Gerber launches 75th anniversary campaign
Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC is celebrating its 75th anniversary during 2007 and launching a national search for plumbing contracting firms who have reached or exceeded the same 75-year milestone. Gerber plans to honor these firms as part of its “75 Years of Professional Performance” campaign and as a gesture of gratitude to the entire plumbing trade -- the real source of Gerber’s longevity and success.
“Reaching our 75th anniversary is truly a significant achievement and a testament to the plumbing trade, which provides so many important professional services to communities nationwide,” said Ila Lewis, chairman of the board and granddaughter of founder Max Gerber. “There’s no doubt in my mind that my grandfather would have wanted us to celebrate our own momentous achievements side by side with those plumbers achieving the same impressive mark -- especially because he built the company on relationships with and loyalty to plumbing contractors and wholesalers.”
Gerber is asking all plumbing contracting firms that have been in business for 75 years or more to participate in the campaign, regardless of whether they have ever been Gerber users. To do so, eligible firms can complete a brief entry form by logging on to www.gerber75years.com before September 15, 2007, or they may obtain a printed entry form from their nearest Gerber wholesaler or rep.
Every plumbing contracting firm that participates in the “75 Years of Professional Performance” campaign will be contacted by Gerber for additional facts, interesting anecdotes, photos and/or other information on the proud heritage and history of their company.
Any non-eligible plumbing contracting firms, wholesalers, sales personnel and others are encouraged to refer any plumbing contractors they know who meet the 75 years in business criteria through printed entry forms or online. If that firm wins a prize during the sweepstakes, the first person who referred them will win a $250 gift card.
All eligible plumbing contracting firms participating in the campaign will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of $2,500 in Gerber products purchased through a Gerber wholesaler. They will also be featured in a national press announcement to all trade publications, including a photo of the $2,500 check presentation. Five additional prizes of $250 in Gerber products will be awarded to participating contractors.
All firms that enter will receive a commemorative gift from Gerber. Gerber will send a press release to newspapers and other media outlets in each company’s hometown to generate positive local publicity and to pay tribute to the firm’s accomplishments and endurance in the industry and in their community.
For more information, call 630/754-0278 or visit www.gerberonline.com.
TOTO’s new marketing campaign designed to get people talking
TOTO has unveiled “Clean is Happy,” its new groundbreaking Washlet campaign that challenges the status quo in bathroom habits and personal hygiene in the U.S. by encouraging viewers to make their backsides happy and wash with water post-toileting.
The campaign’s central concept combines the part of the body that the Washlet is designed to cleanse with the universal icon for happiness, a smile. It launched during the first week of July with www.CleanisHappy.com, a creative web experience and with online and outdoor advertising in New York and Los Angeles.
The new strategy’s launch is supported by a fully integrated marketing campaign, including online advertising, out-of-home, public relations, a new website, showroom displays and viral marketing activities.
“‘Clean is Happy’ is a powerful campaign that builds on the foundations laid during the Washlet brand’s short 15-year history in the U.S.,” said Lenora Campos, TOTO public relations manager. “American consumers are thoughtful, intelligent people, and, with this new campaign, we hope that they have a gut reaction that sparks conversations and challenges them to think about their vision of a clean and happy world. With our society’s current obsession with cleanliness and hygiene, there is no better time to launch this campaign and to help people become aware of this effective, modern approach to personal hygiene.”
The video-driven website, which sports the whimsical new Washlet logo, is at the heart of the campaign. Viewers will meet friendly, confident Washlet users from all walks of life who will explain the Washlet experience:
- Washlet 101, The Basics
- Why the Washlet is Better
- Washlet Technology
- That Happy Washlet Feeling
- TOTO, the Maker of the Washlet
- Questions about the Washlet
The casually dressed Washlet spokespeople are lighthearted in their presentations and convey a sense of playfulness and enjoyment as they talk seriously about the Washlet.
In early July, bicoastal outdoor advertising -- in New York’s Times Square district and West Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard -- launched with iconic presentations of the happy backsides. Digital and print advertising will soon follow.
“Clean is Happy” marketing collateral -- brochures and Point of Purchase banners -- will complement the campaign and bring TOTO’s nationwide network of wholesalers and kitchen and bath dealers into the campaign at the local level. Kitchen and bath dealers will have access to a dvd that contains a video of the website that they can play in their showrooms to explain the benefits of Washlet.
“Since their introduction in 1980, TOTO’s Washlets have sold more than 17 million units worldwide,” said Campos. “Currently, 2.7 million Washlets are sold annually in Japan, where warm water personal cleansing systems have deeper market penetration than microwave ovens. We seek nothing less here in the U.S.”
TOTO’s Washlet is a personal hygiene system inspired by water. This high-tech toilet seat features numerous comfort and cleanliness features -- gentle front and back aerated warm water spray, which can be regulated for preferred water pressure and temperature; a heated seat; an automatic air deodorizer and a warm air dryer -- all of which are governed by TOTO’s revolutionary energy-saving mode. Technophiles will enjoy the battery-powered remote control keypad that operates the easy-view LCD read-out, which can be hand-held or wall mounted. Washlets fit virtually any existing toilet.
For more information, visit www.TOTOusa.com or call 800/350-8686.
HD Supply on verge of sale to private equity firm
BY MORRIS R. BESCHLOSS
PVF and economic analyst
As The Wholesaler goes to press, we have learned from a reliable source that Home Depot’s HD Supply wholesale distribution arm is on the verge of being acquired by one of two major private equity consortiums.
Our sources indicate that the bids came in at roughly $10 billion, higher than what was originally anticipated. These sources have named a group comprised of Bain Capital LLC, Carlyle Group and Clayton Dubilier & Rice as a prime bidder. Also in the hunt are Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and CCMP Capital Advisors LLC.
It’s expected that final disposition will be announced during the week of June 18. The Bain/Carlyle/CD&R bid is particularly interesting since the latter’s full partner, Charlie Banks, was formerly CEO of Ferguson Inc. and parent company Wolseley Corp. The major part of Banks’ career was spent in the PHCP industry’s distribution sector with Ferguson, a leading revenue and profit generator among U.S.-based PHCP multi-branch wholesalers. If the CD&R triumvirate comes out on top, it will be especially interesting to see if Banks plays a pivotal role in the operations of the new acquisition.
Our Home Depot contact indicated that former CEO Robert Nardelli, who had built HD Supply into a $12-billion annual revenue giant, was committed to further expansion of this approach, to which a growing number of directors objected. Their concern was that the expansion of HD Supply would dilute the company’s massive cash flow and steer its direction away from the retail home maintenance business. HD Supply had grown to 13% of Home Depot’s total revenues in 2006; this had gotten a major push with the acquisition of PHCP distributor Hughes Supply for $4 billion earlier in the year. It was reported that Nardellli had planned to expand HD Supply to reach 20% of the retailer’s total sales.
Nardelli’s successor, CEO Frank Blake announced in February that Home Depot would consider selling HD Supply.
It is unknown at this point whether the successful private equity partnership acquirers will divest any part of their newly acquired distribution strength.
Members comprising the bidding interest have acquired numerous well-known brands in recent years. New York-based cd&r recently agreed to buy ServiceMaster Co., a home-services company whose brands include ChemLawn, Merry Maids and Terminix. In December 2005, cd&r joined with Washington-based Carlyle to buy Ford Motor Co.’s Hertz rental car unit; they sold Hertz shares to the public less than a year later. Earlier this year, Boston-based Bain, the third member of that group, acquired osi Restaurant Partners Inc., the operator of Outback Steakhouse. It is also in the process of acquiring Clear Channel Communications Inc.
Within the competing bidding group, Thomas H. Lee Partners is Bain’s partner in the Clear Channel takeover. Boston-based Lee also participated with Carlyle and Bain in the purchase of Dunkin’ Brands Inc., which franchises Dunkin’ Donuts stores. CCMP is the former buyout arm of JPMorgan Chase.
Coleman ranked a best buy in central air-conditioning
Coleman, a brand of residential/light commercial hvac equipment manufactured by Johnson Controls, has received a Consumers Digest Best Buy designation for its Coleman 5T 15+ seer Echelon air conditioner, which qualifies for a $300 tax credit under the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005.
The designation was announced in the June 2007 issue of Consumers Digest, a national consumer magazine that evaluates a broad range of consumer products.
The Coleman Echelon 5T air conditioner “offers many popular features and good performance,” according to the magazine’s Best Buy guidelines. The article added that the product’s “two-speed operation minimizes energy consumption during mild weather.” Product features include an output of 24,000 to 60,000 Btu/h, a peak efficiency of 15 seer and an extensive warranty (10 years on the compressor, five years on parts and labor).
The Consumers Digest Best Buy rating is awarded to fewer than 3% of the competing models in any given product category. The prevailing criterion is value, which Consumers Digest defines as perceived quality/cost. Other criteria (in order of importance) include performance, ease-of-use, a wide range of features, durability of design, warranty, efficiency, styling, low maintenance costs and easy servicing.
For more information, visit www.colemanac.com.
California Faucets software enables build-to-order product
California Faucets recently rolled out proprietary manufacturing software that enables the company to quickly deliver build-to-order product.
The software allows users to design their own faucet by mixing and matching components (i.e. any handle with any spout in any finish). With over 25 styles and more than 30 decorative finishes, this translates to literally millions of design options. The result? With the new software, California Faucets can effortlessly build and deliver truly unique product in record time.
The software system employs the very latest in technology for managing inventory, plating, build-to-order assembly, and shipping faster than ever.
“This program enables us to seamlessly deliver our unique, hand-crafted fittings faster than many companies deliver mass produced items,” said Jeff Silverstein, president of California Faucets. “Given the typical delivery lag time of build-to-order product, this level of service and selection is remarkable.”
But cutting-edge-technology does not mean California Faucets has abandoned its customer service roots. Customers who call California Faucets still talk to a live person. “We still believe in answering the phone,” said Silverstein. “There’s nothing worse than navigating tiers of automated menu or going directly to voice mail when you need an immediate answer. Our state-of-the-art technology allows our customer service people do what they do best -- take care of the customer with accurate, real-time information.”
For information, call 800/822-8855 or visit www.calfaucets.com.
OBITUARY -- Brad Sell, industry leader
Bradley Lange Sell died on June 16 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
Born on March 9, 1953, Sell lived in Wilmington, Mass., until the age of 9 and then resided in Marion and Mattapoisett the rest of his life. He was a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School (1971) and Union College in Barbourville, Ky. (1975).
Sell was an Eagle Scout with Marion’s Troop 32.
Prior to Sell’s diagnosis of prostate cancer, he served as executive vice president of New England Wholesalers Association and president of Association Management Services Inc., both of Milford, Mass. In recent years, he was a trade association representative with Credit Research Inc., Milford; industry consultant for the Associated Cooperative Wholesale Distributors; and a marketing consultant for F.W. Webb Company of Bedford, Mass., American Supply Association in Chicago, and Plumbing Supply Inc. of New Milford, Conn.
Subsequent to Sell’s diagnosis, he served as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and several local cancer awareness groups. Sell helped develop a program entitled “Protecting Those Who Protect Us,” designed to bring messages of early detection of cancer, preventive screenings and follow up procedures to the area police, fire, EMT, ambulance and sheriffs departments. He spent many weekends traveling throughout New England to personally deliver this message. His message on early detection of prostate cancer may be viewed at www.bradsell.info.
He was also an ordained minister with the Southern Baptist Convention at Haven Baptist Church, a lay lector and prayer leader at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, a nursing home chaplain and a missionary chaplain.
Sell was recently honored with the 2006 Community Service Award, Greater New Bedford Health & Human Services Coalition, 2006 American Cancer Society’s Volunteer of the Year Award for Southeastern Massachusetts, and 2006 Mattapoisett Man of the Year. In April 2007, a group of New England business leaders established the Brad Sell Fellowship Award to commemorate the selfless acts people commit toward improving the lives of others.
Sell leaves behind his beloved wife of 27 years, Dawn Winkler Sell, and two sons, Dana Bradley Sell and Courtney Lange Sell. He was the son of Barbara (Trundy) and David W. Anderson and the late Bert Sell. He also leaves five brothers, several sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
His funeral service was held on June 19 in the First Congregational Church of Marion, followed by burial in Cushing Cemetery, Mattapoisett.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the organization that kept Sell alive many more years than originally thought, the Harvard Institute of Medicine, c/o Dr. Glenn Bubley, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, East Campus, HIM 1047, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.
WinWholesale to power credit and collections with eCredit
eCredit, a leading provider of online solutions for credit and collections professionals, has announced that the WinWholesale group of companies has selected eCredit Enterprise Edition to manage its commercial credit and collections operations. Replacing an in-house system, eCredit will drive revenue by speeding credit approval and optimizing collections processes.
The WinWholesale group of companies includes more than 550 locations across the U.S. and goes to market under the Winnelson, Windustrial, Winlectric, Winair, Winsupply, Wintronic, Winwater and Noland brands.
eCredit will offer a number of key advantages, allowing for smooth and efficient commercial credit processing. The use of eCredit’s market-leading credit scoring and industry-specific payment information will enable speedy approvals for WinWholesale companies. In addition, through the use of eCredit’s automated collections strategies, credit managers can easily determine which processes are most effective.
“eCredit will streamline our work by bringing together disparate systems and data sources, giving our department the tools and answers we need to best serve our customers,” said Ward Allen, WinWholesale vice president-finance.
For additional information, visit www.winwholesale.com or www.ecredit.com.
Activant launches new technology solution for wholesalers
Distributors with it staffs can now benefit from the same technology Activant uses when one of its customers has a question. It Help Desk Functionality, available to Activant customers, enables distributors’ employees to submit cases to their it department online. Once submitted, the case enters a queue where it triggers automatic e-mail alerts to the it staff, allowing them to respond appropriately.
“This is another example of how Activant delivers as a full-service technology provider,” said Steve McLaughlin, senior vice president and general manager of Activant. “In the past, if a printer needs service or if someone has a question, a distributor’s it personnel would be inundated with calls. It Help Desk functionality allows distributors to streamline the request process and let the it staff manage cases efficiently. Every employee has the ability to submit cases to the it department, where they can be organized, resolved archived, and, when necessary, forwarded to Activant.”
Once a request for help is submitted, system administrators have the option of manually assigning cases to it members or of defining rules that will automatically alert it employees, based on specific criteria. For example, if a distributor has an employee who specializes in troubleshooting Microsoft Outlook, it Help Desk can automatically assign Outlook-related cases to that employee.
Additionally, since the IT Help Desk categorizes cases by priority level, the system administrator can assign them based on the experience levels of the IT employees. This means a new it staffer can start on low-priority cases, while a 20-year veteran gets more critical ones.
In addition to managing cases, a system administrator can use the it Help Desk’s home page to post emergency alerts (i.e., “Main printer is down; should be back up soon.”), which can help prevent the submission of duplicate cases. The home page also includes space for other important it information such as staff names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, etc.
The IT Help Desk archives all resolved cases, allowing individuals to seek out their own answers to repeat problems, as opposed to requesting help from the it department and tying up valuable resources.
Occasionally, a system administrator will come across an issue that cannot be resolved internally because it directly involves the company’s Activant solution. When this happens, the it Help Desk provides the ability to transfer the case and its history directly
to Activant for resolution.
For details, visit www.activant.com.
REHAU opens second Alabama plant
REHAU is pleased to announce the grand opening of its second manufacturing plant in Cullman, Ala. Located adjacent to the company’s existing automotive production plant, the new Plant Cullman Construction more than doubles capacity for the production of cross-linked polyethylene piping (PEX) and will create up to 100 additional jobs over the next four years.
To accommodate the increased production, REHAU has invested more than $20 million in construction and equipment for the new 200,000-square-foot facility. The expansion provides space for PEX production, warehousing and shipping.
“With the start-up of the new lines, Plant Cullman Construction will be able to keep up with growing demand and produce nearly all of REHAU’s North American pex requirements,” said Dr. Kitty Saylor, REHAU North America chief executive officer.
Plant Cullman began manufacturing for the construction industry in 2003. PEX produced at the plant is used in radiant heating, snow and ice melting, fire protection and plumbing applications.
“When we realized that our demand justified a dedicated PEX production facility, Plant Cullman was the obvious choice,” explained Niklas Braun, REHAU vice president-operations and technology. “It is our newest North American plant, making it the best equipped to take on more complex processes such as the cross-linking of PEX. Cullman also has the best logistics expertise based on the sequenced and just-in-time delivery requirements of the plant’s automotive customers.”
The transfer of production has made German plant production lines readily available for increased European business, while also saving on shipping costs of product to fulfill North American market demands.
As a key component to this expansion, the new distribution facility will be equipped with sap les (Logistics Execution System), an advanced warehouse management system. The system includes sap-Console functionality to enable wireless data collection transfers via bar code scanning of each box of product. This completely paperless system will lead to increased productivity and reduced order cycle time.
For additional information, call 800/247-9445 or visit www.rehau.com.