SEARCH
FIND A DEALER
Dry skin and allergies are common among those living in southwest Arizona’s bone-dry climate, where temperatures can regularly top 106°F. One local oasis is Central Arizona Supply, a plumbing showroom and heating & air supply family business based in Mesa, Arizona. Showroom Manager Jeremy Smith is part of the third generation running the business, which was established as a plumbing parts supplier in 1968. Today, he oversees 10 locations across the southwest, including six showrooms and a 75,000 square foot distribution center. In this article, he talks about bath trends and steam showers.
Trending in the Southwest: Steam and Showers
The decorative bath products stocked by Central Arizona Supply are very popular — anything that involves water or moisture is top of mind in this arid region. Despite its climate, over the past decade, Arizona has witnessed a surge of new-home construction, which is now slowly beginning to subside, according to Smith. “Instead of building new homes, people are remodeling the homes they constructed over the past decade or moving into existing locations in urban areas.” This focus on remodeling naturally provides a substantial market for Central Arizona Supply.
What’s “in” when it comes to bath products in the southwest? Smith explains that free-standing tubs are eclipsing tile-surround tubs due to their aesthetic beauty and upscale design. However, the larger trend involves a movement away from bathtubs towards showers and shower expansions. “It reflects today’s ‘on-the-go’ attitude,” figures Smith. “People do not want to wait for a bathtub to fill up or drain. Time is precious to everyone, and the quickness of a shower is therefore very appealing.”
For some of Smith’s customers, a natural extension of installing or remodeling a shower, especially in the arid community, is incorporating steam. The showroom has carried MrSteam products for three years and Smith notices increased interest in this previously underused technology. He estimates that about half his customers have heard of or experienced the benefits of steam before.
Steam for Better Breathing and Hydration
When selling steam to those unfamiliar with it, Smith emphasizes two main values it provides in the Arizona climate: better breathing and hydration. “Those suffering from the chronic allergies spurred by the dry weather can find relief from hot steam as it clears their air passages,” explains Smith. “At the same time, steam hydrates and exfoliates dry skin, another common condition in this region.”
Smith has determined that it is precisely these benefits that play the most crucial role in customers’ decision to install steam technology. “It is less about a long-term investment to raise the value of one’s housing investment and more about the enjoyment and health benefits a homeowner can get out of it now,” says Smith of steam.
Part of educating potential customers about steam involves letting them experience it for themselves. To that end, Smith’s Phoenix showroom contains a fully-functional steam shower that customers can test before making a purchase. “Selling steam is about making people realize that they always needed this device in their home,” explains Smith, “I have not seen anybody step out of a steam shower for the first time and say, ‘I don’t want that.’”
>> See Home Steam Showers 101
Many customers go beyond the basics, opting to install one of the many available steam shower upgrades. For Smith, the most popular upgrade is the AudioWizard, which allows homeowners to listen to their favorite music while steaming. “Music is a fantastic way to de-stress and clear your mind; nothing soothes like music,” says Smith. “It is a natural complement to the physical relaxation a steam shower instills.”
>> See Hear the Benefits of Steam with AudioWizard™
Another popular upgrade is the AromaSteam, which infuses various scents, such as lavender, eucalyptus or evergreen, into the steam shower. Smith believes that smell is an underappreciated benefit for steam bathing. These natural fragrances and aromatic oils enrich the steam experience by helping to awake and stimulate, or relax and promote better sleep. “People do not realize the power of scent until they visit our showroom and experience it firsthand.”
>> See How To Connect the AromaSteam System to Your Steam Shower Generator
Although Smith believes that the Chromasteam upgrade, which integrates a spectrum of colored lights, is the least understood wellness benefit, he is not worried. “Not too long ago steam in general was not really understood by the general public, and that is steadily changing.”
>> See How To Install the Chroma Light Cable and Light Up Your Steam Room
MrSteam: Excited About Steam, Health and Wellness
Admittedly, steam encompasses a small fraction of Smith’s overall business, but it often seems like much more. “MrSteam is doing more than ‘taking a piece of the steam pie,’” he emphasizes. “In their unrivaled passion and dedication to their customers, they are constantly seeking to ‘expand the pie.’” He continues, “Each day, everyone at MrSteam is thinking of ways to grow the steam business and educate consumers and showroom professionals. They’re excited about the product beyond getting the sale, because they truly feel it’s important to people’s health and wellness.”
Steam is likely to play an ever-expanding role in Central Arizona Supply’s business as it continues to grow. Although Smith has no immediate plans to open new locations, he is focused on improving his existing branches. The company prides itself on offering the most diverse variety of inventory in the southwest and aims to continue that tradition. “We will never shy away from bringing in new unique, captivating products like MrSteam,” promises Smith.
