While design is always a highlight of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, another word was tossed around the show floor more than any other: value.
If you want to see what's special about Brunsell Lumber & Millwork's showroom, look up. The usual acoustic ceiling tile in the space is shadowed by rich wood beams. While the Hartland, Wisc. showroom contains an array of products, from windows and doors to kitchen cabinets, it was built to highlight the company's custom millwork and woodwork capabilities. The star of the space is a conference room decked in custom panel and ceiling elements that brings in its own sales.
While the houses in Pine, Colo., were getting older, Hutchison Lumber wasn't keeping up with the times by promoting itself as a place to go to for remodeling projects. Hutchison changed that in 2006 when it opened a design center. Now, "we're open to every customer," lumberyard president Bryan Hutchison says.
Showroom managers at a Minnesota lumberyard said customers would walk in the front door, see the start of the showroom to their right, visit it for a while, but never go through to the other end where the managers' desks are located. What can Hilltop do to keep customers from stopping short of where the managers work? Here's what you suggested.
When vinyl window makers say "knock on wood," they aren't hoping for luck.
