Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/679161
H a r d w a r e & H o u s e w a r e s R e v i e w 2 7 F r i d a y, M a y 6 , 2 0 1 6 GOOD RETAIL PRODUCT PACKAGING IS PARAMOUNT FOR C & H INNOVATIONS One thing is for sure: retail shelf space is not only important, but always in short supply. Retailers need packaging that clearly shows what the product is and what it does, but also the benefits of the product for the end user, so that little sales time is required. Take, for example, the area of pres- sure washing equipment and accessories. Obviously, the pressure washer will usu- ally require some discussion with a sales- person. There are several options and the purchase is a fairly expensive one, so the packaging is minimal as most of the information will come from salesperson. When it comes to the accessories, however, the buying decision needs to be relatively easy and simple. That's what the manufacturer of the new BIKLEENER and its bigger brother the TRIKLEENER has thought about exten- sively. General Pump Company has done a great job of designing a very graphical package for a product that should be an impulse pur- chase. Realizing that 57 percent of all home pressure washing projects include cleaning flat surfaces, General Pump knew that the sale should be simple, easy and within a price range that requires little thought by the buyer. The brand new BIKLEEN- ER and TRIKLEENER are packaged in a color- ful and descriptive box, so the prospective buyer needs little if any dis- cussion with the sales- person. That's exactly what the retail trade is looking for – a product that takes little shelf space, is an impulse item, ready for the homeowner to pick up and take home. The BIKLEENER and TRIKLEENER fulfill those requirements. Visit C & H Innovations at booth #IS202. SMARTWEDGE: SHIMS WITH INTERLOCKING TEETH Tens of millions of shims are purchased and used every year. If you're not selling your share, you're missing out on valu- able income. Don't miss this income opportunity! The great thing about the usage of shims is that you have many customer groups to work with. No matter which customer group you consider to be your main base of business, shims are bought and used in more ways than you think. The large DIY market, the John Doe non-construction related market, the builder, the contractor, the remodeler, the installer and others – virtually every building related professional buys and uses shims daily. You even find shims in the house- wares department, where they are used to level counters, bookcases, fish tanks, toi- lets, pool tables, flower pots, water falls, steps, stairs, floors, doors, windows, mar- ble counters, table tops, shelves, chairs, tiles, mirrors and so on. Shims for the hardware department are used when build- ing and installing windows, doors, decks, flooring, siding, framing, stone walls, railings, rough-ins, finished work, new construction, renovation and remodeling, and so on. Overland Construction Supply makes the only shim with interlocking teeth designed to lock them in place for accuracy and stability. It has the largest supply of different types and sizes of shims available today from one source. It has numerous packaging options to suit your customer, and help you build a col- orful display in your stores, and it can create new ones upon your request. It carries case quan- tities of individual products, or a mix- ture of sizes in a see-through plastic TransPack, or smaller Hanger Cards which can be hung from your shelves. The comapny aims to please and is easy to do business with. Visit Overland Construction Supply at booth #7657 and take advantage of its special show offer. For more information, go to www.smartwedge.com, email info@smartwedge.com or call 800.610.7250. WHAT'S AN INVERTER GENERATOR? If you are in the market for a portable generator, you've got a lot of decisions to make once you start shopping around. "What size generator do I need?" "How many watts should I look at?" "Should I get open-frame or inverter style genera- tor?" "Wait, what's an inverter genera- tor?" If you aren't familiar with inverter generators, the last question may leave you scratching your head. Without getting overly technical, inverter generators produce a cleaner sine wave with more consistent power, the kind you're used to getting at home. Power created by inverter generators pro- tects from inconsistent surging of power that is typically found with conventional generators. Inverter technology offers stable and reliable clean output in a com- pact, cost-effective and user/environmen- tally friendly design. Inverter generators also consume less gasoline – as much as 25 percent less. This may seem like irrelevant information, but do you have a smart- phone in your pocket? Do you own a tablet? Chances are, the answer is yes. Like many other devices and appliances, smartphones and tablet computers have micro- processors which are delicate and sensitive to the quality and consistency of electricity they use. Most freezers and refrigerators may also have circuit boards in them now. Should the power go out, you'll need to power your electronics and appliances. That's where a portable inverter style genera- tor comes in. Knowing how delicate some of these electronic items are and buying an inverter generator becomes a no-brainer. Inverter technology is crucial in protecting your possessions. Think of an inverter generator as an insur- ance policy. Kipor makes a full line of inverter generators. Its invert- er generators start at 0.7kW and go up to 6kW. Whether you plan on powering a coffee pot in your RV or running the lights in your home in the event of a blackout, Kipor has a generator to suit your needs. Visit Kipor in booth #6854. For more information, call 888.645.0197 or go to www.kiporpowerequipment.com. IMPROVED LINE OF FOLDABLE KITCHEN ISLANDS FROM OASIS CONCEPTS Oasis Concepts has been developing and expanding upon its line of folding islands, creating space saving solutions to free up cramped kitchens. This year, two of the most popular models have been modified to improve their durabili- ty. The Flip & Fold Island (model# KK- 2001T2) has been replaced by KK- 2001T4. Instead of a laminate top, it now has a solid hardwood top. The wheels have been changed from 2.5 inches to three inches. This design gives an instant 7.9 square feet of extra work surface for the homeowner while folding down to just under five inches wide to allow for greater flexibility in the kitchen. The Deluxe Flip & Fold (model# KK-3001TDX) has been replaced by KK-31DX. Instead of a single lower cross beam, now it has a double tube lower cross beam. This design gives additional stability to the frame. When fully opened, it offers an instant 10.5 square feet of extra work surface for the homeowner. The food safe hardwood top serves as a perfect prep station for any meal while being exceptionally easy to clean. "These two carts offer the home- owner the ability to create quite a large amount of space on the fly, allowing for them to focus on whatever task they need of the cart for. You shouldn't need to spend half of your time in the kitchen try- ing to compensate for a lack of room," said Kelvin Ng, President. With the tabletop size 30 inches wide by 20.5 inches deep, there is more than enough space to prepare multiple dishes at once or one enormous meal for the visiting relatives. Four locking cas- tors means that the table will be secure on any surface, whether that would be in the kitchen being used for prep work, being wheeled out into the dining room for a tableside service experience, or simply serving as extra table space for the kids to work on their science projects. This ver- satility in its functions is a cornerstone of the design, says the company. "When designing the Flip & Fold Islands, we ensured that the table was made extremely versatile in order to be used in many different occasions, as a serving table when you have guests, or as a station to prepare the Easter dinner on," Ng explains. "If you find that you need the space outside of the kitchen, simply wheel the table to its new location and set up there. With eight to 10 square feet of work surface available on demand, you can be prepared to handle any task that comes your way." Currently the Flip & Fold Island has a retail price of $304.99 and the Deluxe Flip & Fold Island has a retail price of $339.99.