Plumbing

TOTO, the plumbing manufacturer best known for its high-end toilets, and Villeroy & Boch, a leading European bathroom brand, have announced a sales alliance that will make all Villeroy & Boch USA bathroom products available through the distribution and sales channels of TOTO USA. This will include a complete range of products, such as toilets, decorative lavatories and washbasins, tubs, showers, accessories, vanities and bathroom furniture. 

Masco Bath, a producer of showers, bathtubs and whirlpools, was given the  “Unsung Hero” award at the Lowe's Fashion Plumbing vendor forum. Masco was honored for the research, design and execution of new merchandising concepts for the bathing aisle and accessible home special order areas. These merchandising concepts have been included in the Lowe's "store of the future" layout, according to the announcement.

Lake Forest, Calif.-based Pfister is rolling out a product designed to make bathroom fixture upgrades easier for the homeowner.

Pfister has launched the first Universal Tub and Shower product in the faucet category, a tub and shower fixture that is compatible with eight different water valves from three of the leading manufacturers in the plumbing industry -- Pfister, Moen and Delta.

Channel analysis
Year-over-year sales of faucets declined 10.8% in the 12 months from September 2010 through August 2011, according to consumer research from the Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD Group. The group estimated total sales during that period in excess of $1.2 billion. Unit volume also declined year over year, but only 4.6% — indicating consumers are shopping for bargains, and finding them.

For some children -- and by extension, their parents -- bath time is a chore. American Standard's new FunBath tub conversion is designed to make bath time more enjoyable.

This bath conversion kit fits over an existing standard 60-inch bathtub to make bath time safer, more comfortable and even uses less water.