Perrysville, Ohio — Higher focus on aging-in-place products for the bathroom. Faster availability of products for plumbers. Continued focus on high performance, low consumption toilets. These are just some of the top trends for 2016 in the plumbing products industry identified by leaders of Mansfield Plumbing.
“Strong focus on high performing, low water usage products is a trend that is here to stay,” says Jim Morando, president of Mansfield Plumbing. “Both plumbing professionals and homeowners want 1.0 and 1.28 Gpf toilets that are water efficient while still providing high levels of performance when it comes to mass removal. This is actually more than a trend. It’s a way of life that’s becoming the norm for our industry.”
Another trend the industry will be living with for decades to come is the large number of Baby Boomers moving into the next stages of their lives. The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 2014 that there were 76.4 million Baby Boomers currently living in the United States. Given those numbers, Morando believes that ADA-compliant sanitaryware and bathware products are a category that will soar in the coming years.
“There’s a huge population of homeowners who are proactively seeking products that will make the aging process easier for them,” says Morando. “Taller toilets that are ADA-approved and walk-in tubs will be the winners for this category of people. It’s all about making life easier as we get older. Products like a SmartHeightTM toilet or a Restore walk-in tub will continue to have increased sales as Baby Boomers make aging-in-place purchase decisions in the years to come.”
Trade Partner Trends
For plumbers, builders and distribution locations, Morando believes the continued trend in 2016 will be on wanting to obtain quality products quickly, from companies that are easy to do business with in the marketplace.
“Distributors don’t have the space or desire to stock a massive amount of inventory,” says Morando. “Plumbers don’t want to wait weeks to get the products they need. The solution is companies like ours that offer Made-in-America products that are delivered in seven days or less and are competitively priced.
“We’ve achieved strong sales growth this year by giving customers exactly what they want, when they want it. By being easy to do business with and offering quality products quickly, we are simplifying life for everyone in the purchasing process — from the dealer to the plumber or builder right down to the homeowner.”
Looking ahead into 2016, Morando says his company will stay focused on efficient operations and providing new products that are requested by trade partners and consumers.
“We will continue investing in our USA operations by launching new products in 2016 and looking at ways to make our operations even more efficient,” says Morando. “We’re constantly evaluating and improving our go-to-market efforts, our product offerings and the overall value we bring to customers to make their lives easier.”
More than 90% of the millions of sanitaryware pieces made each year by Mansfield Plumbing are constructed in the United States. Because the products are made in America, the company offers shorter lead times and higher fill rates than any other vitreous china manufacturer.
For more information, visit www.mansfieldplumbing.com.
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