ClosetCon Recap – Part III

I appreciate all of you reading the last 3 weeks.  This is the last post in a series about ClosetCon 2022.

In case you have missed the first two posts, here are links to Part I about our new closet accessory program and Part II about lighting.

This week I wanted to touch on a topic that I am still receiving calls about…

Drawer blanks, drawer boxes and baltic birch material.

Even if they have a steady supply right now, nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.

If you have been following along, you know one of the major differences with Richelieu is that we dive very deep into a product category.  So whether you want to make your own drawers or outsource them we have a solution.

Flat Packed Birch Drawers

Our ready to assemble doweled birch plywood drawers are stocked in standard closet widths and in three heights.

Use a little wood glue, tap together and away you go.

These are really easy to use and made for anyone using ball bearing slides in a standard closet opening.

Here’s a link to Richelieu.com for more info.

Standard isn’t for you?

We also have cut to size 5/8″ x 60″ baltic birch drawer blanks, with or without banding on top.

Click here to see the drawer blank program.

Custom Dovetail Drawer Boxes

Only outsource your drawers when the installation calls for under mount slides?

No problem – we have you covered.

Here is a link to our birch drawer box configurator.

Want to offer a different species of wood – we can do that too, here’s the link.

Our configurators are really easy to use, work through the prompts and in less than two minutes you will have a price.

These work great with our 828 under mount slide and new closet clip.

The new closet clip allows you to install a 13-1/2″ drawer on a 14″ vertical without having to notch the front of the drawer.  This is huge for the closet industry.

Want to use under mounts, but don’t want to lose control of your production?

Check out our new metal box program.

The Optimizer-R drawer box is the perfect solution.

The Optimizer-R is stocked in standard drawer slide depths from 12″ – 26″, 3 heights (18″ and deeper adds a 4th height), and 3 colors.

You cut a 5/8″ back and bottom to make this drawer box totally customizable.

If you have any questions about our drawer program, under mounts or new closet clip please don’t hesitate to reach out to me – at RDeMarco@richelieu.com.

If you are in the closet industry and have never attended ClosetCon you need to put in on your list for 2023.

Here is a photo from the Top Shelf Awards.  You can see from the smiling faces, it was a great cocktail party hosted by Rev-A-Shelf.

Every year it feels like a family reunion that just keeps growing

Thank you for reading.

The Winner IS…

For those of you that have missed it, there has been an interesting debate going on in the ACSP Facebook group.

Wendy Scott – ACSP President, bet Eric Marshall – President Elect, that valet rods were most popular closet accessory.  Eric argued the tilt out hamper.

Coming from a profitability standpoint, if you have the room it makes the most sense to include at least one hamper in every closet you design.  Besides selling a more expensive accessory, you are also adding a door.

If you are looking at ease of installation, and an accessory that fits in every closet – valet rod is the clear winner.

I created a TiK ToK video and posted it on Instagram and Facebook.

In case you missed it – let me know what you think.

 

It came right down to the wire.

Valet rods took an early lead and I think that Eric might have stuffed the ballot but ultimately hampers ended up the winner!

I think that you should be offering both accessories as often as possible.

Increasing your average sale is the easiest way to be more profitable.

Also a quick FYI –

The ACSP has start doing Zoom Topic Tuesdays.  It’s basically a virtual round table giving everyone an opportunity to network in place and share ideas.

  • The first one was “Home Offices from Design to Install”
  • This week we discussed “What Are YOU Doing Today That Will Help YOU Succeed Tomorrow”

Next week is all about marketing.  “What’s working, what’s not.”  Attendees will share some of their best tips.  Here’s a link to the Facebook invite.

Also, I just want to remind everyone that I am still scheduling virtual sales meetings with design teams, if I can help you keep your designers engaged please let me know.

Stay safe and I look forward to “Zooming” with you soon.

Drilling Jigs That Save You Time and Maybe Your Day…

How many of you obsess over your installation schedule?

How early do you start to confirm those dates? One day, Two days, Three days in advance?

I know how stressful it is when a customer calls to re-schedule – I bet it’s even worse if you have to reschedule because you couldn’t finish the job the day before…

Do you have a system in place to avoid this? The bottle of Vodka under your desk is only a temporary solution…

Since the acquisition I have access to a handful of drilling jigs that will not only save you time but could also be the difference in finishing a job and getting paid, to having to go back and a blown up installation schedule…

Drilling Jig For 32mm System

Drilling Jig For Handles & Knobs

Drilling Jig For Cams

Drilling Jig For Hinges

Drilling Jig For Puck Lights

If you have any questions about the above jigs please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Your installer called in sick…

Closet Conference 2016

The floors aren’t ready, your edgebander is down, the hardware is on backorder, and the doors are damaged – should I keep going?

How many happened to you this week?

How many will happen to you next week?

What are you doing to try to fix these problems? No the bottle of vodka under your desk isn’t helping…

Networking with other closet company owners at the Closet Conference in Pasadena is your answer.

I know you’re too busy to leave for 3 days – what happens if your installer hits a pipe – who will fix it?

This is why you must attend!

Nobody feels your pain more than the people that

will be in Pasadena the week of March 21st.

Here’s the thing – it’s not enough for you to attend the Expo portion of the week, you have to attend the educational conference.

That’s where the connections are made so that when you get back to your office if and when you have a question, you have someone to call.

This year there’s almost two complete days of educational content –

I know you have been doing this a long time – but you don’t know what you don’t know.

Attending the conference is sure to open your eyes to something new.

Believe me the education doesn’t stop in the conference room, I have heard just as many ideas exchanged at the bar and the Top Shelf Awards ceremony… Of course some of the ideas sound better after a few drinks – but that’s the fun! 🙂

There is still time for you to buy your ticket and join the 100 other conference attendees. Use discount code EVEREA16 and get into the expo floor for free.

Even if you don’t come back with a new business strategy – the time away will re-charge you so that you are ready to get thru the busy Spring season and the next fire drill.

Your turn –

In the comments section below – leave your favorite experience from a previous Closet Conference….

I can’t wait to see you in Pasadena!!

Your Hardware Tip – What do you do when running wires through a vertical?

 

 

 

 

In most cases a one sided wire grommet works fine, but what do you do when you are running wires through a vertical panel that needs to be finished on both sides?  I’m guessing that many of you have wasted time trying to fit a standard grommet back to back in the same hole.

Leave it to Fastcap to come up with the solution.  They call it the “Dually Grommet”.  It’s a double sided, grommet, that is trimmable every ¼”.  It will work on countertops up to 2-1/2” thick.

The best part is that ease of installation; it requires a 2-1/2” hole and locks together.  There is no glue required!

Your local Fastcap distributor should be able to answer all of your questions.  If not, feel free to contact me at 347-723-7433 or you can email me at richdemarco@optonline.net.