Schmidt’s Wholesale goes solar with Buderus
Monticello, N.Y. -- Schmidt’s Wholesale announced that it is now stocking the Buderus Solar Heating Systems line and, on October 14, offered in-depth training to more than 60 customers at its first professional, solar thermal heating training seminar.
Buderus solar heating systems are comprised of key components that effectively convert the sun’s free energy into practical heat for domestic hot water and space heating applications.
“Our HVAC manager, Dan Woodruff, was instrumental in the decision to offer Buderus’ solar thermal heating line and providing the detailed key training,” said Chris Schmidt, “We’re fulfilling the ever increasing demand from our customers for more efficient and environmentally conscious heating alternatives.”
For more information, visit www.schmidtswholesale.com.
Ferguson opens new showroom in Tennessee
Newport News, Va. -- Ferguson has opened a new 4,500-square foot showroom in Jackson, Tenn., located at 1020 Highway 45 Bypass. Ferguson’s showrooms are designed with homeowners, plumbers, builders, remodelers and designers in mind.
“Ferguson is pleased to offer a one-stop shopping experience to the Jackson area,” said Daryl Henson, branch manager for the Ferguson location. “We can now offer our customers plumbing, lighting and appliances all in one convenient location with superior customer service.”
Highly trained consultants are available to help customers create personalized, custom looks in their homes. Appointments are recommended and can be scheduled by calling the showroom at 731/664-6400.
For details, visit www.ferguson.com.
Grundfos holds grand opening at Allentown, Pa., facility
Olathe, Kan. -- Grundfos Pumps Corporation recently held a grand opening of its substantially enlarged training and fabrication facility in Allentown, Pa. The plant was expanded by 64,000 square feet, to a total of 104,000 square feet, at a cost of $4.5 million. Growth of the facility permits Grundfos to expand local assembly operations of commercial and industrial product and service and distribution throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada. The company has also increased training activities for partners on the East Coast.
During the opening, manufacturers’ reps, oem partners, commercial engineering contractors and wholesale distributors learned about the expansion and how it now enables Grundfos to improve its outreach among customers in the Northeast. They received facility tours, saw assembly and test facility operations and spent time at multiple product stations within Grundfos’ impressive new mobile product laboratory, with a wide variety of working pump displays. The “trade show on wheels” occupies an entire 18-wheel truck with bold graphics outside. Inside is a classroom for hands-on training and a movie theater that can accommodate 40 or more visitors.
According to John Petrella, Allentown facility operations manager, the facility’s current staff of 25 will grow: “We plan to add between eight and 13 jobs here within the next 12 months. And we expect that, as we take on new assembly operations, we will add five new jobs each year after that.”
Grundfos began operations in Allentown in 1988. A decade later the company began to assemble product there. The recent expansion added more floor space for service work, product assembly and the storage of up to $18 million in equipment inventory.
Kaldewei expands U.S. operations
Indianapolis -- Kaldewei, a European leader in bath products, has established its first U.S. corporate office and expanded its team with the addition of three new members. Kaldewei usa, headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., will serve as the base for U.S. expansion for Kaldewei luxury baths and shower trays in the U.S. market.
To support its growing presence, Kaldewei has hired three key personnel:
- Robert Sapienza leads Kaldewei usa as vice president-sales North America. Sapienza has 20 years of experience in the bath and plumbing industries, most recently as regional sales manager for the Delta Faucet Company. Sapienza previously held positions with Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath and Kohler Company.
- Chad Novinger is Kaldewei usa’s inside sales/e-commerce sales representative, managing and supporting Internet, wholesale and retail accounts across the U.S. Novinger joins Kaldewei from the Delta Faucet Company where he was e-commerce manager and channel manager.
- Business development manager Kelly Dolan has key responsibility for the hospitality segment and developers. Dolan joins Kaldewei from Lee Supply Corporation where she was director of showroom development across eight kitchen and bath showrooms in Indiana.
Further information is available at www.kaldewei.com.
Murray Supply announces showroom name change
Winston-Salem, N.C. -- Wholesale plumbing distributor Murray Supply Company has changed the name of The Fuller House Showrooms to Murray Supply Company Kitchen and Bath Showrooms. This change is effective immediately and will be a rolling change that should be completed in the next two months.
“We tried to market our showrooms under a different identity but found we were creating confusion in the minds of our customers, instead of a unique identity,” commented Charlie Murray, ceo of Murray Supply Company. “We feel that there is great strength in the Murray Supply brand name in our markets, and we want to use that strength to more effectively market our showrooms. We have an aggressive growth plan for our showroom business for the next several years and having this identity issue out of the way will make it easier for us to go forward with our plans and unify our entire corporate marketing strategy.”
For more information, visit www.murraysupply.com.
WinWholesale opens two showrooms
Dayton, Ohio -- WinWholesale Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors, announced that its local companies in Las Vegas, Nev., and Macon, Ga., have opened kitchen and bath showrooms. Showroom customers can view and, in some cases, see in action, the latest in a complete line of premium and luxury items for the home.
Las Vegas Winnelson Company opened the Bath & Kitchen Gallery, and Noland Company’s Macon location welcomed customers to the Bath & Idea Center. Both companies carry brands such as American Standard, Porcher and Jado, in addition to other brands for their specific markets. For example, Winnelson also carries Laufen and Noland carries Bear Creek Glass.
Although the companies have different products for their markets, customer service is a common element with the two companies, said Rick Schwartz, WinWholesale president and ceo. “Our business model relies on local decision making for the local market conditions, but across all of our companies we emphasize a focus on customer service and dependable expertise.”
Customers visiting the Winnelson or Noland showrooms have an inside track on how various products will look and operate in their homes. Each company has several working product displays, such as full bathrooms, body sprays, a kitchen island and showerheads.
Las Vegas Winnelson’s Bath & Kitchen Gallery is located at 6820 Patrick Lane; Noland’s Macon Bath & Idea Center is at 4795 Interstate Dr.
For additional information, visit www.winwholesale.com.