The DPH manufacturer concentrates on quality product and superior customer service. We are expected to provide both at competitive prices and with as little friction as possible, and I would say, most of us do. However, as we’ve witnessed the ‘Amazoning’ of the marketplace, amplified by a pandemic world, DPH manufacturers are fighting to maintain stability between logical expectations and ‘the Amazon effect.’ While we all appreciate the convenience of an Amazon marketplace, not all products can be treated equally. Unlike some other industries, hardware, plumbing, appliances and lighting often have specific shipping, installation and service needs.

Manufacturers are often viewed simply as marketers and salespeople, but as you may have seen when visiting a factory, manufacturing is a multi-faceted and complex business. Manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world are more tightly bound together through raw materials, labor and freight than may appear from a finished product.

TIES THAT BIND

Raw Materials: These are tied to industries as varied as oil and microchips. Most can be, and are, sourced nationally, but some must be sourced internationally. The flow of these products is regulated by countries, politics and commerce vagaries all around the world. In a normal year, price increases are expected and applied where necessary. In a COVID year, price increases have been compounded by national and worldwide slowdowns in supply, and increases are reflecting the upheaval.

Ben Alliker of HamatUSA explains, “2020 was not kind to many parts of the construction industry, mainly due to increased demand and decreased supply. Appliances and lumber both faced an initial crunch, and appliances remain on short supply and long lead times. For many DPH manufacturers, it was a mixed bag. Kitchen products, unlike a shower valve or new freestanding tub filler, don’t require an extensive remodel project. It’s relatively easy to install a new kitchen sink and faucet into an existing kitchen. Because of a huge number of people staying home across the world, and the relative ease of installation, HamatUSA saw a huge spike in demand over the summer and into the fall for kitchen sinks and faucets – both in the U.S. and in foreign markets.”

Production and Inventory: For manufacturers, this is handled in a wide variety of ways. That is to say some manufacturers work on a made-to-order, just-in-time basis with very little inventory, while others continually produce and maintain large inventories. There are pros and cons to both, but both take deft skills to balance output with demand and costs with profit.

Freight Costs: Costs associated with shipping have skyrocketed. The freight industry has been working throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk, but also realizing their undeniable necessity to the buying public. Their charges are reflecting their increased importance. ‘Fuel surcharges’ have become more common. Most DPH manufacturers have decided to keep freight rates as stable as possible, absorb many increases and/or set free freight levels.

LABOR AND SERVICE

Returns and Restocks: There is no easy fix for returns and restocks, which have become a flash point. We know, stuff happens. We all want to make these transactions as painless as possible. However, returns in our segment are not as easy as logging on and printing off a return label or simply scanning a QR code. Returns and restocks are expensive for everyone and cannot be ‘solved’ by simply raising prices to try and speed up the process. The customer changed their mind? It happens. But a faucet, toilet, steam unit, drain or tub cannot simply be Rambo-taped back into its packaging and dropped off. Return transport, reception and inspection, repair (if necessary), repacking (if possible) and return to inventory are only a few of the things that need to happen to a return. But, let’s be honest. We all know that a consumer wants a new product, so reselling product is difficult and frowned upon. What can be done with returned goods in our industry? How many ways are there to reduce, reuse, recycle? Manufacturers are often caught in a difficult position to satisfy consumers even when issues are not manufacturing related.

“Absorbing the costs associated with returns would most likely come with a price increase,” says Barbara Kratus of Infinity Drain. “Ultimately, it’s the consumer who will pay for it in the end, whether it’s Prime delivery or no-questions-asked returns – just as they do now on Amazon or any other online retailer where it’s baked into the price.”

Harris Wattles of Amba Products adds, “Re-stock fees are put into place for a variety of reasons, and a price increase simply to help offset a reduction/elimination of restock fees is not the answer to the problem. Increasing our prices for this reason will only make it harder to compete with other brands, especially the low-cost companies that you frequently see on Amazon, further eroding a company’s image while likely pricing our products out of the market.”

Labor Costs: In manufacturing, these are more competitive than ever. Recruiting, hiring and retaining the best people at every position is not exclusively difficult to showrooms or agencies. Most jobs in DPH manufacturing are not on assembly lines, but rather require trade training or artistic skill.

“Production facilities (during COVID) had less time/resources available for new product production. As responsible suppliers, we had to initiate protocols to keep production teams safe and healthy,” Alliker explains. “That universally meant less people in the factory at one time, and different production schedules, and thus decreased production capacity. We have seen COVID-related delays to the supply chain for new components as they also deal with COVID realities.”

Service: This is the other main component to successful manufacturing. We all remember bad service when we encounter it, and good service doesn’t always get recognized but is expected at all levels. Good service can be a simple smiling voice or a clear instruction about how to turn something on and off. Good service to a consumer can be slowly walking through how to operate a control, or good service can become bad service by not changing out that same control, that is working properly, because the user doesn’t like how the control operates. There is a fine line between the customer always being right and easy, on-site solutions.

Labor Costs: These are now jungle competitive in the field. Skilled tradespeople have never been as busy as they are now. Product support for warranty issues or installation inspections is a critical component in the overall experience of a product offering. Your warranty can be 100 years, but if you can’t get a professional to a job site, it’s not worth much. And we are all dependent upon how professional and experienced the tradesperson working with us can be during the initial installation or follow up servicing.

“I think products that incorporate tech could inspire young people to enter the trades,” says Kratus. “There are incredible innovations in building materials! We have to tout that at all levels of the building process.”

Patrick Weidl of ThermaSol adds, “ThermaSol, like many of us, is reliant on two trades – plumbers and electricians – to install the products. Have their expectations changed? Yes, absolutely. To meet those expectations, we introduced virtual trainings as it relates to product knowledge, installation and general 101s.”

The web runs the world. It would be an understatement to say that the web has gotten us through a lot this past year and we have all learned new angles to using it. It has become indispensable to our everyday lives. You can order a car, a boat, a diamond necklace, your groceries, birdfeed, a towel bar or a potty, all from the phone in your hand.

But as we all know, the web is a catch-22 for everyone selling product, any product, around the world. Amazon and similar companies ruled the web pre-COVID but now all companies have improved their online presence either as a seller or simply as a store window showing off their skills and products. Today, if your store front isn’t well represented on the web, your brick and mortar isn’t going to get the attention it deserves.  We’ve all become accustomed to checking out a product or business on the web before we head out to see it. A web search can be simply to see what kind of COVID protocols are in place or to actually see if the product you want is on display or to read reviews of that product or business. 

Web views and reviews are, without a doubt, a crucial component to the future of business.  We’ve seen how reviews shape the perception of a product or company and how reviewers, paid and unpaid, can affect mom and pop start-ups, large corporations and government agencies, to name a few. The world watches and reads what everyone has to say about a product whether what is being said is true or valuable. They can literally make or break a business. So, we ask, should we raise our prices to be more ‘Amazon-like’?

It’s been a challenging time for all, but the future of construction and renovation is bright, and we are hopeful.

Kimberly Frechette is the national sales manager at Americh Corporation. She has worked in manufacturing, distribution and sales in the bathroom segment for 30 years. Frechette has been involved with DPHA for 18 years and is a returning Board member.

The post Manufacturers Examine Supply Stresses appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Kitchen Inspiration by Kitchen Solvers of Raleigh

Project Location:  Apex, NC 

Remodel type: New Cabinetry 

Type of door style: Simple Shaker 

Remodel style: Contemporary 

Color: Naval 

Door Material: Maple/MDF 

Countertop: Quartz 

Countertop color: Alaska White 

Backsplash: Blue/Gray Glass Backsplash 

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Raleigh’s Blog.  

 Find a location near you.  

The post Kitchen of the Month Winner for New Cabinets for June appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

• Project Location: Gages Lake, IL
• Remodel type: Cabinet Refacing
• Type of door style: Shaker Bevel
• Remodel style: Traditional
• Color: Antique White with a Walnut Glaze

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Grayslake’s Gallery page.

The post Spotlight Kitchens of May – Cabinet Refacing appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Kitchen Transformation by Kitchen Solvers of Emerald Coast

Project Location: Shalimar, FL

Remodel type: Cabinet Refacing

Remodel style: Modern

Door Style: Shaker door in Supermatte

Countertop: Quartzite

Countertop Color: Berwyn

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Emerald Coast’s Blog.

Find a location near you. 

The post Kitchen of the Month Winner for Cabinet Refacing for May appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Kitchen Inspiration by Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast

Project Location: St. Petersburg, FL

Remodel Style: Transitional

Remodel Type: New Cabinets

Type of door style: Portland

Color: Snow Paint for perimeter cabinets and Koala Stain for Island

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Gulf Coast’s Blog.

Find a location near you. 

The post Kitchen of the Month Winner for New Cabinets for May appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

Are you struggling to come up with gifts to give your partner? Are you looking to show your loved ones that you care? Are you searching for the perfect gift but keeping hitting dead ends? Well fear no more. Kitchen Solvers is here to guide you on your decision-making journey.

The kitchen is the hub of any household; it’s the place where people are brought together. The place where creativity and conversation flow freely. And a place with such a wide variety of purposes deserves to be fully utilized and appreciated. We have complied a list of the best kitchen appliances to gift your loved ones, friends, co-workers, or even yourself. Christmas, holidays, special occasions, birthdays or maybe there’s no special occasion you’re just in the market for some new appliances! Regardless your intentions, we want to ensure your kitchen is used to its utmost potential. Here are some kitchen appliance gifts below.

 Kitchen Aid Mixer

A Kitchen Aid Mixer is the perfect gift for someone who’s looking to become a more frequent baker/chef. A Kitchen Aid Mixer uses specifically designed mixing bowls that snap into place on the mixer’s support arms to provide stability and backing for heavy batches. Not only do they mix, but they also shred, grind, whip, knead, and mash. This mixer is perfect for whatever you can conjure up in the kitchen whether that’s preparing pizza dough or tweaking your famous chocolate chip cookie recipe.

 

Cuisinart Tabletop Grill or the Cuisinart 5-in-1 Gridler

Let’s not limit grilling and all its glory to only in the summertime. If you’re a grilling enthusiast and want further your skills, the Cuisinart tabletop grill is the way to go. And if you’re looking for something similar to the tabletop grill but a little more toned down, consider the Cuisinart 5-in-1 gridler. This multifunctional countertop grill can also be used as a griddle and press. With these appliances, grilling season is year-round.

Air Fryer

An air fryer is similar to an oven in the sense that it bakes and roasts, but the difference is its heating elements are only located on top and are accompanied by a large, powerful fan. Air fryers typically heat up very quickly and they cook food fast and evenly. Think of them as an amped-up countertop convection oven. With an air fryer, it’s easy to whip up frozen foods in a slightly healthier way than deep-frying.

Rice Cooker

A rice cooker is an electric countertop device designed to automatically cook rice to perfection. You simply put some water in a pot, and you get perfectly cooked, fluffy rice every single time, even when you’re distracted. Another bonus, rice cookers are easier to clean as well! Rice cookers are excellent for steaming rice, oatmeal and even quinoa while allowing you to shift your focus on other food prep tasks.

Instant Pot

An instant pot is starting to take the place of a crock pot. An instant pot is an electric pressure cooker which means it cooks foods faster by controlling the pressure within the pot. Pressure cookers work by creating heat under a tight seal, so the temperature is much higher than the boiling point of water and the steam can’t escape. The steam cooks food much more quickly than traditional stovetop or oven cooking. An instant pot is prime for meal prepping and preparing freezer meals; perfect if you have a busy week ahead.

Kitchen Solvers

Whether you’re looking for kitchen gift inspiration or considering a remodel, our Kitchen Solvers blog is here to help and guide you on your quest. Here at Kitchen Solvers, it’s our goal to ensure you have the most Pleasant Remodeling Experience! Feel free to call us today for your kitchen consultation or read some of our latest blog articles like Trending Kitchen Styles for 2021 and How to Have an Eco-Friendly Kitchen Remodel.

The post The Best Kitchen Appliances to Gift appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

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Kitchen Inspiration by Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast

Project Location: Clearwater, FL

Remodel Style: Transitional

Remodel Type: New Cabinets

Type of door style: Shaker

Color: White for Perimeter; Grey for Island

Countertop: Quartz

Countertop Color: Silestone Pearl Jasmine

Backsplash: Herringbone Mosaic

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of Gulf Coast’s Blog.

Find a location near you. 

The post Kitchen of the Month Winner for New Cabinets for April appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

• Project Location: Clearwater, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Mission
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: Koala
• Countertop: Cambria
• Countertop color: Ironsbridge
• Backsplash: Tile backsplash in Literati Irving

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Seminole, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Shaker
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: White
• Countertop: Silestone
• Countertop color: Eternal Calacatta Gold
• Backsplash: Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: La Crosse, WI
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Mission
• Remodel style: Contemporary
• Color: Ebony
• Door Material: Cherry
• Countertop: Hanstone Quartz
• Countertop color: Montauk
• Backsplash: Hanstone Quartz full-height

 For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of La Crosse’s Gallery page.

• Project Location: Belleair, FL
• Remodel type: New Cabinetry
• Type of door style: Maui
• Remodel style: Transitional
• Color: Polar White
• Countertop: Silestone
• Countertop color: Pearl Jasmine

For more information about this project, please visit Kitchen Solvers of the Gulf Coast’s Gallery page.

The post Spotlight Kitchens of July – New Cabinetry appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

The kitchen is the heart of any household and one of the most used places in the house. A commonly asked question we get is, “How can I remodel my kitchen without breaking the bank?” Whether we like to hear it or not, regardless of how big or small your remodel is there will always be a price attached. However, we don’t want this number to halt your kitchen remodeling dreams. Here are a few cost-effective kitchen materials for your next remodel.  

Kitchen Flooring 

When it comes to kitchen flooring a great budget-friendly option is installing vinyl flooring. Vinyl plank flooring is water resistant and scratch resistant. This material can be crafted and manufactured to resemble any material. It’s well known for being made to look like hardwood flooring. Plus, an extra bonus is that vinyl maintenance is simple and easy to care for.  

Laminate Countertops 

A fan favorite for inexpensive kitchen materials is laminate countertops. In earlier years, laminate was known for scratching easily. However thanks to our current technology, laminate is quite durable and resistant. With advanced printing techniques laminate countertops can mimic stone, and they’re so accurate you can hardly tell the difference from the real thing. 

Tile Backsplashes and Countertops 

If you’re in the market for something resembling stone, tile is a great substitute. Tile is not only inexpensive, but it also comes in a variety of colorful or natural-toned designs. This gorgeous material can save you a significant amount of cash over custom-cut slabs of stone. Ceramic tile is both crack resistant and impervious to moisture making it a durable addition to any kitchen. Ceramic tile in a kitchen is glazed to provide extra protection in combating drops and stains. 

Kitchen Solvers 

We want your kitchen to feel like home. Here at Kitchen Solvers, it’s our goal to ensure you have the Most Pleasant Remodeling Experience. From choosing your kitchen’s color palette to deciphering which countertop material is the perfect fit, we are here to answer all your question on this process. Feel free to call us today for your kitchen consultation or read some of our latest blog articles like Confused about Cabinetry? A guide to a Cabinet Reface or Replace! or Classic Kitchen Color Palettes. 

 

The post Cost-Effective Kitchen Materials appeared first on Kitchen Solvers.

SANTA CLARA, CA — With life returning to normal as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, prospective homebuyers have developed a distinct set of priorities when it comes to the products and design features they want in their next house.

That is the key conclusion of a newly conducted national survey conducted by Realtor.com. The online poll, whose findings were made public last month, involved more than 1,200 adults over the age of 18 who plan to purchase a home within the next 12 months, according to Realtor.com, which is operated by publicly traded News Corp. under a license from the National Association of Realtors.

“The COVID pandemic ushered in a new way of thinking about what ‘home’ means, and that is influencing much of what today’s home shoppers are looking for,” said George Ratiu, senior economist for Realtor.com, which reported that the desire for additional space was the top reason driving home shoppers’ decisions to purchase a new home in the coming year. Survey responses also indicate buyers are looking for more flexibility in their home space and affordability in exchange for a shorter commute, the new realities of a post-COVID world, Ratiu said.

“Garages, large backyards and space for pets always rank high on buyers’ wish lists, but those features have grown in importance,” he said. “The pandemic has elevated our relationship with family, as well as the need for our home to serve multiple purposes, especially the ability to work remotely. As a result, we’re placing a premium on the need to accommodate extended family, and features like a home office and broadband internet.”

When asked which home features have become a priority as a result of the pandemic, a quiet location (28%), an updated kitchen (25%), and garage and large backyard (24% each) topped the list. Outdoor living area (20%), space for pets (18%), updated bathrooms (19%), home office and broadband internet capabilities (17% each) and open floor plan (16%) rounded out the top 10 pandemic-induced most desired home features.

Sixty-five percent of respondents indicated that they are considering extended family when they shop for a home, with nearly a quarter stating that they are planning to buy near family members, Realtor.com reported. One-fifth of those surveyed said they will have extended family living with them full-time, while 30% said their new home would need to accommodate extended family staying with them part-time or visiting.

The post Survey Spotlights New Priorities of Prospective Homebuyers appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

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