Industry Update Noteworthy developments impacting the kitchen and bath market
NKBA Offers Reassurance on Viability of 2009 K/BIS in Atlanta
Hackettstown, NJ — The 2009 Kitchen/Bath again this year.” conference’s wide range of
Industry Show, scheduled to take place May 1-3 In fact, more than 700 exhibitors and co- business and
in Atlanta, remains a strong and viable entity, exhibitors are scheduled to show their products celebrity speakers,
according to the National Kitchen & Bath across 400,000 square feet of exhibit space in the K/BIS 2009 is going to be
Association. Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, ac- one of the most valuable
In response to industry concerns in the wake cording to the Hackettstown, NJ-based NKBA. and exciting shows ever,”
of reports of declining attendance at recent Companies exhibiting include Whirlpool she further noted.
events such as the International Builder Show Corp., Kohler, LG, Moen, TOTO, MasterBrand, The NKBA invites poten-
and the Surface & Fabrication Design Expo, show Armstrong, GE, Delta, Gerber, TurboChef, tial attendees to view the
owner NKBA and show manager Nielsen Business Merillat, Viking, Panasonic, Vent-A-Hood, Don Sciolaro: K/BIS complete exhibitor list by
Media released a joint statement addressing what Sears, Dacor, Rohl and many others, the is alive and well. visiting the K/BIS Website
they term as “misconceptions” concerning K/BIS association noted. located at: www.kbis.com/
attendance and exhibitor presence. “K/BIS 2009 is very much alive and well – show/exhibitor-list.
“Are there some exhibitors that have pulled and the show will once again bring together Further information about attending or exhib-
out of K/BIS 2009? Yes,” commented NKBA CEO hundreds of exhibitors with tens of thousands iting at the 2009 K/BIS can also be obtained by
Don Sciolaro. “However, the vast majority of of attendees,” said 2009 NKBA president Suzie contacting the NKBA at 800-THE-NKBA (800-
the large exhibitors will be exhibiting at K/BIS Williford. “Between the show floor and the 843-6522).
“Whether affect about 2% of its 300,000-per- financially and is not expected to
Williford Outlines Goals cutting son workforce. Most of the cuts any time soon.
For NKBA Presidency costs on affect workers at the EXPO Design
Centers, as well as HD Bath, a bath
“Even during the recent housing
boom, it was not a strong business,”
transaction
Hackettstown, NJ — Suzie processing, remodeling business with seven Home Depot said, noting that busi-
Williford, the newly-elected presi- or increasing sites. The company’s core Home ness at the chain has “weakened
dent of the National Kitchen & Bath sales through Depot stores will not be affected, significantly as the demand for big-
Association, has targeted four goals consumer corporate officials said. ticket design and decor projects has
for the trade association in 2009. financing or Home Depot’s cost-cutting plans declined in the current economic
Williford, who was inaugurated lead genera- also include 2,000 cuts to non-store environment.”
Suzie Williford: Big
as the 2009 NKBA President by the plans for 2009. tion, mem- jobs, including 500 workers in its “Exiting our EXPO business is a
Gulf Coast Chapter of the NKBA on bers of the corporate headquarters, while difficult decision, particularly given
Jan. 31, said that her objectives are National Kitchen & Bath Associa- freezing the pay of its officers. the hard work and dedication of
specifically targeted at supporting tion will benefit from NKBA affinity The company reported that its our associates in that business and
association members in the current programs in 2009,” she said.