One of the inherent difficulties builders, contractors and consumers face with bathroom fit-out is matching the various proprietary style and colour options offered by suppliers of fixtures and accessories.

As few of us are naturally gifted with the creative eye of an interior designer to mix and match form and colour, it was inevitable that someone was going to solve this ongoing issue from a practical viewpoint. And where better to start than with the suppliers themselves.

Hence, when electrical accessory manufacturer Clipsal, bathroom fixture specialist Caroma Dorf, door furniture supplier Gainsborough and Wattyl paints met to discuss this ongoing market issue, they quickly realised the opportunity to work together and provide a coordinated approach to consumers and the trade.

Synergi Solutions was born and recently launched at a major industry exhibition held in conjunction with the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar event in Adelaide.

The partnership is believed to be the first time a commercial marketing arrangement has been formed between such unrelated companies anywhere in the world. So naturally, in this first phase, there is a lot of learning not only for the suppliers but more particularly the wholesale/retail supply chain in terms of embracing these solutions and driving more business.

Synergi Solutions offers a win-win situation for all parties involved in the supply of bathroom fit-out and installation services. After all, the ultimate goal is a thoroughly satisfied customer.

What is being launched primarily in bathroom coordination will have the capability of extending as a ‘whole house aesthetic’ in the near future.

Until recently, the design consideration given by consumers to electrical switches and GPOs were well down the list of priorities. The traditional white switch and plate in various guises were the accepted norm. Then Clipsal changed all that with the launch of its C-Bus range of home automation accessories.

“The C-Bus Saturn range has been hugely popular from an aesthetic view point which has sparked the development of the Clipsal Saturn 250V range released by Clipsal,” says Clipsal’s Saturn range product manager Emma Gurling.

“The Clipsal Saturn 250V designer look has been moulded from a chemical resistant material offering push button and LED options which are anticipated to change the face of mechanical switching in the Australia market.

Clipsal offers this popular glass-look aesthetic in Ocean Mist and Espresso Black, across both home automation and general accessory products for a whole home electrical solution that is aesthetically complimentary to other products in the Synergi Solutions family.”

The electrical accessories serve as an important design backbone to the Synergi Solutions concept. Other products are being selected or matched to the Clipsal range in some way either by colour, shape, finish, etc.

Caroma category marketing manager Eric Lander says: “We focused on three elements: style, look and efficiency. The idea is that our range will fit into and complement the rest of the selections.” This will include toilets, basins and tapware.

Gainsborough business development manager Peter Crossley says that after meeting with Clipsal and listening to the idea behind Synergi Solutions it was a ‘no-brainer’ to come on board.

Gainsborough took three existing door levers and adjusted the look and material to fit into the Saturn range of products.

“We’ve proportioned our products’ accents in line with Clipsal and they look great.”

Wattyl paints is providing a range of 20 colours to blend in with Clipsal’s offering, which again supports the easier decision-making process for resellers, tradespeople and consumers.

“Each company will market its own product range through their direct sales channels with reference to Synergi Solutions. We have developed a brochure which details the offerings of the marketing partners under the theme of ‘Innovative Interior Building Solutions’ and there will be more combined support and programs in the future,” says Emma.

The Synergi cross-marketing partnership is being launched at Clipsal Powerhouses nationally and the Concept Centre by Caroma Dorf, the first of which has recently opened in Melbourne.

With more than 3,000 display/trade outlets across the electrical, plumbing, building and paint sectors already selling these Synergi partner products individually, Synergi Solutions offers an interesting Australian-inspired initiative for alert trade and reseller markets to embrace.