Bath & Kitchen Trends

Additions to your showroom to meet the needs of aging homeowners and businesses

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

"Aging in place" allows individuals to remain in their homes as they grow older, rather than relocating to assisted living facilities. This concept presents a chance for designers to create safe and welcoming spaces that cater to clients' needs, regardless of their budget.

How to make KBIS 2025 work for your brand

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

As KBIS 2025 nears, focus on high-impact categories, key brands, standout visuals, and notable booths to resonate with your audience, emphasizing timeless design and durability over fleeting trends.

Kohler Co.’s Arizona manufacturing plant receives award from U.S. Department of Energy for decarbonization project

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oﬃce of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) has awarded the Kohler Co. Vikrell Electric Boiler & Microgrid System project with more than $588,000 (of the total project federal cost share of up to $51.2 million) to begin Phase 1 activities to demonstrate commercial- scale decarbonization solutions to help move energy-intensive industries toward net-zero.

How changing consumer habits are impacting preferences in homes

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Home use is evolving, with 42% of U.S. homeowners hosting gatherings to spend time with loved ones, per a Moen survey*. As preferences shift towards intimate home events, creating spaces that accommodate both hosts and guests is key. Professionals should focus on these essential design considerations for frequent hosts.

How a gallery can transform your showroom's online presence

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

A well-crafted website gallery is more than just a collection of pretty pictures – it's a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your business.

Luxury Products Group launches new developments to benefit members

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Supply House Times Chief Editor Natalie Forster sat down with LPG Executive Director Jeff MacDowell to get a detailed update on all the happenings at LPG.

Heat pump water heaters: transforming contractor profits with sustainable solutions

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The plumbing industry is evolving with a focus on sustainability. Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) present an opportunity for contractors to stand out and meet changing client needs, contributing to environmental conservation and demonstrating leadership in a dynamic market.

2024 Showroom of the Year: Lion Plumbing Supply

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Lion Plumbing Supply's renovated Kitchen + Bath Design Center in Miami won the 2024 Showroom of the Year award. It is described as "running on all eight" by the company's President, Paul Gentile, and is located across the street from Lion's wholesale counter known for its high fill rate and same-day delivery.

Can AI benefit your business today?

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Can AI benefit your business today? Absolutely. Do you need to rush to implement it immediately to stay ahead of your competitors? No, you don't.

AI resources to help you get started

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Upon my initial use of ChatGPT-3, I was genuinely impressed by its capabilities and responsiveness. It seemed like a significant advancement in AI technology compared to its predecessors. What were your initial impressions when you first used it?

Creating a little joy in the restroom

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Some people find bathrooms lacking in style and individuality. Despite our best efforts, many bathrooms and kitchens lack a unique design statement that reflects the owner's personal taste. So, where is the color and creativity?

Who did you meet at KBIS 2024? Was it a person, product or a palette?

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

KBIS' most valuable connections were unplanned conversations that opened doors and offered fresh perspectives. Read for attendee takeaways and product trends.

Feeling winded? Let’s all take a break and get brilliant

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As a design-build leader, take a break and refrain from adding or removing anything from your business for a few weeks. Use this time to observe and learn before making any decisions. Don't rush to add new products to your showroom. Take time to re-evaluate your business strategy and prepare for the future.

Infinity Drain & Gensler linear drain

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 19:00:00 -0500

Adhesion is a collaboration between Infinity Drain, the manufacturer of architectural and decorative drains, and Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm, which served as product design consultant.

Supply House Times 2023 Products of the Year

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Introducing the top 20 most popular products based on page views at Supply House Times

Something for everyone: Sandpiper Supply remodels showroom

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Sandpiper Supply renovated its showroom and held a grand reopening in 2023. The upgrade includes more working displays and tech-advanced products. The new showroom is more functional, with a nicer flow and easier-to-navigate displays.

How to effectively plan and manage showroom open house events

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Do open houses truly justify the time, effort and money your team invests in them? And more importantly, are they effectively amplifying your brand's story?

How does your showroom garden grow in your market?

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Last month we talked about the importance of courting your designer market, and how to build a team supported strategy to take your good showroom brand out of its showrooms and win this business opportunity. Now to the next steps…

Did your showroom learn from the pandemic?

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

As a meeting with four designers about our products wrapped up, the conversation shifted from decorative hardware to this agency's discovery and specification process.

Kitchen & Bath remodel demand hampered, but not for long

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Highest income tier households are less sensitive to mortgage rates and continue investing in luxury kitchen and bath remodels. Only 14 percent of funding sources for kitchen and bath repair and remodel (R&R) projects were tied to rates for these households, with annual household income greater than $160,000.

Jeff Valles: Strengthen your network to thrive during downturns

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

I have been on the road, and it seems that showrooms not solely focused on the ultra-high-end market have experienced a decline in business. Generally, I am hearing statements like, "We are busy but down by 10% to 15%."

Jeff Valles: Prime time

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Every day, we receive promotional emails attempting to entice us to visit, shop and purchase branded products. Countless companies employ a "pushing, pushing, pushing" product approach, emphasizing style and price, hoping that one will motivate us to delve deeper. But, is that rare brand dive really enough? What are these mega brands are trying to “teach” us? The answer, my friends, lies at the bottom of email and on their home page. "Please visit our elegant store and let our talented design team help you create.”

Jeff Valles: Your AI is ready

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The plumbing supply industry and our showrooms, as well as many re-distribution businesses, are run ERP systems that are based on the IBM AS/400 or DOS. Both originated in the 1980s. We are an industry that looks to shave pennies to scale and limit our operational invest. We live by “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and so we have gone for a millennia. But, the possibility of having a knowledgable consultant in our pocket might just change the way we employ computers in all facets of business.

Jeff Valles: Rethink your showroom layout

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In the 1980s, homeowners, builders and designers would walk into these new-fangled decorative plumbing showrooms and be wowed by all the sparkle and style. And as pretty as it all looked, these design leaders had no idea exactly what they were looking at. Sure, they saw fancy faucets but they had no idea how to layout, buy and install a “decorative bathroom”. Prior to decorative showrooms all that was only handled by the plumber. Who was going to help them navigate this new world.

Jeff Valles: Top three product trends from the KBIS floor

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400

COVID-19 may remain in the news but it did not stop people from attending the 2023 KBIS/IDS show in Las Vegas. In fact, early estimates set the attendance in excess of 100,000 enthusiasts. Now that’s a show!

Case study: The restroom of the future is here

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Prior to the 1980s, all restroom fixtures required manual operation — an aspect that we have since learned coincides with a high exposure to germs and bacteria. In fact, manual faucet and toilet handles harbor anywhere between 107 to 17,976 germs per 10 square centimeters.

But more than 40 years later, touch-free products are now the norm in commercial restrooms, and since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public has greater awareness regarding the importance of hand hygiene.

State of the showroom

forstern@bnpmedia.com (Natalie Forster) — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

The most recent National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Market Outlook Report projects 2023 bath and kitchen revenue will reach $162.4 billion, a 14% decrease when compared to the previous year. With potential recessionary pressure, high mortgage rates and a cooling residential housing market, Supply House Times chatted with a few showroom professionals from around the country to gauge what’s expected in the 2023 showroom sector.

Jeff Valles: Why you should visit The Bean in 2023

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

When I open the ballroom door and enter the 2022 DPHA conference, the booths catch my eye but I am looking for familiar industry wide faces and those new personalities that i do not know. The DPHA conference is all about the decorative plumbing and hardware, period. It presents me with the opportunity to see new products from decorative plumbing and hardware focused vendors, industry relevant education sessions and opportunities to interact with the people that manage and own DPHA businesses.

NKBA announces NKBA Global Connect KBIS 2023 programming

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

The programs include the first NKBA International Buyer’s Tour, the NKBA Global Connect Pavilion, and the NKBA Global Connect Delegation Program. All will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 31 - Feb 2, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jeff Valles: Specify and sell your best lines

jwvals@gmail.com (Jeff Valles) — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

As an owner or manager, your laser focus is on each vendor’s profit and, mistakenly, assume that your salespeople share your bottom-line focus. I suggest you are focusing on the deliverables, and they are involved in the process, the sales process. In most cases, you will not be able to move your salespeople to your side of this question by simply showing them the money. The way to move them is to show them how these HVVs will fuel their desire to be a great showroom salesperson.