Market flowing in
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Market flowing in
dribs & drabs Is the average consumer looking for a quality product? A pretty product? Or are they looking for discounts and bargains? Possibly all of the above, as Sean Martin reports. With many different segments of the kitchen and bathroom markets, it’s difficult to gauge which are doing particularly well. Renovations, new builds, replacements, the trade; it’s challenging to say the least to quantify where most of the market share is coming from. What one can say is that meeting the consumer’s needs is key to unlocking what market potential there is. Barnaby Thompson, Sales & Marketing Manager of Parex, New Zealand distributor for the InSinkErator brand, feels that consumers are moving towards a better quality of product because of the lifespan and performance of the higher end items. He says: “I think people have become disillusioned with buying cheaper products that they need to replace, especially when you are dealing with plumbing,” he says. “You want to just put it under the sink and forget about it. So I think it is about peace of mind – you get what you pay for.” Thompson does go on to say that there will obviously always be consumers who will buy a cheap product. The main culprits of buying from the cheapest source, in Thompson’s mind, are landlords and developers. But, he says, “If it’s your own home, you’d probably spend a little bit more simply because you don’t want that risk of leaking or poor performance.” The design of a product obviously is a big part of whether consumers, and particularly architects or specifiers choose to support a product. Barnaby Thompson says that InSinkErator has recognised this trend; “We’ve had feedback over the years on our existing tap where some people didn’t like it,” says Thompson, “Hence we’ve brought out a wider range.”
STYLE TAKES PRECEDENCE? CEO of Heirloom, Graham Rea, agrees that design comes first in terms of a decision of purchase for a consumer. “I think people’s desire is for style first, performance second and price third,” says Rea.
48
nzhj | August 2012
In Rea’s opinion the average Kiwi consumer is still very focused in particular on European trends. “I think that people in New Zealand are much more design savvy and they like to know where designs and trends are at. Consumers are looking for more integrated styles and designs and for all of the components to have some design commonality. “On the one hand it’s an exercise in self-expression in terms of the style that the customer is looking for, and it’s also about delivering an end result that suits their family configuration and their lifestyle,” says Rea. New Zealand customers are innovative and creative, he says. It is then a matter of the industry delivering on what the customer is looking for. Sales Manager for Greens Tapware, Brett Hill agrees. “I would say that the style of a product is very important for the consumer and I would suggest it rates quite highly in their decision making.”
“I think people have become disillusioned with buying cheaper products that they need to replace, especially when you are dealing with plumbing” He adds that the quality of a product is also something that the consumer will also take into consideration, but design is the top priority. “I’d say that they are more interested in the look of the product and then they look at the details of the quality,” continues Hill. Having said that, in the DIY segment, he says, price has a pretty big bearing on purchasing. GETTING HANDS-ON MAKES A DIFFERENCE Michael Hawkins, Managing Director of Blum New Zealand, says consumers are now looking towards higher end products. Hawkins says this is evident from the fact that companies focusing on the cheaper products are losing market share while brands that focus on quality are doing well. “I think that a lot of customers are becoming a little bit savvier towards the cheaper products.” There does seem to be a feeling within the industry that consumers are realising that cheaper products can be a false economy, and that if they want something to last, they need to pay for it. This is why Blum has introduced the Kitchen Test More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
August 2012 | nzhj
49
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Drive – allowing consumers to actually touch, feel, place and play with various configurations of kitchen hardware at Blum’s premises. Many consumers are not totally happy with their finished kitchens. Says Hawkins: “A lot of that is down to storage or the functionality of the kitchen, so what we wanted to do in the showroom is show people that you can make an excellent use of space.” Hawkins believes that Blum’s Kitchen Test Drive is a great way for customers to get a feel for what they want their kitchens to be like as it is difficult to visualise on a plan how it is going to look. CONFLICTING OPINIONS OVER PRICE Roger Marty, Director of Felton, disagrees that consumers are more focused on quality and design, and considers that over the past two to three years there has been a shift to price as being the major factor in a consumers purchasing habits. The reason that he gives for this is because that due to the economic times, the consumer is watching their bank balances.
“I think that customers are savvier and have more ways of determining value for money. I think they are still looking for quality” Marty elaborates on this by saying that the average punter is putting off expensive renovations because disposable income isn’t as free flowing as it once was and that they “aren’t willing to get into as bigger debt and I think that they are tending to buy cheaper solutions.” CEO of Foreno, Tim Baker, doesn’t feel that price is the be all and end all for the consumer. “I think that customers are savvier and have more ways of determining value for money. I think they are still looking for quality.” Baker believes customers take their time to look around, taking all factors into consideration as they look to validate a purchase.
50
nzhj | August 2012
Hot stuff! InSinkErator’s steaming hot water taps dispense filtered 98°C water, the perfect temperature for making hot drinks, speeding up the preparation of pasta or vegetables, cleaning dishes and a host of other kitchen tasks. The new HC3300 and H3300 are stylish additions to the InSinkErator range and have been created to complement contemporary kitchen designs. Both taps dispense hot water using a unique single handle and benefit from an automatic hot push-lever locking mechanism. The HC3300 also provides ambient cold filtered water. Providing a touch of elegance to any kitchen, the HC1100 and GN1100 taps also provide instant hot water at the touch of a lever with additional ambient cold filtered water from the HC1100. The 1100 models also benefit from an instant selfclosing hot water valve that ensures automatic shut off. www.insinkerator.co.nz
Quality is something that the people at Foreno feel very passionate about – and they believe it makes a difference in the eye to the consumer – which is one of the reasons why the company has recently become the first tapware company in Australasia to receive CodeMark Certification. WHERE THE MARKET LIES The market is up and down, that will come as no surprise to anyone. One month could be booming and the next month could be quiet. More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
LAMINEX 180fx LAMINEX 180fx ®
®
™
™
New technology offers inspiration on a grander scale. Achieving an unprecedented large scale design, this sophisticated laminate replicates the beauty and magnitude of natural stone by using innovative printing technology that captures every little nuance and detail. This yields an unmatched realism with striking colour variations and intricate veining to deliver exotic stone looks.
New technology offers inspiration on a gra Created for bencthops, countertops and vertical applications, Laminex® 180fx™ extends to six carefully selected natural stone patterns. Five are offered in Laminex’s popular DiamondGloss finish and four in a Matt finish. So whatever your design requirements are, Laminex 180fx expands the possibilities.
Achieving an unprecedented large scale design, this sop by printing technology that captures every little nuance an unmatched realism with striking colour variations and in deliver exotic stone looks.
For a sample brochure please contact 0800 99 99 39, or for more information replicates the beauty and magnitude of natural stone contact your The Laminex Group representative.
Created for bencthops, countertops and vertical applica MPM 8311 0812 180FX Print Ad.indd 1 TLG2428 Laminex
extends to six carefully selected natural stone patterns. Laminex’s popular DiamondGloss finish and four18/11/11 in a4:07 Ma P
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Making a splash in tapware “Fickle” and “Stagnant” were two words in particular that were the top of mind in reference to the market. Low housing starts and low house sales have been huge contributing factors to the turbulent market. But there are sales to be had, which is why players in the kitchen and bathroom market believe that renovation has been on the up recently. Foreno’s Tim Baker is one who thinks that there has been an increase in renovations over time “mainly because of low house sales”. Blum’s Michael Hawkins agrees that renovations are now a big sector for the market and says that their strength in this sector has definitely helped Blum. Hawkins expands on this saying that Blum is at its strongest in the renovation and high end of the market and that the renovation market keeps on trucking along. “That market hasn’t really died away and, where people have decided to stop speculating and building new houses, they’ve decided to spend their money on renovating their current house.” He continues to say that for that reason, sales have remained fairly strong. Where does the market sit as a whole though? Graham Rea of Heirloom gives an overall assessment of where he believes the bathroom market is at the moment; “The market is well down on where it’s been, as is evident by housing starts. “This is why there has been an upsurge in renovations. I think that in these times, renovations become a larger part of the market as people look to revalue and renovate where they are rather than take on the cost of buying new or moving.” We could be at the start of a new beginning however. After three or four tough years in the market, Tony de Ruiter, Sales & Marketing Manager for Athena, says that there seems to be some signs of the market picking up, saying: “We’re certainly a lot better now than we were last year.” The market however is still not back to its full strength. Roger Marty of Felton, among others, also says that the market is slow. “We do a lot of custom build architectural products that haven’t been moving at all well over the last couple of years,” he says. One reason for this is because there is no big contract work going on as a lot of the industry holds out for rebuild of Christchurch,
52
nzhj | August 2012
The kitchen pull-down is quickly becoming a “must have” item in new kitchens. Greens now offers three different types of pull-down options. The Galiano model features a pull-down nozzle which makes it practical for filling large containers such as vases and washing outsized pots, with a nozzle that extends to up to half a metre. The Zeon has a similar pull down nozzle but also features a spray function for washing vegetables or rinsing large containers. The combination of the square edged base and curved spout fit the modern straight lines found in modern homes. Finally, the Deluxe pull-down features a comfortable hand grip nozzle with a small switch on the back that activates the spray function. The Deluxe pull-down was introduced to the USA earlier this year and proved to be an instant success in American homes. www.greenstapware.com
something that could take over a year to really kick in. Marty says that despite seeing an increase in the DIY sector, more than 80% of Felton’s turnover continues to come from the trade – which is why Felton has developed its own Continuing Professional Development course. “We’ve really emphasised our trade focus. The people that are critical to our business succeeding are the plumbers. We’ve spent money on developing our own Continuing Professional Development course for plumbers, with more planned.” Speaking to players in the industry, the DIY market does look to have strengthened however. Brett Hill of Greens Tapware puts this down to the emergence of the Big Box stores. Nonetheless, he does suggest that the conventional plumbing merchants are still thriving. Straight from the horse’s mouth, Mark Whitehead, owner of Whitehead Plumbing & Gas, who is also a Director of the New Zealand Society of Master Plumbers, gives a general overview of how he feels the plumbing industry is at the moment. “I’d say it’s pretty patchy throughout the country really. There were some areas that were quite busy, like Taranaki and Hawkes Bay. More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Here, in Christchurch, I think it really fluctuates. You go through a really busy week and then it could be really quiet. People are not working to their full capacity throughout the rest of the country,” Says Whitehead. The general theory coming from plumbers in the country is that although there is some renovation work going on, people are prioritising what they spend their money on and, although there seems to be a glimmer of hope for the economy, things are still quite depressed for plumbers. Nevertheless, in regards to the DIY sector, Whitehead says: “I think people are steering away from DIY. It only appeals to certain people.” THINKING EFFICIENTLY As if you don’t already know, the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) came into place on April 1st of April 2010. This meant that as of 1 April 2011, any products manufactured in, or imported into, New Zealand require a label that states how efficient they are in the use of water. The kitchen and bathroom industry collectively say that this hasn’t really had an effect on them. Brett Hill of Greens Tapware says: “Our products typically are suitable for all pressures so that means that we Foreno Hardware Journal Half Page 9Feb2012.pdf 1 2/9/2012 10:42:51 AM
label for both low and mains pressures.” He does go onto say that a little bit of enquiry within the industry has made people think a bit more. Roger Marty gives an open and honest account of how the introduction of WELS has affected the kitchen and bathroom industry. Price has been the biggest difference since the regime was first brought into place, according to Marty. Elaborating on this he
“Where people have decided to stop speculating and building new houses, they’ve decided to spend their money on renovating their current house” says; “It costs us more money to get product out there because we put brass nipples and flow restrictors into the product so there’s a cost increase of about $3-4 of materials on every tap in addition to the initial lab testing.”
Functional. Practical. Reliable. (All this AND a pretty face) Not only does Foreno have an exceptional range of low pressure tapware solutions - they have low pressure tapware solutions in the latest of designs. So, even if you don’t have mains pressure, you can still have cutting edge style in your home. C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
Want reliability? Foreno are the only tapware com pany to have achieved CodeMark status in NZ. This means that all Foreno products with the CodeMark tick are deemed to be pre-approved by regulatory building authorities. That’s quality you can rely on.
Low pressure never looked so good!
Mana Gooseneck Sink Mixer - MN01G for all pressures
You can read more about CodeMark and check out the range of QUALITY, INNOVATIVE and HEALTHY TAPWARE available on the Foreno website.
CMY
K
www.foreno.co.nz Ph: 0508 FORENO (0508 367 366) More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
August 2012 | nzhj
53
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Laminex offers four new products Laminex Metaline Splashbacks (above) is an aluminium-based splashback system. Metaline Splashbacks are highly durable and stain-resistant. A smart alternative to glass, they have a unique flame retardant system that has been CodeMark certified as suitable for use behind both gas and electric cooktops. It can accommodate power points and taps and can be easily installed by a cabinetmaker, saving time and money. The new Melteca Puregrain is a substitute for natural wood. It gives you all the benefits you’d expect of Melteca Decorated Board, and its subtly textured finish feels and looks like natural wood. Laminex 180fx is a new laminate that replicates the look and scale of natural stone. A wide variation of colour and veining deliver realistic stone looks. 180fx offers 6 large scale designs that deliver statement for the home and for commercial spaces. 180fx offers an economical option that more closely resembles natural stone, marble and granite for applications including bench tops and vertical panels. Finally, the Corian Organics Collection lets you design spaces that that offer durability, versatility and ease of care. Corian is highly resistant to stains, burns and boiling water, as well as being completely non-porous. www.thelaminexgroup.co.nz
Along with the manufacturing cost comes the price of having to update specification manuals, putting technical information into price lists and brochures, which Marty feels hasn’t only cost Felton in terms of money, but also time. Whether it has resulted in more sales, Roger Marty is unsure. However Christian Hoerning, Senior Technical Advisor at EECA, reckons that the WELS initiative has resulted in better sales for the industry. According to consumer research that EECA have conducted, energy rating labels and WELS are both recognised by the public when it comes to purchases. Hoerning says that EECA is hoping that more suppliers, retailers and distributors will become energy star partners and describes some of the benefits: “We offer them a number of
54
nzhj | August 2012
Under pressure New from Felton is the F5 ceramic disc cartridge, a product that’s been designed for New Zealand pressures. This product can be used in all pressure situations and can operate up to 1500kPa. Plumbers can save a significant amount of time for installations subject to a building consent as Felton Shower Mixers (Versadisc/ Fusion) do not have to be isolated during a line test. Felton has also released a range of 800mm FX9 Tree Towel Warmers. These sculptural Trees are made from 304 stainless steel and are available in a brushed or bright polish finish. Unlike conventional 240V heated rails, its 12V, extra low voltage (SELV) feature means that is safe even in wet areas and eliminates restrictions on where it can be installed. Finally, Felton has a new shower mixer on the market, the Fusion Shower Mixer. This mixer incorporates the new F5 cartridge, which makes it suitable for all pressures up to 1500kPa. For unequal pressures, a removable Venturi Jet is inserted into the top outlet for optimal flow. www.felton.co.nz
benefits including independent Government-backed validation of energy efficient claims for their product and leverage of EECA’s extended marketing campaigns like the Energy Spot television campaign.” Looking further ahead, solar water heaters are something that retailers should be pushing on to the punter by now, and is beneficial to both parties. They cost more upfront than a conventional water heater, but can obviously supply significant reductions in water heating costs. “A recent review of our solar water heating and heat pump water heating grant scheme found that they are mostly cost effective for households that use a lot of hot water, so it is worth considering,” says Hoerning. More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
Market flowing in
dribs & drabs Is the average consumer looking for a quality product? A pretty product? Or are they looking for discounts and bargains? Possibly all of the above, as Sean Martin reports. With many different segments of the kitchen and bathroom markets, it’s difficult to gauge which are doing particularly well. Renovations, new builds, replacements, the trade; it’s challenging to say the least to quantify where most of the market share is coming from. What one can say is that meeting the consumer’s needs is key to unlocking what market potential there is. Barnaby Thompson, Sales & Marketing Manager of Parex, New Zealand distributor for the InSinkErator brand, feels that consumers are moving towards a better quality of product because of the lifespan and performance of the higher end items. He says: “I think people have become disillusioned with buying cheaper products that they need to replace, especially when you are dealing with plumbing,” he says. “You want to just put it under the sink and forget about it. So I think it is about peace of mind – you get what you pay for.” Thompson does go on to say that there will obviously always be consumers who will buy a cheap product. The main culprits of buying from the cheapest source, in Thompson’s mind, are landlords and developers. But, he says, “If it’s your own home, you’d probably spend a little bit more simply because you don’t want that risk of leaking or poor performance.” The design of a product obviously is a big part of whether consumers, and particularly architects or specifiers choose to support a product. Barnaby Thompson says that InSinkErator has recognised this trend; “We’ve had feedback over the years on our existing tap where some people didn’t like it,” says Thompson, “Hence we’ve brought out a wider range.”
STYLE TAKES PRECEDENCE? CEO of Heirloom, Graham Rea, agrees that design comes first in terms of a decision of purchase for a consumer. “I think people’s desire is for style first, performance second and price third,” says Rea.
48
nzhj | August 2012
In Rea’s opinion the average Kiwi consumer is still very focused in particular on European trends. “I think that people in New Zealand are much more design savvy and they like to know where designs and trends are at. Consumers are looking for more integrated styles and designs and for all of the components to have some design commonality. “On the one hand it’s an exercise in self-expression in terms of the style that the customer is looking for, and it’s also about delivering an end result that suits their family configuration and their lifestyle,” says Rea. New Zealand customers are innovative and creative, he says. It is then a matter of the industry delivering on what the customer is looking for. Sales Manager for Greens Tapware, Brett Hill agrees. “I would say that the style of a product is very important for the consumer and I would suggest it rates quite highly in their decision making.”
“I think people have become disillusioned with buying cheaper products that they need to replace, especially when you are dealing with plumbing” He adds that the quality of a product is also something that the consumer will also take into consideration, but design is the top priority. “I’d say that they are more interested in the look of the product and then they look at the details of the quality,” continues Hill. Having said that, in the DIY segment, he says, price has a pretty big bearing on purchasing. GETTING HANDS-ON MAKES A DIFFERENCE Michael Hawkins, Managing Director of Blum New Zealand, says consumers are now looking towards higher end products. Hawkins says this is evident from the fact that companies focusing on the cheaper products are losing market share while brands that focus on quality are doing well. “I think that a lot of customers are becoming a little bit savvier towards the cheaper products.” There does seem to be a feeling within the industry that consumers are realising that cheaper products can be a false economy, and that if they want something to last, they need to pay for it. This is why Blum has introduced the Kitchen Test More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
August 2012 | nzhj
49
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Drive – allowing consumers to actually touch, feel, place and play with various configurations of kitchen hardware at Blum’s premises. Many consumers are not totally happy with their finished kitchens. Says Hawkins: “A lot of that is down to storage or the functionality of the kitchen, so what we wanted to do in the showroom is show people that you can make an excellent use of space.” Hawkins believes that Blum’s Kitchen Test Drive is a great way for customers to get a feel for what they want their kitchens to be like as it is difficult to visualise on a plan how it is going to look. CONFLICTING OPINIONS OVER PRICE Roger Marty, Director of Felton, disagrees that consumers are more focused on quality and design, and considers that over the past two to three years there has been a shift to price as being the major factor in a consumers purchasing habits. The reason that he gives for this is because that due to the economic times, the consumer is watching their bank balances.
“I think that customers are savvier and have more ways of determining value for money. I think they are still looking for quality” Marty elaborates on this by saying that the average punter is putting off expensive renovations because disposable income isn’t as free flowing as it once was and that they “aren’t willing to get into as bigger debt and I think that they are tending to buy cheaper solutions.” CEO of Foreno, Tim Baker, doesn’t feel that price is the be all and end all for the consumer. “I think that customers are savvier and have more ways of determining value for money. I think they are still looking for quality.” Baker believes customers take their time to look around, taking all factors into consideration as they look to validate a purchase.
50
nzhj | August 2012
Hot stuff! InSinkErator’s steaming hot water taps dispense filtered 98°C water, the perfect temperature for making hot drinks, speeding up the preparation of pasta or vegetables, cleaning dishes and a host of other kitchen tasks. The new HC3300 and H3300 are stylish additions to the InSinkErator range and have been created to complement contemporary kitchen designs. Both taps dispense hot water using a unique single handle and benefit from an automatic hot push-lever locking mechanism. The HC3300 also provides ambient cold filtered water. Providing a touch of elegance to any kitchen, the HC1100 and GN1100 taps also provide instant hot water at the touch of a lever with additional ambient cold filtered water from the HC1100. The 1100 models also benefit from an instant selfclosing hot water valve that ensures automatic shut off. www.insinkerator.co.nz
Quality is something that the people at Foreno feel very passionate about – and they believe it makes a difference in the eye to the consumer – which is one of the reasons why the company has recently become the first tapware company in Australasia to receive CodeMark Certification. WHERE THE MARKET LIES The market is up and down, that will come as no surprise to anyone. One month could be booming and the next month could be quiet. More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
LAMINEX 180fx LAMINEX 180fx ®
®
™
™
New technology offers inspiration on a grander scale. Achieving an unprecedented large scale design, this sophisticated laminate replicates the beauty and magnitude of natural stone by using innovative printing technology that captures every little nuance and detail. This yields an unmatched realism with striking colour variations and intricate veining to deliver exotic stone looks.
New technology offers inspiration on a gra Created for bencthops, countertops and vertical applications, Laminex® 180fx™ extends to six carefully selected natural stone patterns. Five are offered in Laminex’s popular DiamondGloss finish and four in a Matt finish. So whatever your design requirements are, Laminex 180fx expands the possibilities.
Achieving an unprecedented large scale design, this sop by printing technology that captures every little nuance an unmatched realism with striking colour variations and in deliver exotic stone looks.
For a sample brochure please contact 0800 99 99 39, or for more information replicates the beauty and magnitude of natural stone contact your The Laminex Group representative.
Created for bencthops, countertops and vertical applica MPM 8311 0812 180FX Print Ad.indd 1 TLG2428 Laminex
extends to six carefully selected natural stone patterns. Laminex’s popular DiamondGloss finish and four18/11/11 in a4:07 Ma P
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Making a splash in tapware “Fickle” and “Stagnant” were two words in particular that were the top of mind in reference to the market. Low housing starts and low house sales have been huge contributing factors to the turbulent market. But there are sales to be had, which is why players in the kitchen and bathroom market believe that renovation has been on the up recently. Foreno’s Tim Baker is one who thinks that there has been an increase in renovations over time “mainly because of low house sales”. Blum’s Michael Hawkins agrees that renovations are now a big sector for the market and says that their strength in this sector has definitely helped Blum. Hawkins expands on this saying that Blum is at its strongest in the renovation and high end of the market and that the renovation market keeps on trucking along. “That market hasn’t really died away and, where people have decided to stop speculating and building new houses, they’ve decided to spend their money on renovating their current house.” He continues to say that for that reason, sales have remained fairly strong. Where does the market sit as a whole though? Graham Rea of Heirloom gives an overall assessment of where he believes the bathroom market is at the moment; “The market is well down on where it’s been, as is evident by housing starts. “This is why there has been an upsurge in renovations. I think that in these times, renovations become a larger part of the market as people look to revalue and renovate where they are rather than take on the cost of buying new or moving.” We could be at the start of a new beginning however. After three or four tough years in the market, Tony de Ruiter, Sales & Marketing Manager for Athena, says that there seems to be some signs of the market picking up, saying: “We’re certainly a lot better now than we were last year.” The market however is still not back to its full strength. Roger Marty of Felton, among others, also says that the market is slow. “We do a lot of custom build architectural products that haven’t been moving at all well over the last couple of years,” he says. One reason for this is because there is no big contract work going on as a lot of the industry holds out for rebuild of Christchurch,
52
nzhj | August 2012
The kitchen pull-down is quickly becoming a “must have” item in new kitchens. Greens now offers three different types of pull-down options. The Galiano model features a pull-down nozzle which makes it practical for filling large containers such as vases and washing outsized pots, with a nozzle that extends to up to half a metre. The Zeon has a similar pull down nozzle but also features a spray function for washing vegetables or rinsing large containers. The combination of the square edged base and curved spout fit the modern straight lines found in modern homes. Finally, the Deluxe pull-down features a comfortable hand grip nozzle with a small switch on the back that activates the spray function. The Deluxe pull-down was introduced to the USA earlier this year and proved to be an instant success in American homes. www.greenstapware.com
something that could take over a year to really kick in. Marty says that despite seeing an increase in the DIY sector, more than 80% of Felton’s turnover continues to come from the trade – which is why Felton has developed its own Continuing Professional Development course. “We’ve really emphasised our trade focus. The people that are critical to our business succeeding are the plumbers. We’ve spent money on developing our own Continuing Professional Development course for plumbers, with more planned.” Speaking to players in the industry, the DIY market does look to have strengthened however. Brett Hill of Greens Tapware puts this down to the emergence of the Big Box stores. Nonetheless, he does suggest that the conventional plumbing merchants are still thriving. Straight from the horse’s mouth, Mark Whitehead, owner of Whitehead Plumbing & Gas, who is also a Director of the New Zealand Society of Master Plumbers, gives a general overview of how he feels the plumbing industry is at the moment. “I’d say it’s pretty patchy throughout the country really. There were some areas that were quite busy, like Taranaki and Hawkes Bay. More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Here, in Christchurch, I think it really fluctuates. You go through a really busy week and then it could be really quiet. People are not working to their full capacity throughout the rest of the country,” Says Whitehead. The general theory coming from plumbers in the country is that although there is some renovation work going on, people are prioritising what they spend their money on and, although there seems to be a glimmer of hope for the economy, things are still quite depressed for plumbers. Nevertheless, in regards to the DIY sector, Whitehead says: “I think people are steering away from DIY. It only appeals to certain people.” THINKING EFFICIENTLY As if you don’t already know, the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) came into place on April 1st of April 2010. This meant that as of 1 April 2011, any products manufactured in, or imported into, New Zealand require a label that states how efficient they are in the use of water. The kitchen and bathroom industry collectively say that this hasn’t really had an effect on them. Brett Hill of Greens Tapware says: “Our products typically are suitable for all pressures so that means that we Foreno Hardware Journal Half Page 9Feb2012.pdf 1 2/9/2012 10:42:51 AM
label for both low and mains pressures.” He does go onto say that a little bit of enquiry within the industry has made people think a bit more. Roger Marty gives an open and honest account of how the introduction of WELS has affected the kitchen and bathroom industry. Price has been the biggest difference since the regime was first brought into place, according to Marty. Elaborating on this he
“Where people have decided to stop speculating and building new houses, they’ve decided to spend their money on renovating their current house” says; “It costs us more money to get product out there because we put brass nipples and flow restrictors into the product so there’s a cost increase of about $3-4 of materials on every tap in addition to the initial lab testing.”
Functional. Practical. Reliable. (All this AND a pretty face) Not only does Foreno have an exceptional range of low pressure tapware solutions - they have low pressure tapware solutions in the latest of designs. So, even if you don’t have mains pressure, you can still have cutting edge style in your home. C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
Want reliability? Foreno are the only tapware com pany to have achieved CodeMark status in NZ. This means that all Foreno products with the CodeMark tick are deemed to be pre-approved by regulatory building authorities. That’s quality you can rely on.
Low pressure never looked so good!
Mana Gooseneck Sink Mixer - MN01G for all pressures
You can read more about CodeMark and check out the range of QUALITY, INNOVATIVE and HEALTHY TAPWARE available on the Foreno website.
CMY
K
www.foreno.co.nz Ph: 0508 FORENO (0508 367 366) More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
August 2012 | nzhj
53
plumbing: kitchen & bathroom
Laminex offers four new products Laminex Metaline Splashbacks (above) is an aluminium-based splashback system. Metaline Splashbacks are highly durable and stain-resistant. A smart alternative to glass, they have a unique flame retardant system that has been CodeMark certified as suitable for use behind both gas and electric cooktops. It can accommodate power points and taps and can be easily installed by a cabinetmaker, saving time and money. The new Melteca Puregrain is a substitute for natural wood. It gives you all the benefits you’d expect of Melteca Decorated Board, and its subtly textured finish feels and looks like natural wood. Laminex 180fx is a new laminate that replicates the look and scale of natural stone. A wide variation of colour and veining deliver realistic stone looks. 180fx offers 6 large scale designs that deliver statement for the home and for commercial spaces. 180fx offers an economical option that more closely resembles natural stone, marble and granite for applications including bench tops and vertical panels. Finally, the Corian Organics Collection lets you design spaces that that offer durability, versatility and ease of care. Corian is highly resistant to stains, burns and boiling water, as well as being completely non-porous. www.thelaminexgroup.co.nz
Along with the manufacturing cost comes the price of having to update specification manuals, putting technical information into price lists and brochures, which Marty feels hasn’t only cost Felton in terms of money, but also time. Whether it has resulted in more sales, Roger Marty is unsure. However Christian Hoerning, Senior Technical Advisor at EECA, reckons that the WELS initiative has resulted in better sales for the industry. According to consumer research that EECA have conducted, energy rating labels and WELS are both recognised by the public when it comes to purchases. Hoerning says that EECA is hoping that more suppliers, retailers and distributors will become energy star partners and describes some of the benefits: “We offer them a number of
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nzhj | August 2012
Under pressure New from Felton is the F5 ceramic disc cartridge, a product that’s been designed for New Zealand pressures. This product can be used in all pressure situations and can operate up to 1500kPa. Plumbers can save a significant amount of time for installations subject to a building consent as Felton Shower Mixers (Versadisc/ Fusion) do not have to be isolated during a line test. Felton has also released a range of 800mm FX9 Tree Towel Warmers. These sculptural Trees are made from 304 stainless steel and are available in a brushed or bright polish finish. Unlike conventional 240V heated rails, its 12V, extra low voltage (SELV) feature means that is safe even in wet areas and eliminates restrictions on where it can be installed. Finally, Felton has a new shower mixer on the market, the Fusion Shower Mixer. This mixer incorporates the new F5 cartridge, which makes it suitable for all pressures up to 1500kPa. For unequal pressures, a removable Venturi Jet is inserted into the top outlet for optimal flow. www.felton.co.nz
benefits including independent Government-backed validation of energy efficient claims for their product and leverage of EECA’s extended marketing campaigns like the Energy Spot television campaign.” Looking further ahead, solar water heaters are something that retailers should be pushing on to the punter by now, and is beneficial to both parties. They cost more upfront than a conventional water heater, but can obviously supply significant reductions in water heating costs. “A recent review of our solar water heating and heat pump water heating grant scheme found that they are mostly cost effective for households that use a lot of hot water, so it is worth considering,” says Hoerning. More at
www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
