Welcome to the April issue of Tradelink Unplugged e-newsletter – the first issue of our new digital format, which replaces our quarterly print mag. The new Tradelink Unplugged e-newsletter delivers the latest product news, handy info to run your business and other great reads directly into your inbox each month, making it simpler and easier for you to stay ahead of the game.
In the words of Ned Stark, winter is coming. And with winter also comes the busiest time of year for hot water. Get prepared with our great reads below including the scoop on Rinnai’s new Australian tank manufacturing site and Quantum’s range of Solar Heat Pumps. Plus, don’t miss our tips on how to help your customers choose the right hot water system to suit their needs!
We also dig into the benefits of the new Raymor vanity range and if you’ve been tossing up whether or not to join a loyalty program you won’t want to miss our article on this topic below!
We’re always keen to know what you think, so drop us a line at marketing@tradelink.com.au with any feedback or ideas for stories you’d like to see in Unplugged.
Until next time,
Ed.
For more than 40 years, Australians have enjoyed the comfort, convenience and reliability of Rinnai household appliances. The company has further solidified its position on Australian soil, opening their third manufacturing site in Australia in response to their recent growth, particularly in tanks. With more Rinnai tanks being made in our own backyard, this means more products tailored to suit Australia’s unique needs and conditions.
The new facility brings the same high levels of innovation and automation to the design and manufacture of Hot Water Storage cylinders as Rinnai has brought to Continuous Flow products.
The new Rinnai plant will also become their engineering and technology centre of excellence in Australasia, and the first plant dedicated to the manufacture of vitreous enamel-lined hot water cylinders.
WHY CHOOSE RINNAI?
SMART WATCH GIVEAWAY!
Buy a 250 or 315 Litre Rinnai Hotflo from Tradelink before April 30 and receive a smart watch*! Get in quick!
*T&Cs apply. See in store for details.
To find out more about the Rinnai range, visit your local Tradelink branch or rinnai.com.au
When your customers select one of the new vanities from Raymor for their bathroom, they’d be forgiven for being a little vain! But there’s more to the new Raymor Essential or Raymor Brighton vanity ranges than just good looks, they’re also affordable and functional, making them the perfect choice for the budget and appearance conscious homeowner.
The Raymor Brighton vanities are wall-hung, which suits bathrooms where space is at a premium. They not only free up floor space, they take up less visual space too, giving the impression the room is larger than it actually is. Without touching the floor, wall-hung vanities make cleaning the floor much easier with no obstacles to vacuum or mop around. Wall-hung vanities are also very on-trend, which is sure to please your more style conscious customers.
The Brighton range is available in two sizes, 750mm or 900mm, and two colours, black or white. It has a contemporary Polymarble top with laminated woodgrain finished cabinetry with two drawers that feature soft-close metal sliders with chrome plated drawer handles.
If your customers prefer a more traditional floor standing unit, then they should look no further than the new Raymor Essential vanities range. The Essential vanity range is available in two sizes (750mm and 900mm) and features a classic, white design that suits a wide range of bathroom styles. The 750mm vanity features two drawers and one door available on either the left-hand or right-hand side of the vanity, depending on your customer’s preference. The 900mm vanity also features two drawers, but two doors; again, the doors can be on the left-hand or right-hand side of the vanity.
The Essential range features a Vitreous China top with integrated overflow, which makes it the perfect choice for customers and homeowners with young children. Cabinets are finished in a durable vinyl wrap in gloss white and drawers and doors feature chrome plated door handles with soft close hinges.
As one of Australia’s most long-standing and trusted homeware brands, Raymor is the preferred choice for plumbers, builders, architects and homeowners alike. You can rest easy knowing that when you recommend Raymor to your customers you are recommending a product of quality.
Water heating is the second largest segment of household energy use in Australia1. However, Quantum Solar Heat Pumps have their sights set on changing the status quo with their innovative, energy-efficient water heating technology.
Most people are aware that there are three ways to generate hot water – electricity, gas or conventional solar. There is a lesser-known fourth method, and it’s one of the most efficient systems available – the Quantum Solar Heat Pump.
A Quantum Solar Heat Pump costs just a fraction to run, when compared to other traditional forms of water heating. This not only delivers significant financial benefits, it means reduced greenhouse gas emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.
How does it work?
The Quantum Solar Heat Pump is a simple concept, brilliantly executed. It works on a patented refrigeration principle similar to that found in an air conditioner or refrigerator – but in reverse.
A traditional solar hot water service relies on the sun and, in Australia, can provide 50 to 90 per cent of hot water for a home2, with an electric ‘booster element’ kicking in to cover any shortfall.
A Quantum Solar Heat Pump, however, uses a reverse refrigeration process and patented Tank WrapTM technology to make use of the heat in the ambient air around the system to heat the water. This means there are no roof panels, the sun doesn’t need to be shining and, what’s more, it’s so efficient that it can provide reliable hot water 24 hours a day, even in temperatures as low as -10°C, with no booster element.
With over 30 years of ongoing product development, Quantum is the expert in solar heat pumps. The units are designed and manufactured to Australian standards and have a low noise rating. With Government rebates available, there has never been a better time to install a Quantum Solar Heat Pump.
To find out more, visit your local Tradelink branch or quantumenergy.com.au
1Riedy, C., Milne, G. and Ryan, P. (2013). Your Home: Australia’s guide to environmentally sustainable homes. 5th ed. Australian Government, p.324.2Energy Rating. (2016). Solar Water Heaters. [online] Available at: http://www.energyrating.gov.au/products/water-heat... [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].
It seems that just about every business wants you to sign up to their “loyalty program” for everything from your morning coffee to your insurance! And the question needs to be asked, should you join?
It is a common misconception that loyalty programs are all about collecting your personal data for marketing purposes. This may be true in some instances but in many cases, this information is already available to the business and the program really is about giving you, the customer, another reason to come back for your next (and future) purchases.
In a day and age where margins are low and competition is high, loyalty programs are a great way for businesses to reward their regular, loyal customers. Don’t you deserve a better deal than a one-off customer who may or may not purchase again? Of course you do! And what better way to do this than to give you an incentive every time you shop and bonus offers that are only available to you – the loyal customer.
So, should you sign up for loyalty programs? You are the only person who can answer that, but ask yourself this…
If you can answer yes to those questions, then it just might be the right program for you.
So next time you’re invited to join a loyalty program, ask yourself a few quick questions to check it is the right program for you. If you do join, make sure you redeem your points regularly so you can enjoy all the bonuses on offer – after all, you earned it!
No one wants a cold shower, so when a hot water system goes belly up, it doesn’t take long for a customer to get on the blower and demand a new one. Generally, they’ll request “the same again, thanks mate”, but there’ll be a few who’ll want something different.
So how do you help a customer to decide what’s right? Take them through the pros and cons.
Electric
Electric hot water systems are pretty cheap to buy – they’ll set a customer back somewhere between $500 and $1500. But they can be the most expensive systems to run, especially if they’re not on off-peak electricity.
Gas
Gas is generally cheaper than electricity but you’ve got to have natural gas available. Sure, LPG bottles are an option but that will see the running costs jump. Your customer’s going to be up for something like $900 to $2000 if they choose gas.
Solar
They don’t call this the sunburnt country for nothin’! However, by anyone’s standards, solar hot water systems are comparatively expensive to buy. They’ll set your customer back $2000 to $7000. That’s a lot of coin! They’ll have very low running costs though, so they’ll pay for themselves over time.
Heat pump
Heat pumps are electric but are more efficient than traditional electric systems. They take heat from the air and use it to heat the water stored in the tank. You don’t have to be Einstein to work out they work best in warm climates, not cool ones. They do kick out a bit of noise so you need to use your noggin when it comes to finding the right spot for them. Your customer will need between $2500 and $4000 to buy one, but government rebates and other incentives can help.
Storage tank or continuous flow
Most electric, gas, solar and heat pump hot water systems use a storage tank – mild-steel storage tanks can corrode over time; stainless steel tanks last longer but they are generally more expensive.
Continuous flow systems can be cheaper to run than storage systems. However, they aren’t truly instantaneous – it takes time for the hot water to reach the tap. Plus, if the system isn’t sized right (with the right flow rate in litres), and if low-flow showerheads are used it could make your customer’s water (and blood!) run cold.
How much water?
While every household is different, someone has crunched the numbers and found out that one person uses about 50 Litre of hot water in a day. Once you know how many people are in a household, use this guideline to calculate the size of the system that’s needed.
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