Bidets, also known as washlet toilets, are big business overseas and while they aren’t staple items in Aussie bathrooms just yet – they are well worth looking into. Justin Felix reports.

The bidet has been a quintessential addition to the bathroom culture of Europeans and Asians for decades now. In Australia though, bidets are not yet as commonplace as they are in other countries… but the tide is beginning to build. For those who aren’t fully aware – a bidet is essentially a personal cleansing method that utilises a stream of water rather than toilet paper, to clean one’s posterior after using the toilet. When you really think about it, it makes sense – we do cleanse our bodies with warm water in the shower or bath after all.

Until the mid-twentieth century, the use of a bidet had been limited to a small fraction of people mainly because it involved installing another stand alone toilet-type unit in the bathroom. This meant that space, plumbing, and most of all cost became the limiting factors preventing more widespread use. Fortunately, electronic bidet seats and non-electrical bidet seats have come about since then and can easily be installed in place of traditional toilet seats. Integrated toilet bidets, such as the iconic Toto Neorest suites, have also meant that traditional toilets can be replaced altogether.

You may have seen them on movies such as the Aussie-classic Kenny or even experienced one in your hotel room during a holiday to Asia – namely Japan. Such was the case for Randall Cadby, Manager of RNJ Group who own and operate www.australianbidet.com.

“Being avid skiers and snowboarders has meant that we spend Christmas holidays on the white powder in different locations around the world each year. Years ago, on a trip to Japan, I remember seeing this Washlet in the hotel bathroom and being a bit perplexed. As soon as I used it I thought to myself, ‘I can’t believe these things exist and I didn’t know about them’” Randall continues. “I wanted one straight away and some of my accompanying friends wanted one too, so when we returned, the search began.”

Randall explains that he initially struggled to find a seller because the Japanese suppliers needed them to buy in bulk amounts in order for them to ship to Australia.  After some further research, he found a supplier in the US who could make a dozen bidet seats, especially in 240 volt configuration and to suit ½” fittings.

“Word spread among our mutual friends and we started to get inundated with people requesting one for their own bathrooms. The mind begun to wander and I started to think that there could be a dollar in this bidet thing,” Randall laughs.

“By this time, a new Australian Standard was issued: ATS 5200.051: 2005 Technical Specification for Plumbing and Drainage Products – Bidet Douche Seats and we were the first to be certified to the Level 2 WaterMark, which was the requirement then.  Level 1 WaterMark is the requirement now.

“I was a full-time project manager at the time, so I was initially bringing them in and shipping them out from my garage in my spare time. One thing led to another and business was starting to pick up so I left my job and started selling bidets full time… it was a bit of a change.”

As the old adage goes, “Change is as good as a holiday,” and for Randall, it seems he made a wise decision. In the nine years the company has been in operation, it has experienced a continual growth curve and signs bode well for the future as a more diverse customer base is being reached.

“In the early days it’s fair to say that 80% of our customers were elderly and while the perception is that the elderly and disabled are the main beneficiaries of bidets, our customer demographic has certainly shifted in the last few years. Now the elderly and disabled would be lucky to make up 50% of our customers.

A lot of people are buying them as part of a lifestyle shift – they are seeing great hygienic benefits in cleaning themselves with warm water as opposed to toilet paper. Many people, as I did, experienced them for the first time overseas and simply had to have one once they came back.”

It’s fairly easy to see why people become converted so easily when the electronic bidet seats can boast many features such as heated seat, posterior wash, feminine wash, even an enema type wash, warm air drying and deodoriser. Randall believes that plumbers can really benefit by including them in their arsenal of offerings to clients.

“They definitely make for a great business opportunity – particularly for plumbers who conduct work for hospitals, aged care facilities and modern apartments. Once plumbers become familiar with them and the benefits they present, they become great advocators of bidets.”

The bidet seats are straight forward to install and Randall suggests they can be fitted by a plumber in less than 15 minutes.

“Unlike a conventional bidet, an electronic bidet seat simply replaces existing toilet seats. All major parts that you would need to install a bidet seat come with the unit including detailed installation instructions. The seat simply slides onto a catch plate that bolts straight onto the pan and the seat needs to be plugged into a 240 volt power outlet (provided one is within 1.8m). If not, an electrician may need to be called in. In saying that though, we also supply non-electric base models that only provide a cold water wash.

We make the process even easier by never selling a model to a customer without speaking to them about their needs and by asking them to send us photos of their existing toilet suites. By looking at the photos we can generally assess which bidet seat will suit and then it’s simply a case of the plumber going in and installing it.”

For plumbers looking for an addition to their business, bidets may just be the answer.

Australian Bidet
www.australianbidet.com