FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KBIS 2017 Sees Stellar Growth with Attendance Up an Estimated 15-Percent
Industry’s Premier Show Connects the Newest Kitchen and Bath Innovations and Newly Discovered Brands to its Growing Audience
(Alpharetta, GA.) – January 24, 2017 – The 2017 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the destination for kitchen and bath design professionals, welcomed designers, builders, dealers and suppliers along with 596 exhibitors to Orlando from January 10-12 for what was one of the largest and most successful KBIS events to date. Early, unverified estimates report a 15-percent increase in attendance over the previous year; the fourth consecutive year of attendee growth. KBIS will return to Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center January 9-11, 2018.
“What an incredible beginning to the new year for our industry,” said National Kitchen & Bath Association VP of Industry Relations Suzie Williford. “With more than one-in-10 homeowners undertaking a kitchen or bath project last year, it’s no surprise that KBIS is a centerpiece of the industry and the must-attend event of the year.”
“I’m extremely proud of the entire KBIS team who together brought this show to life and delivered an exceptional experience for our attendees and exhibiting brands,” said Brian Pagel, VP Kitchen and Bath Group, Emerald Expositions. “2017 was one of the largest KBIS shows to date with nearly 600 brands represented, a significant number of which debuted new product innovations at the show. All signs point to a strong year ahead for the kitchen and bath industry. We look forward to bringing the KBIS community together once again in Orlando in 2018.”
As a founding member of Design & Construction Week®, and in collaboration with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), KBIS co-located with the International Builders’ Show (IBS) for the fourth consecutive year.
NKBA CEO Bill Darcy delivered this year’s State of the Industry Address, discussing annual design trends and economic research studies taking place in the $134 billion kitchen and bath industry. One NKBA study, “Estimated Market Value for the Kitchen & Bath Remodeling and New Residential Construction Markets,” found that each year homeowners remodel upwards of 10.2 million kitchens — roughly one in 10 of all households — and 14.2 million bathrooms, two of the most important rooms in a home.
Serving as one of the most memorable moments of KBIS 2017, The NKBA with KBIS hosted the first public event supporting the This Old House Generation Next philanthropic campaign to encourage and empower young people to join the skilled trades. All proceeds from the campaign went to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s Work Ethic Scholarship Program, providing scholarships to people getting trained for skilled jobs in demand. KBIS hosted a “Beers & Cheers for Trade Careers” event in ‘The Backyard’, a new show space located outside of South Hall, to celebrate the donation and initiative. At the event, Mike Rowe of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation accepted a $500,000 check from the charter partners of the This Old House Ventures’ Generation Next initiative.
Also this year, the NKBA Presents KBISNeXT Stage sponsored by HomeAdvisor offered thought-provoking and inspiring programming delivered from some of the most well respected names in kitchen and bath design. Stage programs showcased trends and insights on timely topics including Airbnb design, outdoor living, designing for downsizing, and color trends. It also gave exhibiting brands the opportunity to take to the stage and highlight new kitchen and bath products and innovations during the highly popular Design Bites™ sessions hosted by Kevin O’Connor of This Old House and Jeff Devlin of HGTV and DIY Network. The KBISNeXT Stage also played host to the NKBA’s 2017 30 Under 30 program, designed to help recognize outstanding young professionals and to share their insights regarding significant trends, sustainable business practices and emerging business models found at the show.
KBIS 2017 created new destinations on the show floor to further enhance the attendee experience. The all new Discovery District served as a center for exploring unique and potentially undiscovered brands and products new to KBIS, several of which were honored as Best of KBIS award winners, including The Copper Shower Kit and GEOLUXE. Also new for 2017 was the Design Milk X Modenus Social Lounge, a hub for bloggers, social influencers and design VIPs to connect, chat and (re)charge. The Social Lounge hosted a series of talks and discussions on topics around blogging, social media, trends and the business of design. Another new and exciting destination, the Student Lounge, sponsored in part by Ferguson, was created to afford students a space to unwind during KBIS. The lounge was home to this year’s Tiny House Challenge competition, and also provided an opportunity for student networking.
KBIS will return to Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center January 9-11, 2018. For more information, visit kbis.com and kbispressroom.com.
About KBIS
KBIS, in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), is an inspiring, interactive platform that showcases the latest industry products, trends and technologies. KBIS is the voice of the kitchen and bath industry and has been for 50 years.
Early in 2013, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced an agreement to co-locate the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) with the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nev. in February 2014 under the banner of Design and Construction Week®. The mega-event will return Jan. 10-12, 2017, in Orlando. Kitchen and bath brands that have participated in both shows can continue to choose to exhibit in the KBIS or IBS hall. One pass will provide access to both exhibits. NKBA and NAHB will continue to produce separate educational programming and special events. For more information on KBIS, visit www.kbis.com.
KBIS is operated by Emerald Expositions, a leading operator of large business-to-business trade shows in the United States, producing more than 80 trade shows and over 100 face-to-face events in total, including conferences, summits and other events. Emerald Expositions connects more than 335,000 sellers and buyers each year and operates within the U.S. in 10 end markets (Gift, Home, General Merchandise and Manufacturing; Sports & Apparel; Design; Jewelry, Luxury & Antiques; E-Commerce; Creative Services; Licensing; Healthcare; Military; and Food).
About the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® (KBIS), as part of Design and Construction Week ® (DCW). With nearly 14,000 member companies representing tens of thousands of members in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, the NKBA has educated and led the industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The NKBA envisions a world where everyone enjoys safe, beautiful and functional kitchen and bath spaces. The mission of the NKBA is to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath industry through the creations of certifications, marketplaces and networks. For more information, visit NKBA.org or call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522).
KBIS® and NKBA® are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
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Contact:
Beth Meiklejohn Julie McCrary
White Good White Good
717.693.3442 717.278.0515
bmeiklejohn@whitegood.com jmccrary@whitegood.com
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