Hello, this is The ProSource Podcast. I'm Kevin Devine, director of digital marketing content for ProSource Wholesale. In this series we’ll focus on home remodeling, especially kitchens and bathrooms. You'll hear from those in the know, including our corporate merchandizers showroom team members and the trade professionals who ultimately make it happen. We're glad you've joined us. Enjoy. Well, welcome back to The ProSource Podcast.
Today we're joined by Laura Treiber from the ProSource showroom. Laura, thanks for joining us. Thank you for having me. So we'll start with something simple. Yeah. Who are you and what do you do for ProSource? So Laura Treiber, I am a kitchen and bath designer with ProSource. I've been here. It'll be ten years this summer. So I've been here for a while. What brought you into the kitchen and bath industry? What inspired you to do this? It's actually a funny story.
So I got my degree to interior design, and at the time I wasn't ready to be done with school yet, so they came out with a kitchen and bath certificate program. So I was like, oh, I'll do it. And kind of just after I finished it kind of just fell into a job. Another local kitchen and bath dealer here in Saint Louis and kind of fell in love with it. So here I am. There you go. Yeah. I'm not going to ask why you weren't ready to leave school. Could be a variety of reasons there.
So you've got a lot of people that get involved here from your perspective. Talk about that collaboration process between you, the homeowner and the trade professionals. Sure. So it's kind of it's really nice working with ProSource in the model, that is setup, because having that contractor involved from the beginning that trade pro is it makes my life so much easier. They've given me measurements. They told me what I can and cannot do a lot of times.
So the client's coming in and they're prepared for what to expect on their projects and the layouts and the design. So what impact is the member or homeowners vision have on the project? Oh, a huge impact. So because everybody sees things differently, I might see a kitchen project differently the next designer, the homeowner. So definitely want to take the homeowners vision with what can be done.
And then also my vision showing options to elaborate that vision, maybe something different that they didn't think about, or maybe position of something that would completely change how the whole kitchen functions for them. So it's definitely a process and it definitely evolves with all of our inputs and background and knowledge. So we're talking my background, talking about knowledge. How does the trade professionals experience impact some of the more intricate design aspects of the project?
So I can only design a kitchen as well as the contractor can install it. So if I have an intricate design, I want to make sure that that trade pro can actually install it and do it to completion of how we all envision it. So if it is more intricate with a lot of different parts and pieces or customizing on site, we want to make sure that everybody is on board with that before we actually go through with the job. Definitely, one of those things.
It's a lot of communication, so talk to him a lot or her. Make sure everyone is on board if there's modifications and to be made, then we'll do it to make things easier. Maybe they see something different that could be built easier way then great. So we just kind of keep that communication open between all of us.
So the thought just kind of hit me as we talk about this, your kitchen and bath designer in-house kitchen and bath designer for the showroom, just so there's no confusion, how does that differ from the interior designer, for example? If that's the type of professional the homeowner is working with in that perspective. Sure. So I guess you could say I’m more technical. So they're going to come in and they're going to they have a vision for the project as well, the kitchen, the bathroom.
So it's we just kind of bounce each other ideas off of each other. So, you know, they have an idea. And I it's my job to make that work what they sold the client on. So it is you know, we just kind of work back and forth and see what what we can do to get that vision for them. So it's it's just a collaboration. Do you find they're pretty receptive to using your services? Absolutely, yes, absolutely.
So I think also, too, because a lot of times in here, designers, they might their background is other things than my background. So it's nice to sit down and work with them and show the process of me actually setting out, designing the kitchen with them so that way they're familiar with everything too. They know why I put drawer stack here or why I put the trash cabinet here because we've talked through it all together.
So when they go to present that to the client, they can talk about the reasons why we did that for them. Ok, so let's take it the other way. We're from the pro over to the homeowner. We know that they have needs that they're looking for in every remodel that that may come along. How do some of the ways how did that how does that become a focal point within the design that you put together with any particular need or desire that they may have? Sure.
So any type of need or desire they have, that's always number one on my list. We want to make sure we accomplish exactly what they want. Typically, people don't do these remodel projects very often, so if there's something that they want, let's make sure we get it. Let's make sure it's something that functions properly for them just because they saw it on Pinterest or Houzz or something like that doesn't mean it always works for them.
But we can talk through the options on that and things like that. So it is very important to always see the homeowner's vision is their kitchen. I'm not living in it. So I mean, if they want something, then let's make sure it works and function. Do you find yourself See, now you just sparked another idea. Do you find yourself letting your own influence sort of come into their vision? You say it's not your kitchen, maybe not your bathroom, but how, how can you detach yourself from that sometimes?
So, I mean, sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's it is what it is. So everyone has their own opinions. When I design something, I always think about how I would use the kitchen, make sure everything is right where I would need it. I think also too, is it once you start kind of talking through why you did something, they understand why I would do that, why that makes sense in that location. Why it would be easier for them?
So it's sometimes it's interesting, you know, you can only suggest so much, but ultimately it is their kitchen. So if they rather have something somewhere else then I propose then, then we'll do it that way. So yeah, I mean, you have to be open. Okay. All right. So you mentioned earlier you're a little more technical, so let's talk about that. What technology do you utilized for your designs? So we use a program called 2020 Kitchen & Bath. It is geared towards the kitchen and bath.
So all of our cabinet manufacturers have their own catalogs uploaded. So all the specs, the colors, the door styles, everything is pre-loaded in there for us. So then we can kind of just go ahead and just use it and get our 3D visuals and our layout from there. So it is pretty exact. 2020, meaning more from a vision perspective as far as the name goes, not necessarily the year. No, no. So a little a little bit behind. Right. So what sort of training have you had to use that? Sure.
So I went to school. Got my degree my degree in interior design and then the kitchen and bath certificate program. I learned how to use that program in school. Obviously, like any schooling, you don't really learn anything until you're in the industry, actually using it. So picked it up really quickly and that's just kind of goes from there. So there's updates every year so that new things come out within the program.
So keeping on top of that, of trends, different kinds of visual things they can do with there. Just kind of keep you up to date with it is the main thing. Okay. So I know we talked about this before and I'm going to ask the question anyway. How many projects do you think you've done? Well. We could take a pause here while you count. I have absolutely no idea. And that's a hard number. I mean, if I had to just throw a number, I would say maybe be a pretty big gap, maybe 200 to 250 a year.
Okay. And I've been in. Not quite one a year. One a day. One a day. No, no, no. And so I've been in the industry doing this for about 14 years. About 13 years. So, yeah, so it's a lot of projects. I don't have my calculator in front of me, so I'll just. Yeah, that's a lot. Yeah. We'll just go with that number. Okay. So now when you look back at all of this, is there one that stands out as being the most enjoyable, the most fun that you worked on, and if so, why?
And in fact, I'm not even going to let you off the hook. You got to tell me one. So there's several of them. So a lot of times do. It's it's the clients that make it fun, you know, it's the one it's the projects that we're transforming their whole home. It's how they're there. I mean, how they're living is changing completely, how they're functioning, the kitchen of their families and everything.
So any project that we are moving walls and moving the kitchen and completely changing it is always been my favorites. So many clients that we've done big projects on and it's just been fun. Like a lot of repeat business too. They'll come back and do their master bath, so it's great to always have those clients to work with again and I think also to working with interior designers.
I think they also kind of kind of almost push me a little bit to do a little bit more extra, you know, so they have visions of different kinds of materials using, maybe I can’t spec it but maybe I can put it in the renderings. And that way gives a real realistic picture, just kind of pushing the envelope a little bit on customizing and things like that. So those are always my favorite projects.
I don't have one that there's been so many there's been so many amazing ones that really kind of jump out at me besides the ones that we’re just really changing everything, which is fun, kind of starting from scratch. So you like the ones that are more intricate involved? Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Do you ever get some that are so small, you're like, oh alright fine? All the time. And you know, those are good too.
I mean, it's fun because you share the excitement with the client again, this isn't something people do all the time, so they're excited to have be a part of the project. And so you're excited for them. You're excited to show them the new trends, the the new things in the cabinets, the new organization stuff, because it's it's a fun and exciting for them. So it's still, even though they're small ones and simple ones, it's still nice to have those simple ones every once in a while.
So somebody comes up with a half bath, you're not going to be like talk to somebody else. No, there's still a fun one. So yeah. Do you have a preference between a kitchen project versus a bathroom project? I do like the kitchen projects, but I like kitchens better. I feel like there's been a big wave of bathrooms lately, but I do like the kitchens. Well, just out of curiosity, why? Why? I think the kitchens are more space planning on my end, more design on my part.
Bathrooms are typically just, you know, there's many things you can do with the bathroom besides doing like the tile portion. That's where you can kind of have a little more fun with is like the tile and the finishes of the bathroom, which that's more of the account manager side. So bathrooms are a little bit more simpler on my side, but I like the technical kind of space plan more. The kitchen. So let's take it the other way.
Is there a project that jumps out to you that was just extremely challenging and, you know, how did you overcome the obstacles that you face there, or is it a type of project that you're like, okay, this one's going to require a lot more detail? Sure. So I have certain members that definitely have more of those maybe higher end projects that are a lot more detailed and lot more complex. So those are definitely ones that take a lot longer to set in design.
And it just it's just timing really, you know, just to try to plan it all out and make sure you get all everything in there. But the complex ones are good. That's what keeps you kind of more engaged in learning as you go. So are there projects that people come to you and you just know immediately this is going to give you angst? You could feel the ulcers
growing within you. All the time. Ok. No, I'm just kidding you know, there's some of them and it might be just more or less maybe if it was a trade pro that or a design or something, maybe the last job didn't go as was planned. Maybe there's things that happen and so have the next projects. And so you do get a little more angst. You want to make sure everything's perfect, you know, the next go around. So it can. Yeah, it varies. Yeah. That’s like the etc. that you put in. It varies.
A few variations. All right so for some of the issues that whether it's on the trade professional side or the homeowner side, some of those issues that they run into, how does ProSource as a whole go about addressing some of those issues? Sure. So ProSource is great. So they're they're open. I mean, our main concern is taking care of that trade pro obviously and the homeowner.
So whatever we can do on our end, whether it's expedited shipping or maybe it's to get a rep involved or maybe find just a replacement product is something that's backordered too long They're they're very supportive of whatever needs to be done to take care of them. We'll do it. So if it's using a vendor that we don't normally order from or at all, if we can get it that’s great let's do it. You know?
So they're definitely very willing to make sure we can take care of anything that we can in our and make anything smoother for the trade pro and the homeowner. Okay. So this isn't necessarily in order necessarily from a project perspective. It's just an idea that popped to my head.
Do you sort of have like your go to products, whether it be a particular brand and we don't have to mention particular brands, but are there particular brands or particular styles that are like your go to ones that you find yourself leaning toward more often than not? Absolutely. So there's certain cabinet lines that I work with a lot. I mean, maybe 85%. My business is these cabinet lines. So I know the specs like the back of my hand, like I know what can be done.
It makes the things easier and quicker for me designing. So, you know, those are kind of like my go tos. I know what to expect with it. So it's the same thing with like plumbing fixtures, anything like that. You have your go to brand, so you just know things work. So you just kind of keep selling the same things on those basic things. I guess you just kind of get in your groove. Okay, Yeah. That's fine.
So how important from your perspective is it to understand all the ins and outs that go on with not just product? We'll talk about it from two fronts. Okay. With what's going on with the products, but also what's going on with the trends in the industry, especially knowing how often that can change. Sure, yeah. Trends change quickly. So it's definitely we have to keep up on it. And unfortunately being with Missouri we're a little bit slower on the trend side here, but that's okay.
So we try to, you know, change our stuff in our showroom and make sure have current doors styles, make sure that we we just have those things to show because what people are seeing online and, you know, all those different kinds of platforms, they're seeing all those trends. So they want to come in and they want to see that stuff because they might want that for their project.
So we always try to make sure we have all those samples in our showroom to show them as well as that we do change out our vignettes very. I mean, every few years we're changing up because things change. So but also to some trends don't always work in everyone's house too. So not every trend is for everybody. You know, I was actually talking to a couple suppliers about this the other day about how, you know, the trends start in Europe. Amazingly, we think we're in the leading edge.
No, they start in Europe, then they work to the east and the West Coast. But it takes maybe about four or five years to get there, then about four or five years to get to us here in the Midwest. So we’re already a decade behind in that regard. So the question becomes, especially here in the Midwest, do you find that when it comes to trends, are people trying to adapt to trends that they're hearing about or seeing, or do they sort of create their own trends in that regard?
Are we creating our own trend just by what's popular in this area? Sure, I think a little bit of both. So kind of a common thing is a, you know, trends right now, a lot of color, things like that. So people will be kind of like shy like kind of stay away from, but they want something. They want something different. They want something different. So let's say that they do an island in blue well their comments always like, well, we can always paint that later if we change our mind.
So there you have it in their heads that they you know, it's safe for them because it's something they could change later easily. So it is kind of hard. I would say that trying to get a lot of people on board with certain trends, but I feel like they're open to it. If it's something that they could change in ten years when the trend might change. So just hit on that and say what trends specifically are you seeing both with kitchens and bathrooms?
Yeah, so a lot of color, a lot of color, blues, greens, just a lot of color, a lot of natural woods, a lot more lighter woods, natural looking even. We have some faucet lines are coming. Not with natural wood faucets right now. But there is some faucets out there coming with wood details on them. With crystal details, acrylic details, and then also to just the finishes, mixing finishes.
You know, faucet might have gold and black on it or chrome and black, you know so the mixing metals also to you know, there's a faucet line out there it's coming with you know these hoses that are that are a pink and purple and orange. I mean, there's all kinds of crazy things that are coming. So regarding the color that's actually hidden. And then you see it. Yeah. So a lot of colors coming still. So which is nice to see.
It's something different than just your standard brushed nickel finishes and white cabinetry. How much in your designs are you seeing technology fit into this, especially in bathrooms, the Bluetooth capabilities that are out there now you can just tell your shower to turn on what temperature to turn to, which by the way, isn't in my home, but I'd love to have that. Are you seeing that a lot and how do you incorporate that in your design?
So yes, yeah, we're definitely seeing that, especially faucets, you know, Alexa, everything within Alexa. I mean, even a client actually had a train me on it. It was an exhaust fan that was Bluetooth. You know, and that they can. Okay so, you know, and I'm like, Oh, okay. So I looked up and sure enough, like, you know, there's just so many things, technology, ways that are coming, things you don't think of that, that, you know, they might, you know, know before us.
So it but definitely a lot more technology and stuff. I feel like we're getting pretty pampered here. Are we going to do anything for ourselves? Or is Alexa just going to do it all? Seriously? Yeah. So, okay, so what sort of evolution overall? I mean, we've touched on this, but what sort of evolution have you seen in the realm of kitchen and bathroom products? Sure, a lot more.
I would say simple simplicity in the designs with cabinet door styles with just the overall looks very clean lines, definitely kind of just going a lot more simple, a lot more wood tones, mixing finishes, mixing metals. So it kind of like it's almost like anything goes these days. It's kind of personal preference.
Okay, so which is kind of nice because you don't have to match, you know, brush nickel to your stainless, your, you know, everything has to match it just kind of like everything is what it is and it's just kind of stands out a little differently. It's become almost sort of an eclectic approach. A little bit. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Like in there's no there's no right or wrong. So, I mean, if it's if it all coordinates, that's our job. Make sure it all coordinates. It looks good.
But yeah, it's so, it's a little bit funner these days. Okay. So simple. But with a touch of Alexa. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Gotcha. All right, so we talked, touched on this a little bit earlier to so let’s circle back to it. How do you work in cooperation with the account manager? Are there specific lines drawn or is it is it a true team effort? They just collaborate together? Sure. It's definitely a team effort. Absolutely.
So, you know, they all have the first initial meeting with the homeowner or the trade pro. They will grab they will gather all those informations. They will start doing selections with them. So they're definitely the first one up to do a lot of that leg work that makes it easier on my end. But then also to is if sometimes they might pick something out that I'm like that might not be on budget or you know or this line actually is something that might be better for them.
So those are all things that, you know, I can go back and talk to them or we just discuss in our next meeting with the client. So I do rely a lot on them to get all that information, to give me a good start before I go back to the client with it. So is definitely a team effort. Absolutely.
And so this was a question we had asked Mark, which is do you find that the account managers helping them pick the flooring first before we get into the kitchen and bath products, is it more we're picking everything all at once and then I guess you could take it on the flooring side because it seems like you're saying you don't get involved as much as the flooring selection, so it's more to the account manager. So how did those products to get chosen impact your design
or your product recommendations? Sure. So luckily, our account managers are very well trained so they know our product selection very well so that it's easier for them to kind of know our cabinet lines to put them in as their line. So typically the account manager will start with something. They'll pick something first and kind of just evolve after that. It's not it's not like the account manager just takes it to point
hands it off to you and walks away. Right no. There's still an involvement there. Absolutely. Absolutely. They always are involved because after after I did the design, they needed to take a look at the design and say, okay, for like a kitchen, a backsplash. Okay, so you want to take your backsplash up again, up all around your hood. It's your ceiling, you know, stuff like that.
So they're still involved in that design part of it, too, because they need to know for their end as well for material. So a lot of times, you know, we kind of go tag team appointments. So, you know, the initial meeting that they might do the selections and then if there's time, then I might sit down with them and start doing some preliminary design and then they go back out with the account manager and start looking at more specific on materials. So we kind of work it.
However, the client needs to work it as too, but we definitely are a team and it's both of us in that project. So you think about the realm of products that we offer, and I've really just been looking for the opportunity to use the word realm, but flooring, you've got maybe carpet doesn't impact your designs quite as much for for a kitchen or bathroom, but you've got luxury vinyl, tile, hardwood, laminate on the kitchen side cabinets, countertops, hardware faucets and sinks in the bathrooms.
I'm not telling anything you don't know. I'm saying really, for everybody that's watching and listening. But bathtubs, showers, vanities, faucets, sinks, you've got it all covered. Do you feel it's fair to say ProSource is, in fact, a one stop shop? Absolutely. Absolutely. And clients love that because they come in and they don't know they don't know that they need all of these different parts and pieces. Their project, they have no idea.
And they come in and they're like, Oh, we can do everything here. Like, absolutely. And that helps us more too, because we want to make sure that like what we're picking out, you know, if they go somewhere else, like our floor and the but the cabinetry here doesn't match or the countertops and we don't want that to happen to a client. We want to make sure they can see it all. And everything works together too. So it makes it makes everything much easier.
I think on everyone's end that they can do it all together. Do you feel too, that it could be confusing if they go out and they're looking at products elsewhere in the coming back and they're trying to cross compare to what you've got, especially in the kitchen and bath realm cabinets and countertops are often custom to that kitchen. Atleast sizing wise and shape wise. So is it even how challenging can that be when they've come in and the shop somewhere else and they're trying to make
you compare to that? Right. It is challenging. You know, it's one of those things that everybody wants to shop around and see different stuff. They want to go to other places and they want to see what else is out there what’s on display different combinations. So I understand. But as long as they're coming back, then we're going to hopefully we'll be able to match them, that they found something else different. Hopefully we could cross over.
That is something that we offer and get them still that look that they're settled on. So luckily, ProSource offers a lot of different vendors and manufacturers that we have access to a lot. So a lot of times trying to find something that crosses over, something they found somewhere else isn't a big deal. So bringing them back in beyond the product, what do you feel are some of the ProSource advantages of if you're trying to say, look, here's why ultimately you want to go to us?
It's not just the product, it's everything else. Right? Exactly. So it's kind of like they instead of they have a whole team working for them. So they have that myself. They have an account manager. If they're doing windows and doors, they got that specialist. So they have all these people that are specialists in their individual departments that are working for them. They're part of their project.
It's not just one person that may know a little bit about this, a little bit about their that's trying to pull it all together. It's we all have our our specialty. So I think they understand and appreciate that that that they have a team working for them. So and also to like if if they have a question about something they can call that account manager and or they can call me, there's always somebody going to be available for them to to help.
Also, too, is that usually by time they get to us that the the trade pro has a relationship with us. So they're they kind of already know what to expect. The trade pro knows what to expect from us and stuff so it does make a very seamless project. So we talked a little bit looking elsewhere and we talked about the breadth of products that we offer. See I broke away from realm and used breadth there. Were talking about it.
How do you keep a consumer a trade professional sort of get used to this, but how do you keep a consumer from just being overwhelmed and looking at all of this and saying, whoa, right. Right. So usually we just try to like narrow things down for them.
So, you know, if they're looking for a specific tile, then maybe that account manager goes and pulls out two different tiles of what they're looking for so they don't have to wander the aisles of looking through everything themselves and feeling overwhelmed. So it's our job to kind of guide them to what they're looking for, not just kind of just be like, pick something or here's a catalog. Like it's our job to guide them to what they're looking for and to know our products.
So hopefully that makes it easier for them to kind of branch off from that. Okay. So when we talk about products, where do you what sort of the future where do you see products going from here in both the kitchen and bathroom? I think color. Going back to the color again. Dipping from that same well. It's definitely color. I mean, I think we talked a lot about it. So bluetooth, Alexa, I mean, all of that technology, I feel like a lot of stuff is going to that.
And then also just creative storage things and cabinetry to see all kinds of different things coming out with that, things that are in motion to for your trash cabinets open. If you kick your foot underneath the toe kick, you know, all that kind of stuff. Again, that everything is just going be working for itself. You're not to touch anything anymore. All right. So it's the technology. It's it's the trends, it's the colors. It's it's everything. Everything keeps changing.
New stuff keeps coming out all the time. So actually, because you brought up the storage, I've often had that thought, well, say that the consumer doesn't know what they don't know how how is it that you can they may not know what storage needs that are even available to them for what they have? Or do you have like probing questions that you get to them to say, look, we have like 9,000 different storage options here. What are your challenges you facing so you could find them?
What would work for them? Right? Absolutely. So a lot of times I always ask like, what? What storage you need? What do you have that does not work in your kitchen? Now, how can we solve that? Is it your Tupperware drawers does that drive you crazy every time? Like, you know, all kinds of things like that.
Just asking those questions about how they live their life and function in their kitchen, it kind of helps you like, oh, you know, we have this great thing, you know, it holds all your K-Cups for you, right? Your new beverage area, you know, all that kind of stuff. So all those little things is what clients get excited about because that does help them in their day to day life when things are new, organized and
in a certain spot. So it's just one of those it's just talking to them a lot, just asking them if they have pictures, if they've seen inspiration, things that they like. Usually they're not they're not shy about telling you what they've seen and what they like. Okay. Yeah. So what motivates you? You've been at this now, well, for 14 years, but here at ProSource for for ten, Yeah. What motivates you to keep coming in and keep doing this each day? Every day is different.
Every client's different, every project is different. Everything's different every single day. So which I think that's what that's what excites me, is just that every homeowner's different. So if I'm doing it, yes, I'm doing the same thing every day, but I'm doing it differently every day. So I think that's that's the fun part about it. It's is the challenge is it's just different every day. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. All right. So we just call it challenging. Gee, that's great.
Well, I appreciate you joining us today and talking to us, Laura Treiber everyone. Thanks for being here. We appreciate you joining us on The ProSource Podcast. Please like and subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Plus follow us on social media. Visit our website and visit your local ProSource Wholesale showroom for all your home remodeling needs.