Happenings

Showrooms Remain Key, Says NKBA

Independent showrooms play a critically important role in the kitchen and bath industry’s supply chain, according to NKBA’s 2023 Independent Kitchen and Bath Showrooms Report.

Representing multiple K&B product brands, showrooms serve as a conduit between manufacturers and those who purchase their products — whether they are designers, remodelers, builders or consumers.

Recognizing their importance to the industry, NKBA conducted a thorough research study to provide insights into the role of showrooms in the K&B industry today. And they are going strong, according to the research.

In fact, this sector of the kitchen and bath industry has seen steady sales over the last two years, with most showrooms surveyed predicting strong and steady growth for the immediate future as well. The report surveyed a broad base of the NKBA membership community, including independent showroom dealers and designers and homeowners who had completed a full-scale kitchen or bath remodel in the past two years.

The top concerns of dealers and designers are issues outside their control. They reported high levels of concern regarding supply chain/ product availability, recession, inflation and labor shortages. Among showrooms, the top internal challenges they faced were keeping their products current and attracting visitors.

While the NKBA Research Team expected that "competition from e-commerce" would have ranked higher, they learned from this research that consumers who are remodeling their kitchens or baths place a high value on seeing and touching products before they purchase them.

Showrooms seem to recognize that they need to continually evolve to service the needs of their customers and stand out among their competition. Many showrooms have been making big changes. In the past two years, 65% have carried new or additional brands, 53% have significantly remodeled their showroom, and 40% have added product categories. Within the next two years, four in 10 showrooms will be carrying new brands or remodeling their space.

Showrooms are also turning to technology to improve their customers’ shopping experience as well as their own operating efficiencies. It is particularly noteworthy that 50% of dealers have added new technology to their showrooms in the past two years, and 35% are planning to either continue or follow suit in the next two years. Enhanced monitors and displays are the most frequently mentioned enhancement in terms of customer-facing technology, and updated design software and hardware tops the list in terms of operational technology. n

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