Dallas— Daltile has launched the Select Dealer Program, a retailer sales initiative that encompasses the new Selection Center, product promotions and incentives, and a dealer referral program. The centerpiece of the Select Dealer Program is the new Selection Center display and new Selection Boards. The display features the complete Daltile product line, including ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, decorative wall tiles and natural stones—all of which are organized using easy-to-read, color-coded tabs to aid dealer sales staffs in easily finding tile options for their customers.

The new Selection Center display was designed to minimize use of showroom space while maximizing exposure of the product. “We’ve interviewed many customers to find out how they shop for tile,” said Lori Kirk-Rolley, Daltile’s marketing director. “What we learned is, they already know where they want to install tiles in their homes, as well as have a general decision on what color they want. However, they still need help determining what type of tile is best suited for their specific needs.

“With this information,” she explained, “we developed an easy-to-understand display that presents tile by type and application. This new presentation will help dealers better serve their clients and increase sales.” The new, larger-format Selection Boards, which slide in and out of the wings of the Selection Center display, allow for improved visualization of products.

Featuring tile as large as 19-in. on the Selection Board, dealers and customers will be able to see any extreme color and/or shade variations from tile to tile and within each tile. Each Selection Board features the best selling colors, sizes and decorative elements, communicating the most current trends in design, she said. Large room-scene photography helps spark the imaginations of customers, providing them with ideas on how to decorate a room using Daltile products.

Images of coordinating accent tiles, as well as select complementary decorative accent samples, are suggested for each color in a tile series, providing an upgrade opportunity. “As the complexity of tile colors, sizes and textures increases, it’s difficult to showcase our products on a small scale,” said Kirk-Rolley. “The new Selection Boards better showcase the tile, so that dealers can more easily sell it.”

Each Selection Board is color-branded, according to tile type and use. This allows the customer to easily find product options that suit their project, as well as helps the salesperson to quickly and easily locate and match their customers’ needs. The Selection Boards also include simplified technical information, such as slip resistance and durability. Color Palette Boards are also an integral part of the new Selection Center display.

These boards group all floor tiles by color, so customers can easily view tile options by color family. The Color Palette Boards are cross-referenced with the Selection Boards, enabling customers and dealers to quickly flip to the desired tile line for more details and images. “Overall, we hope to allow homeowners to zero in on the products of their dreams, while at the same time helping dealers close the sale,” she said.

The Select Dealer program costs $1,599, including freight, and consists of the Selection Center display, a pack-out of 78 Selection Boards, (all Daltile residential tile lines plus six Color Palette Boards) and an accessory kit, including full-color graphic branded header, four room-scene posters, a set of color-coded tabs, a plan-o-gram and assembly instructions. Additionally, Select dealers will benefit from automatic updates, providing them with new products first and assuring their customers have access to a selection reflecting the most current design trends.

Select Dealers will automatically be enrolled in Daltile’s rebate program, which provides the dealer an opportunity to earn a rebate back on the purchase price of the Selection Center, based on a percentage of sales with Daltile. Additional benefits of the Select Dealer Program include:
• Display Floor Program - Select dealers receive up to 250 square feet of upgraded glazed floor tile free-of-charge. A 50% discount is available on additional quantities up to a total of 500 square feet;
• Product Promotions - Daltile will periodically provide point-of-sale kits with special merchandising materials to help dealers promote selected products in their showrooms, and
• Referral Program - Select dealers will be given prominent placement on Daltile’s Web site, www.daltileproducts.com, and inquiries to the company’s toll-free dealer locator hotline, 800/933-8453, will automatically be forwarded to the nearest Select dealer for follow-up.

For more information on Daltile, call 214/398-1411.