Volunteering in the DPH Industry Offers Benefits

Being involved in your trade organization is about working together – brainstorming ideas and sharing the mistakes you’ve made – all for the betterment of the industry.

Volunteer with passion

This year, I decided to volunteer my time on the DPHA Education Committee. I am ready to step in and help in any way I can to better educate our industry.

If everyone took one moment to think about the one thing they’d like to see that would help them and their business, those programs might evolve.

Find it, become excited about it and bring it up to someone in your organization. I bet you will find many more people like yourself who thought the very same thing, and now you’ll have a network of volunteers and passionate people helping to make that one thing a reality. Try it! It works.

My “one thing” was how to make people aware of steam showers. I’ve spent almost a decade in this industry, and it wasn’t until I began working for Thermasol in 2009 when I found out that anyone could have a complete spa in their own house. People are far less aware of steam and steam showers than they are faucets, sinks or tubs. When I brought my “one thing” up to my customers, they agreed with me, and they helped participate in brainstorming sessions about how we could increase sales in this category. These were my customers volunteering their time and resources.

Now, we have quite a few marketing campaigns and marketing materials that work to our advantage. We’ve even built a webinar on steam showers, which you can find on the DPHA Web site.

This may seem like a small thing to you, or a less than altruistic endeavor. But to me, education in any industry is key, whether you are a business owner, a salesperson or a homeowner. Everyone benefits from understanding what they buy or sell.

My success depends on the feedback and input of other people, and while I was honored this past year with an award for my volunteerism, I will always feel as though I get more out of volunteering than I give. That is one truism that is undeniable. And to those who have helped me grow, learn, develop and mature in this, I just want to say thank you!

Martin Siwy has been in the decorative plumbing industry since 2001. He has worked as v.p. of a decorative faucet company and regional sales manager for upscale furniture and accessory manufacturers in the luxury bath industry. He has brought award-winning product designs to market, and has worked with representative agencies throughout the country, building collaborative tools to communicate and manage them in the most efficient ways possible.

DPH Perspectives is published regularly in KBDN under an exclusive strategic alliance with the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association.