With more than 500 domestic and international exhibitors showcasing their newest products, the 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (K/BIS), held in Atlanta from May 1 to 3, celebrated its 28th year. K+BB asked a roundtable of industry experts for their take on the show, as well as their impressions of the latest products on display. Here's what they had to say:


K+BB: What was your overall impression of this year's show?

Sara Ann Busby, former president of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA): The show had a lot of excitement and positive energy. I thought the people who attended came to do business. There was some concern before the show since some big-name exhibitors had pulled out. But the response from the exhibitors at the show was fantastic.

Maria Martina, CKD, CBD, consultant for Reno's Appliance, Inc. and secretary of the NKBA: I thought it was great and that Atlanta was a wonderful, hospitable location. The show became a must-see event with a good turnout, and the exhibitors were pleased with the traffic. The show obviously wasn't as big as in past years, but people who came to the show really wanted to be there. We had decision makers, not tire kickers.

Susan Serra, CKD, owner of Susan Serra Associates Inc.: I was disappointed in the fewer attendees and exhibitors than previous shows. There's no question, it was a downer in one respect. But there were some positive sides. This year's attendees were serious about the industry, and the same can be said for the exhibitors who were committed and believed that the attendees would be open to their message. Attendees had more of an opportunity to talk with companies because the show was smaller.

Mark Karas, CMKBD, general manager of Adams Kitchens Inc. and president-elect of the NKBA: The products seen at K/BIS were a good representation of our industry. I saw some major players there. I've been reading the feedback that we've been getting from LinkedIn and some other sites indicating that people came away with a good feeling from the show. This year, I saw a lot more product that addressed sustainability and aging in place.


K+BB: What did you feel were the most noteworthy trends in kitchen and bath products?

Martina: For the kitchen, sustainability and green were important issues as consumers are becoming more educated about these products. They are looking for materials that will help them fulfill environmentally conscious responsibilities. I saw many manufacturers include a number of green features in their products.

Technology is always changing and improving in the kitchen. Induction cooktops are becoming much more available. The technology itself has always been around, but consumers weren't ready to accept it. But now times have changed. These new cooktops also don't have those cumbersome knobs, which are difficult to clean. I also noticed more advances in speed-cooking technology.

Serra: I saw more modern, soft faucets and fixtures for the bath. Rohl, for example, showed a number of modern-style products, but they are considered a traditional company. I saw more sculptural shapes and different metals for faucets. You don't have to match everything perfectly, instead you can blend different metal finishes and that makes things more personal. I also observed more aging-in-place and ergonomic-friendly products.

Karas: I noticed that kitchens are becoming more seamless and clean with the supply of more integrated appliances than I've seen in the past, which works very well from a design standpoint. I was also pleased to see an increase in the number of manufacturers looking at energy conservation, from appliances to plumbing fixtures.


K+BB: What was your favorite new product that you saw at the show?

Karas: I saw some new contemporary ventilation hoods, which was a nice switch from the traditional hoods. We've seen more and more companies leaning toward a sleek look with ventilation. Elica's Star looked like a disco ball and was still capable of catching plenty of air. Jenn-Air's Perimetric hoods look like a flat-screen TV.

Busby: I thought the technological advances for appliances were huge, especially the touch-screen wall ovens. I was impressed with Jenn-Air's new wall ovens. I also noticed more energy-efficient appliances and more induction cooktops.

Serra: I'm a big gadget/technology/media person, and I would say that my favorite product was the Seura TV/mirror. It is an invisible television in a mirror with your choice of frames that are 1 in. thick.


K+BB: What did you think was missing from the show this year?

Karas: Some of the appliance companies should have been there. The old adage is when things get slow, you need to advertise more, not less. You need to keep your name and presence out there, and I think some of the major companies really missed the boat by not being there. This is the number one show in the industry and the number one audience for these manufacturers. It was disappointing. The ones that were there thought the people on the show floor were  the best audience they've had in ages.

Martina: I couldn't say that. I saw a good representation of all facets of the industry. There were appliances, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, countertops and other products needed for the kitchen and bath.


For a selection of new kitchen and bath products, visit www.kbbonline.com/products.