Thousands vote for their favorites during inaugural competition

More than 5,000 cast their vote from all over the country for their favorite showroom in the inaugural Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) Innovative Showroom Awards. The public vote, held November 10-14 on the KBIS Facebook Page, determined 18 finalists out of a total 127 showrooms who were initially nominated via an open form submission. The 18 finalists for the KBIS 2015 Innovative Showroom Awards are segmented into six categories. All are recognized for providing an amazing retail experience.

Independent Retail Showrooms Locations (1-5 showroom locations) – Small (1,000- 2,500 sq ft):

• Peter Salerno Inc., Wyckoff, NJ
• Colmar Kitchen and Bath, Margate, NJ
• Re-Bath of Houston, Houston, TX

Independent Retail Showrooms Locations (1-5 showroom locations) – Medium (2,500 – 5,000 sq ft):

• Geneva Cabinet Company, Lake Geneva, WI
• Bellacina Kitchen & Bath, Lawrenceville, NJ
• Monique’s Bath Showroom, Watertown, MA

Independent Retail Showrooms Locations (1-5 showroom locations) – Large (5,000 sq ft+):

• Stone Age, Anaheim, CA
• Mingle, Plymouth MN
• Builders Surplus Kitchen and Bath Cabinets, Santa Ana, CA

Multi Location Retail Showrooms (6+ showroom locations) – Small (1,000- 2,500 sq ft)

• The Ultimate Bath Store, Colchester, CT
• Modern Builders Supply Ypsilatni, Ypsilanti, MI
• SieMatic New York, New York, NY

Multi Location Retail Showrooms (6+ showroom locations) – Medium (2,500 – 5,000 sq ft)

• Artistic Tile Dallas, Dallas, TX
• Frank Webb’s Bath Center, South Boston, MA
• Premium Kitchens, Boca Raton, Florida

Multi Location Retail Showrooms (6+ showroom locations) – Large (5,000 sq ft+)

• Ferguson Lakewood (in partnership with Danze), Lakewood, NJ
• PIRCH, San Diego, CA
• PIRCH, Glendale, CA

“The showroom is arguably the most important part of the customer experience,” said Brian Pagel, VP Kitchen and Bath Group, Emerald Expositions. “This award is an opportunity for kitchen and bath industry professionals to publicly recognize those who are raising the bar on innovative showrooms. The response to the call for recognition has been tremendous, with participation and interest from every corner of the industry.”

A jury of retail showroom design professionals will review the finalists, determining the winner in each category.  Additionally, an overall Innovative Retail Showroom Award will be given. The esteemed judging panel includes:

• Designer and HGTV personality, Libby Langdon, Libby Interiors, Inc.
• Miho Koshido-Downey, Creative Director, JGA – Jury Only
• Ken Nisch, Chairman, JGA – Panel Only
• Alison Embrey Medina, Executive Editor, design:retail
• Susan Serra, President, Susan Serra Associates, Inc.
• Eileen McComb, Collaborator-In-Chief, Devil in the Details

In partnership with the Hearst Design Group (Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Veranda), winning showrooms will be recognized on the show floor via a larger than life wall during KBIS at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 20-22, 2015.

“The depth and variety of our judges’ experiences and background makes this award really meaningful,” said Sean Sullivan, Associate Publisher/Group Marketing Director, Hearst Design Group. “All aspects of the showroom experience will be factored in, ensuring the winners are truly setting new standards in our industry. There are so many fantastic entries the judges have their work cut out for them.”

The winners will be announced from the KBISNeXT™ stage on January 21, 2015, at 10:30 AM. Awards will be presented by Brian Pagel, VP Kitchen and Bath Group, Emerald Expositions and Sean Sullivan, Associate Publisher/Group Marketing Director, Hearst Design Group followed by a panel discussion with nominees and judges moderated by Sullivan. For more information about the Innovation Showroom Awards and other programming at KBIS 2015, visit www.kbispressroom.com.

About KBIS
KBIS, in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) is an inspiring, interactive platform that showcases the latest industry products, trends and technologies. KBIS is the voice of the kitchen and bath industry and has been for 50 years.

Early in 2013, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced an agreement to co-locate the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) with the International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nev. in February 2014 under the banner of Design and Construction Week™. The mega-event will return Jan. 20-22, 2015, in Las Vegas with each show occupying a separate hall. Kitchen and bath brands that have participated in both shows can continue to choose to exhibit in the KBIS or IBS hall. One pass will provide access to both exhibits. NKBA and NAHB will continue to produce separate educational programming and special events.

For the latest news and announcements visit www.kbis.com, follow KBIS on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KitchenBathIndustryShow and on Twitter at @KBIS2015.

About the Hearst Design Group

Elle Decor, House Beautiful and Veranda magazines comprise Hearst Magazine’s Hearst Design Group.  Hearst Magazines is one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines with 21 U.S. titles and close to 300 International editions.

About the National Kitchen & Bath Association
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit trade association with more than 60,000 members that has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for over 50 years. NKBA.org provides consumers with an inspiration gallery of award-winning kitchen and bath designs, as well as articles, tips, and an extensive glossary of remodeling terms. At NKBA.org, consumers can also find NKBA Connect (the association’s official blog), certified kitchen and bath professionals in their areas, submit questions to NKBA experts, and download the free NKBA Kitchen Planner and NKBA Bath Planner. To learn more, visit the NKBA Press Room at www.NKBA.org.

About Emerald Expositions

Emerald is a leading operator of large business-to-business tradeshows in the United States, producing more than 85 tradeshows and conference events per year connecting over 525,000 buyers and sellers across ten diversified end-markets, including general merchandise; sports; hospitality and retail design; jewelry, luxury, and antiques; e-commerce; photography;  decorated apparel;  building; healthcare; and military. Emerald is headquartered in San Juan Capistrano, Cal. The company’s shows are typically the most prominent and important for exhibitors and attendees within their various industries. For more information on Emerald, please visit www.emeraldexpositions.com.