April 2015 DSG Spotlight

APRIL 2015

SPOTLIGHT www.dakotasupplygroup.com

"Smart Home" Trends Create Opportunities For Contractors 2015 is going to be a big year for the construction industry, and part of that positive energy comes from the growing demand for “smart” products.

Homeowners, builders and even some commercial property owners are expecting more connectivity and convenience in their lives. As a result, new construction and remodeling trends are presenting plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors with fresh opportunities to make a big impression on their customers.

Hands-Free Bathrooms. Touchless fixtures are practically commonplace in commercial applications, but homeowners are getting on board as their desire for cleanliness and convenience grows. Notouch-flush toilets and hands-free faucets like those from American Standard’s Clean® ActiVate™ and Selectronic lines allow users to wrap up in the bathroom with just a swipe of the hand.

Manufacturers like Kohler even make retrofit kits that bring a touchless flush to almost any toilet.

USB Receptacles. If you thought that it wasn’t possible to

modernize an outlet, think again. The functionality of receptacles are indeed changing to offer more convenience. Products like the P&S USB charger with tamper-resistant receptacles allows users to plug in their mobile devices to charge instead of using a bulky AC adapter.

Smartphone-controlled Heating And Cooling.

Apps and devices control everything from turning on lights and locking doors to monitoring thermostats.

For instance, a Honeywell Wi-Fi 9000 Series Thermostat allows a homeowner to adjust a home’s temperature remotely from their smartphone.

Talk about these new products and homeowners will listen eagerly, giving you an opportunity to discover additional needs while generating sales.

DSG can help. We work hard to look ahead so that you can offer your customers the very latest products and service.

Source: 8 New Home Trends To Watch For, And 6 To Say Goodbye To, The Arizona Republic, www.azcentral.com/; 5 Top Home Remodeling Trends To Watch For in 2015, www. consumerreports.org; 5 Things To Consider Before Wiring Up Your Smart Home, Readwrite, www.readwrite.com/.

Tom's Current

The Trend Is Near Fads and trends are not the same thing. Remember giant mullets? They were a fad. Giant cell phones?

They were a trend. Why? Because the mullet did not have any lasting value, while the cell phone provided a real benefit to users – we just needed to refine it a bit. Now they are a huge part of our everyday lives.

It’s hard to imagine life without the ability to make a call from the road, check a score at a restaurant, or take dozens of pictures of yourself and post them online (it can’t be long before the end of the “selfie” fad, can it?).

The rules are pretty much the same when it comes to business. You don’t want to get caught up chasing a fad, but it’s equally harmful to ignore a trend. Even though it can be a challenge to tell the difference, there is good news: we’re all in this together. You may not have the time to research new ideas, products and procedures, but here at DSG we take that job very seriously.

I’ve been around long enough to remember pet rocks (go ahead and Google it on your phone if you were born after 1972 or so). That fad made a California ad executive a lot of money, but once the joke wore off (which happened very quickly) he had no repeat customers. In related news, that also means that I am at the very tail end of the baby boomer generation – 75 million Americans who are either retiring or starting to think about it in the next 10 years or so.

This is a group of people who are not inclined to suffer the indignities of aging lightly. They’re going to do whatever it takes to maintain their

independence, and that means contractors are starting to see a lot of remodels and new construction with that in mind: bigger bathrooms that are easier to navigate; better heating and cooling systems that cost less to operate; and smart, connected houses that feature everything from thermostats that know when you’re home to doors that lock themselves when you leave. (See the related article in this issue to learn more.)

75 million people are not a fad. There’s going to be a seismic shift over the next 10 or 15 years, and it is a trend that will give contractors the opportunity to strengthen customer relationships by offering valuable products and service to a massive group of prospects who are looking for innovative ways to adapt to the changes in their lives. We can help.

By partnering with DSG, you can stay on top of trends while steering clear of the fads. Together, we’ll look past the next big thing and put our energy into the next real thing. Your success, after all, is a trend that will never go out of style.

APRIL 2015 | SPOTLIGHT

POP QUIZ 1. The mid-1800s saw the trend of indoor toilets take off for the first time. What city became the epicenter of the trend?

2. The trend of energy-efficient heating is not new. Scientists estimate that the central heating system in Germany’s Reichenau Abbey (built in AD 742) was how efficient?

3. What year was trend-setting, dual-tone, multi-frequency (Touch-Tone) technology officially introduced to telephone users in the United States?

4. In the 1880s, Edison Electric Illuminating Company kicked off the trend of electric lights in this American city.

Luke Richards from Flathead County hoists up his ANSWERS: 1. London 2. 90%

3. 1963 4. New York (Manhattan)

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MARKETING TOOL KIT

Motivation For Education The DSG Education Connection Fund is awarding scholarships to those interested in pursuing a career in the trade industries.

When it comes to working for the future of young people in the trades, DSG puts its money where its mouth is. The DSG Education Connection Fund offers scholarships to those who are looking to join the trades. Since its inception in 2009, the DSG Education Connection Fund has awarded $1,000 scholarships to more than 20 individuals.

The world will always need skilled tradespeople, and a scholarship from the DSG Education Connection Fund could help someone you know to join them. To find out more or to donate to the DSG Education Connection Fund go online to www.findingmytrade.com.

Education

CONNECTION Fund APRIL 2015 | SPOTLIGHT

BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO YOUR SALES

WITH THE WORLD'S MOST EFFICIENT MINI SPLIT: THE RLS3 AND RLS3H FROM FUJITSU The ductless market continues to grow and gain acceptance. More and more contractors are talking about, selling and installing ductless systems, and customers with homes and businesses that do not have the room for ducts are thrilled with the results.

Fujitsu recently unveiled two new models to its Halcyon lineup – the RLS3 and RLS3H – and they’re coming to a DSG near you.

Efficiency that customers demand!

• Available in 9,000, 12,000 and 15,000 BTU/hr indoor units, the RLS3 is the world’s most efficient mini split at 33 SEER. That’s 2.35 times more than the Energy Star requirement of 14 SEER. • A smart product makes you look like a genius!

The ESP Energy Savings Program lets the unit know when someone leaves a room and will increase or decrease the temperature accordingly to save energy.

DSG# Mfg#

Description

164531

FJASU9RLS3

MINI SPLT HP EVAP 9MBTU WALL

164532

FJASU12RLS3

MINI SPLT HP EVAP 12MBTU WALL

164533

FJASU15RLS3

MINI SPLT HP EVAP 15MBTU WALL

164534

FJAOU9RLS3H

MINI SPLT HP COND 9MBTU

164535

FJAOU12RLS3H MINI SPLT HP COND 12MBTU

164536

FJAOU15RLS3H MINI SPLT HP COND 15MBTU

Quazite® Enclosures:

THE SMART CHOICE OVER COMMON CONCRETE Made from polymer concrete, Quazite PG series enclosures provide rugged and cost effective protection for your equipment, with a multitude of advantages over traditional concrete.

Easier handling means you save on installation costs!

• Straight sides allow for easy adjustment of the box should the grade level change • Stackable for increased depth and no special equipment required • Lightweight – 1/10 to 1/3 the weight of concrete Long-lasting performance means fewer maintenance trips for your crew!

• Withstands freeze/thaw cycles • Impact resistant (tested per ASTM D-2444) and corrosion resistant • Compressive, flexural and tensile strengths are three to five times higher than traditional concrete DSG# 116045 APRIL 2015 | SPOTLIGHT

FROM PDF

PEX Tubing From Zurn:

Faster Installations And Long -Term Customer Satisfaction

DSG# 153617

PEX tubing has become more and more popular with plumbing professionals since it was introduced more than 30 years ago, and now homeowners and business owners are asking for it by name. Less expensive and easier to install than traditional copper piping, PEX tubing can make a big difference on your bottom line – and Zurn is a name you can trust.

Speed up installation and keep projects on budget!

• The flexibility of Zurn PEX tubing makes it easier to install than rigid copper lines.

• By utilizing Zurn’s PEX system, tubing can be connected with fewer fittings, which means less material and labor.

Install with confidence and reduce callbacks!

• Zurn PEX tubing features six-month UV protection and is rated for hot water recirculation up to 140°F for outstanding durability.

• It’s resistant to corrosion, mineral buildup and freeze damage.

Zurn PEX tubing is available in sizes up to 2 inches and comes in red, white or blue.

You'll Rock Your Customers' World With The Sensonic Speaker Fan From Broan 75% of Americans use smartphones and mobile devices in the bathroom, primarily for streaming music and listening to the news. Bring them a better way to enjoy their favorite audio with Sensonic, and they’ll become your biggest fan.

The Broan Sensonic Speaker Fan utilizes Bluetooth® wireless technology to fill a room with rich sound from above.

Dual high-fidelity speakers concealed behind the fan grille provide brilliant audio performance, while the quiet, powerful fan removes humidity and odor.

Convenience that’s impossible for customers to resist!

• Provides entertainment at the touch of a button • Prevents clutter on counter tops and storage spaces • Frees up much-needed bathroom outlets

Installation flexibility makes your job a breeze!

• Sensonic is available in two configuration options to fit seamlessly into new or current bathroom designs.

• Speakers can be easily retrofitted to an existing Broan or NuTone QT series ventilation fan.

DSG#

MODEL # DESCRIPTION Special Order SPK110 Sensonic Speaker Fan; 110 CFM, 1.0 Sones Special Order SPKACC Sensonic Speaker Accessory APRIL 2015 | SPOTLIGHT

PRESORTED STD US POSTAGE

PAID

what's inside

Detroit Lakes, MN Permit No. 14

Box 13573 • Grand Forks, ND 58208-3573

2015 Trends Featured Products Tom's Current DSG Outdoors Pop Quiz Marketing Tool kit

APRIL 2015

Aging In Place: The Latest Trend For Baby Boomers It’s not a newsflash when we hear about the massive number of baby boomers who are retiring or preparing to retire (75 million of them, by most estimates). However, it is newsworthy when you look at how they are approaching retirement living: just as they did in their careers, boomers are changing the rules. Specifically, many boomers are adopting an “age in place” approach to retirement. Many are remodeling their existing homes with amenities designed for aging tenants. Some are taking the idea one step further by initiating new construction. Either way, plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors are starting to see a growing demand for products that address:

Accessibility/Quality of Life: Easy-entry showers; wheelchair-ready sinks; wiring and plumbing for main floor laundry rooms; updated heating systems that lower monthly bills

Convenience: Additional receptacles for charging

wireless technology; touchless faucets; wiring and finishing “man caves” and workout rooms

Control/Safety: Smart home features like wi-fi

thermostats, electronic locks and security cameras; heating grids for reducing ice and snow on roofs, sidewalks and driveways

These are just a few ideas; DSG has these and many ways to give boomers what they’re looking for. We’ll help you quote the job with the best solutions, then support you as you complete a successful – and profitable – installation.

APRIL 2015 | SPOTLIGHT