Imagine automatic restroom faucets that break out in song when the water starts to flow. Well, guess what? It's been done. Possessing the most unique feature among the bathroom faucets I have seen, "Singing Sinks" is an art installation in the first-floor restrooms of the Denver Art Museum. This creative effort — the work of Jim Greene — was added to the North Building collection in 2001. These restroom faucets sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," escalating into a round as more faucets are activated. If you think the high-speed Xlerator hand dryer is worth talking about, wait 'til you see these. I, for one, am scheming on a trip to Denver for a first-hand look.

Radio host Spencer Howson was impressed and pleased by an electronics store that graciously allowed his young son to use their bathroom. His son had to go, and Spencer wasn't finished shopping. It was a no-frills loo, obviously intended only for employees, but the staff's immediate willingness to share their facilities, however modest, made an impact. Undoubtedly, the rest of the public would be similarly grateful in the same situation. Opening the restroom door is a great way for any business to generate goodwill and build loyalty. Now Spencer is on the air urging others to open their loos to the public. Listen to Spencer's audio clip here.

A memorable way to add a splash of color to a restroom is with a urinal or sink that is shaped like a flower. Check out these fantastic creations by Clark Sorenson. His hand crafted sculptures are made of the same durable, high-fire porcelain as other commercial fixtures. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind work of art, yet fully functional and meant to be used. For more information, go to www.clarkmade.com.

Try telling any woman that restrooms influence patronage decisions and you're preaching to the choir.

Turns out churches, like every other business in these times, are brainstorming for ways to increase attendance and attract members. At a recent marketing conference, one astute consultant offered a recommendation for better women's restrooms.

According to Jo Gantzer: "... if you really want visitors to stay, focus on the restrooms, especially the women's restroom. Make it a showplace of organization, cleanliness and comfort. In nearly every case, women make the decision about whether a family will give a church a second test drive. What they find in their restroom can make or break the deal."

While the most important message for any seeker of church should be that which comes from the pulpit, a heavenly throne can certainly sway a choice.

Read the full story here: "Ketchum: Growing your Pulpit can be Simple, Easy".

It's hard for young children to stay aboard the large elongated toilet seats at public restrooms. (I was horrified when I saw how my son, at potty training age, had to grip the rim of those seats with both hands.) To make matters worse, when an autoflush goes off prematurely, that's enough to upset this delicate balance — and scare a child into banning public toilets forever.

Here's how to get the upper hand, stop this problem, and empower your child:

Tell your child that you're going to "trick the toilet". Drape a piece of toilet paper over the autoflush sensor. Thus blocked, the toilet will not flush. When finished, your child can remove the strip of TP and let the toilet flush.

By now, we've all seen Vehicle Wraps: enormous vinyl graphics that cover an entire car or bus in a showstopping marketing display. But what about Restroom Wraps?

In a creative marketing move, Japan's Tugboat advertising agency has installed wall graphics on restroom cubicles at ski resorts as a promotion for Georgia Max coffee, a product of the Coca Cola company. This particular campaign aims to promote the coffee drink to sports enthusiasts. Perfect! The imagery makes seated guests feel that they are at the top of a ski slope. Floor graphics of skis adhered at the base of the toilet add to the authenticity. Text touting the benefits of the beverage emblazons the toilet paper holder for further branding. What a great way to generate buzz! Any shop could take this concept, create their own theme graphics, and have a winner washroom that's sure to get people talking about their bathroom...and their business...in a good way.

Source

Three women, two younger and one senior citizen, were sitting naked in a sauna. Suddenly there was a beeping sound. One young woman pressed her forearm and the beep stopped. The others looked at her questioningly. "That was my pager," she said. "I have a microchip under the skin of my arm."

A few minutes later, a phone rang. The second young woman lifted her palm to her ear. When she finished, she explained, "That was my mobile phone. I have a microchip in my hand."

The older woman felt very low-tech. Not to be outdone, she decided she had to do something just as impressive. She stepped out of the sauna and went to the restroom. She returned with a piece of toilet paper hanging from her rear end. The others raised their eyebrows and stared at her. The older woman finally said, "Well, will you look at that? I'm getting a fax!"

This year, a fun and economical way to celebrate Valentine's Day at home is to surprise your sweetie by fixing up your bedroom and bathroom like a hotel. Fluffy towels, a thick bath mat, gourmet toiletries, and a chocolate on the pillow are a good start — but while you're tending to the details — don't forget the toilet paper. Most hotels fold the end of the toilet paper roll into a point, and, granted, that's a gracious touch...but you can take it up a notch. A toilet paper rose would be the perfect touch! Check out the Toilet Paper Origami book at www.tporigami.com and learn to make your own stunning toilet paper rose.