Trends and Housing Finance; Green Building and Sustainability; Innovation and Technology; Legal Issues and Government Regulation; Organization and Business Management; and Sales and Customer Focus.

CorStone introduced the Model 96 Rumford acrylic sink. This 19-inch by 14-inch hammered bath sink is an affordable alternative to metallic sinks. It is available in eight metallic colors.

Danze offers the Aerial collection of low-flow faucets for the bathroom. The line includes a single-handle lavatory faucet, two-handle centerset faucet, two-handle widespread faucet, Roman tub faucet and shower or tub/shower options. Each component is available in chrome, brushed nickel and oil rub bronze finishes.

When it comes to lighting, pendants add sparkle and personality to any room. They create an instant architectural element when integrated over a bar or kitchen work surface. Pendants are a stylish way to spice up large, small, open or closed spaces. Studio Italia Design offers a wide range of styles and shapes.

The elegant transitional design of the Camino by Xylem offers an updated look for any bath or powder room. The vanity has a burnished black finish. Its shape is a mixture of clean lines and sight curves. A bottom shelf with drawer provides extra storage and it also has a coordinating mirror. The vanity can accommodate an undermount or vessel style sink.

 Bath & Kitchen Pro, a publication created for bath-and-kitchen installers, distributors with showrooms and designers, looks at customizing kitchens and baths and profiles a contractor's showroom in the Fall 2008 issue.

Contact Publisher Bob Miodonski at 630-694-4007, e-mail: miodonskib@bnpmedia.com or visit the Web http://www.bathandkitchenpro.com www.bathandkitchenpro.com for more details.

Essentials of Profitable Showroom Sales

by Hank Darlington & Paul Martin

BOOK: Includes book, end-of-chapter quizzes with answer keys, final exam, and certificate of completion. $119.00  Order.

Visit AECstore.com   to view all of our plumbing resources or call Stephanie at 248-244-1275 with any questions.