• Manufacturers at Kitchen & Bath Industry Show Focus on Value
• New, Notable Products Turn Up at KBIS
• Survey: Energy-Efficient Products Bring Highest Returns to the Kitchen, Bath
• U.S. Siding Demand Forecast To Rise 6.8% Through 2014
• Ready To Walk on the Wild Side? Try These Alternative Flooring Products
• New Countertop Choices Go Way Beyond Granite
• Discuss Showroom Topics, Get News and Ask Questions on ProSales’ LinkedIn Page

Arbortech's AS170 Brick + Mortar Saw

When was the last time you made 30 points on a power tool? We are looking for select distribution in the construction building material and masonry markets. This unique proven tool cuts through brick and mortar with high precision and is virtually dust free. View video. www.AS170.com.

Manufacturers at Kitchen & Bath Industry Show Focus on Value

While design is always a highlight of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), another word was tossed around the show floor more than any other: value. Manufacturers concentrated on providing builders and homeowners with more options to stretch their dollar, introducing products at lower price points, highlighting “timeless” designs, and revving up green product selections. For instance, Danze (shown above) showcased its Reef collection of entry level and slightly higher priced bathroom faucets.
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New, Notable Products Turn Up at KBIS

Hanley Wood’s product editors hit the show floor at last month’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show to find this year’s stellar products. Picks include new cabinet organization and Euro-style hardware. Among our finds: Rev-A-Shelf's Curve Blind Corner cabinet organizer (pictured above). The unit's two shelves operate independently and have fully adjustable mounting brackets, allowing the unit to be installed in full-height drawer/door or custom two-drawer applications. Meanwhile, some of the editors focused on green products at the show.
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Notable Green Products

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Survey: Energy-Efficient Products Bring Highest Returns to the Kitchen, Bath

Energy-efficient products topped a list of trends for cost-efficient remodels in a recent survey conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Thirty percent of the 822 NKBA members surveyed listed products such as LED lighting and Energy Star appliances as the top design solutions for cost-conscious consumers, followed by alternative countertops and Shaker-style products. The open-ended survey also identified products that aid in water conservation and recycling.
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U.S. Siding Demand Forecast To Rise 6.8% Through 2014

American demand for siding will grow 6.8% annually between 2009 and 2014 to reach 101.5 million squares worth $11.1 billion, the Freedonia Group forecast. The popularity of vinyl siding, the largest product segment in the industry, will continue due to the offering’s "low cost, ease of installation, and durability," Freedonia states.
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Ready To Walk on the Wild Side? Try These Alternative Flooring Products

Whether out of style preference or complacency, most consumers choose to stick with traditional flooring options—wood, vinyl, ceramic, carpet. These materials serve buyers well, and they have proven themselves over the years. But for those willing to walk on the wild side, there is a vast world of materials to choose from: recycled rubber, cutting-edge Italian and Spanish ceramic tiles, reformulated linoleum, carpet tiles, woven vinyl, and even concrete.
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New Countertop Choices Go Way Beyond Granite

In recent years, the countertop category has seen a steady increase in new and exciting materials as well as an equal amount of re-engineered oldies but goodies. Check out some of the latest picks, including lightweight concrete, recycled materials, and bamboo.
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Discuss Showroom Topics, Get News and Ask Questions on ProSales’ LinkedIn Page

ProSales has set up a website to serve as a home for showroom managers to get ideas on LBM showrooms, read relevant news and discuss concerns with other managers. It’s on LinkedIn, a networking site for business professionals. If you already use it, sign in and search for the “ProSales” group, then ask to join. If you’re not yet using LinkedIn, signing up is easy and free. The ProSales group page will be where we post stories, moderate discussions, and relay queries from fellow LBM managers. But please note: This page is for dealers only. Suppliers, distributors, and public relations folks will be denied entrance. That way, we hope the conversations will be focused and you’ll be able to speak freely.
Visit ProSales' LinkedIn Group Page

Do you have a question, a tip, or a sage piece of wisdom? Feel free to contact ProSales' products editor, Victoria Markovitz, at vmarkovitz@hanleywood.com.