Urinal mats give distributors one more restroom product to upsell to customers as part of their restroom program. They’re a cost-effective way to make restrooms look and smell cleaner, and prolong the life of flooring.

The best markets to approach are high-end properties such as Class-A office buildings, country clubs, casinos, upscale restaurants and health clubs.

“Basically anywhere there’s an emphasis on the cleanliness of the restroom,” says Charlie Flurry, president, Absorbcore, North Olmsted, Ohio.

Building service contractors are another good market to approach because a urinal mat makes cleaning restrooms easier and right now contractors are trying to clean as much space as possible in the smallest amount of time. Plus, it’s great customer service for them.

“It gives the perception of ‘we’re doing everything we can to make your restroom experience better,’” says Alberto Martinez, sales and marketing manager, Tolco Corp., Toledo, Ohio.

K-12 schools with a lot of young kids (i.e. a lot of spills and splashes) might be another opportunity for urinal mats. Educational facilities, too, are trying to do more with less and would appreciate solutions that ease cleaning.

If customers are hesitant to give urinal mats a try, distributors should provide a sample for clients to test out.

“Call them back in a week to a month (depending on what traffic they have), they almost always order from that point,” says Jeff Crevier, president and owner, Sanastar, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 

To promote re-orders, mats can be imprinted with a company name, slogan, or phone number. Many distributors are taking advantage of urinal mats to brand their company name and make it part of their marketing program, says Crevier.

It’s best to keep the message straightforward and simple. Many people think a urinal mat can operate like a urinal screen with branding. Even though urinal mats do have a captive audience, they are positioned below the urinal and not exactly in the user’s line of sight, says Martinez.

Restrooms are the most important rooms in a facility. They leave lasting impressions, good or bad. Adding urinal mats can be a simple change that helps keep restrooms looking and smelling their best. Rather than walking up to a urinal and seeing a urine stain on the floor or stepping in a puddle, men will see a urinal mat and know that the restroom floor is clean.   

“It shows the customer that you care,” says Deborah Barnes, executive assistant, Hygolet, Deerfield Beach, Fla. “You’re making an effort to look cleaner and professional. It decreases the urine puddles on the floor. You don’t see any unsightly messes.”