Phone: 419.874.3519

THE WHOLESALER - SEPTEMBER 2013: Making Social Media Work for You and Your Business

Posted on March 31, 2014

Making social media work for you and your business

BY DION WILSON
Showroom specialist

Does your showroom, store or company have a Social Media program? If your answer is no, BUZZT! So sorry, that is an incorrect answer for the year 2013. Thus you did not win the year’s supply of Rice-A-Roni or Turtle Wax — but maybe next time. So why is no an incorrect answer for this day and age? Why should you take the advice on Social Media I am about to give?

Valid questions, Man, you guys are always so good. I suppose you could find dozens of articles written on Social Media. You could even find some that have been in this publication written by experts that know way more on the subject then I do. That being said, here is why I think should you take my advice on the subject. The main difference between me and many other Social Media experts is that I apply what I know in a practical working application every day doing exactly what you do — selling plumbing fixtures. My number one job as a Showroom Manager is to oversee and promote the sales of plumbing fixtures. To aid in that endeavor, I have made it my job to know a few things about Social Media. I suppose just enough to make me dangerous.

Maybe you think Social Media is some sort of trend that will pass. Social Media isn’t a fad; it’s a proven fundamental shift in the way we communicate. So let’s start with some quick and easy facts and figures about social media. Over 50% of the world’s population is under 30 years old. People who are under the age of 30 are labeled Generation Y or Millennials, and 96% of these Gen-Y or Millennials have joined a social network. Every week Facebook tops Google for weekly traffic in the U.S., and Social Media has overtaken pornography as the #1 activity on the Web.

In the different mediums, how many years would it take you to reach 50 million users? Radio it would take 38 years, television it would take 13 years, the internet four years, and via iPod three years. Facebook, however, has added over 200 million users in less than a year. If Facebook were a country, it would be the world’s third largest behind China and India, just ahead of the U.S. The fastest-growing segment on Facebook is 55- to 65-year-old females. YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine. There are over 200,000 blogs on the Web. One-quarter of search results for the World’s top 20 largest brands are links to user-generated content, and 34% of bloggers post opinion about products and brands.

Did you know that 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations? Only 14% of consumers trust advertisements. It has been proven that only 18% of traditional TV campaigns generate a positive ROI (Return On Investment). It is a fact that 90% of people skip ads via their DVR. Heck, I know I do — unless it is a really good commercial, like the one where the kid talks about taping a cheetah to his grandma’s back to make her faster.

So where do you suppose I might have found all this information? If you guessed through some sort of Social Media, then DING! DING! DING! We have a winner! You might just get that Turtle Wax after all. The facts and figures on all of this information can also be found in a book titled Socialnomics written by Erik Qualman. If you don't already know it, word of mouth has become world of mouth.

In today’s world, you not only have to be connecting with your costumers on one front, you have to reach them on multiple fronts. Our company has been active in Social Media for some time. When we first started, I delegated the responsibility off to my staff. We did things like deal of the day to move overstock and old displays. From time to time, we would repost stories from other pages within our industry. Then one day it occurred to me at how annoyed and disinterested I was seeing the dumb stuff we were doing. Not to mention, if I was annoyed and uninterested in what we were doing, I could only imagine how the 100 fans we had at the time felt. That is when I took full control over our social media. I decided it needed to have a voice, it needed to have a personality and one that was consistent. So in the fall of 2011, Waterhouse started a weekly Facebook series called Unique Bathroom Friday. It was a weekly post where we showcased unique and interesting bathrooms. For better or for worse I interjected my humor and my personality into the posts. I also have a love for design and I wanted that to come through. The other important factor is I did not want it to be a hard sell. I felt it needed to be casual and keep people interested and entertained.

At around the same time I started Unique Bathroom Friday, one of my bosses also threw in a challenge. He wanted to see if I could reach 300 likes by the end of that same year. Being it was already fall I took that challenge head on and did exactly what you would expect — I sent a like request for Waterhouse to every friend I had on Facebook. Of my 1,200-plus friends at the time, I got about only 100 of them to bite.

Shortly after that is when the magic began to happen and our numbers started climbing. My idea was working and not just though my friends. Unique Bathroom Friday was getting unique likes and was being shared. People were commenting and interacting with us. We started to see a real following star to grow. So I added a second series — Awesome Kitchen Tuesday — and the same happened. Since then, we have gained close to 1,600 likes (averaging about a 100 likes a month). Not bad for a single branch location in Perrysburg, Ohio. I also am flattered by some other things that have followed. Kohler started doing Flashback Friday. I have seen Faucet Friday, Throwback Thursday and many other weekly series appear. Some people might be bothered, but if it helps our industry or one of my peers, I am all for it. That is unless, of course, you are within my market. Then it’s a whole different story...

The real surprising part we found is that we have followers all over the world. The top four countries we have followers from, in order, are the U.S., Egypt, Tunisia and India. So you are probably wondering the same thing my bosses were: “Are we ever going to sell to the people in Egypt or Tunisia”? The answer is probably not, but what it has done is raised Waterhouse in the world’s search engines. Waterhouse comes up within the first page of most searches and within the top five listings. We have achieved these results without paying a dime for search engine optimization. So are we only on Facebook? No, Waterhouse has its own YouTube channel. We are on Twitter, Pinterest, Houzz, Flickr, Blogger, Instagram, Google Plus and Linkedin. If you do not know what each of these are, you need to make it your mission to learn. If you are not part of each of these, then I think you are truly missing out on an inexpensive way to reach people.

Let me end with this little true story. Axor, prior to the world premier launch of its newest faucet series by Philippe Starck — appropriately named Starck Organic — ran a teaser campaign on Facebook titled Head + Heart. Waterhouse followed the campaign closely and reposted Axor’s information and created original post on the product. After the campaign ended, I was contacted by a student who was finishing her bachelor thesis on the Axor Starck Organic Teaser- Campaign. Here is part of what she wrote:

“Concerning the Teaser-Campaign of Axor Starck Organic on Facebook during the period of June, 12th 2012 and September, 18th 2012. While evaluating the posts we found out, that with your contributions you were considered to be one of the greatest influencers of the campaign.”

I was stunned and truly honored. Waterhouse, an independent single-branch store in Perrysburg, Ohio, was considered to be one of the greatest influences in the world. I hope you take from this what I learned. It does not matter the size of your company, and you don’t have to have a PHD is Social Media. You just have to get out there and start being social! Oh, and make sure you have fun doing it!

Dion Wilson, Manager of Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio and interior designer, has worked in the kitchen and bath industry as a showroom specialist for the last two decades. Under his direction, Waterhouse has garnered national attention. He is considered one of the industry’s leading Social Media experts. Wilson can be reached at 125 E. Indiana Ave, Perrysburg, OH, 43551; phone (419) 874.3519 fax (419) 874.9529; e-mail manager@waterhousebks.com; or website www.waterhousebks.com; Facebook www.facebook.com/Waterhousebks or on Twitter @dion1701.

- See more at: http://thewholesaler.com/sept_13/wilson.php#sthash.cuNLcY6r.dpuf

THE WHOLESALER: JULY 2013 - ARE YOU A SALESPERSON?

Posted on March 27, 2014

Are you a salesperson?

By Dion Wilson
Showroom specialist

I know, the question sounds silly. I mean if you sell products you then must be a salesperson right? No, unfortunately it is just not that easy. See it is my humble opinion that our industry is full of too many order takers rather than good or even great sales people. There just are not enough people that are deeply invested in what they do.

Now, before you go hunting me down on Facebook, writing me a nasty email or tweet, hear me out.

First, what is the difference between a salesperson and an order taker? An order taker sits around and waits for someone to BUY something. The order taker waits for the incoming call. Waits for the web lead from the prospect that has a check-in-hand. The order taker waits for the buyer to say, “I’ll take it!”

A salesperson works to build sale prospects. They don’t just wait for someone to order something. When they do have a customer they help the prospect by uncovering problems and exposing needs and desires. They then diagnose those problems, offer solutions and then solve those problems.

When I first started doing this job so many years ago I hated being referred to as a salesperson. When I thought of a salesperson I always had this vision of the stereotypical used car salesperson. You know, some guy wearing a bad polyester suit with slicked back hair. I told myself I was not a salesperson; I was just good with people. It took years for me to come to terms with the fact that I truly was a salesperson, and a very good one.

So how do you go from order taker to salesperson or from average salesperson to a great salesperson?  Can anyone be a great salesperson?  Well, there are seminars, books, videos and all sorts of trainings saying that anyone who does the work can be a good or even great salesperson. It is true that anyone can be taught sales techniques and practices. You should all know the open, the close, yadda yadda and so on. I think with practice you can learn so much to improve your craft. I also believe some people are just naturally gifted great salespeople. The first step to improvement is always self-awareness. Are you an order taker or a good salesperson that could be great? If you’re a great sales person just stop reading now. Well, unless you’re curious!

Here are some of the qualities I find make a great salesperson.

Know your products

This one is the most important. You must know your product better than your competition, even if that competition is the salesperson next to you. Then once you know your product make sure you know other products in the industry even if you do not carry them. This way if someone comes in looking for a brand you don't carry you may be able to offer them an alternative.

Be a good listener

You might think this one is easy, but it is not. Some sales people stop listening when they think they know what their customers’ needs are, and in turn do not hear what the customer really wants or needs. Being a good listener can elevate you from being a good salesperson to a great sales person. You can even learn to hear what your customers are not saying.

Be Confident

A salesperson with confidence has a certain advantage over those who lack confidence.  They have an extraordinary advantage: the ability to draw, pull and attract their clients as if they were magnetic. They exude a certain charm or charisma. So believe in yourself and make sure you are confident in what you know.

Be Honest

Be honest with your customers even if the news is bad like the manufacture just backordered their item another 90 days. Never embellish products. I am not a fan of salespeople using the blanket statement that fixture and faucets at big box stores are made differently than those wholesale have. I personally will go as far as if I know that my customer’s needs are better suited with a product I do not carry I will suggest it to them. If I don’t have anything close to what I think they need I will even tell them where to find it. Blaspheme I know, but people remember things like that. You may not get the sale that day but next time I promise they will come back to you because they trust you have their best interest. Furthermore, never ever forget that customers can smell BS and insincerity from a mile away.  

Be a Chameleon

I don’t recall it being in any training I have ever taken but I find this skill to be very important. You need to be able to mimic your customers. No, I don’t mean repeat what they say after they have said it. That is parroting, my 9 year old does that to annoy her dad and it does not apply here. People tend to like people who are most like themselves. They generally look to other people similar to themselves when making decisions. This is particularly noticeable in situations of uncertainty such as making selections. You need to become like your customer. If your customer is analytical and detail oriented, then you should be analytical and about details. If they have a sense of humor joke with them and so on.

Be a Social Butterfly

Admit it, you like the title of this one. People tend to like people that make them laugh. They also tend to like those who pay them compliments. Find out what your customers interest are and build upon that. Talk about their family, tell them about yours and build a strong rapport with your customers. It is as easy as finding out what they like to watch on television. You like Property Brothers? My wife and I love that show too, we never miss an episode! Then when your customers are leaving, ask them what their plans are for the rest of the day. The last customer I asked that of said he was going home to take a nap, I replied that I was so very jealous. He got a good laugh out of it and the next day they called to confirm their substantial order. 

None of this is an exact science. There are so many variables when dealing with people and some days are better than others. I do promise these techniques will help.  You just have to give it your best effort and remember to have fun.

- See more at: http://thewholesaler.com/july_13/wilson.php#sthash.lwVHysbk.dpuf

The Wholesaler: June 2013 - Game Changers

Posted on March 24, 2014

Game-Changers

By Dion Wilson
Showroom specialist

As one of my many duties as manager here at Waterhouse, I oversee our social media program. A few months ago I came across a Facebook post that was so relevant to what we do that it has really stuck with me. It was a post by Kiel Wuellner, manager extraordinaire of the Axor NYC Design Studio. Kiel’s post was a photo of himself making preparations to host Metropolis Magazine’s Game-changers event at the Axor Design Studio. As you can see from the photo I included, Kiel was writing out the definition (In the most sickening perfect handwriting) of game-changer.

Game-changer (noun) - A person, an idea or an event that completely changes the way a situation develops.

His post really got me thinking who or what are some of the game-changers within our industry. My first thought was of products like the Brizo Pascal kitchen faucet. The Pascal was the first hands-free and touch activated faucet. It was the springboard for Brizo / Delta’s Touch2o kitchen faucets and the game-changer that produced the current trend. I think you can find many products in recent years that can be considered game-changers from the Toto Neorest toilet, Hansgrohe iBox universal valve, to the Kohler Moxie Bluetooth music playing showerhead. There are just too many to list. These are products I think have had an obvious effect on what we do and how we do it. 

I bring all this up because I think each of us has the potential to be a game-changer within our own market and within our industry. A game-changer is not just a product it can be a person or an idea. Jeremy Smith Sales Manager at Central Arizona Supply executed a themed grand opening for their newest showroom in Phoenix. They called it “a vintage grand opening” where guests were encouraged to dress in vintage period 1960’s similar to the style popularized in the AMC show Mad Men. Splash Kitchen Bath Home holds a unique educational experience open to the public. It is an outdoor event called Design Squared held in downtown Pittsburg’s Market Square. Fixture Living of California offers a showroom experience to their customers unlike anyone else. From their Bliss Café to their motto Live Joyfully, Fixture Living’s approach is very unique. I could write a whole article on the way Fixture Living does things and plan to do so very soon. I not only see them as a game-changer but in my opinion even though they are not the largest, they are the Apple computer of our industry. Each of these is a game-changer in its own right. All it takes is a vision and the courage to leap.

If you pay attention to our industry it is not hard to tell who the game-changers are. They are usually the ones that are leading and often copied by everyone else. I would love to hear what or who you think is a game-changer within our industry. Drop me an email or send me a message on Twitter or Facebook. What or who is going to be the next game-changer? Only time will tell but with some effort it just could be you!

Dion Wilson, Manager of Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio, and inter

- See more at: http://thewholesaler.com/june_13/wilson.php#sthash.sbcJzDhV.dpuf

Waterhouse on the Business Blackboard

Posted on November 27, 2013

The Business Blackboard is a Saturday morning radio show from 8-10am.  The Business Blackboard is the premier business and economic radio show in Northwest, OH and Southeast, MI on 1370AM WSPD.  During the show, the topics often range from up and coming business ventures and new development around the area, positive news about the Toledo area (which most media outlets prefer not to talk about), and feature local businesses.

November 23rd, 2013, Waterhouse's manager and creative vision strategist, Dion Wilson was invited to come on the show and talk about products, and what differentiates Waterhouse from other kitchen and bath showrooms or big box stores.

To listen to the podcast, click below!

Waterhouse on the Business Blackboard!

October Waterhouse Newsletter

Posted on October 18, 2013

WOW, can you believe it is October? We can't believe it is here already, but it is, and we love autumn! We have so many new and exciting things we are bringing you this fall and even more to follow.  In this month's Newsletter we focus on just a few of the new and exciting things happening at Waterhouse.  We have a new faucet collection from Kohler. It is the company's most comprehensive faucet collection launch in over 14 years. We are very excited about this new line (side note: it is also not available in any of the big box stores either). We share the details of one of our new displays and give you a glimpse at the start of another.  We also have fun and exciting news about an upcoming event here at Waterhouse next month. So as you can see, we have been as busy as Santa's Elves this season. Oops, we did not mean to scare you with that, and the fact there is less then 90 days until Christmas! ~ Enjoy!     Sincerely, Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio     SPOTLIGHT ON: Kohler Artifacts uncover a wealth of possibilities There is a feeling that comes with discovering the perfect piece for a room - a piece that speaks to your personality, your taste, your style - creating a look that is yours and yours alone. The Artifacts collection embodies this feeling. Kohler Artifacts Single Handle Faucet Inspired by turn-of-the-century charm and backed by the integrity of the Kohler name, each piece in this singular collection is like a vintage treasure rediscovered in a street market or antique shop.  In your hands, Artifacts can complete the look of a room - or it can become the centerpiece to build an entire room around. Artifacts  Bell Spout with Prong Handles  in Oil-Rubbed Bronze Artifacts Bell Spout with Lever Handles  in Polished Nickel Kohler Artifacts  Your Style, Your Taste & Your Personality The Kohler Artifacts collection is now on display at here at Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio. Stop in and see what combination suits your style and taste best! Our Kohler Artifacts Display at Waterhouse   Step 1: Choose a spout Step 2: Choose your handles Step 3: Whala! You have a Artifacts faucet Step 4: Your spouse does not like what you selected and wants Prong handles (but this would never happen, right?)   ___________________________________________________ SPOTLIGHT ON: New Displays   We are constantly working to keep up with coming trends, styles, and  designs. We actually change out about 25% percent of our displays every year. We do this to stay more current then any other showroom in the region. One of our newest displays is our Shabby Chic display.  Shabby Chic is a design style that uses worn or distressed furnishings to achieve a romantic effect.  It is a mix of older distressed and new shinny items. Shabby Chic Display In our display we feature Fairmont Designs Rustic Chic collection. We used their 36" Rustic Chic vanity with farmhouse style lavatory bowl, and added the matching mirror. The faucet is an Axor Montreux widespread with cross handles and porcelain accents.  We changed the knobs on the vanity that come standard in Oil-Rubbed Bronze to a distressed white. Victoria & Albert Edge Freestanding Tub Fairmont Designs Rustic Chic Collection and Axor Montreux Faucet The freestanding tub is a Victoria and Albert Edge. We like that it followed the shape of the Apron Front sink. The toilet is a Kohler Archer one-piece. We draped the tub with clean white sheer material suspended buy a simple piece of rope to give it a romantic feel. To finish the display some wall décor, a nice round rug, and a shiny side table for soaps and such. We have a feeling you are going to like it, but if not, chances are that we have something else to suit your tastes!    If the shabby chic display is not your "cup of tea," it actually might just be the new display we are currently working on. This new secret display will be featured in our Kohler Premier space. Follow us on Facebook to track our progress and be up-to-date on all the other great features and products we have to offer. NEW DISPLAY (what will it be?) Only time will tell, check our Facebook page often  for more details  ____________________________________________________                     Kohler Turns 140 Years Old! Celebrate with us November 12th! We are celebrating Kohler's 140th anniversary this November!  Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 12th, and please join us for the party we are calling "The Bold Birthday Bash"!  We promise you will have a great time.  Besides, what's a birthday without cake, fun hats, and some great prizes?!?!    Happy Birthday Kohler  (you don't look a day over 120) Kohler Company is  a global leader in kitchen and bath design and technology - is celebrating its 140th anniversary this year. From its humble beginnings in 1873 to becoming one of the oldest and largest privately held companies in the United States, Kohler has become synonymous with quality and innovation. One of Kohler's First Bath Tubs Kohler Co. was founded in 1873, when its founder, John Michael Kohler, an Austrian immigrant purchased the Sheboygan Union Iron and Steel Foundry which produced cast-iron and steel implements for farmers in the area, castings for the city's furniture factories and ornamental iron pieces that included hitching posts, cemetery crosses, urns and settees.  Kohler's Early Beginnings In 1883, John Michael Kohler took a product in his line, heated it to 1700°F and sprinkled it with enamel powder. Placing a picture of it in the center of his one-page catalogue, he called it "a horse trough/hog scalder... when furnished with four legs will serve as a bathtub." This was how Kohler came to be in the plumbing business.  Kohler Foundry Like John Michael Kohler himself, many of the early employees were immigrants. Their dedication to excellence helped forge one of the oldest and largest privately held companies in the United States.  After four generations, Kohler remains a family-owned company, with over 26,000 products and 13,000 patents to its name, and still leading the industry in innovation and design. Kohler at 140    ___________________________________________________  For more information and a formal invite about the Kohler Bold Birthday Bash, please contact Lyndsey Samson at: Phone: 419-874-3519 Email:lyndsey.samson@waterhousebks.com

About Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio   Waterhouse bath & kitchen studio is a family owned business in downtown Perrysburg, Ohio. We are the region's only "local" premier provider of bathroom and kitchen fixtures offering a destination unlike any other that provides cutting edge style, innovative design, and unmatched expertise. Our 7,000 square foot showroom offers the area's largest collection of working product.  We  accommodate varied tastes, budgets and needs in an effort to enhance our customer's homes and ultimately their lives. Immerse your sense of style!    125 E. Indiana Ave Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio 419-874-3519

New Kohler Artifacts Display

Posted on September 19, 2013

Our new display is our new Kohler Artifacts display! Artifacts is KOHLER's most comprehensive faucet launch in 14 years. Live Bold and stop in and see why we are so excited about this launch! Also Artifacts is not available in retail box stores and only two locations in Northwest, Ohio! 

September Newsletter

Posted on September 06, 2013

Waterhouse bath & kitchen studio Volume 3 issue 9 - September, 2013                     In This Issue                     Trends: COLOR Spotlight one: Kohler Glass TENT SALE! Race with us for a Cure! Join Our Mailing List Quick Links www.waterhousebks.com www.maumeesupply.com        September is here! Sure many of us are asking what happened to Summer? It was like if you blinked you missed it. Some folks are excited that the kids are all back to school while others are excited by the return of football.  We love the colors Fall brings. That color can also serve as a great inspiration for indoors also. There are many ways to add color to your home. In this months newsletter we talk color. You can add dramatic color to a room or do it subtly with colored glass. However you decide to add color make it represent you and your personality. There is no wrong or right. If you do need help we are always here for you.     Sincerely, Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio     TRENDS: Color Triggers Emotions Color is a big part of ideal living - as shown by current interior design trends.  Color is an indispensable part of our lives. It creates an atmosphere and defines the way in which we see a room or space. Although white and natural colors have dominated interior design for years, vivid colors are currently on the march. Color has taken over furniture, fabrics, walls and floors - and has now reached the bathroom. Showing colors for more energy - with yellow, red and pink   Energy and strength, but also intimacy: These are the characteristics of fiery red and orange tones. These are mostly used as accents in the living space, as shown by modern furniture and accessories. After all, too much red can appear aggressive and a completely red room, restrictive. In contrast, a sunny yellow can make the room appear larger. The vivid yellow that has appeared at many exhibitions is mostly used as a dash of color: This allows fresh new accents to be integrated into the living or bathroom ambiance. Yellow, red and pink - invigorating Vivid colors should be used sparingly - they work best as an individual accent Create a comfortable atmosphere - with blue, turquoise and green   This also applies to tones between sky blue, royal blue and shades tending towards green. Turquoise, petrol and lavender are back in fashion. A violet tone can be an exciting eye-catcher, while most blue tones have a soothing effect. The colors evoke the green of nature, of meadows and spring-time or the fascination of the sea. Blue is especially attractive when contrasted with wood. This is another trend.   Blue, turquoise and green = soothing The color of water and the sea fit perfectly in the bathroom -e Colors change rooms and spaces whichever way you like Color awakens memories - of holidays and favorite places from our childhood. In addition, it is also a quick and cost-effective way of bringing new ideas into the home. Whether as furniture or on the wall - colorful accents combined with white are unbeatable. The light quality and surface structure also play an important role in the effect of color. Mixed colors - lots of bright details. A colorful mixture brings brightness to any room or bathroom. SPOTLIGHT ON: Kohler Glass Sinks Glass Act: Fine Art for the Bathroom      There's no material quite like glass. It can be hard and substantial, yet it can also mimic the soft appearance of undulating water or the diaphanous lightness of a cloud. And nothing else yields such variety of color, translucency and texture in the hands of the artisan.  Kohler's exquisite one-of-a-kind bathroom sinks are inspired by generations of artisans who have crafted many of the sculptures and vessels found in the world's great museums. The result is pure art in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and forms. An ancient art form The first artist to make glass was Mother Nature herself. Out of the forge of volcanoes or created in an instant by a flash of summer lightning, the immense power of natural forces superheated and merged millions of grains of sand to create the first works in glass.     Eventually, humans learned to recreate this process, using creative design to form jewelry, vessels, and currency-in the ancient world, glass even rivaled gold in value.   Artist-designed   Kohler collaborates with international artists on the designs for its glass sinks in a process that can last more than a year. The reasons behind the approval or rejection of a product design aren't easy to articulate.  In the end, the team moves forward with a product when it offers a lasting, innovative design that generates an emotional response.   From start to finish, Kohler makes the entire line of glass sinks on site at the Kohler factory in Kohler, WI. Kohler's design team can walk right to the furnace to play and experiment whenever inspiration strikes. And keeping all stages of production in-house gives the design team more creative freedom and more control over the entire process.   Perfect timing The process of creating these pieces is extremely time-intensive, and time-sensitive. Due to the delicate nature of the work, not every sink meets Kohler's exacting standards of excellence. Glass artisans ply their craft in very brief windows of opportunity, and if the timing and temperature is not precise, if they make the slightest misstep, then the piece goes back into the glass furnace.     The skilled glassmakers bring the material to temperatures as high as 2,200 degrees and manipulate the molten glass using one of many techniques. Then they allow it to cool in stages, sometimes for more than a day, creating a piece free of distortions, stress points or flaws.   The finished product The finished sinks are amazingly consistent with the original design, but the nature of the intricate process guarantees tiny variances that make every one unique. For example, in spun and cast glass sinks, the artisans allow the molten glass to move and settle in the mold, and then to cool down. As part of that natural process, the body of the glass captures minute bubbles, and the hardened surface forever retains the appearance of a gentle undulation, creating a portrait of movement frozen in glass. Once the cooling process is complete, what emerges is a crystalline, beautiful, and surprisingly durable work of art that is ready to take its rightful place as the centerpiece of your bath.                       BLOWOUT  TENT SALE! At Maumee SupplY    Maumee Supply 12860 Eckel Junction Rd. Perrysburg, OH 43551   Join Our Race for the Cure Team! Within our company, we have had employees' families and friends fight the battle against breast cancer.  Some have fought and won, while others are now only with us in pictures and memories. We, at Waterhouse, have taken a stand against breast cancer and will again be running in the Northwest, OH Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. If you would like to participate or donate to the cause, please click the link below.     Join Us: Race for the Cure!   About Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio   Waterhouse bath & kitchen studio is a family owned business in downtown Perrysburg, Ohio. We are the region's only "local" premier provider of bathroom and kitchen fixtures offering a destination unlike any other that provides cutting edge style, innovative design, and unmatched expertise. Our 7,000 square foot showroom offers the area's largest collection of working product.  We  accommodate varied tastes, budgets and needs in an effort to enhance our customer's homes and ultimately their lives. Immerse your sense of style!    125 E. Indiana Ave Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio 419-874-3519

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April Newsletter

Posted on April 16, 2013