The Best Kept Secret in Shopping for Your Kitchen and Bath

(ARA) – Is it time to buy a new bathroom or kitchen faucet? Do you have a certain brand in mind, but still aren’t completely sure what style to choose? Don’t know where to turn? Many consumers aren’t aware that wholesale showroom shopping may be a good starting point to get ideas ‘flowing.’

‘Unfortunately, many homeowners have the perception that wholesale showrooms are only for those with deep pockets, who are working with an interior designer, or are building a new home,’ says Beth Allison of Moen.. ‘But in reality, most wholesale showrooms are open to the general public and are staffed with style-savvy, knowledgeable design consultants who can serve as valuable resources for anyone looking to build, remodel or just refresh their kitchens and bathrooms.’

Still intimidated by the thought of a wholesale showroom? Fear not! The following are tips on what to expect and how to find the right mix of products at your local wholesale showroom.

Do Your Research

Beginning is as easy as logging on to your computer. A simple Internet search of the terms ‘wholesale plumbing showrooms,’ along with your city, will quickly bring up a list of showrooms in your neighborhood. In addition, many manufacturers, such as Moen Incorporated, offer ‘Where to Buy’ functions on their Web sites which provide a list of local showrooms located within a certain radius of your home.

Before venturing out to your local wholesale showroom, be sure to check which are open to the public and which are for trade professionals only. Showrooms that are open to the public may have consumer orientation programs and tours, which is a great way to familiarize yourself with the showroom and see if they offer your favorite brands. If you don’t have the opportunity to take advantage of the tours, you’re welcome to simply visit the showroom and look around on your own. Many showrooms also offer virtual tours of their showrooms online, so it’s worth your time to visit their websites before venturing out.

Compiling a list of questions, as well as brands and specific products you find interesting, may also help streamline your wholesale showroom shopping process. According to showroom consultants, an overwhelming majority of consumers come to wholesale showrooms with information in mind about the type (77 percent) and style (76 percent) of faucet they prefer. If you still fall into the ‘undecided’ category with the other 23 to 24 percent, search through magazines and the Internet, and bring along clippings and pictures of styles you like.

Browsing and Buying at Showrooms

One advantage of wholesale showroom shopping is seeing the most innovative and stylish products from today’s top designers and manufacturers. For example, when looking to purchase a new faucet, wholesale showrooms display many of the latest products with innovative features such as pulldown and pull-out spouts, as well as popular new finishes including oil rubbed bronze, antique bronze and matte black. Showroom consultants can be another great resource and advantage. Also versed in the latest trends, they can be helpful in recommending products to suit your lifestyle.

In addition, showrooms often feature products in vignettes made to look like actual kitchens and baths, which give homeowners a real sense of how these products would look in their homes. ‘Showrooms are ideal because they don’t feature any one trend or style that overshadows others – they offer a nice spectrum of all types, styles and price ranges to allow homeowners to be creative in their selection process,’ Allison says.

The following are just a few of the most innovative products seen in today’s wholesale plumbing showrooms:

‘Green’ Faucets

Moen’s new Rothbury collection features a cottage-style design and is Moen’s first faucet to offer a water saving aerator – a 1.5 gallon-per-minute aerator for environmentally conscious homeowners. It is also one of the first faucets to receive WaterSense certification, indicating the fixture has met the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines as an environmentally responsible and efficient product. The Rothbury collection is available in today’s most popular finishes.

Remote-Control Toilets

The state-of-the-art Toto Neorest toilet has nearly as many options as a new sport utility vehicle. Features include a bidet with temperature control, a dryer, deodorizer, automatic sensor seat, Cyclone flushing system, remote control and heated seat with temperature control.

Happy Shopping

‘When shopping in a showroom,’ Allison adds, ‘don’t be overwhelmed with the size and number of products offered at many showrooms. Don’t be afraid to share a realistic budget with the consultants. It will only help you both in selecting products that are right for you and your home. Lastly, remember to enjoy the experience. Showrooms are a virtual wonderland of new products, styles and trends and have offered design inspiration to thousands of homeowners.’

For more information on the new Rothbury collection or other Moen products, visit www.moen.com or call 1-800-BUY-MOEN (1-800-289-6636).

Courtesy of ARAcontent