Content about Communication

Melville, N.Y.-based Leviton, a manufacturer of electrical devices, data center connectivity solutions and lighting energy management systems, launched its newly redesigned website.

The new leviton.com offers step-by-step installation videos, tips and interactive discussion forums, including installation procedures and best uses for various Leviton products.

In one of the most passionate outbursts of reader mail of the year, the industry resoundingly sided with a retailer's right to advertise -- or not to advertise -- wherever it deems fit. 

Siding 2011, organized by Principia, will kick off with a keynote speech on the future of the industry by Peter Dachowski, former CEO of Certainteed. 

In addition to the Dachowski presentation, the first day of Siding 2011 will include sessions on "Curb Appeal" and "Distribution Channel Dynamics." A panel discussion with builders and siding contractors will touch on several issues.

Denver -- The air was thick with sports metaphors during Ace Hardware's General Session of the 2011 Denver Fall Convention & Exhibits. 

Ace's top marketing and merchandising executives mixed retail strategies with quotes from Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi during a presentation in which they described the top 10 plays for winning at retail. The session even included half-time highlights of power tools and football touchdowns.

Do it Best Corp. has named Ferguson Advertising its agency of record, assisting the hardware and lumber co-op in a variety of its marketing efforts. 

"We're excited to announce this new strategic partnership with Ferguson Advertising," said Tim Miller, VP marketing for Do it Best. "Our advertising, marketing and public relations work will certainly play an important role in our future growth and success, and we look forward to Ferguson's contributions in these areas."

New York-based Haier has redesigned its Haieramerica.com website.

“Over the past several months we have globalized the Haier brand through a consistent logo and company tagline, Smarter Life-Better Planet,” said Richard Block, Haier’s VP marketing, North America. “The next component of that strategy is our website, which now has a new look and much more consumer-friendly navigation.”

Peter Kleinman has been promoted to the position of director of marketing for Leviton’s distribution channel.  

In his new post, he will be reporting to William W. Marshall, Leviton’s senior VP sales and marketing. Kleinman will lead the marketing, branding and advertising for the company’s full line of products across the distribution sales channel.

A survey conducted by Cone, a brand strategy and marketing firm, indicates that most consumers continue to misunderstand phrases commonly used in environmental marketing and advertising, giving products more credit than they deserve. At the same time, most Americans are willing to punish a company if they think they were deliberately misled by “greenwashing” claims.

Consumers still want bigger houses. Plus, design is more important than price.

Those were two of the somewhat surprising results of a consumer survey shared by the keynote speaker during the 2011 Building and Infrastructure Conference last week.

John Burns, the keynote speaker and president and CEO of John Burns Real Estate Consulting, said 44% of consumers said they would want to buy a bigger house in the future, compared with only 22% who said they want a smaller house.

ThinkEco, a New York City-based company that develops energy efficiency technologies for homes and businesses, will show the home version of its flagship product, the modlet, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Jan. 6-9. The modlet—short for modern outlet—is the first wirelessly-communicating intelligent outlet that saves consumers money by reducing energy waste from plugged-in appliances and other consumer electronics.