The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) wrapped it’s first in-person show in two years. The combined strengths of the NKBA and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), continuing their nine-year partnership to produce Design and Construction Week (DCW), brought forth the first and one of the largest in-person events since the beginning of the pandemic.

Defining product market fit is not an easy task for a stand-alone decorative plumbing showroom. It's especially complicated for showrooms that are a part of a multi-product brand that may supply PVF targeting plumbers, HVAC targeting builders or any of the many building products with re-distribution models.

Once again, Martin, the spokes-gecko for Geico insurance company, is rambling on about their amazing customer call center, immediate, on-the-job appraisals, replacement value and tremendous low rates. We hear the same tired story from Allstate, Progressive, State Farm and all the insurance companies. It’s at the point where they never say the word insurance.  That is because they are not selling insurance, they are selling peace of mind. Should anything happen to you or a member of your family they will make it all better. You have nothing to worry about.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released its annual Market Outlook report. Its goal is to provide a thorough assessment of how various economic and housing market trends are impacting the kitchen and bath industry. The report provides a gauge of the current market size and a forecast for the entire year. 

While the overall kitchen and bath industry continues to show healthy growth for the year, the overall index is down 4% quarter over quarter as lingering issues caused by the pandemic seem to be catching up to consumer sentiment. Despite this, the industry is coming off of a record-breaking quarter of growth in Q2, which has fueled projections for the year at around 12% growth in sales year-over-year, with many members still encouraged about future growth in 2022.  

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released its annual Design Trends report. The 2022 study, a deep dive into all aspects of both kitchen and primary bathroom design, forecasts the styles, features, materials and innovations expected to be most popular over the next two to three years. The current study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated consumer interest in and adoption of key trends in their homes such as integration of smart technology, multi-functional spaces and natural and nature-based designs.  

The DPHA conference actually shuts down its exhibit hall during the speaker and roundtable meetings, allowing every attendee the ability to participate and network. The vendors know the conference schedule offers ample time for their customers to see their new products. They also understand that face-time away from others outside the exhibit hall is important in building stronger vendor-distributor relationships.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association announced its NKBA Global Connect programming at KBIS 2022. Geared to international manufacturers and distributors interested in learning more about the North American kitchen and bath marketplace, these programs will be featured on the stage Feb 8-10, 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Over the past 18 months, I have been in the unique position to hear first-hand how the booming remodel market, supply chain disruptions and material costs are affecting plumbing distributors and showrooms while simultaneously being the end-user customer who’s remodeling her kitchen.

The heightened awareness and changing nature of the home was the dominant trend throughout the past year and a half, and the large percentage of consumers still working from home as we head into the end of 2021 — combined with health and wellbeing being top of mind — homeowners recognize that the primary bath can be a refuge from Zoom fatigue, a wellness center and a space where they can spend a few minutes for themselves, devoid of emails, texts, video calls, school assignments and family obligations.