Ben Moore Free Color Webinar - Offered again due to SELL OUT

Bad news: Last week we publicized the Ben Moore color forecast a little too well. It SOLD OUT. The presentation was fantastic, and Ben Moore trend group did a great job covering interior trend as well as color with lots of fantastic photos. 

Good news: It is going to be held again!  I highly recommend it, I took back many fresh ideas.


Benjamin Moore will present their new color forecast through 2011 in a free webinar to be presented this Wednesday, 10/28 at 1pm Eastern. Register here, FREE.

 Benjamin Moore is calling their new forecast "BALANCE".

From the rural influences to urban application, BALANCE is supported by 4 themes for COLOR PULSE 2011: The Farm, Order, Escape, and Tribe.

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The Design Minds at Hearth and Home Blog is geared to support design center staff and the new construction industry in selling options and upgrades to the new home consumer. Subscribe for updates. Contact Krisann Parker-Brown for merchandising or marketing support of your design center. She will be happy to work with you on your assortment and presentation to ensure you are on track for upcoming decor trends and your target home buyer.


Krisann Parker-Brown is the merchandising manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, the leading manufacturer and retailer of fireplaces and hearth systems.


Krisann supports design centers and new construction builders in presenting Heat & Glo, Heatilator and Quadra-Fire hearth systems, and consulting on design center merchandising, point of sale and the consumer experience.



Krisann is a member of the Retail Design Institute. Contact her at brownkr@hearthnhome.com or 952-985-6537.


Twitter http://twitter.com/kparkerbrown
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/krisannparkerbrown

Natural Stone and Granite Survey - Tell Me What's Hot!

How about telling me what you are seeing in the world of natural stone? Follow the link for a 4 question survey. 10 random responders will receive a $5 Starbucks card!

Natural Stone Survey

So, uh, What are you wearing right now?

Thesaurus.com lists the definition of  "out-of date" as:

Main Entry: outdated/out-of-date

Definition: old-fashioned

Synonyms:

anachronous, antiquated, antique, archaic, back number, behind the times, dated, dusty, démodé, has-been, moth-eaten, musty, not with it, obsolete, old, old-hat, out, out-of-style, outmoded, passé, square, tired, unfashionable, vintage

Antonyms:

current, fashionable, modern, new, popular, up-to-date

The Heat & Glo RED40 SeeThru Fireplace

Although the home design industry, architects, and designers pride themselves in differentiation, style and design, lately I'm not 'feelin' it' when walking display homes across the country.  Understandably, with existing new home inventory still at 7.3 months of supply, builders are avoiding risks when finishing homes or offering options.  This very real challenge has led my builder friends to limiting options and finishes to what is 'safe'.

Unfortunately, in the words of the Cowboy Junkies,  "My heart doesn't beat like it did once before".  I used to leave models and design centers overwhelmed and desirous with personal wish lists and 'option envy'.  To be honest, lately, it's been a little 'blah'.  I would say it might be time to add a little spice to the relationship. Ok, I'll come clean - I've secretly been eying custom home product.  But honestly, it didn't go any further than that...

 

Home buying is both an emotional and financial decision. A goal, then, is to help the consumer fall in love with your home, over the other 262,000 new homes across America that currently have a 'for sale' sign in the front yard.

 The great thing for us to observe from custom builders (who really seem to be doing ok, right now, given everything) is not how many options they offer, but what options help their product stand out.  Obviously sku reduction focus' will continue with all of the large builders, but let's make ultra-sure the options left are the ones that make a home buyers heart beat faster and fall just a little short of breath.  No matter who the buyer target, there is something out there your competitor isn't doing. And have you EVER seen a custom house without a fireplace? At least not one that made you hot...(sorry, bad pun intended)

The Heat & Glo Metro Fireplace

Back to the definition above: I think the antonyms are what catch my eye here. current, fashionable, modern, new, popular, up-to-date. In our category, custom builders are doing very well with contemporary fireplace options. The great news is, there are now modern fireplace options in every price point.  If the first time buyer has a choice between a home with a traditional woodburning fireplace (or Heaven forbid - NO fireplace!) and a beautiful modern work of fire art, which would they choose? Not always, of course, but much of the time.

Don't kid yourself - I am not just seeing this in Miami and L.A. - try even Indianapolis, Raleigh, and Atlanta.

It is a well known fact in retail that you have to offer flavor to drive the basics.  As an example, in apparel retail, when white and black tee shirts (easily 60% of the sales) are offered on a table with trend right colors, sales of the basics AND colors increase.  A modern fireplace is like that trend-right color on the tee shirt table.  It draws the consumer in, creates an emotional and memory connection point. Now the future homebuyer has got a little crush on you, and those other 262,000 homes out there don't seem quite as exciting.

Heatilator launched a really exciting product this year that addresses this market at a terrific value.  The modern Evolution is built on the same chassis as the Novus (the best selling direct-vent gas fireplace ever) and has an incredibly modest pricepoint. If you are currently offering the Novus, or would like to offer a modern option with minimal changes to your framing, consider offering the Novus and it's modern sister, the Evolution. 

Let me know what you are doing with options and finishes in your homes to 'keep the fire burning' and the love alive.

The Heatilator Evolution

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The Design Minds at Hearth and Home Blog is geared to support design center staff and the new construction industry in selling options and upgrades to the new home consumer. Subscribe for updates. Contact Krisann Parker-Brown for merchandising or marketing support of your design center. She will be happy to work with you on your assortment and presentation to ensure you are on track for upcoming decor trends and your target home buyer.

Krisann Parker-Brown is the merchandising manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, the leading manufacturer and retailer of fireplaces and hearth systems.

Krisann supports design centers and new construction builders in presenting Heat & Glo, Heatilator and Quadra-Fire hearth systems, and consulting on design center merchandising, point of sale and the consumer experience.

Krisann is a member of the Retail Design Institute. Contact her at brownkr@hearthnhome.com or 952-985-6537.

Twitter http://twitter.com/kparkerbrown

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/krisannparkerbrown

Benjamin Moore 2011 Color Forecast- Free Webinar, Wednesday October 7th

Benjamin Moore will present their new color forecast through 2011 in a free webinar to be presented this Wednesday, 10/7 at 1pm Eastern. Register here, FREE.

 Benjamin Moore is calling their new forecast "BALANCE".

From the rural influences to urban application, BALANCE is supported by 4 themes for COLOR PULSE 2011: The Farm, Order, Escape, and Tribe.

Given life lately, I look forward especially to learning about the 'order' and 'escape' themes.  Can you relate? 

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The Design Minds at Hearth and Home Blog is geared to support design center staff and the new construction industry in selling options and upgrades to the new home consumer. Subscribe for updates. Contact Krisann Parker-Brown for merchandising or marketing support of your design center. She will be happy to work with you on your assortment and presentation to ensure you are on track for upcoming decor trends and your target home buyer.


Krisann Parker-Brown is the merchandising manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, the leading manufacturer and retailer of fireplaces and hearth systems.


Krisann supports design centers and new construction builders in presenting Heat & Glo, Heatilator and Quadra-Fire hearth systems, and consulting on design center merchandising, point of sale and the consumer experience.



Krisann is a member of the Retail Design Institute. Contact her at brownkr@hearthnhome.com or 952-985-6537.


Twitter http://twitter.com/kparkerbrown
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/krisannparkerbrown

High Point Insights You Can Use At Work

Canvas TM Linen Bedroom Chair, Shown at High Point

The High Point Market will be happening October 17-22 , and the focus is on 'different, green and value focused'. Download the free High Point Market Fall Fashion Report here.

The 2009 High Point Fashion Report brings attention to the fact that 'value' has become very important at every price point. From a designer perspective, clientele are newly focused on staying within budget numbers on home projects. High Point is seeing and predicting a return to basics, comfort, subtlety and substance. To reflect this, even the Pantone Color Forecast for 2010 has added an additional palette of neutrals for the higher dollar purchases (i.e. carpeting, window coverings, etc.)and color in the accessories. For example, we can expect to see a newer 'fresh' grey, with purple and lilac accents.

High Point is also predicting a move toward more quality goods. Given the economic times, the mid and higher range consumer mindset is turning to choosing key pieces as 'investments' rather than choosing less expensive pieces that will need to be replaced later on.

A final prediction (we have talked about it here before) is the trend of diminishing scale and size, and useful well-designed and crafted components.

Canvas TM Hand-thrown Earthenware Plate Set

If you are close to a National or regional home furnishings market, I encourage you to go once or twice a year. You will get an amazing amount of insight, and be able to talk to your consumers with authority about what you have seen. It will also recharge your display creativity and give you great merchandising ideas for your design centers and model homes.

The leading US markets are Las Vegas (especially for contemporary and transitional), High Point (traditional and transitional), Atlanta, Chicago. Even regional markets (LA, Dallas, Minneapolis, Boston) have lots to see, as the major manufacturers have at least some presentation. Subscribe to email updates from markets to hear about trends, attend training webinars, see speakers and do networking. Look for terrific educational offerings, the High Point National Home Furnishings Association will offer these seminars on everything from selling to consumer science to social networking to design and trend forcasts. Download educational schedule here. Check market websites for great articles,videos and training, to share with your team, even if you can't attend.

Here at Hearth and Home, we will absolutely have the perfect fireplace, mantel and surround to complement current and emerging decor trends for your home buyers. Fireplaces are the focal point of a home, and create an emotional connection with your home buyer like no other category. Visit http://www.fireplaces.com/ to see the newest award winning designs, or create your own personal dream fireplace with our exclusive Hearth by Design tool. Be sure to take a look at the terrific contemporary line of fireplaces, available for every pricepoint of home buyer.

Being current and knowledgeable about upcoming decor trends will differentiate your design center and models and give your home buying consumers an added confidence and inspiration. Finishes impact most categories in your design center, especially flooring, trim and cabinetry. Setting your design center and model homes apart from the rest is important in this competitive market. That won't be changing anytime soon.
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The Design Minds at Hearth and Home Blog is geared to support design center staff and the new construction industry in selling options and upgrades to the new home consumer. Subscribe for updates. Contact Krisann Parker-Brown for merchandising or marketing support of your design center. She will be happy to work with you on your assortment and presentation to ensure you are on track for upcoming decor trends and your target home buyer.

Krisann Parker-Brown is the merchandising manager for Hearth and Home Technologies, the leading manufacturer and retailer of fireplaces and hearth systems.

Krisann supports design centers and new construction builders in presenting Heat & Glo, Heatilator and Quadra-Fire hearth systems, and consulting on design center merchandising, point of sale and the consumer experience.

Krisann is a member of the Retail Design Institute. Contact her at brownkr@hearthnhome.com or 952-985-6537.

Twitter http://twitter.com/kparkerbrown

Linked In http://www.linkedin.com/in/krisannparkerbrown