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N&S Supply prides itself on making steam showers simple for customers. Based in Fishkill, N.Y., N&S Supply has been a valued resource for local plumbing and HVAC contractors since the Great Depression, when it began as a second-hand retail business called “Lou’s New and Used.” Today, the supply house has grown to seven locations, including four luxury showrooms throughout the Hudson Valley and the Southeastern Connecticut area.
Experienced showroom personnel guide homeowners and designers through an extensive selection of American and European style bathroom products and fixtures.
Health and Wellness Drive Interest in Steam Showers
Christine Paquette, N&S Director of Showroom Sales and Marketing, explains that area home buyers and remodelers are increasingly favoring steam showers over more traditional luxury bathroom options. “People are looking for easily-maintainable, sleek and clean fixtures in their bathrooms. The current trend is to move away from large, bulky tubs and toward spacious showers,” she says. “Adding a steam unit is a logical next step.”
What’s behind this increased awareness of steam? Paquette attributes it to a growing national emphasis on health and wellness. “For the past several years, it has increasingly become ‘hip’ to stay healthy,” explains Paquette, who believes that growing problems such as obesity have spurred people into action. “Many area businesses, like N&S Supply, are implementing wellness programs that educate and reward employees for staying healthy. Similarly, healthy eating regimens are becoming more common, with more stores stocking organic options.”
For Paquette, steam has become a natural extension of this wellness trend. “Gyms, for example, play a significant role in the rise of awareness for therapies such as steam because many allow users to experience the benefits of steam first without having to buy,” she states. “In my experience, some doctors are also educating patients of steam’s health benefits.”
Paquette praises the “endless” range of steam bath benefits as one rationale for steam’s growing preference over whirlpool baths. “Steam can detoxify your body by opening up skin pores, nurture skin by providing hydration for a healthy glow, maintain respiratory health by soothing airways (especially for those suffering from asthma or allergies) and improve overall circulation,” she explains. “It can also play a significant role in stress reduction, helping to calm your nerves and promote a better night’s sleep. Who needs yoga when you have that?”
>> See Dear MrSteam: How My Steam Shower Changed My Life
>> See 14 Sleep Benefits and 8 Steam Therapy Tips for Better Sleep
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Understanding Steam Shower Benefits and Accessories
Most customers hope to reap the more than 40 steambath benefits when they visit the N&S showrooms looking for inspiration.
For those who have not heard about steam, Paquette’s showroom consultants help to educate buyers and even offer to arrange a private ‘test drive’ at their working steam shower display. “We hold customers’ hands throughout the entire process,” says Paquette. With 11 designers spread across N&S Supply’s seven Hudson Valley locations, customers are never left on their own.
"Once they learn about steam, customers’ purchase decision rest upon individual preferences, budget and space,” notes Paquette. Although she admits that many of her customers are from the higher income scale, Paquette does not view cost as the main reason someone will choose steam. “It really depends on how much they value the benefits of a steam shower,” she says.
>> See Debunking the Myths About Home Steam Showers
Accessories also play an important role in enhancing the user’s experience. The ChromaSteam unit suffuses the steam shower with a spectrum of color from airy blue to sensual red, while the AudioWizard uses Bluetooth technology to stream music. Finally, the AromaSteam system evenly infuses oils into the shower via an electronic delivery system for balanced, seamless integration of AromaTherapy. “Our customers, even those familiar with steam, are often unfamiliar with these wonderful accessories,” says Paquette. “When our showroom professionals introduce them, the customers are often intrigued and want to learn more.”
For those customers who end up seriously considering installing a steam shower, Paquette has some words of advice. “You need to pre-plan certain aspects such as the water and electrical supply, location of the steam generator and the type of material used in the shower,” she advises. She explains that steam installations are often more popular in conjunction with an overall bathroom retrofit or remodeling project because once the walls are open, it is much easier to add steam.
For nearly two-thirds of her 23-year tenure at the company, Paquette has been working with MrSteam and could not be happier with the resulting professional relationship. “We love working with them because they are always there to support us,” she says. “Customers can enjoy a hassle-free steam installation and experience.”
If you're located in and around Fishkill, NY, we hope you'll visit this steam shower showroom.
