Reps’ Professionalism Needs Work: Reader

Dear Editor:
I just read John K. Morgan’s column, “The Rep’s View,” which ran in the July issue of KBDN. I feel that every manufacturer who is hiring sales reps should give a copy of this article to every candidate, and then require a written plan from each candidate as to how they will structure their days, weeks and months in order to achieve their goals.

I am so disgusted by reps who just “show up” and “shoot the breeze” for 45 minutes – most of which is spent talking about their golf game or their lack of income! If they had an organized plan and the discipline to carry it out, then they would have scheduled their appointment and sent ahead an agenda for what would be discussed in that 45-minute visit to our showroom.
It stands to reason that dealers will sell more product when they have more product knowledge. While I love golf as much as anybody, knowing a rep’s handicap doesn’t help me to sell more of his product.

And in case you didn’t catch it, I deliberately referred to the males of the rep species. Every female rep I have ever dealt with is quite organized and focused.

Brian D. Hirn, Owner/General Manager
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
Saginaw, MI

Reader Objects to Gender Stereotypes

Dear Ms. Costa:
I’ve read your magazine for the last several years and have always found it to provide quality information for kitchen and bath industry professionals. I do have some concerns about the “Building the Job” column in the July 2008 issue entitled, “Tips for Female Designers Navigating the Jobsite.”

I have been in the custom woodworking/general contracting industry for some 30 years. During this time, I have had the opportunity of working with many designers and understand the basic premise Mr. Nicholls is presenting in his article.

However, he seems to have stereotyped contractors by discussing old-school sexist axioms like being distracted if someone shows up wearing 4" heels on the jobsite (I would be concerned about the individual getting hurt by tripping on an air hose long before being distracted enough to shoot myself in the hand), or by delivering pastries to the job, which both stereotype a woman as serving food and a man as expecting that is a woman’s job.

It is not my intent to gripe about Mr. Nicholls’ writing, but rather to suggest a more balanced treatment of the subject in the future. For instance, instead of just presenting the angle on how to deal with a sexist contractor, how about teaching designers how to treat the contractor as an equal, not a subordinate? I’ve worked with several designers who have the tendency to micro-manage the contractor because they share this view, rather than respecting the professional opinion or expertise that I bring with me.

Because I’m a professional, I’m extremely careful not to assume all designers will behave this way. But without this viewpoint being taught, it’s easy for someone to assume all contractors are the same based on one bad experience. How about doing an article from a contractor’s perspective on how a designer can best work with a contractor?

Many of the issues Mr. Nicholls has brought up can easily be resolved if the designer simply makes an effort to better understand how the contractor thinks and operates, rather than simply stereotyping his behavior.

David Getts
David Getts Designer Builder
Seattle, WA

Reader Responds To Sexism Comments

Dear Editor:
There were several good points about Steve Nicholls’ article, “Tips for the Female Designer Navigating the Jobsite,” which recently ran in KBDN’s July issue.

For instance, I believe that Mr. Nicholls hit a bull’s-eye by discussing that quite often, women’s emotions are consistently judged on a different scale than men’s. I also totally agree with the need for a pre-install/job start meeting. It is a must, but I am amazed at how many contractors or installers put it off until the last minute, or don’t think they need this review, or are just too busy and think they can handle it on their own.

As a 20-year veteran female designer, I’ve done and seen so much, from renting and driving a box truck when the tractor trailer could not get up the homeowner’s driveway, to having a male homeowner of questionable sanity demand that I go down to the basement (alone) with him to “see some hinges.”

But I must point out items that, in my experience, are off the mark in Mr. Nicholls’ column. I have never felt uncomfortable on a jobsite – I have a job to do just like everyone else there. Once in a while I will get a curious look, but that is normal.

A very high majority of male subs are respectful. They have wives and children. I very rarely hear foul language. My guess is they could be disciplined or fired for inappropriate behavior.

I have had issues with what I consider safe-to-navigate jobsites, complete with mud and 2'x4's for stairs. And it only took one ruined pair of shoes for me to learn how to dress in the field.

I would never use a port-a-potty on a jobsite or anywhere else for that matter. It has never even been an issue.

I also would never bring pastries or coffee to a jobsite. What am I, the bagel lady? They are men who can feed themselves. I don’t need to feel “welcomed” or “cheered” – what rubbish!

And by the way, Mr. Nicholls, the most obvious question of all, why isn’t this article written by a woman? You have not been in my (mud-ruined) shoes.

Lisa Cavataro, Sr. Designer
Front Row Kitchens
Norwalk, CT

Reader: ‘Don’t Blame the Victim’

Dear Editor:
Regarding the “Building the Job” column in the July 2008 issue of KBDN, I don’t think I have ever read a more sexist, condescending, patronizing piece of trash in my life! Talk about blaming the victim!

If anything, Mr. Nicholls should be trying to educate readers to try to change the ingrained sexist attitudes of the men who behave inappropriately toward women on the job site.

Timothy A. Duffy
Black Forest Cabinetry
Chicago, IL

Sexism Need Not Be The Norm, Reader Says

Dear Editor:
As a female owner/partner of a successful remodeling business, I feel compelled to respond to Mr. Nicholls’ recent article describing what I feel to be an antiquated view of women’s roles in today’s world of construction. It is appalling to think that such a sexist culture still exists, and worse, that it is still condoned or tolerated in today’s working environments.

I can assure Mr. Nicholls and your readers that such behavior does not have to be the norm. In fact, I have experienced quite the opposite response from workers of all trades when I visit a jobsite. I have never felt degraded, humiliated or treated like an outsider in their world.

It seems to me that Mr. Nicholls’ advice is better directed toward those who still hold the misguided opinion that women do not belong on a jobsite. Workers who exhibit and demonstrate such inappropriate behavior as described in this commentary should not be tolerated. As owners, we take responsibility for training our employees to conduct themselves in a professional manner, regardless of who is on our jobsite. Perhaps it is time for other owners to step up to that same challenge, instead of making excuses for the inappropriate behavior of others.

Carol Whyrick
Whyrick Builders
Jacksonville, FL

Gender Comments Seen As‘Out of Touch’ With Reality

Dear Editor:
What decade is Mr. Nicholls speaking of in his column, “Tips for Female Designers Navigating the Jobsite,” which ran in the July issue of KBDN? The sixties? This article is obviously written by a man who is out of touch with the current building atmosphere.

The last time I looked, there were more successful women in this industry than men. Additionally, the “workmen” at many jobsites are actually women.

I think Mr. Nicholls should confine himself to unisex articles of this decade. Most of the “tips” could be used by either sex in the jobsite. Otherwise, this was a good article.

Jonathan Foat
The Cabinetree of Wisconsin
Brookfield, WI

Reader Finds Granite Warnings Unwarranted

Dear Editor:
With regard to the news article about the potential “dangers” of granite, which appeared in the August issue of KBDN, I find this whole issue quite amusing. I always consider my source of information before coming to a conclusion, and suggest readers do the same. If this was true, the Romans would’ve known about this first.
The timing is spot on due to our recession – why not sway the market?
I just wanted to offer this as some food for thought for the readership of KBDN.

Susan Judd, ASID, NKBA Susan Judd Interior Designs
Bakersfield, CA