KITCHENS + BATHS
At the Heart of Industry: KBIS and Coverings 2017 Story by Deborah Brannon
Industry shows can be absolutely vital to the creative growth and overall prosperity of any business—and that’s certainly true where the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and Coverings are concerned. Whether you’re a designer or a vendor, these shows can help meet your needs, inspire you and improve your business—not to mention give you an opportunity to network and make new friends. KBIS takes place each January, with its 2017 and 2018 events occurring in sunny Orlando, FL. The show has come a long way in its 53 years—it started in 1964 with around 24 exhibitors and about 250 attendees, and in 2017 it had 596 exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees. Managed by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), KBIS showcases the latest in industry designs, technology and products, and since 2014 it’s been part of Design & Construction Week with the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show. Along with direct access to manufacturers, attendees have the opportunity to personally review and compare materials across competitors. There are also demonstrations, interactive exhibits and occasionally even celebrity endorsements: Howie Mandel was there this year to talk about American Standard’s self-cleaning toilet. Coverings is an independent trade show that focuses deeply and exclusively on tile and stone. This show also took place in Orlando this year, but will be held in Atlanta in 2018. For nearly 30 years, Coverings has been bringing together the best and newest trends and products in ceramic tile and natural stone; it also holds accredited seminars and provides live demonstrations for attendees. Furthermore, Coverings invests back into the industry by dedicating its proceeds to education, advocacy and more. If tile and stone are important to your work, Coverings is one annual event you don’t want to miss. We spoke with several friends in the home and design industry about their experiences at KBIS and Coverings this year: 34
KBIS.indd 34
TILE AMERICA: JAYME KEELING, VANESSA OLSEN, LANA CAMERA Jayme Keeling and Vanessa Olsen, design consultants with Tile America, both attended KBIS and report that it was an amazing show. (Jayme is the secretary of the Southern New England chapter of the NBKA, while Vanessa is its vice president of communications.) While Jayme found the floor map a bit challenging at times, she notes that everyone she encountered presenting on the floor was affable and generous with their time and explanations of products. Vanessa was especially excited by BeachGlazz, a company inspired by Lightblocks and experienced in the commercial sector. “My favorite vendor product was by BeachGlazz,” says Vanessa. “We stopped at their booth and learned that they make solid surfaces and countertops. They have primarily worked commercially, and are starting to break the ice with residential and selling their slabs to fabricators. The material was, in fact, not glass but acrylic. It looks exactly like sea glass. The material is indestructible, yet easy to work with. It just looks awesome.“ “I especially loved the new technology arena,” Jayme adds. “It was interesting to see where our wireless technology is headed with home appliances.” This includes shower systems that can be started with your phone. Jayme attended Coverings as well, along with Lana Camera, the product manager of Tile America. “Coverings is always a must,” says Lana, explaining that it was a well-attended and important show with excellent representation from a variety of vendors. “Caesar Ceramics showcased a stunning, sleek, contemporary line with slight texture and a hint of shimmer. Lunada Bay Tile presented a new picket shape and dimensional ceramic in metallic. StonePeak took ‘Best in Show’ with their fabulous display of thin porcelain slabs.”
www.eastcoasthomepublishing.com
5/8/17 11:29 AM