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20 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | October 2015 » » Remodel. Kitchen and bath frms can take a cue from the hospitality industry. Restaurateurs and hote- liers know that, to keep customers coming, they'll need a signifcant re-do of their oferings and décor at least once every fve to seven years tops. Bringing your show- room up to date stylistically is really needed in most markets I travel. The showrooms are typi- cally too large or too out-of-date looking. Consider actually having a smaller showroom. You will like- ly fnd that, with today's Internet shopping consumer, there is less need for displays and more need for engagement. Our younger consumers are inf luencing all style trends both for older con- sumers and their peers. Old World displays won't do today. They need to be clean lined and simplifed, with a healthy dose of layout and good func- tion ideas along with style choices that matter. Think of your showroom design more like a Pinterest board. The best way to tackle this, which can be costly and overwhelming, is to set a master plan for the show- room update overall. Resist a "piece meal" approach where, in the end, there is not the to- tal continuity as gained with a master plan. Fewer displays for displays' sake is today's rule. When there are displays, they need to educate, reassure and confrm all to close the sale so time is used productively for all parties involved. We as con- sumers have far less patience today in this instant world we live in. THE NEW NORMAL A great deal of good lessons and teachable moments occurred over the past 6+ years. We've made it through the tough- est time in business I hope to ever experience in my lifetime. We are a hardy and resilient community. And now, with the economy back to growing, and homeown- ers back to spending, we stand poised to thrive once again. Kn owledge sharing, investing in our learning and mentoring each other as we have always done as an industry will be important to sustain our in- dustry's future. Yes, the wave is here, and it's continuing to build. For the growth-minded kitchen and bath frm and for design- ers who want to spend their work career in this special industry, I urge you to jump on now. Review your show- room today for tomorrow's success. Determine what you need; reach out to those who know. The answer just might be one of my fndings from my travels across North America of refocus, remodel or even relocate! Inside Today's Showroom www.blancoamerica.com Inspired by artists, proven by scientists and fueled by decades of German engineering, SILGRANIT ® II is in a class by itself. With eight universal colors, our durable stone innovation resists scratches, stains and fading... like no other. And being the standard in granite sinks, also sets the standard in confdence. Gain peace- of-mind and choose the brand that transcends hype. When your reputation is on the line, no detail is too small. SILGRANIT ® II — for the way your clients live. Real artisan craftsmanship, real material science — designed for real life. Circle No. 11 on Product Card