The survey showed that designers’ client pool continues to be mostly older, mainly Gen X and Boomers. However, there is a growing Millennial client base that is gaining momentum. In fact, 17 percent of respondents said they are designing more for this group than any other, nearly double what it was in 2020.
When a product niche reaches this level of performance consistency, most manufacturers gravitate toward the same basic product platform. Is a faucet from vendor A really that much different than one from vendors B, C or D?
I have been back on the road for a while and have just returned from another week-long tour. I would like to report that the decorative plumbing showroom world remains vibrant and as diverse as ever. The question that I am most asked is: How are showrooms and customers reacting to COVID-19 in their business practices in 2022?
Jeff MacDowell, director of Luxury Products Group (LPG) attended the 2022 IMARK Summer Invitational alongside exclusive brands Australian Designer Faucets and Current. IMARK members from across the country were invited to attend and were able to learn more about what the LPG strategic initiatives have to offer.
While both inflation and mortgage rate increases have impacted the segment, the overall annual forecast still represents a double-digit increase over 2021.
Within the context of talking about the future business climate, one table observed showrooms are “staying busy, but single order values are declining.”
During my 2022 travels, I have noticed one combined practice that both delights and concerns me. Many salespeople and trade professionals have consciously sped up their product selection process by condensing the sales/selection process.
Supply House Times caught up with Chris Oatey, director of brand marketing at Oatey Co., about the company's newly launched decorative innovation, L. R. Brands.