K/BIS 2009 Reflects Positively on Kitchen and Bathroom Lines

The Kitchen and Bathroom Industry Show (K/BIS), hosted by NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) of the U.S., is the largest exhibition of the world dedicated to the global industries of kitchen furniture, bathroom fittings and related accessories, serving as world's best business place for home builders, interior designers, and furniture suppliers all around the world for years. Such accolade is not hyperbole, at least not until the sub-prime mortgage crisis broke stateside, for the U.S. has to be, and likely still is, the single-biggest market for home building, where the top-end of the segment can afford conspicuous consumption, even outfitting bathrooms and kitchens with equipment and materials that would not generate much demand elsewhere globally. For example, most Asian homes would not even have seen an in-sink garbage disposal unit, or known as a "garberator" in North America and other western nations.

The K/BIS 2009 was held from May 1 to 3 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, and attracted 900 exhibitors, including heavyweights as Kohler, GE, LG, Whirlpool, Toto, Dacor, Moen, etc., with over 40,000 international and local visitors turning up during the three-day event, according to the show organizer.

Despite the challenging global economy, the show still conveyed a positive atmosphere on the showground, as a bumper crop of dealers were there to do business while makers and designers showcased their newest and the most inspirational products. From another viewpoint, says the show organizer, the K/BIS, with influx of attendees, likely has pumped up to US$52 million into Atlanta's economy, reflecting its unparalleled influence in the line.

Ample Media Coverage

The exhibitors were given plentiful chances for global profile-building, for over 530 registered media representing newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV networks were on-hand to report trendsetting designs and innovations to readers and audience. K+BB TV reported live from the show floor, while ABC-TV's Emmy winning reality program "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" also made its debut to greet attendees and offer celebrity appearances, effectively creating a buzz to add to the excitement of the show this year.

Theoretically the K/BIS would be the only trade show a home builder has to visit to source literally everything needed to outfit a new construction from the ground up. In other words, a builder only needs to provide labor and lumber, and then buy everything else at the K/BIS to construct and finish a house. Such is another factor for the show's success-total solutions. The 2009 K/BIS offered products beyond its title suggests, including bathroom and kitchen accessories, mirrors, shelving and storage systems, grills, laundries, fridges, ventilations, air conditioners, heaters, doors, glass blocks, power tools, machinery, window frames, cabinets, carpets, ceramic tiles, bathtubs, sinks, toilet seats, spas, garbage disposals, TVs, communication devices, outdoor appliances, lighting, bidets, toilets etc., as well as professional know-how in interior design, architecture, computer software, and marketing.

Star Products

Products for kitchens and bathrooms were the biggest hit with visitors, with ROHL riveting buyers' attention with its authentically crafted faucets, fixtures and sinks in Traditional, Trans-Modern and Modern styles and a full range of showerheads and accessories designed to create spa-like settings in a master bath, guest suite or secondary bath., and LG Electronics releasing its 2009 portfolio, encompassing innovations in the built-in cooking category, new approaches in French-Door refrigeration as well as advances in front-load steam laundry.

Meanwhile, intense appeal created by naturally crafted furniture was evident, as Atlantis Outdoor Kitchens, winner of a Silver of the Best of K/BIS Award in the kitchen product category, introduced its newest bamboo outdoor cabinetry and waterproof outdoor kitchens. Also, Eldorado Stone unveiled its latest nature-oriented innovation, GemStone Wall, which is elaborately crafted into an authentic masonry wall with a majestic look.

Eco-friendly trends were not neglected in the global consumer markets. Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC exhibited the high-efficiency toilet Avalanche 1.28 and the new environmentally-friendly Wicker Park Suite, highlighted with its HETs- and WaterSense-certified faucets, while Moes offered Envi(tm) Eco-Performance showerhead, reducing water usage by 30% and yet improving spray functions for comfortable feel.

Honoring Innovation

The K/BIS is also known as a venue that rewards the newest innovations and trendsetting designs with the NKBA Design Competition, having honored a number of professional inventors and designers over the past years, offering each a moment of glory on the showground. This year, the NKBA announced 10 winners for different categories, including Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd. for the Pinnacle of Design; Siri Designs for Best Overall Kitchen; Lori Carroll & Associates for Best Overall Bathroom/Powder Room; Neil Kelly Design Build/Remodeling for Best Before & After; Haefele Design for Best Sustainable Kitchen; and Collaborative Design Architects/HSD Studio for Best Sustainable Bath.

The show organizer also inaugurated the Best of K/BIS awards for three different categories: Best Competition, Best Bath and Best Kitchen, with the winners including Affluence Seamless Since (Affluence Seamless Sink); Quick Drain USA (Quick Drain Channel Drain System); Seura (ONE Television Mirror); Emtek Products (Stainless Steel Collections Bright Handle Product); El Dorado Stone (Gemstone Walls); Element Designs (High-Gloss Solid Surface PARAPAN Doors); and Atlantis Outdoor Kitchens (Atlantis Cabinetry).

Educational Content

Demonstrating awareness for savvy management can make or break a business, the show organizer hosted a series of educational seminars and conferences for industry insiders and attendees during the K/BIS 2009, offering interested parties and entrepreneurs opportunities to interact with and learn from professionals about product development, business sustainability, project management and corporate strategies, giving the event intellectual, educational substance as well.

As Taiwan's leading export-oriented media, CENS sent senior representatives to the show, both to circulate its range of business-to-business magazines, including Hardware and Kitchen Cabinet, Bath & Building Materials, as well as bridging the gap between global buyers and Taiwan-based suppliers. Any buyer, whether familiar with the sound reputation of Taiwan suppliers or not, looking for quality products and reliable, competent business partnership found CENS magazines very useful.

The next K/BIS is slated for April 16-18, 2010 at the McCormick Place in Chicago.