We were in Maine last summer and came across some beautiful
water color paintings which inspired us to add three new
theme patterns of sea shells from the beach, sailboats
and wild roses to our collection of plate warmers. Our
kids first thought that we were "pushing the envelope" until
they saw the how the imagery just comes to life on these
new Waterbridge Plate Warmers. (We are a little plate warmer
crazy!) I hope you like our quality selection.
Our home based business continues to growth at a comfortable
pace. This is our eleventh year manufacturing the Waterbridge
Plate Warmer. Stephanie, who has been helping us pack and
ship orders on a part-time basis for the past few years,
is more involved in the business and works with our part-time
students who help out during the Christmas season. Our
teenage kids have little interest in helping out these
days....they want a real part-time job!
We are blessed to have this small business and very grateful
for the word of mouth advertising we continue to receive
from you.
Best wishes for the season,
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Gifts for Cooks (Julian
Armstrong, Montreal Gazette, December 10, 2008)
Fall 2007 – Message
from Suzanne
Home Business
Strategy Makes Sense for This One of a Kind Product
The Casual Table
The White House Receives
a Unique Gift
Fall 2005 – Message
from Suzanne
North America Warms Up to an
Old Tradition
Style & Simplicity
Warming Touch
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Gifts
for Cooks (Julian Armstrong, Montreal Gazette, December
10, 2008) |
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The best part of what we do is having fun with
all the different quality patterns that are available and helping
individuals and corporations customize the look of their plate
warmers. Who would have guessed!!
We are very excited about our new patterns and themes for this Fall! The American
heritage landmarks, golf and horse themes, add spice to this years collection!
Thanks to your feedback, we have also introduced a few new brighter patterns.
I hope you like our quality selection.
Our home-based business continues to grow. Our children are in their early teen
years and still help pack orders albeit this is the last thing they want to be
doing these days! Our youngest still likes to see the orders come in over the
Internet and is amazed at how this all works. We continue to hire a few students
from the local college each year to help us during the Christmas season.
It’s hard to believe we are into our tenth year. I can’t help but
think of how lucky we are to have your continued support for our product.
With sincere thanks and best wishes for the season,
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September 2007 – Waterbridge Inc.
OAKVILLE, ONTARIO - "It's about keeping costs in line with
seasonal sales, streamlining our processes and providing hands
on customer service," says Suzanne Keating co-founder of
Waterbridge Inc., the ten year old Oakville Ontario Company that
manufactures and markets the Waterbridge Plate Warmer to consumers
and specialty retailers.
Keating's husband first got the idea for the Waterbridge Plate
Warmer after his Mother-in-law commented one Christmas that she
would like to find an easy and safe way to heat up her plates versus
putting them in the oven. His Mother used such a product to heat
up her dinner plates on Sunday nights back in 1960's in Montreal.
Keating found a quality supplier for the heating elements then
remodelled the product to enhance its functionality and fashion
appeal. Waterbridge initially launched the plate warmer under a
licensing agreement with Royal Doulton then expanded the selection
of patterns under its own Waterbridge label.
The Waterbridge Plate Warmer is a thermostatically controlled
electric heating pad that warms up to 15 plates at a time to a
hot comfortable temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit and safely
sits on any tabletop surface. The Waterbridge Plate Warmer is available
in decorative Waverly® patterns.
"There are thousands of women across Canada and the U.S who
during the 50's and 60's received a plate warmer as a bridal gift
or a wedding present. We continually hear stories from customers
who rekindle fond memories of their Mother using a plate warmer
to heat plates at the dining room table before serving dinner.
For many, it s an attachment to a family tradition" says Keating.
Plate Warmers are a passion for Keating, who continues to hold
down a full time career while spending as much free time as possible
managing Waterbridge's business, speaking to customers, and looking
for new distribution.
"We are under the radar screen...yet word of mouth, the Internet
and superior customer service has built our business. We have sent
plate warmers all over North America...to yachters off the coast
of Florida...private jet owners looking to add some onboard elegance
to their dining experience...a midwinter hot tub party in Sun Valley
and of course, to our traditional and dedicated customers who are
looking to share this unique gift giving product with others. Our
basement is getting busy again for the upcoming Christmas season!" says
Keating. |
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August 2006 – Homestyle Magazine – The Casual Table
The Waterbridge Plate Warmer will be available in several new patterns.
In addition to the current selection of over six patterns, the Waverly
Heritage collection will feature three solid patterns of Gilt, Olive
and Butter Cream colour tones, each made of 100% cotton. Ideal for
formal dinner parties or a family meal, the plate warmer is a tabletop
heating pad that heats up to 15 plates to a comfortable temperature
of 150°F within 30 minutes. It will not discolour or crack plates. |
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November 2005 – The White House Receives a Unique Gift
Waterbridge Inc. has introduced a limited edition Plate Warmer for
this Christmas season called Heritage Landmarks that proudly features
a gentle collage of historical American scenic landmarks silhouetted
in navy on weighted woven 100% cotton beige Waverly® fabric.
Waterbridge donated two Heritage Landmark plate warmers to the White
House as an early Christmas Gift!
Only twenty of this one of a kind Waterbridge Plate Warmers will
be available this season and will be reintroduced next Fall for Christmas
2006.
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Thank you for visiting our new online catalogue site. I am really
pleased to be able to show you our beautiful Plate Warmer patterns
in this easy to follow format.
We have built our home business with the continued support of our
independent retail partners who have been bringing the Plate Warmer
into their local community for many years. I encourage you to visit
and support your local gourmet and gift store. We hope to have a
list of retailers up on our site in the near future.
The Plate Warmers have been a part of our family life for many years.
All of our children have grown up watching us with friends assemble
and quality control each product…Thank to you, they have received
early instruction on Small Business 101 right from home!
I am always interested in your comments and feedback on our product
and patterns. I hope you enjoy years of serving warm plates on every
occasion.
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June 1998 – Waterbridge Inc.
TORONTO - Traditionally there were certain household items coveted
by the wealthy as status symbols. The functional plate warmer was
one of these luxuries. The original plate warmer was designed in
France in the late 1940's and manufactured in the State of New York.
Its popularity grew when word spread that every Christmas, King George
the sixth requested hundreds of plate warmers as Royal Christmas
gifts. His gifts traveled to the shores of North America where this
serving tradition was born.
It later became chic among the Hollywood set to have a plate warmer
at barbecues. Over time the plate warmer was a mainstay item for
several high-end catalog houses.
This Spring, North Americans will be able to continue this tradition
when Waterbridge of Ontario, Canada brings the Waterbridge Plate
Warmer to stores across Canada and the United States.
"I first got the idea for manufacturing and marketing the
plate warmer when a relative had asked last Christmas where she
might find something to warm-up plates" says Suzanne Keating.
The Waterbridge Plate Warmer is a heating pad controlled by a
thermostat that slowly heats up to fifteen plates in approximately
25 minutes to a comfortable temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
"A primary rule in culinary art is that hot food must be
served on hot plates. When food cools off it begins to set. Its
appearance becomes less attractive and appealing to the eye and
flavor is not accented to its full height." Says well-known
chef Ron Kaleniuk, author of the best selling Simply Delicious
Cooking Series.
The plate warmer can be used with all fine bone china, patterned,
metal based trim, glass and ceramic plates. The Waterbridge Plate
Warmer features a protective insulating pad that enables the warming
pad to sit on any counter top including the dining room table.
The Waterbridge Plate Warmer's stain guarded slipcover is easy
to remove and available in assorted styles and fabrics including
Waverly .
Waterbridge is an Ontario Canada based company founded in 1994
to develop and market household specialty products.
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September 1998 – Canadian Living
HOT PLATES
"Keep hot foods hot with the Waterbridge Plate Warmer.
An attractive addition to any table, this plate warmer is a heating
pad controlled by thermostats that warms 10 to 15 plates in 30
minutes and comes in a variety of styles and colors."
Homestyle Trends
September 1998
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November 1998 – Homestyle Trends
"Add a warm, elegant touch to any meal, whether it's a special
occasion or a family dinner, with this classic Royal Doulton Plate
Warmer. Thermostatically controlled heating pad covered in a stylish
cotton slipcover heats up to 15 plates. Perfect for entertaining.
Will not discolor or crack your plates."
Canadian Living Magazine
November 1998
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