Much of the buzz over Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration has been about the insufficient supply of restrooms to meet the anticipated demand. One savvy restaurant group has turn this predicament into a marketing opportunity. The Washington DC Examiner reports that Latin Concepts will sell a $25 "VIPee" pass that will enable cardholders to go to the front of the line...be it to a restaurant...or restroom. Bathroom attendants will be present to facilitate a pass holder's access to the facilities.

This today: South Korean sanitation crusader, Sim Jae-Duck, died yesterday at the age of 69. Nicknamed "Mr. Toilet", he commenced his efforts at improving toilet facilities in 2002 --- when his country prepared for the World Cup. He continued working to raise awareness of proper sanitation in the years following. In his words. "Toilets are no longer a space for excretion only; they are becoming the central place in our daily lives where cleanness, relaxation, and aesthetics are important. Now, toilets have become the face of cities and countries. They have become the standard for measuring the cultural maturity and quality of life of society."

Mr. Toilet's legacy includes his toilet-shaped house, built in 2007 to commemorate his passion. The world's only toilet house, located in the city of Suwon in South Korea, was named "Haewoojae" meaning "a place of sanctuary where one can solve one's worries."

Note: Sim Jae-Duck of the World Toilet Association in South Korea and Jack Sim of the World Toilet Organization in Singapore, are not to be confused. They are two different men from two unrelated, though similar, organizations. Source.

Any mother can tell you what a challenge it is to help a young child wash their hands at a public restroom. Children are heavy to lift. And the difficulty multiplies if you are also holding a baby, purse, and packages. If parents know of a place that will make the job easier, you can bet your boots they'll go out of their way to find it. Step 'n Wash was invented by one such mom. It's an ingenious retractable step stool for restrooms that is out of the way for those who don't need it, yet will easily unfold with the flick of a foot for those who do. Priced under $500, any business can install a permanent piece of fine customer service for less than the cost of a single newspaper ad. Watch a video demo at www.stepnwash.com and learn how to make your shop a family-friendly stop.

When I learned of Sparkling Image, I knew instantly that we were on the same page. Sparkling Image owner, Stacy Clasby, and I both understood that women spend most of the money...and that they will judge a business by the bathroom. We knew that restroom quality factors into a customer's decision about whether to recommend the business to others...and whether to come back.

Every retailer or restaurant undoubtedly has their restrooms cleaned on some schedule of frequency, yet in my quest to find the best, I see a common thread of decline. Restrooms are worked hard, and without aggressive measures to combat wear, tear, residue, and fumes, even reasonably well-appointed washrooms inevitably become stained, dank, smelly and just plain unpleasant. The host's reputation becomes tarnished right along with the restroom.

This is where Sparkling Image comes to the rescue. Sparkling Image is a monthly deep cleaning service—designed to be used in addition to regular janitorial services. No touch-free cleaning for Sparkling Image. They are totally hands-on. Think of them as the "detailers" of restroom facilities—cleaning top to bottom and wall to wall. No floor drain or ceiling vent is left behind.

For the third holiday season, Charmin has provided free luxury restroom facilities in New York's Times Square. Charmin Restrooms, Charmin's gift to New York City, are win-win. Visitors will appreciate the availability and convenience of clean, well-appointed bathrooms in the thick of the festivities --- while Charmin receives abundant press coverage, good will among consumers, and the opportunity to have their products experienced by thousands of potential customers.

Go to Charmin Restrooms through December 31.

Before 2008 comes to a close, I'd like to report on two noteworthy restroom renovations in my city. First came the upgrade at Nordstrom. The Nordstrom restroom has always been special, as discussed in my book, because it was the first bathroom in town to generate buzz: Women had never seen the likes of this in a retail facility. As a regular user, I knew I could always count on it to be clean and attractive, but I also saw firsthand how eighteen years took a toll on this washroom's initial grandeur.

Today is World Toilet Day— and for those who take toilet facilities for granted, one may question the need for such an event. The fact is, more than 2.6 billion people worldwide, or 40% of the world's population, do not have access to proper hygienic sanitary facilities. Toilets matter — for health, the environment, and personal dignity. To learn more about this serious issue, go to www.worldtoilet.org.

Every small donation for world sanitary facilities can make a big difference. This holiday season, considering gifting a toilet to those in need. Even a gift of $1 is welcome. To donate, go to "Don't Blush. Sponsor a Flush".

A recently released survey of 2,175 respondents commissioned by SCA Tissue North America reinforces the impact of restrooms on customer experience and their powerful potential to provide a competitive edge. According to the poll, 88% of those who visit restaurants believe that restroom conditions reflect the overall cleanliness throughout the restaurant, including the kitchen, and 86% think restaurant hygiene is very important to their dining experience.

The top 10 restroom factors that would prevent customers from returning are:
· Overflowing toilets: 58%
· Unpleasant odors: 57%
· Slippery/dirty floors with buildup, gum or other residue: 49%
· Dirty partitions, doors, doorknobs, walls or fixtures: 38%
· Dirty and wet sinks and counter tops: 38%
· Insufficient toilet paper: 33%
· Overflowing trash cans: 31%
· Insufficient liquid soap: 28%
· Non-working toilet paper dispenser: 22%
· Management/employees unavailable for reporting problems: 19%

This charming new book from Linda Wright is now available at Amazon.com!

Hearts, flowers, and fans - butterflies, boats, and bunnies - it's all possible with toilet paper! With little effort, a roll of toilet paper can be transformed into a delightful focal point using the charming, elegant, and whimsical designs in this collection. Toilet Paper Origami is perfect for hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, cruise ships, and creative housekeepers. Toilet Paper Origami is fun for crafters of all ages. Illustrated with more than 300 photographs, step-by-step instructions teach 29 easy yet eye-catching folds and embellishments for styling the end of a toilet paper roll. Discover how simple it can be to make a memorable decoration from a bathroom essential! www.tporigami.com

Are you considering locking your restroom to make your maintenance efforts easier? Be sure to factor into your decision whether the benefits of such are worth the impact this will have on the impression you are making. Locked restrooms do make for a difficult situation. Usually the restroom is at the back of the store. Once someone in need has reached the bathroom door, it can be quite uncomfortable to walk back to the front of the store, sometimes even waiting in line to ask for a key (or being embarrassed to ask in front of others), and then making the trek to the back again. Have you considered using employees who inevitably have times that they are just standing around to do frequent light cleaning? By doing this, you can keep your restroom unlocked, have a clean presentation at all times, and avoid coming across as rude and inhospitable to your good customers.

For one customer's thoughts on locked restrooms and their impact on impressions and repeat business, read this post: