Ferguson and Stock Building Supply open Austin showroom
Wolseley’s North American operating companies, including Ferguson and Stock Building Supply, have opened a new showroom in Austin, Texas, that will provide customers with superior merchandise and outstanding service. The showroom is one of three “Home Selections Showrooms” to be built in the U.S.
Located at 700 East St. Elmo, this 25,000-square-foot showroom features a first-class gallery with fully functional displays and the latest products in the plumbing and building industries.
As the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials, Wolseley will showcase their offerings in this unique facility, catering to customers in the new construction and remodel markets. This joining of forces gives Wolseley a tremendous opportunity to provide contractors a one-stop shopping outlet for appliances, cabinets, countertops, lighting, plumbing, doors, windows, hardware, custom millwork and moldings.
Highly trained consultants are available to help customers create a personalized, custom look in their homes. Consultations are encouraged and can be scheduled by calling the showroom at 512/445-5140.
HD Supply White Cap re-opens Fla. Facility
HD Supply White Cap, a leading distributor of specialty hardware, tools and materials for large and medium-sized professional contractors, announced the grand re-opening of its newly renovated 38,000-square-foot facility, located at 3135 Hanson Street in Fort Myers. The renovated space is now an open warehouse, giving customers access to more than 2,000 products in the company’s extensive inventory. The location also features a merchandise showroom.
HD Supply White Cap offers products including concrete and masonry tools and accessories, wood and plastics, all trade hand tools and layout tools, tilt-up hardware and brace rentals, brand name power tools, stormwater pollution prevention products, welding supplies, lightweight construction equipment and jobsite and personal safety equipment.
A grand re-opening celebration held on July 31 featured a product display, food and beverages and a chance for customers to tour the new warehouse.
For more information, visit www.hdsupply.com.
Julien unveils new corporate logo and tagline
Julien has taken its first step towards actualizing their strategic restructuring plan with the debut of a new logo and tagline. Announcing recently that their Home Refinements® division will be comprised of Julien branded products and their oem arm, Julien believes the consolidation of these key departments will allow for increased resources, enhanced r&d production and a solid reputation as the full product solution for other brands.
While Julien has built their reputation as a premiere stainless steel fabricator for more than 60 years, their successful foray into the residential market has led them to revamp their market positioning and zero in on their residential products. The J in their logo was fashioned after a sheet of stainless steel, touting the company’s fabrication abilities; it has been removed, leaving just the capitalized Julien brand name. This represents their shift from sheet metal fabricator to a premium brand in the kitchen and bath industry.
“Our new strategy communicates that we are now -- more than ever -- a brand that creates a prestigious product and no longer a company that is associated with a certain manufacturing process or capacity,” said Lloyd Leblanc, vice president-sales, marketing and business development for Julien Corporate. “This is one more step towards distinguishing Julien as a brand that stands apart from the competition.”
The new Julien logo and tagline will be applied to their website, extranet and corporate literature by the end of this month.
For more information on Julien Home Refinements, visit www.julien.ca.
Kahle to present Top Gun seminars
According to Dave Kahle, president of The DaCo Corporation, distributor salespeople need a dose of inspiration, motivation and education,
“Now, more than ever, distributors are increasingly concerned about the challenges being thrown at them,” Kahle explained. “The marketplace is changing dramatically due to increasing competition, the rise of e-commerce, expansion of alternate channels and new pressures from suppliers. This means that customers have less time to spend with salespeople.”
Distributor salespeople have more pressure on them today than at any time in the past; yet fewer than 5% of them ever receive any education on how to do the sales portion of their jobs well. To combat this problem, Dave Kahle is bringing the Top Gun Seminar for Distributor Salespeople to 14 sites around the country.
The one-day seminars will be held in the following locations:
- Countryside, Ill., September 24
- St. Louis, Mo., September 26
- Toledo, Ohio, September 29
- Cincinnati, Ohio, October 3
- Denver, Colo., October 10
- Boston, Mass., October 24
- Newark, N.J., October 27
- Philadelphia, Pa., October 29
- Seattle, Wash., November 3
- Oakland, Calif., November 5
- Los Angeles, Calif., November 7
- Dallas, Texas, November 12
- Charlotte, N.C., November 17
- Tampa, Fla., November 20.
According to Kahle, the content in the Top Gun seminars clearly reflects the aggressive nature of the changes involved in the industry and the proactive skills needed to counter them successfully.
“Salespeople will be trained in the best practices of their professions. They will learn exactly how to multiply their sales and add value to the customer. This seminar can make a dramatic difference in a salesperson’s behavior and, as a result, the company's survival and prosperity,” Kahle said.
The 2008 sponsors of the Top Gun seminars include the American Supply Association. The sponsor-discounted cost for the seminar is only $219. The regular cost is $279.
An additional feature of the day will be an exclusive strategic luncheon with Dave for management only. Seating is limited.
For more details on the day's agenda or registration information, check online at www.davekahle.com/topgun/seminar.html. Registration forms may also be obtained by calling 800/331-1287.
Security Supply hosts training day
Security Supply Corporation, headquartered in Selkirk, N.Y., hosted their 6th Annual Employee Training Day on May 10. This event brought together all associates from the wholesalers 11 branches located throughout upstate New York and western Massachusetts. Representatives from Continental Gas Pipe, ecr International, Myers Pumps, Protech, Rectorseal, Saniflo, Sioux Chief, Sloan, A.O. Smith, Swanstone and Uponor were invited to provide information on new products, product demonstrations and upcoming promotions. Each associate chose six of the 40-minute sessions offered that they felt would help them be more effective in their positions.
When all training sessions were finished, vice president-sales and marketing, Brian Fowler held a company-wide meeting to discuss the acquisition of the Kohler line of products. This is an exciting and major transition for Security Supply that will make the wholesaler the largest distributor of Kohler products in the upstate N.Y./Hudson Valley region.
As in the past, at the conclusion of the training day, attendees were given a survey to rate each class they attended, based on session content, overall presentation and usefulness. Using the information gathered from the surveys, Security Supply gave the Presenter of the Year award to ecr International’s Scott Dam and Joe Langlois, along with wms sales representative Jim Berry for their training class on the new Tri-Fire boiler from Utica Boilers. The group provided hands-on demonstrations of the Tri-fire Boiler and a thorough overview of the product.
Next year’s training day has been scheduled for Saturday, May 9.
Selkirk announces new commercial market warranty coverage
New upgraded warranty coverage is now in effect on all Selkirk Commercial Chimney & Venting products.
All Selkirk grease duct systems are now covered by a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty. Selkirk heating appliance systems are covered by a 15-year warranty, when the system sizing and design has been performed by Selkirk’s in-house design engineering team. (Systems not designed by Selkirk will qualify for one-year coverage).
Both of the new warranty packages replace the previous 10-year/one-year coverage. The written warranty documents are now available on Selkirk’s Commercial Products website, www.selkirkcommercial.com.
Winnelson showroom opens in Charlotte
Charlotte Winnelson Company has opened the Win Kitchen and Bath Showcase, where contractors and their customers, as well as architects and designers, can view and see in action the latest premium and luxury items for homes and businesses.
Charlotte Winnelson is associated with WinWholesale Inc., one of the largest national wholesale distributors and serves Charlotte and the surrounding area. The 3,500-square-foot showroom, which also provides cabinetry and countertops, is located at 5335 Ballantyne Commons Parkway in the upscale Promenade Shopping Center. Darla Jackson manages the showroom and is assisted by consultant Danielle Gorum.
“We created the showroom as a one-stop shop for kitchen and bath needs in new construction and remodeling,” said Steve Technik, Charlotte Winnelson president. “Our range of customers, from contractors to architects, can meet with the Kitchen and Bath Showcase professional staff, see a wide variety of choices and get personalized attention as they make their selections.”
Among the many products in the showroom are 53 working displays of faucets, sinks, toilets, whirlpool tubs, a steam unit, showerheads and fireplaces that allow customers to see how they will look and operate in their own settings. Brands carried include American Standard and toto bath products, Moen and Delta faucets, Jacuzzi whirlpools, and Yorktowne cabinetry and Cambria quartz solid surface countertops.
The Win Kitchen and Bath Showcase is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
For additional information, visit www.winnelson.com.