CMX 2004 - Plumbing & HVAC

Decor Grates Inc.
Make vents a
style statement
Heating contractors and homebuilders
miss a great opportunity
to make a quality statement to
their customers when they throw just
any register over their supply and return
vents. They should be thinking of how
they can properly finish the job with
decorative grates …jewels for the floor.
“Consumers are always looking for
decorative ideas for their homes – and
decorative floor registers are one visible
but often overlooked item that can
enhance every room in their homes,”
suggests Ralph Oosterhuis, president of
Decor Grates Inc., North York, Ont.
“Our marketing research had determined,
back in the late 1980’s, that consumers
wanted more than painted
metal or chromed registers. They wanted
choice, in materials, in finishes,
styles, sizes and pricing to match their
own specific decor,” he reported.
“Decorative floor registers had come
of age in the consumers’ mind at that
time,” he stated.
“Decor Grates has provided the retail
Your Decorative Partner in Flooring,
Decor and Plumbing.
The black cast iron look is popular
with homeowners.
market and consumers with the broadest
range of choice since 1988. But the
HVAC market, which has the initial
contact with the customer, both in new
homes and in retrofits and renovations,
has the opportunity to take back a large
share of this market… if they want to,”
said Oosterhuis.
“How else can a heating or ventilation
contractor enhance what they do –
and what is mostly hidden – their duct
system? You want to impress on the
consumers’ mind your high quality
installation with a quality stylish register
over the very visible floor vents in
every room.
“Homeowners want more than a close
colour match on metal or plastic. They
want a wood style to match their wood
floors, or a solid cast brass floor register
with a high luster finish for a luxury
home. Those are just two of many examples
we offer that can add a style statement
to any floor vent,” he said.
For the HVAC contractor to be able
to meet their customers’ decorative
requests, HVAC wholesalers must realize
this can be a high volume product
for both of them. By stocking a range of
registers, they can best serve both the
volume new construction sector and
the varied decorator needs of the renovation-replacement
markets, reported
Ray Gatt, vice president, HVAC sales.
Decor Grates provides merchandiser
displays to help wholesalers show the
choices to their customers. The shipping
cartons convert to tabletop displays. A
two-foot wide wire merchandiser is
available for a compact floor display.
Over the years, Decor Grates has
developed an extensive data bank on the
geographical distribution of sizes
required across North America and the
decorating habits of consumers. The
company now offers floor, wall and ceiling
registers, grilles and air returns
made of solid brass or aluminum, solid
Help the customer match registers to
the floor finish… and improve your
profit margin.
hard woods, pre-finished steel in brass,
chrome, antique brass and brushed
pewter, powder-coated steel and 20 different
colours of plastic. Decor’s range
now is 14 different sizes, including 15
and 18-inch oak baseboard registers, and
nine decorative designs in more than 30
colours and finishes, Gatt explained.
The plastic deflector floor registers, for
example, feature slanted deflectors for
better airflow and diffusion into the
room. All models include a damper box
for easy shutoff for partial or 100% closure
and thick crossbeams for added stren-
Creates
gth. They also include indentations where
Strong Impulse
holes can be added for ceiling installation.
The Premium registers are of solid
cast brass and aluminum with scroll,
Sales
geometric or contemporary slotted designs,
including a slightly arched style.
Quality Assortment Packaging Merchandising
They feature a high luster, brushed satin
and other finishes and a protective lacquer
coating. The Classic line of plated
and painted finishes now features a
black cast iron look, which is very popular
with today’s consumers.
As of last year, Decor Grates relocated
to its very efficient and renovated
head office and distribution center in
“Grate” Pricing
North York, where they have consolidated
all their products under one roof
with plenty room for expansion.
Circle Number 134 for More Information
32 Plumbing & HVAC Product News – March/April 2004 www.plumbingandhvac.ca