Kitchen & Bath Design News

JUL 2014

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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10 | Kitchen & Bath Design News July 2014 Industry Update { Noteworthy developments impacting the kitchen and bath market } Attendance Up at Coverings 2014 Alexandria, VA — Coverings 2014, the largest tile and stone exposition and conference in North America, saw attendance numbers rise when the show returned to Las Vegas in April to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Key audience segments that saw an increase included distributors, retailers and contractors/installers. More than 22,500 industry professionals at- tended Coverings 2014, a bump of 3 percent from last year and 22 percent from 2011, the last year Coverings was located in Las Vegas, according to show organizers. Overall, several key segments saw double-digit increases compared to 2011, particularly for retailers, dis- tributors and fabricators, which were up 12, 16 and 36 percent, respectively, the group added. In addition to larger turnout, Coverings 2014 experienced an increase in the number of exhibitors, and extended its footprint to 387,600 square feet of space, utilizing an outdoor pavilion called The Plaza, located adjacent to the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. In total, Coverings hosted more than 975 exhibitors. "Our attendance and exhibitor numbers truly indicate an improvement to the health and vitality of the tile and stone industry in North America," said Karin Fendrich, Coverings show director. "With new home sales continuing to rise, and the U.S. tile and stone consumption experiencing a fourth consecutive growth year, attending Coverings was more critical than ever this year." While the show foor was abuzz with activities, Coverings' celebration of its 25th Anniversary took center stage. From commemorative tiles to vin- tage-style Coverings T-shirts and the interactive photo booth, the show reverberated with celebration, commenc- ing with the sold-out 25th Anniversary Party at Hyde at the Bellagio. More than 500 attendees reminisced and cel- ebrated while enjoying a view of the hotel's famous dancing fountain show. A sneak peek was given into the 2015 show with the announcement of a new creative campaign and logo. Coverings 2015 will be held April 14-17, 2015 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. KBDN Seminar Series Scheduled to Resume This Fall Melville, NY — "Art + Science," the series of all-day seminars being brought to key markets this year by Kitchen & Bath Design News will resume its 2014 run in September in the suburbs of Denver. The highly acclaimed, eight-city seminar series, currently in the midst of a two-month summer hia- tus, is scheduled for Sept. 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Aurora, in Aurora, CO. The educational initiative, currently in the sec- ond of a three-year run, has already been presented this year in Fort Lauderdale, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Seattle. After its Denver-area stop, the program will be brought to Stamford, CT (Oct. 23) and Dallas (Nov. 13) – according to KBDN Pub- lisher Emeritus Eliot Sefrin. Designed for kitchen and bath designers look- ing to refresh their creative talents and expand their technological skills, "Art + Science" is aimed at identifying "what's next" in design and technol- ogy so that design professionals can better address the needs of a younger, less-traditional client while increasing company profts in the New Digital Age. "Art + Science" spotlights the growing trend toward contempo- rary kitchens and baths that require an entirely new way of managing the space and connecting the elements of the room. Also featured is a multi-media program that presents a vision of the industry's digital present and future, including ways design professionals can leverage cutting-edge technological tools from initial client contact through fnal contract. Leading the programs is a pair of KBDN contribu- tors: Ellen Cheever, CMKBD, ASID, CAPS, widely considered to be the nation's premier kitchen and bath design au- thority, and Eric Schimelpfenig, AKBD, a leading authority on cutting-edge technology impacting the kitchen and bath industry. 2014 sponsors include BEST, Geberit, Hafele America, Jenn-Air, Rev- A-Shelf and Showplace Wood Products. Information about attending any of the 2014 programs can be obtained by visiting KBDN's Web site, www.ForResidentialPros.com. Cosentino Opens Houston Center Sugar Land, TX — Cosentino recently opened its 25th North American Cosentino Center, this time in the city of Houston, TX. More than 230 building and design industry leaders and top Cosentino executives attended the grand open- ing reception. The new Houston center, designed by Isabel Martinez-Cosentino, aims to enhance both the trade and consumer experience and continues Cosentino's mission to expand its presence in the U.S. market. With Cosentino's North American headquarters based in Sugar Land, this opening marks a milestone in the company's expansion. The program included remark s from Eduardo Cosentino, president and CEO of Cosentino North America; Alex Rioja, general manager for the Houston Cosentino Center, and Brandon Calvo, chief operating ofcer of Distri- bution. Cosentino was awarded a Proclamation from the City of Houston, Mayor Annise Parker's ofce. The Grand Opening party celebrated the company's Spanish roots with tapas, Spanish wine and famenco dancers. All visitors to the Houston Center will be able to explore and engage in the kitchen and bath experience – from material and color selection to specifcation and fabrication. With more than 27,000 square feet, the Cosentino Center show- cases the full portfolio of Cosentino brands. The Cosentino Center acts as more than a showroom and distribution center. It's designed to support, promote and educate trade profes- sionals by integrating distribution facilities, exhibition areas and workspaces for designers to bring clients, classrooms for continuing edu- cation and fully functioning kitchens and event space for demonstrations. The center creates an interactive environment for architects, designers, distributors and fabricators to view the latest products and design trends, attend educational workshops, hear from visiting expert speakers and receive training on new product innovations and installation techniques. Coverings 2014, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in Las Vegas, enjoyed bustling trafc and an increase in exhibitors and attendees over last year. KBD_10-17_IndustryUpdate.indd 10 6/16/14 3:27 PM

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