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Posts
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here we go again. This time Dupont is starting a do-it-yourself project. http://www.solidsurfaces.com/
• Durable surface resists heat, stains, chips and cracks.
• Nonporous surface resists mold, mildew and
bacteria, making it easy to care for and maintain.
• Most tops will be seamless, but larger installations
may require a visible seam. (Professional
DuPont™
Certified
installations will be seamless also.)
• Surface is renewable and repairable.
• 5-year limited product warranty backed by DuPont.
• Seamless sinks are available in two popular colors
:
Upgrading your laminate countertop is now easier than
ever! The Countertop Shoppe will fabricate a countertop
for your kitchen in our factory, and you take it from there,
install it yourself, or have someone else do it.*
We’ve combined the most popular colors with a way for
you to get the most affordable pricing. It’s the simplest
way to bring clean, uncluttered style to your kitchen.
•Simplicity™ offers a versatile 12 color palette,
Eased Edge 3/8” Round Over Bevel Edge
including neutral colors designed to coordinate with
most popular cabinet finishes and flooring.
Ready-To-Install Simplicity™ is a DuPont™ offering. Simplicity™ Solid Surface products are fabricated Ready-To-Install to the size and specifications to fit
your kitchen by The Countertop Shoppe and are then available for consumer installation. DuPont™ exclusively controls the colors and options of
Ready-To-Install Simplicity™ offered in this market and they are subject to change at any time. The Countertop Shoppe has been granted a license by
DuPont™ to make this offering for sale under the strict guidelines outlined in our license agreement. Any variations in the color offerings or options we make
available is prohibited by DuPont™. Ready-To-Install Simplicity™ is a DuPont trademark. Only DuPont makes Simplicity™.
3” standard or 4” optional
applied back splash you seal
to countertop with silicone.
Printed representation of colors may vary from actual Simplicity™
offering. To see actual samples, please visit either of our 2
showroom locations, or call us at 800-714-8114 to arrange for
samples to be sent to you.
*Professional DuPont™ Certified
installation service is vailable
from The Countertop Shoppe
and includes a DuPont™ 5-year
installation warranty.
• Seamless sinks. Simplicity™ is available with
your choice of three coordinating sinks for a
smooth, seamless transition and easy cleaning.
Name Pending Name Pending
What does do-it-yourself installation mean? For the last 20 years, they have been telling me that a homeowner isn’t qualified. Maybe they are now.
Don’t worry about this. This guy is about a mile from my shop. Where not worried want to know why call me some time. I’ll check with our Corian rep to get more info. Making a solid surface top has a lot more commitment in resources than other tops . Based on that it will never take off.
Jon, Read the fine print in my 2nd post. Simplicity is a Dupont offering, and it would appear Dupont is taking this program nationwide.
I think this is going nationwide. I would love to know more about the program,. but if Dupont is behind it, why don’t they just have a promotion through their existing fabrication network?
This kind of stuff confuses me, but it might just be that I don’t have enough information to understand the big picture.
This sounds pretty scary to me. Can you imagine all the crap that is going to be out there?
I have seen jobs that people have installed themselves and it is not a pretty sight. It is sure to give the product a bad name. DuPont must be desperate for sells to do this kind of program.
Shane
Ok, none of this makes much sense. About 4 weeks ago, we were busting and Avonite and Formica’s balls for doing something similar to this. It was fabricators that brought it to our attention. I truly don’t believe Dupont would be behing anything of this nature. You can put anything you want in print and on a website. When you get caught you just have to have it removed. Here is what really yanks my chain. I received e-mails, not from fabricators today, but from a manufacturer. I am talking the upper staff. Why would anyone be interested in spreading this type of information. I won’t even begin to try to explain this one. We have low granite prices out there, most of which is junk, and we have install your own countertopppers. We know, like Shane said, the consumer will never be happy. I am willing to put my $60.00 a square foot countertop up against any $20.00 one any day. I know, I can out sell them any day.
Mory
Sorry Mory. This time it’s true. I had a DuPont rep come in my office this week and ask me if I thought I could use this program. It’s real, and it’s going to be nationwide.
Len
And your reply was. ???????????? I had a salesman in my shop last month trying to sell us post form countertoops. Even though they out sell all other tops, I decided at that price it wasn’t worth it. We also have a guy down the street that sells about $15.00 a square foot less than we do, he advertises all the major brands, can’t get them all, and the stuff he sells is imported. They can still only sell one or two tops a week. Our destiny is what we make it.
Mory
Go to http://www.Corian.com Mory. They have their “Simplicity” program on there. According to their “Estimator” a 30sq ft top in a patterned style, should be installed for $1097 on the low end. That is what I think the consumer will hunt for, the low estimate. A sink is $297 more for a dbl. I just think this is the first step for the erosion of the whole industry into a commodity. If Dupont says $29.00 sq ft.. then watch, Dovae’ at $15.00??? XYZ at $10.00 I just think this is an insult to the standards that have been set. and for all the investment in time and money the Corian fabricator has spent to create a quality product. Now Dupont says a homeowner can install. This will undermine the whole base and profits for Corian, just watch. The consumer is savvy, they will start asking for more colors into the Simplicity program. All this program can do is lower the average cost of sale, which will lower the average profit per sale.
I think we need to keep watch for this stuff coming more popular from the manufacure’s as they try to protect theier market share of their product. However I also feel that if we as fabricators talk to them and refuse to use these type of programs knowing that most homeowners will not be able to handle these jobs then they will be more inclined to ask to do promotions through the established fabricators. Sometimes they try to do what they get taught at college and forget to ask those who have practical experience on how to do these type of things and I feel as long as we let them know how we feel it will effect things in the long run they might try to adjust these programs to benifit all. If they choose not to we then have to be educated about the programs and then align ourselves with companies that do not market this way or do a better job of selling ourselves and not the price. After all sometimes it isn’t always the price they want it is good service and qaulity jobs done. It is like Mory said our destiny is what we make it and it is our job to stay educated and communicate to better our industry.
I might actually be able to use this stuff on certain projects, but the problem I have with it is twofold. First, to my knowledge “Simplicity” as lower cost sheet goods isn’t available to the fabricator, unless you’re the Home Depot. Secondly, this will end up being marketed directly to the consumer. The deck is stacked against the fabricator twice.
When a consumer calls 1-800-4CORIAN, where do you think they’ll be referred? Or if they go to the Corian website, what do you think they’ll find? Most consumers who are thinking about solid surface products start by hunting on the web first.
A couple of years ago a distributor in the mid west participated in a test with DuPont and opened a storefront countertop design center, where they sold the customer direct, and then found fabricators who would take the job for what the distributor had in it for fabrication and installation. This is where being a “certified installer” is headed.
I agree with Reuben, that what’s driving this is erosion of both margin and market share. I also think there’s a little bit of fear invovled. Why? CTI is busy setting up shop to do what fabricators have typically done for the Home Depot stores (Corian fabrication, Zodiaq installation, Silestone fabrication, granite installation) and I believe they plan to expand dramatically in this fashion. Once they have critical mass, why do they need the Corian brand? What’s to stop them from buying their own plant in China, and selling the Home Depot brand of solid surface?
You might think this is far fetched, but with companies moving toward forward integration, looking for profits “downstream,” this is the logical result.
Before we get carried away, let me just say that none of this is evil, it’s just evolving business strategy, and I understand the logic of it. However, we can follow a business strategy too. With the many good suppliers of solid surface available today, which ones should get our dollars? Should we give our business to those who are after our business, or to the ones who are giving us the tools to build our own businesses?
This business plan by Corian will only devalue their product. If Home Depot does what you say and buys their own brand of solid surface, who is left to do Corian. For years Corian has been limiting the number of fabricators to sell their product. Now the other companies have come along and set these fabricators up with a quality product. Are these fabricators going to be willing to sell Simplicity after being locked out of fabricating Corian.
Corian has a great product, I just hope they don’t forget the fabricators that have been pushing their product for so long.
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