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Upscale Toto Toilets Seeking Comfort-Loving American Consumers

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ALT: "Toilet-Jayme-Soulati"

How about a multitasking toilet, Toto?

Ever remodeled a bathroom and had to select from the wide varieties of commodes? I have done several bathrooms in my time, and ensuring you get a workhorse for less money and fewest gallons per flush is daunting, especially when you look at the price tag.

I looked at the Japanese Toto toilets advertised regularly in the magazines I read; however, the cost for a really neat heated seat with little water usage was nearly the price of the bathroom remodel itself. Instead, I settled for a custom-color Kohler with a self-closing lid so it doesn’t slam.

Toto Toilets Are Smart

Toto toilets are so upscale that few Americans have ever used one. Japan is finally ready to take on the American Standard U.S. market with its smart toilets. Apparently, Toto wants to be like Apple. No one knew they needed an iPhone until Apple came along and made phones smart. Same goes for toilets, according to Toto’s chief executive, Mr. Yoshiaki Fujimori.

In a Wall Street Journal story May 27, 2014, Smart Toilets Arrive in U.S., Fujimori said,”Industry presents iPhone–industry presents shower toilet.” [Read more…]

Big Brands, Consumers And The Festering Sea

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multitasking-toilet.jpgWe’re on the verge of a massive sea change; it’s festering. Companies are scrambling to find the next money maker to compete, to retain earnings, to be profitable, to stay clean and away from the eagle eye of Uncle Sam litigation and taxes.

Everyone is trying to make a buck; yet, the lowliest of low is regarded as the fall guy. Who is at greatest risk of toppling and never recovering? It’s not big business, that’s for sure.

It’s you, me, we, us – the consumer.

Brands Are In Bed With Investors

They have to be; that’s how the bread and butter get served at breakfast. To make investors happy and to finance struggling business units, corporations are de-volumizing everything possible.

For years now, we consumers have noted smaller cereal boxes, candy bars, beverages and personal hygiene products. Now, even Kimberly-Clark and Proctor & Gamble are desheeting.

Kimberly-Clark Corp. is now selling “bulkier” yet “stingier” Kleenex tissue, says this story in the Wall Street Journal July 25, 2013, “Desheeting” Shrinks Rolls, Plumps Profits. Each box of Kleenex has 13% fewer sheets with higher or the same retail prices.  Taken from the story, “Kimberly-Clark executives told analysts that they expect the practice to benefit the company’s consumer-tissue unit in the second half of the year.”

Several weeks ago, I bought a 12-pack of Stella Artois. When I popped a coldie, the bottle was 11.2 ounces rather than the customary 12 ounces with the same or higher price for this premium beer. I wonder how much the manufacturing expense was to retool all the factories to make the green bottles smaller?  How about that packaging? Did they save two inches of cardboard on the carton?

When a consumer gets disgusted and turns to brand B to find a better price point with more volume, the quality sucks. We either pay more for less to get the quality we’ve been spoiled with, or we pay the same for more and poor quality. What’s it going to be?
[Read more…]