Countertops are critically important to both the design and functionality of the kitchen, with dealers and designers carrying a wide variety of materials to meet client needs, according to a new KBDN survey. VIEW GALLERY   Countertops have long been a mainstay of kitchen design, whether offering a dramatic focal point, a splash of color, a bit of textural interest, a sense of warmth, a note of visual contrast, or a calming oasis of cool or warm tones that blend seamlessly into the kitchen. Likewise, the growing role of the kitchen has expanded the functional role of countertops from durable food prep surfaces to multifunctional places for cooking, eating, entertaining, doing homework, charging electronics and more. So it’s no surprise that, in a recent survey of kitchen dealers and designers, countertops were highly rated for their importance, both visually and functionally. Additionally, the majority of designers and dealers polled said they sell or specify multiple cou...

Top Tips To Increase Sales Performance As in international sales professional I have stated that, when businesses are looking at ways to increase revenue, it stands to reason that the performance of the sales team will be one of the first places they look. When results are not what they hope for, they will often take drastic steps, such as significantly increasing investment in sales training courses or reducing the number of staff that are on the payroll, in order to improve the overall performance of the team. Mistake. However, increasing sales performance does not necessarily require drastic steps. It is often a case of fine-tuning your existing sales strategies  so that your team performs to the absolute best of their ability. With that in mind, here, we provide some top tips to put you on the fast track to better sales performance. 1. Focus On Your Sales Process One of the single most influential factors on sales performance is the sales process . In fact, part of th...