Becoming social butterflies No comments yet

After nearly 25 years in the cabinet hardware business, Cliffside Industries has undertaken the tools of social media to reach a new, wider audience. Social media, from websites like Facebook to the microblogs of Twitter, are a way for Cliffside to connect to customers – fast. While representatives from Cliffside Industries have always been reachable by phone, now you can connect to us even more quickly through your computer or smartphone. Here are some of Cliffside’s ways that we reach out to our customers.

Our blog

Our blog, as it appeared in June 2011

You are currently reading the oldest and most well-informed part of Cliffside’s social media adventure: our blog. This is a great resource for customers and consumers of our product to read about issues and questions regarding our hardware. We draw many of our blog topics from customer questions that we take directly from phone  calls; for example, “What finishes are safe  for customers with nickel allergies?” (our first blog ever) or “What hinge style should I use for this cabinet?”. You’ll always enjoy our fun posts around the winter holidays too!

We also use our blog to publish press releases about the arrival and introduction of new products. We rolled out our line of hardware suites with new solid brass 8″cc small appliance pulls using our blog, and we have added literally hundreds of new products since our blog was first started near the end of 2008.

Facebook

Facebook.com, according to the New York Times, is the largest social network in the world, serving over 750 million users as of this writing. Cliffside Industries is active on Facebook, sharing links to dealer websites and information about our products. We regularly post information about our customers, and welcome the addition of any Cliffside projects by our dealers to our Facebook page. We also promote our blog through Facebook; each post is linked for quick access.

Our Facebook is also a way to get in touch with staff. If you are online and have a question that requires a quick response, send us a Facebook message; a customer service representative can be with you nearly instantaneously (as long as we’re open!).

QR codes

This QR code leads to the Cliffside website.

Starting in July 2011, Cliffside Industries has begun using “QR codes”, like the one shown at right. QR (short for “Quick Response”) codes are readable by many smartphones. Simply scan or photograph the code with the phone, and it will take you directly to related content on the provider’s website. Cliffside Industries will begin offering QR codes for mobile users in our printed materials, like promotional offers. The biggest undertaking will be our next catalog, slated for release in early 2012: each item in the Cliffside catalog will be directly accessible, via QR code, from your mobile device. This provides a direct link from our print media to the Cliffside website, which offers a wide variety of information for your use.

Twitter

In all of our promotion of social media, the smallest contributions come through Twitter, where the micro-updates are limited to 140 characters. Knowing how to be succinct is key. Follow Cliffside on Twitter to be among the first to know when new updates are made on our website, to see special promotions, and to be alerted when we feature dealers or products for your viewing pleasure.

I feel like I’m forgetting something…

…oh right. The butterfly.

This year’s knob-minees No comments yet

The 83rd annual Academy Awards are rapidly approaching and, with them, the presentation of this year’s Golden Knob Awards! Check back next Friday to find out who the winners are, but until then, here’s your list of nominees!

Best Foreign Feature

Foreign Feature nominee: PM3-WT

Presented to Cliffside’s best import from our lines of European lead crystal and marble

• M994
• PM5-BG
• M13-32
• PM3-WT
• P-3-BLACK

Best Original Piece

K544-IR nominated for Best Original Piece

Presented to the best hardware piece that is unique to the Cliffside line

• B600-VB
• 148-SS
• 149-PN
• K544-IR
• K579-AB

Best Adaptation

Scroll Suite: nominee for Best Adaptation

Presented to the Cliffside line whose adaptation best serves our customers

• Rope Suite
• Classic Suite
• Scroll Suite
• Artisan Suite
• Criss-Cross Suite

Best “Short”

The 97015 butcher block knob

Presented to the best piece in our line of “small” or “miniature” hardware

• 97015-SS
• 100-20-IR
• AZ-SM
• 72
• M25

Best Supporting Actor

Great supporting performance from BH2A-OC-BALL

Presented to the hardware piece providing the “best support”

• 3-8-OFFSET-AB
• BH2A-OC-BALL
• AHO-VB
• BH2A-NM-OA
• BH3A-PC

Best Picture

24BP is a backplate for crystal knobs.

Presented to the piece that best exemplifies the great new photography on Cliffside’s website

• 3405-BZ
• M995-AQUA
• BH2A-RA
• IBCL-SS
• 24BP-PN

Be sure to check back Friday to find out this year’s winners!

Featured Suite: Classic No comments yet

hen Cliffside Industries introduced its signature line in the spring of 2009, the Classic Suite required little change. Most of the pieces in this traditional suite have stood the test of time and have been part of our hardware offerings for close to 15 years. Nevertheless, Cliffside has added new pieces in response to customer demand, and we’ll now look at them one by one.

Knobs

161-VB

Many of Cliffside’s customers prefer traditionally-styled hardware, which is why it comprises the majority of our hardware line. The 161 knob is a prime example of a piece whose design is simple yet timelessly elegant. With its attached backplate and beveled face, it is one of Cliffside’s most popular pieces. As with all of the solid brass hardware suites, this piece is available in 10 finishes. It is just under 1¼” in diameter and is 1⅛” in height.

158-FB

The other two knobs in the classic suite — the 158 and the 110 —are also very simple pieces that maintain the ridged element that ties the Classic Suite together. The 158, which is now available in several new finishes as a result of the line expansion, is popular for its rounded face and attached backplate, while the 110 offers a stylistic alternative to the plainness of other Cliffside knobs like the 158 or the 100 series.

Pulls

The classic suite pulls in polished nickel (3"cc, 8"cc, and 12"cc models)

The simple B1 series pulls of the Classic Suite combine smooth lines with ageless style to create this very traditional look suitable for any cabinet application. The 8″cc pulls are now part of this line as well: 10 completely new items! Besides adding the Venetian Bronze finish to the 3″cc line, the 12″cc appliance pulls are now also available in our 10 signature finishes — new finishes include Polished Chrome, Antique Brass, Old Copper, and Black.

K341-OC

The K341 cup pull is a chic alternative to other Cliffside cup pulls. Where the others are crafted in the traditional half-circle shape, the K341 is elongated, echoing the elegant lines of the B1 series. This pull’s new finishes, which include Polished Chrome and Polished Nickel, are already among its most popular sellers.

Accessories

All of the Cliffside hardware suites, including the Classic, can be used in conjunction with any of our matching hinge styles, including the BH2A, BH2A-BALL, BH2A-NF, BH3A, BH2A-NM, and BH2A-NM-BALL.  We also have armoire hinges and offset hinges available in most of our suite finishes. Our stylish solid brass latches (IBCL and SBCL) are the perfect compliment to this suite. Introduced in 2008, the IBCL has quickly become a very popular part of our line, and its lines match well with the bold style of the Classic suite.

The moral?

If you’re in the mood for an upgrade this holiday season, consider adding a touch of class — with Cliffside Industries’ Classic Suite!

Featured Suite: Criss-Cross No comments yet

Cliffside’s criss-cross suite received the largest expansion in the past year. With the addition of several new products and a large jump in the number of available finishes, the criss-cross design has proven to be quite popular. Each piece in the suite is unique, so we’ll take them on one at a time, starting with the pulls.

Pulls

The P-399 pulls in 3"cc, 8"cc, and 12"cc models

Cliffside’s criss-cross pulls are the biggest part of this line, both literally and figuratively. The series was originally only available with the 3″cc size, and only existed in two finishes (Antique Brass and Silver Satin). With the advent of the suite concept at Cliffside, we have expanded the 3″cc to be available in all ten of our best-selling finishes. Additionally, we added the 8″cc and 12″cc sizes, which were developed in conjunction with the engineers that create our products.  Though first attempts proved to be awkwardly shaped and humorous at times, the results were finely crafted pieces of durable and beautiful hardware that look stunning on any cabinet design. These pulls match especially well with the “ribbon and reed”-style molding found on many traditional cabinets.

P-398-OC

Also part of this series of pulls is the P-398 cup pull, which has also been expanded to ten finishes. Originally available in only AB, PB, and SS, this piece is striking in some of our more detailed or antiqued finishes, like Venetian Bronze, Iron, and Old Copper, and offers an alternative to a plain and simple cup pull in the simpler finishes like Flat Black and Old Antique.

Knobs

K-580-OA

The original knob from the criss-cross series is the K-580, which Cliffside has offered in three finishes for years. The line expansion gave this traditional piece a new life by providing it in several dramatic new colors. The knob’s design is tied to this line by the criss-cross style around the exterior rim of the face. It is a subtle way of connecting hardware pieces without being too bold.

K-579-VB

If you’d rather make a bold statement about the criss-cross design, consider the K-579. This piece is completely unique, developed through cooperative efforts between Cliffside representatives and the engineering team. The K-579 was chosen from several different designs, based on customer demand for a knob that more obviously matched the P-399 pulls. Each finish offers a different perspective on the knob, whether you seek a subdued statement or an emphatic one.

Mix and Match

Any knob can be used with this hardware suite, if you’d rather not use the K-580 or K-579. If you’re looking for an oblong-shaped knob, for example, why not try the 105? For a more detailed look, the B721 is available as well.

Accessories

BH2A-AE-NF

The main impact that the criss-cross suite had on the Cliffside hinge line was the addition of the Antique English finish. Since the Antique Brass criss-cross hardware is quite popular, it was mentioned by several customers that Cliffside did not have hinges to match the hardware exactly. As Cliffside’s hinges are European-made, the “AB” finish is a rich, dark brownish-gold, rather than the brighter brushed golden color tones that American designers and manufacturers consider to be antique brass. Thus was born the Antique English finish, a matching brushed brass finish that resembles antique brass hardware more closely. This finish is available in six different hinge styles, including the BH2A, BH2A-BALL, BH2A-NF, BH3A, BH2A-NM, and BH2A-NM-BALL. If you are more interested in an armoire hinge, the Bronze Satin finish is the best match in that series.

SBCL-PN

In the Antique Brass finish, Cliffside also brought back the SBCL-AB, and introduced the IBCL-AB, a dramatic-looking piece. As with the rest of our signature hardware line, both latch styles were extended to ten finishes when we expanded our line, including the popular new SBCL-PN shown at right.

The moral?

If you’re frustrated looking for hardware in a saturated market, don’t get cross… get Cliffside’s Criss-Cross!

Featured Suite: Rope No comments yet

Continuing our featured suite series, we focus next on the second grouping in the 2009 new product supplement: the Rope Suite. When originally introduced, it consisted of just three pieces, and was available only in five finishes. Due to demand, it’s now available in all of our ten signature finishes. Let’s examine its individual elements.

Knobs

B674 knob

B674-31-OC

The B674-31 is one of the three original pieces in this suite. It features the braided rope design around the rim of the knob. With a 1¼” diameter, it is similar in size to many of our other standard round knobs while offering a decorative alternative to more traditional styles. As with all of the hardware suites, this item is solid brass and available in 10 finishes.

B721 knob

B721-VB

In response to customer requests, the original B711 knob has been replaced by the new B721, which was introduced in spring of 2009. This oblong knob has the same look and braided design of the B711; however, it has been enlarged slightly. Where the B711 knob was 1¼” in diameter and 1” in height, the B721 knob is 1½” in diameter with a height of 1¼”.

Other knobs

161-IR

Since all of the pieces in the Cliffside signature line are available in all ten finishes and are all made from the same material, any knob can be used with the Rope Suite, if you prefer not to utilize the above designs. In the new product supplement, the B674 and B721 are accompanied by the 161 knob, but any other knob can also be used.

Pulls

K344 series pulls in 3"cc, 8"cc and 12"cc models

Before our recent line expansion, the K344 series was notably inconsistent, with the 3″cc pull available in the BNI finish while the 12″cc appliance pull was available in SS (Silver Satin). We are pleased to announce that all of the pieces are now available in the SS finish only, allowing you a greater freedom to choose pieces that match your hardware! The newest piece is the K344-8, a stylish size that is appropriate for oversized pantry doors or for appliances like dishwashers and trash compactors with wood panel kits.

K544-AB

This suite is the only one to receive a completely new cup pull as well; it was designed in conjunction with our suppliers especially for Cliffside Industries. Borrowing the braided design of the K344 and following the style of the ever-popular K4235, the new K544 cup makes a bold statement on any drawer.

Accessories

SBCL-PN

Each Cliffside suite can be accompanied by the use of one or more latches. Cliffside offers two styles: the IBCL finger latch, and the SBCL turn latch. Each is cast from solid brass and will prove more durable in the long run than any similar products made of inferior materials. Cliffside also offers the widest variety of finishes in the industry for both of these products.

BH2A-FB-NF

Cliffside’s solid brass hinges are the perfect solution for matching an exposed hinge to your hardware. Made with solid one-piece construction, our hinges have been developed with the finest European craftsmen to bring you a product that remains unchanged over the years and continues to provide the high quality you deserve and expect. Cliffside currently offers six hinge styles, with a new seventh style arriving in early 2010. The BH2A hinge is available with our signature steeple finial (17 finishes), a ball finial (11 finishes), or no finial (11 finishes). Its larger counterpart, the BH3A, is available with its signature minaret finial in 13 finishes. The BH2A-NM non-mortise butt hinge has 16 finishes to choose from with the signature finial, and 11 finishes with a ball tip as well. The newest hinge style, BH3A-NM — a larger non-mortise hinge — will be available with the signature finial in 11 finishes coming in early 2010. Additionally, Cliffside offers two styles of offset hinges and two styles of armoire hinges to supply your cabinet construction needs.

The moral?

Let yourself get roped in to buying Cliffside hardware this winter – you won’t regret it!