Buying a new appliance can be a major purchase. With appliance prices rising across the board and mid-level kitchen packages running into the tens of thousands of dollars, smart consumers are more bargain conscious than ever before.

Looking for sales, buying on Black Friday, and comparison shopping are all great but what if I told you that there were even better deals to be had. What if you could find a way to stretch your new kitchen budget into your dream kitchen?

Welcome to the wonderful world of floor models.

A floor model appliance is an unboxed display item that becomes available for sale. Otherwise brand new, retailers are highly motivated to move floor models out of the store to make room for new, more current display units.

With this helpful guide you’ll know exactly what to expect, and where to find the unbelievable deals that will floor you!

‘Tis But a Scratch!

When you’re looking at floor model appliances-for-less scratches and dents are your best friends. Often times, blemishes can be found on parts of the unit that will be out of sight once they’re installed. It’s like that ancient monk said: if an appliance is scratched in the wall, but no one can see it, is it even scratched at all?

Expect to pay even less when a unit has more visible or more extensive cosmetic damage. And be honest with yourself, if you don’t care about a scratch, or if the unit is likely to get scratched once it’s in use anyway then you can get immense savings here.

Better With Age

Floor models often become available for sale when a manufacturer updates their appliance line. When that happens, retailers are looking to move out the “End of the Line” models to showcase the new product. And if you can take possession quickly, you can get fantastic prices on display models.

Mix and Match

The best deals will always go to the most flexible customer. If you’re willing to compromise on matching brands, or specific models and go with what’s available at the store level then you will maximize your chance at getting a great deal.

Bundle ‘Em Up

What’s true with new appliance packages is also true of Floor Models. The more you buy, the more you’ll save and if you’re prepared to help a retailer move out a significant amount of obsolete stock quickly, they’ll make it worth your while.

Priced to Clear

Many chain-store retailers have Clearance Centres or specific Clearance sales. At these specialty locations you can find floor models, unboxed units, scratch-and-dents, over stock, obsolete and even new items.

Whether you’re looking to put together a new kitchen, or just trying to replace a broken washing machine, clearance products offer you the best chance to find new appliances at rock-bottom prices.

Bonus Tip: What About Warranty?

Many manufacturers will offer the same standard warranty on floor models that they do on brand new appliances. Make sure to check with your sales professional before you buy to ensure there aren’t any warranty restrictions or limitations.

Now get out there and hit the floor (models)!

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert

Sniff sniff. Do you smell that? It’s the wonderful, amazing, magical smell of frying bacon. Just in time for National Bacon Day on December 30, we thought it would be great to fry up some scrumptious bacon. Sorry, this batch is for us, you’ll have to make your own.

And of course, what better way is there to cook bacon than with a cooktop from Samsung? There isn’t a better way, that we can assure you. Samsung appliances are always ready to help you meet your own culinary goals. “Why,” you ask? Great question. Let’s grab some bacon and take a look.

Five Burners to Rule Them All

We’ve finally found the answer to the age-old question: Is one piece of bacon ever enough? Of course, it isn’t!

And to celebrate National Bacon Day, you don’t want to cook up just one pan full of bacon. That’s a normal day meal, not a meal worthy to celebrate a national holiday! Instead, you’ll probably want to cook up as much bacon as possible. How about five whole frying pans of bacon? At once. Now that would be legendary.

Well, with a Samsung cooktop, you can live that legend. With five sealed burners, you’ll be able to make as much bacon as your heart desires … and as your stomach can handle.

Grateful Griddles

What, five burners isn’t enough for you? You want more reasons why Samsung makes awesome appliances? Well, we’ve got them in spades. Keep reading.

If you prefer not to make your bacon in a pan, then a Samsung cooktop also has the answer for you. All you have to do is use the included griddle, and presto! You have a perfect surface for all of your breakfast foods, bacon included. Another problem solved, all thanks to the science of Samsung.

Of course, the griddle has other uses, as well, which means you’ll have the added benefit of being able to use it for other breakfast foods throughout the year – not just to celebrate bacon day.

Cast Iron Cleaning

Of course, after you eat the bacon, you still have cleaning up to do. And cleaning up bacon grease isn’t fun, but it is part of the process that we all have to deal with.

Luckily, Samsung has extended a helping hand here, as well. With their cast iron 3-piece grates, cleaning is a painless process. The burners are also sealed, further keeping your cleaning process down to as small of a task as possible. Just make sure that you don’t spill any of that bacon grease, and always make sure to dispose of grease appropriately, as well!

Celebrating bacon should be a beautiful thing, and you wouldn’t want to ruin that celebration by producing anything less than amazing bacon. Luckily, as always, Samsung has your back.

But, if you don’t have a Samsung cooktop – or are curious about how other Samsung products can seamlessly improve your cooking life – stop on over! A member of our team would be glad to assist you on your appliance journey any way we can.

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

Style is important. Especially when you are working on a big kitchen remodel and don’t want to go through all that time and money to get appliances that work but don’t look good.

They should work, of course, but they should also look good doing their thing. Luckily, GE Profile appliances give you the best of both worlds: Not only are they high-quality appliances, but they also look great getting the job done, especially if you go with their slate finish.

No matter the reason you are searching for new appliances, GE Profile’s slate options will meet your needs, and then some! Here are just a few reasons why you shouldn’t pass on being great with slate.

No More Matching Game

Whether you are replacing one appliance – or are looking to replace all of your kitchen appliances – making sure everything matches is important. Nobody wants a kitchen that is mismatched or looks like a bunch of jumbled ideas thrown together.

For that reason, theming and colouration are important. And slate really is a chameleon colour – it will fit in no matter what the rest of your collection looks like. Worried about how it will look next to cabinets or your floors? Spoiler alert: Slate will fit in perfectly with whatever styles you have picked to centre your kitchen space around!

If you are starting from scratch, however, slate also gives you a good base to start from. From there you can further develop how you want the rest of the kitchen to look. And, if you are looking for other ideas, check out these Slate Mood Boards that GE put together.

Fingerprint Free

Colour possibilities aren’t the only benefits of GE Profile Slate appliances – we don’t want to focus too much on form over function here. With your GE Profile Slate appliances, you are also going to have plenty of quality-of-life improvements, as well — You aren’t sacrificing substance for style. Slate is also only available with GE, so you’ll always get the quality that you know and love!

For example, the GE Profile Energy Star French-Door Refrigerator gives you a built-in K-Cup Brewing system! You can even schedule when you want hot water ready to go through the GE Kitchen App.

On the baking side, a GE Profile Slate double wall oven gives you a wealth of features, including true European convection and a huge cooking capacity. And with all Slate finish appliances, there’s another really impressive bonus: It hides fingerprints, so you won’t have to waste all of your cooking time cleaning up.

Of course, if you are looking to upgrade and not sure where you need to start, don’t let home renovations overwhelm you! Stop in today and our knowledgeable appliance experts will be glad to help you figure out what you need to get started with your renovation, and also help you find the best GE Profile Appliances to fit your unique needs and budget.

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

The holidays are coming up quick – are you ready for the mealtime madness? Depending on your holiday traditions, this time of year can be chaotic. Hosting family and friends and organizing holiday meals can be difficult and stressful, and without the proper tools, you’ll be in for a world of hurt. If you want to tackle the holiday season and come out on top, you’ll need to prepare. You’ll need a Whirlpool induction cooktop.

Having high-quality appliances can make your life easier any time of the year, but induction cooking is especially handy when your holiday harmony depends on getting food to hungry mouths as fast as possible. So, if you’re fretting about how best to make the season go smoothly, here are four reasons you should get yourself a new induction cooktop from Whirlpool before the holidays hit.

1. It’s Safe

This time of year, you never know who’s going to come running through your kitchen next! Nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren are almost always underfoot and in all the chaos, it’s easy for accidents to happen. Sliced hands, burned fingers, and broken bowls are all staples of the holiday season, but with an induction cooktop, you can make at least one step of the cooking process much safer.

Induction technology is the safest form of stovetop cooking, because the cooktop only heats the inside of the pan, leaving the burner itself cool to the touch, even when the stove is on! Your Whirlpool cooktop can detect when a pan is placed on the burner and doesn’t start heating up until it senses one. That way, even if you leave the stovetop on by mistake, curious hands can’t get burned on the cooking surface. No more iced fingers this season – just iced cookies, cakes, and other delicious treats whipped up with the help of your Whirlpool induction cooktop!

2. It’s Speedy

When you’re entertaining for the holidays, speed is everything. Crowds get hungry fast, and you’re going to need to turn out meals, snacks, and appetizers faster than you can say turkey! Luckily, induction cooktops are fast-heating, and can typically boil water in less than two minutes. Now that’s the kind of speed you’ve been looking for!

Whirlpool’s induction cooktops also come with a Boost feature, which increases the maximum power of the largest heating element for even faster cooking. This feature is perfect for searing meats or boiling big vats of pasta quickly. Whirlpool induction cooktops help you get food on the table faster than ever, making sure your holiday cooking is all smooth sailing.

3. It’s Precise

Induction cooking combines the ease and efficiency of electric with even greater precision than gas cooking. Because the pan itself is being heated, rather than the burner underneath, there’s little to no heat retention when you change the settings on your cooktop, so shifts in temperature are almost instantaneous.

Whirlpool’s simmer function is also great for precise, low-heat cooking. Melt chocolate, butter, and more without worrying about burning or congealing your dish. Whirlpool’s reliable, steady heat is just the thing to make sure all your holiday dishes come out just right!

4. It’s Stylish

Who doesn’t secretly wish their guests would gasp in awe when they walk into your home? Whirlpool induction cooktops are smooth, sleek, and stylish enough to make any houseguest do a double take.

Whirlpool’s glass touch controls do away with bulky knobs and hardware, making your cooking space modern and original. Smoothtops are also much easier to clean than traditional gas grates, so you can always keep your
kitchen sparkling clean, showing off its natural beauty.

Because induction burners don’t get hot, you can even place a paper towel right under the pan while you cook, to collect any spills before they even reach the surface of your cooktop. Induction is stylish and makes cleanups simple — what more could you want? Holiday guests are sure to be wowed!

With a Whirlpool induction cooktop, holiday cooking is easier than ever! You’ll impress your guests and make your own life much easier. So don’t deprive yourself this holiday season! Pick up an induction cooktop before the holidays hit hard – future you will thank you!

If you have questions about induction cooking or need some help picking out the perfect Whirlpool cooktop, come down to our store. We’re happy to help with all your cooking needs, and make sure you’re prepared for all your holiday feasting!

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

The revolution will not be televised. Instead, it will be baked, it will be refrigerated, it will be washed, and it will be fabulous. In 2019, appliances will trade safe and familiar for unique and bold as new technologies, innovations, and new designs promise to change the way we think about our homes.

Whether it’s reinventing classic designs for contemporary tastes, or using cutting edge tech to drive connectivity and integration; manufacturers have stepped boldly into the future. This year’s hottest appliance trends redefine normal and make the past come alive in the twenty-first century.

Smart Appliances

Wifi connected appliances continue to gain market share as manufacturers innovate towards a fully connected and integrated appliance suite. Bluetooth enabled technologies such as GE’s Chef Connect allow your appliances to speak to one another, providing you with the ultimate automated experience.

You can also expect continued demand for operating tools like Samsung’s Family Hub (below) as internet-enabled tech becomes more and more common in the home. In addition to new innovations, Smart Appliances will continue to improve self-diagnostic tools and increase energy efficiency.

The Family Hub

Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerators have taken the home appliance market by storm and driven demand for wifi connected appliances to new heights. Easier meal planning, better family scheduling, and even entertainment at your fingertips are just some of the benefits of a connected family centre.

As connectivity improves expect the Hub to take a leading role in the integration of your kitchen appliances and expanded convenience features (like automated online grocery orders) will make it a must-have in any busy household.

FlexLaundry

With the introduction of FlexWash and FlexDry technology, Samsung takes the lead in laundry innovation. Offering up two machines-in-one; the ability to wash (or dry) two loads of laundry at different cycles, at the same time is a game changer. It’s faster, it’s more efficient and as anyone with kids can tell you, it’s a lot more convenient.

Multi-Door Refrigeration

French door refrigerators remain popular, but 2019 will see manufacturers continue to innovate on the bottom mount design. Flexible French-Door refrigeration continues to grow as 4, and 5 drawer models now share the market with the innovative flexible split 4-door design. Programmable and convertible compartments allow for more control, more convenience and also better food preservation.

Retro Design and Bold Colour Palettes

It’s back to the future in 2019 as customers continue to demand unique appliance designs and finishes that express their individuality. After nearly two decades, people are beginning to tire of the same old stainless steel, and manufacturers such as Bosch are putting bold colours back into the kitchen with removable colour panels in their Vario line.

At the same time, retro-styled manufacturer’s such as Smeg continue to offer new and exciting redesigns of old classics, including bold patterned appliances that look like they’re straight out of the art gallery. Hello Dolce and Gabbana!

The Evolution of Black Stainless Steel and Finger Print Resistance

They say everyone looks good in black, and that’s especially true for stainless steel appliances. Black Stainless Steel is sleek, chic and most importantly more fingerprints resistant than their metallic counterparts. With the successful launch of black stainless steel, manufacturers will continue to roll out additional colour variations such as bronze, slate and even white.

Dishwasher Flexibility

Collapsible tines, removable compartments, and adjustable racks are just some of the ways the latest dishwashers allow you to effectively clean more dishes at once. Combined with improved wash cycles, and dedicated cleansing zones getting your dishes clean has never been easier.

Induction Cooking

The most precise, safest and efficient cooking method available, induction cooking continues to expand as consumers discover the benefits of electromagnetic technology. In 2019, expect manufacturers to make bigger investments in induction cooking with more choices in ranges and cooktops, as well as an improved pro-style market with 36” induction ranges.

You’ll still need induction capable cookware to get the full benefits, but look for the induction market to continue to grow as word spreads.

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert

When buying a new dishwasher, it’s easy to overlook something as simple as the interior tub. At first glance, it’s true there’s not much to look, but dig a little deeper and you’ll be surprised by how much that interior can change your dishwasher experience.

From performance to energy use, to noise and even price there’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the right interior for your dishwasher.

Stainless steel and plastic tubs are the most popular. However certain manufacturers also offer a hybrid plastic/stainless options. We’ll compare all three interiors here, so you know exactly what to expect.

Stainless Steel Dishwasher Tub

It’s quiet. The density of the steel tub helps absorb sound, which makes stainless steel interiors the quietest dishwashers on the market.

It’s eco-friendly. Stainless steel absorbs heat during the wash cycle, and that radiant heat helps dry your dishes afterwards. Because less energy is required to dry, stainless steel tubs often use a 450-watt heating element compared to the 600-750-watt elements used in plastic tubs.

It’s cleaner. Stainless steel can withstand higher temperatures than plastic so you can expect water temperatures of up to 160 degrees during your wash cycle. The higher temperature kills more bacteria and guarantees cleaner dishes.

Plastic Dishwasher Tub

It’s less expensive. At the entry price point, you can only buy plastic interior dishwashers. For property managers, students, and anyone else on a budget you’ll save a considerable amount of money compared to stainless steel.

It’s durable. Stainless steel interiors are technically stronger and more resistant to cracking, but the truth is that the heavy-duty plastic used to construct a dishwasher will last longer than the life of the machine. Plastic tubs are also made of BPA free plastics making them a perfectly safe alternative.

It’s easier to maintain. A plastic tub is more resistant and better at concealing stains (including hard water) compared to a stainless steel interior so you won’t have to worry about unsightly discoloration.

Hybrid Dishwasher Tub

It’s a great compromise. With a mix of plastic and stainless steel, a hybrid interior offers most of the benefits you get from a stainless steel drum at a more affordable price.

So don’t judge a dishwasher by its cover. Now that you know what’s going on inside be it plastic, steel, or something in between you can choose the tub that’s right for you.

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert

Hosting during the holidays is certainly no picnic. Any movie or TV food host who makes it look entirely effortless must be lying to some degree, don’t you think? And while I know for certain hosting during the holidays will never be perfect, my hosting experience over the years has given me much wisdom which I would like to share as my gift to you.

And so, as the Holiday classic goes about the 12 Days of Christmas, here are 12 ways you can make Christmas entertaining much easier and stress-free.

1) Plan Ahead

You can never start early enough. I’ve learned from years of experience the best plans are ones you have time to work with. Give yourself a few weeks to make sure you’ve invited everyone who should be there, to get groceries, assign tasks, and prep your house. And while it may sound crazy, if you host year after year, it may be helpful (I sure find this to be true!) to keep your old notes and lists (see below) as references for the next year to come. Learn from past years and make your life easier as each hosting year comes around again. I promise you mothers-in-law don’t get any easier but hosting them sure does.

2) Lists Are Your Friends

With planning come lists: lists of guests, lists for groceries, lists for things you need to get done, or buy. Write and rewrite your lists so they are clear and accurate. And as I mentioned, keeping these lists and going back to them is very helpful. One of the most helpful lists I have is the list to help answer the ‘what can I bring?’ question. Because, while I do like my salad/bread choice/dessert better than my sister-in-law’s, I really do appreciate it when she brings her own, plus she also gets to help out, which makes her feel better. See, it’s win-win all around, which brings me to my third tip…

3) Let People Help (but Be Specific)

You can let people help, but you give clear instructions. First, have a list of all the things your meal or event needs that you know others can manage. Your guests are asking to help, so let them. Let them bring a salad, or a dessert, or the bread/rolls, or some folding chairs. The key here is being specific.

Don’t just say, “Lisa, you can bring a salad”. You want to be very clear, “Lisa, it would be great if you could bring a large garden salad with some dressing options for the side”. That way you can assign someone else a large Caesar. I find this especially helpful with appetizers. If you aren’t clear, you usually end up with lots of veggies and humus, which is great, but c’mon people, give me some jalapeño poppers!

4) Probably the Best Lesson to Learn Is to Gift Yourself

Gift yourself the gift of a cleaning service. This one small indulgence is the best gift I gift myself each holiday season. It’s definitely not something I can afford all year long, but hiring a cleaning service to clean the house the day before I host is such a treat and makes my life SO MUCH easier.

5) Store-bought in Disguise

Another gift I gift myself is disguising store-bought as my own. Sure, you could make your cheese platter, but the grocery store provides really great ones, so why not? Save yourself the time and effort and just let them do the work and transfer it onto one of your platters at home. I do the same with pies. Shhhhh…go ahead. Take those farm-stand pies out of the foil and put them on your grandma’s pie plate. No one will be the wiser.

6) Here’s What They Can Do

Another list of things is the list of the tasks guests can do when that inevitable question comes, ‘what can I do to help?”. Instead of replying, “I’ve got it covered” and then wondering, “isn’t it obvious I need help cleaning up”, or, “there’s a mountain of dishes in the sink you could start on…” and, well, I could go on… the point is I know now to be specific when the offer of help comes. So the next time someone asks, “what can I do to help?”, you can say, “you know Steven, you can help gather up the wine glasses. Thank you so much, my friend, it’s a big help!”.

7) Get Your Kids Involved

Just like making clear requests to family and friends in terms of what they can bring or how they can help, you can also get your kids involved. I like to assign the little kids with taking coats up to our room when guests arrive. Passing around appetizers, or helping to set the table are also great ways to get kids involved and feeling responsible. Teens always love the job of refilling wine glasses and make excellent dish washers.

8) Send Container Home That Night

A great item for those teens to help wash are the food containers guests brought with them. One of my least favourite parts about entertaining is all the clutter from other people’s stuff the next day. I find making sure they leave with the person they came with is ideal, and a good host always sends it home clean.

9) Have a Plan for Leftovers

With any feast, there will always be leftovers, so you’ll need a good plan on how to best conserve them because food should not go to waste. Food waste is also money thrown away and beyond your own pocketbook, the environmental consequences are huge. The easiest and most practical way to conserve food is using the freezer. Save yourself some future meal prep time by making up complete plates to be quickly heated up. Leftovers also make great lunches for the kids at school. In other words, make use of every bite.

10) Block Off the Day After

Sometimes life has other plans (and crack-of-dawn hockey practices!), but generally, I like to make sure I’ve blocked off the day after hosting a holiday party to rest, recoup and get the house back in order. Not only am I tired, but so is the rest of the family. A day to recharge will have you excited to host again next year.

11) Thanks for Coming!

Hosting is exhausting no matter how easy you make it on yourself. One of the best lessons I’ve learned in my years of hosting is that the best way to enjoy the evening is controlling how and when it should end. Clearing everyone out before they or you have had too much to drink, or outgrow their welcome makes for happier endings and fonder memories. As the hostess-with-the-mostest, you’ll want your guests to remember you at your best when the part is over too, not hiding in the kitchen until the coast is clear. And, oh yes, make sure no one takes the wheel after one too many.

12) Lastly, Put Your Feet Up & Forget the Mess

The best tip I have for easy entertaining is to end the night by putting your feet up, pouring one last glass of wine, and forgetting about the mess until tomorrow. You remember Tip #10? You’ve blocked it off for cleanup. Instead, enjoy retelling the funny stories from the evening, or catching up with your spouse on all the gossip. It’s really all about taking the time, living in the moment and savouring all the gifts the holiday season has to offer.

Happy Holiday!

Isabelle, Your Appliance Expert