TOTO USA and Villeroy & Boch USA Announce Sales Alliance for North America

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Apr 24, 2012, 10:45 ET

MORROW, Ga., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TOTO, the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world, and Villeroy & Boch, the leading European bathroom brand, announced a sales alliance today. Under the terms of this alliance, all Villeroy & Boch USA bathroom products available in the North American market will be sold exclusively through the distribution and sales channels of TOTO USA. This will include a complete range of products such as toilets, decorative lavatories and washbasins, tubs, showers, accessories, vanities, and bathroom furniture. By combining TOTO USA's innovative technology and Villeroy & Boch USA's sleek European style, this new sales alliance offers North American consumers, architects, designers, distributors, and premium kitchen & bath showrooms an exciting new package of products from which to choose when designing or remodeling high-end bathrooms.

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For TOTO USA's distributors and high-end kitchen and bath showrooms, the new alliance will deliver exceptional value by providing them the opportunity to add the highly desirable Villeroy & Boch USA products to their businesses. With the addition of the Villeroy & Boch brand and its outstanding European design, this sales alliance offers them an even broader range of aspirational, premium products that will improve their competitiveness and lead to increased sales and profits. As is the case with TOTO USA products, Villeroy & Boch USA products are available only to the trade. The two brands will be positioned to complement each other in showrooms. This will give consumers a broader range of premium options when choosing the products for their bathrooms, and it will add substantial value and strength to the competitiveness and profitability of the distributors and showrooms that feature the two brands together. Distributors and showrooms selling both brands will enjoy economies of scale on freight, service, and support by combining Villeroy & Boch USA orders with their TOTO USA orders.

Villeroy & Boch USA customers can continue to order products through its New Jersey facilities until August 31st. Starting July 1st, however, its products will also be available through TOTO USA. As of September 1, 2012, all Villeroy & Boch USA products will be sold through TOTO USA only, and TOTO USA will handle all sales, logistics, and customer support matters.

"This is likely to be one of the most interesting sales alliances we've ever seen in our industry in North America, and I know that both brands as well as our broad network of distributors and showrooms will be eager to get it started with a lot of momentum," said David Krakoff, Senior Vice President – Americas, Sales Division, TOTO USA. "Our customers are very tuned-in to how to be successful in the premium segment of the market, and they will see this TOTO USA/Villeroy & Boch USA alliance as an attractive and highly desirable step. It's a unique offering that no one else can match."

"This sales alliance gives Villeroy & Boch USA immediate access to a broad customer base and offers excellent synergies in sales, service, and logistics. I am convinced that it will be very effective for both companies – TOTO USA and Villeroy & Boch USA equally. It's a win-win situation for everyone," emphasized Michael Swan, President of Americas, Bathroom and Wellness Division, Villeroy & Boch USA.

In addition to the benefits to TOTO USA's distribution and showroom customers, the new sales alliance between TOTO USA and Villeroy & Boch USA offers architects and designers an exciting new high-end pallet to pull from when choosing products for their projects. TOTO USA will be offering an exceptional range of Villeroy & Boch USA European-designed products to complement the strong design, technology, and sustainability options available from TOTO USA today. This will include some new product categories for TOTO USA such as Villeroy & Boch USA European-designed bathroom furniture. Like TOTO USA, Villeroy & Boch USA is available to the trade only; it is not sold through home centers, and that is always a benefit for the design community.

Villeroy & Boch USA's Swan noted that, "In the next several years, via this alliance, we expect to see impressive growth in the showroom presence of Villeroy & Boch USA in North America." TOTO USA's Krakoff agreed. He said, "We expect this to be a real game-changer."

About TOTO:

TOTO is the largest plumbing manufacturer in the world. For nearly 100 years, the TOTO Global Group has been the recognized leader in innovation and precision engineering in elegant, high-design products that enhance the bath space. Serving both the residential and commercial sectors, the company's Americas Division, TOTO USA, Inc., is reinventing the exclusive bath experience with its revolutionary People First approach to product innovation. TOTO continues to raise both industry standards and consumer expectations as to what is possible in the bath interior design, as its name is synonymous with beauty, performance, craftsmanship, quality, and value. For more information, consumers may visit www.totousa.com or call 1.888.295.8134, Option 5.

About Villeroy & Boch:

Villeroy & Boch AG is located in Mettlach, Germany, has approximately 8,000 employees (FTEs) and operates production facilities in Europe, Mexico and Thailand. Villeroy & Boch offers innovative product and furnishing concepts for private customers and property developers. Using a variety of styles, "The House of Villeroy & Boch" stores present the "single-source bathroom" and "complete tabletop" concepts. Villeroy & Boch is represented in 125 countries with its high-quality products. As early as the mid-19th century, Villeroy & Boch had a presence beyond Europe in Russia, China and the USA, and the company made an important contribution to the democratization of tableware and bathroom culture. Villeroy & Boch celebrates 264 years of tradition and has been a pioneer in the use of innovative materials, production techniques and, in particular, design – one of its key brand attributes. This is reflected in the wide range of design and innovation awards the company has won. For more information, consumers may visit www.villeroy-boch.com.

SOURCE TOTO