Princeton, NJ – October 21, 2008 – Miele opened the doors today to its new Gallery showroom in the Sobel Design Building in San Francisco, CA.

Dr. Markus Miele, fourth generation family owner, and Nick Ord, president of Miele’s U.S. operations joined the owners of their distributor partner of 20-years, Sierra Select Distributors, Patrick Tatro, president; Michael Tatro, vice president and John Tatro, vice president in welcoming key dealers, designers and architects at the official ribbon cutting reception. The new showroom is evidence that not all the economic news is bad. Miele U.S. is one of the top ten growth areas for the German-based company and reports increased sales and staff levels. According to the company’s latest business report: “Miele’s subsidiary in the United States achieved double-digit growth (in dollars) during the current business year.”

The Miele Gallery in the SOMA design area of San Francisco, CA is the third showroom in the United States to be transformed into the new Gallery concept. (The first was in New York City in 2007.) Miele just opened its Princeton, NJ Gallery and the Wellesley (Boston), MA Gallery will open later this year. Going forward, the company will continue to transform its existing showrooms as well as to open a new showroom in Scottsdale, AZ in the second quarter of 2009. Select retailers will also be transitioning to the Gallery concept. In 2009, Albert Lee appliance retailers based in the Seattle, WA will be the first in the country with a Miele retail Gallery setting.

The Gallery is an upscale, boutique setting that displays the products in a minimalist environment – free from distractions of the typical kitchen vignette. The 2,800 square foot Gallery in San Francisco forms the entry for the 5,000 square foot Sierra Select Distributors showroom.  The two companies have shared a seamless showroom since 1991 and a robust business partnership since 1988. Sierra Select Distributors is the Northern California distributor agent for Miele. The Miele Gallery is in the Sobel Design Building, one of the only buildings in the design center area open to the public on Saturdays. (Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm)

“We are delighted to be one of the first showrooms in the country to offer the Gallery experience,” stated Michael Tatro, vice president for Sierra Select Distributors. “The first impression our customers and designers have when they enter the space is WOW. The entire atmosphere is really exciting and very high end. It sends a positive message that Sierra Select and Miele continue to march forward to progress – irrespective of the current economic climate. We have exciting new products in Miele refrigeration, laundry and ovens – and the Gallery fully positions and differentiates us now and into the future. When the current slowdown is done, there will be a pent 
 up demand for renovation and custom home building. The Gallery puts us a step ahead with a significant advantage.”

The San Francisco Gallery features a beautiful selection of Miele appliances and welcomes consumers and designers to experience live products through cooking programs and educational seminars. The newly renovated live kitchen area has an elegant dining area for events and a large coffee bar for customers to enjoy a perfect espresso or coffee while they visit. As Miele utilizes the showroom as their northwest regional center – there are training facilities for dealers, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and other design groups. The showroom is a key base for the over 80 employees of Miele and Sierra Select operating in the region. Classes and events are listed online at mieleusa.com.

A commitment to preserving and protecting the environment is one of the prime corporate missions driving Miele and for decades, Miele has successfully reduced the energy and water consumption of its products (see statement at end of release). The new Gallery concept is no exception. The stunning white displays and flooring are made of recycled materials and all the supplies – including light bulbs are also recyclable. As the company’s innovation cycle has sped up over the years – the Gallery’s unique modular design allows for new graphics and new products to be integrated easily without having to make major renovations.

“Many may ask us if the time is right to invest so heavily in these new showrooms,” stated Nick Ord, U.S. president of Miele, Inc. “Our answer – absolutely. It’s not just a good time; it’s the right time. Miele is the largest family-owned appliance company in the world. While we aren’t immune to economic hardship, we also control our own destiny as a privately held company. Importantly, we recognize that we must continue to lead the industry. Lead in design. Lead in quality. And lead in innovation. ‘Forever Better’ (‘Immer Besser’) has been our motto for 110 years. It’s in our DNA to move forward, to improve and to succeed.”

“Importantly, the Gallery is part of our total brand experience - communicating the quality, design and technology our products are known for around the world,” stated Dr. Markus Miele, fourth generation family owner. “The San Francisco Gallery joins a growing list of Miele properties that have successfully undergone this transformation. From Prague to Hong Kong and my hometown of Gutersloh to New York… we are successfully engaging with clients in this new atmosphere. We are working to transform all our retail environments – so that designers, builders and consumers will see Miele in one light – as the world’s most innovative appliance company.”

About Miele
There are only a few brands in the world that have sustained their vision, traditions and quality for more than a century. Fewer still that can claim consistent family ownership and international brand name integrity. And only one that is recognized for creating the world’s most innovative appliances. Founded in 1899 with a single promise of Immer Besser, a German phrase meaning Forever Better, Miele has dynamically grown to become the world’s largest family-owned and operated appliance company with over 16,000 employees in 40 countries.

As a premium appliance brand represented on all five continents, Miele is steadfastly committed to the highest quality, performance and environmental standards. The company’s innovative heritage, state-of-the-art design and engineering aesthetic have inspired comparison to other German brands synonymous with innovation: Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Miele’s range of exceptional consumer appliances includes: vacuum cleaners; laundry systems; rotary irons; dishwashers; built-in convection, speed and steam ovens; cooktops; ventilation hoods; refrigeration; wine storage and coffee systems. In addition, Miele Professional offers commercial cleaning equipment such as laboratory glassware washers, industrial parts cleaning systems, dental disinfectors and commercial wet cleaning systems.
For more information, consumers and design professionals can call 800.843.7231, log on at mieleusa.com or visit one of Miele’s modern product showrooms in Beverly Hills, CA; Boca Raton, FL; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Princeton, NJ; New York, NY; Wellesley, MA; San Francisco, CA; and Seattle, WA.  Scottsdale, AZ opening in second quarter of 2009.

Miele and the Environment
Miele has a long history of environmental leadership. Every detail is considered from the production process and shipping, to household use and to the appliance’s ultimate disposal. Miele’s production facilities operate to strict DIN EN ISO 14001 environmental performance standards and Miele recently signed the CECED code of conduct to support human rights and environmental protection globally. In operation, Miele constantly strives to make every product respect our natural resources.  As an example, since 1990 Miele has reduced water consumption by 42.4% and electricity by 29.2% in domestic washing machines. The same environmental ingenuity has been applied to domestic dishwashers where in the last 15 years water consumption has been reduced by 50.3% and energy use cut by 33.8%. Additionally, from 1990-2002 advancements in Miele oven technology led to a 29% reduction in energy consumption. Miele’s active leadership role in global organizations like the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Energy Star® (the partnership program backed by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy), the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) and others demonstrate the company’s serious position regarding the protection of our global environment.

An unprecedented quality pledge guides Miele to produce appliances that are designed to last for 20 years of continuous use – far longer than the average. And their high metal content and clearly marked plastic components are ready for recycling once the product’s useful life is complete – reducing landfill waste and conserving raw materials for future generations.

For further information, please visit mielepressroom.com and download the Miele Sustainability Report.
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Miele, Inc.

Captions:

Dr. Miele, Owner; Nick Ord, President and CEO, Miele's US Operation; Patrick Tatro, President, Sierra Select Distributors; Michael Tatro, Vice President, Sierra Select Distributors; John Tatro, Vice President, Sierra Select Distributors

Photo: Miele

Miele San Francisco Gallery

Photo: Miele

Miele San Francisco Gallery

Photo: Miele

Miele San Francisco Gallery

Photo: Miele

Miele San Francisco Gallery

Photo: Miele

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