Innovative new and hot Kitchen & Bath products in 2011
BY PETER SCHOR
Showroom specialist
The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show was held from April 26–28 in Las Vegas. There were approximately 34,000 people in attendance and 575 exhibitor booths. While the number of exhibitors and the attendance was down from the boom years, this K/BIS was spectacular. Why? The attendees were focused on the bath, plumbing and kitchen business, through thick and thin; attendees and manufacturers spoke to each other at length, rather than the “scan my badge and run” routine of the best years; and there was an extraordinary amount of exciting new products.
I want to apologize in advance and acknowledge that many great bath and kitchen manufacturers are not included this article, because it would be impossible to feature all the innovations in this limited space. I have tried to select the highlights of K/BIS 2011 from my viewpoint. I walked the show at 7 a.m. each day and visited most of the 575 booths.
The BEST of K/BIS 2011 awards
The eight winning products, selected for their functionality, quality/durability, flexibility, aesthetics/style and innovation, were each introduced in the past 12 months. The products were judged by editors from nine different magazines. It leaves a lot to be desired that there were only two “Best of Bath Awards,” when there are so many categories in the bath sector.
Following are the Best of KBIS 2011 winners:
Best of Kitchen
• Gold Award — True Prof. Series undercounter refrigerator drawers (www.true-residential.com)
• Silver Award — Dacor distinctive 30-inch dual-fuel range (www.dacor.com)
Best of Bath
• Gold Award — EGR Lustrolite acrylic shower panels (www.lustrolite.com)
• Silver Award — Moen Flushmount body sprays (www.moen.com)
Best Universal Design Product
• Healthcraft Products Invisia collection SerenaSeat (www.healthcraftproducts.com)
Best Green Product
• Hafele America L00X LED lighting system (www.hafele.com/us)
Best of Show
• WarmlyYours innovative infrared glass heating systems (www.warmlyyours.com)
People’s Choice Award
• Penguin Toilets Model 524 with overflow protection (www.penguintoilets.com)
Many “clear winners” for today’s showrooms
Showering and steam bathing, bringing the spa experience inside the shower, was big.
There is no doubt that Kohler, Moen, Delta, Jaclo, Hansgrohe and many others lead the industry in shower power and technology.
• Jet-Pro Shower Spas (www.jetproshowerspas.com) offers one of the hottest new bath product categories in years. These pre-plumbed shower columns (panels), which are pending IAPMO approval, use the existing shower valve, making them ideal for retrofit. You remove the shower arm, quick connect to the 1/2" I.P.S connection and fasten to the wall, all in about 15 minutes.
• Jaclo Industries (www.jaclo.com) is a leader in the U.S. industry category as one of the largest diversified “shower power” collections. The Jaclo Rain Canopy will delight the senses and is available in round, oval, square and rectangle models from 12" to 20". See Jaclo’s new line of linear shower drains and expanded collection of grab bars.
• Moen (www.moen.com) won the “Best of K/BIS” Bath Silver Award with their Flushmount body sprays. These sprays are available in round and square models, and they blend seamlessly with tile, slate or other premium shower surround materials.
• The Tile Redi shower bench (www.tileredi.com) can simply be screwed into the shower frame and immediately becomes ready to tile over. Re-formed, one-piece Tile Redi bench models, in combination with the Tile Redi shower pan system, can be installed in a very short time.
• RODA by BASCO (www.basco.com) has a collection of eight RODA series that offer a number of different styles, configurations and accessory options.
• Showering has just gotten a lot better with Mr. Steam’s (www.mrsteam.com) spa package that includes Steamtherapy™, AromaSteam™, ChromaSteam™ and in-shower Musictherapy™ speakers. The ChromaSteam system integrates light with steam and offers a selection of colors. Complete with electronic chromalogic for single or rotating color selection, it features multiple vapor-sealed, low voltage, high performance LED light modules. The innovative AromaSteam system releases aromatherapy essences electronically into the steamroom.
Bathing beauties
• Jason International (www.jasoninternational.com) launched their innovative new MicroSilkTM therapy, which redefines luxury-class bathing systems. MicroSilk creates a unique therapeutic experience for body, mind and spirit through a patent-pending process which generates billions of tiny, oxygen-rich microbubbles.
• Kohler’s (www.kohler.com)”Elevance” rising wall bath offers a stylish alternative to walk-in and institutional-looking baths. The tub has a lot of features and benefits. There is a must-see “video stream” on Kohler’s website demonstrates their new tub.
• Tyrell and Laing International Bathtubs (www.TandLinternational.com) offers an exclusive range of cast stone Luxury Lifestyle bathtubs, lavatories and shower bases. The bathtubs have been designed for ultimate relaxation and comfort, along with elegance and beauty. T&L bathtubs are made in the USA, have a 10-year warranty and are offered in an infinite number of colors and numerous textures. Grab this one for your showroom before it is gone!
• American Standard FunBaths™ (www.americanstandard.com) put the fun back in bathing. Temporarily transform your tub with the innovative FunBath. Kids everywhere will soon be clamoring for a chance to bathe in the super-cool line of children’s FunBath tub conversions.
Luxury toilet wars and new innovations
There was intense competition at K/BIS 2011 for the most elaborate, high priced luxury toilet. The competitors included Kohler’s “NUMI”, INAX’S “REGIO”, TOTO’s “NeoRest” and some others. In my opinion, Kohler won the battle with the heated seat, feet warming, integrated air dryer and a few other features.
• Penguin Toilets LLC (www.penguintoilets.com) has designed a patented secondary drain system built within the bowl that adds protection against overflow. This toilet has built-in overflow protection that has been IAPMO approved.
• AquaCleana (www.aquacleana.com) offers the world’s first ceramic front entry toilet. The front entry means that wheelchair users no longer have to pivot 180 degrees to mount the toilet. This also ensures that the user is no longer reliant on what the caregiver considered clean, and it helps caregivers who are outsized by their patients, thus restoring confidence, dignity and independence to the disabled and elderly. There is 12" rough-in, with IAPMO code approval pending. Flushometer and tank type models are currently being produced. I believe toilet manufacturers will be fighting over the rights to produce this patented invention by Mark Anderson.
Faucetry
• La Torre Faucets (www.latorre-spa.it), 100% designed, engineered and manufactured in Italy, are sold in 42 countries and on five continents. They offer a wide range of products from modern/contemporary to traditional and are warehoused in Atlanta, Ga. allowing for quick shipment. All products are made from solid brass, using ceramic disk technology and carry IAPMO certifications and code approvals.
• Also stocked in the Atlanta and all from Italy are Bagno & Associati bath accessories; Designo Ceramica, fine fire clay plumbing fixtures and BMT, a high quality lacquered bath furniture line.
Bath accessories
• Aptations (www.aptations.com) provides the next generation of LED lighting in their series of environmentally friendly, LED-lighted make-up mirrors. The traditional, round LED wall-mounted mirror and the minimalist rectangular LED mirrors have all been upgraded with newer, brighter LED technology. Every showroom should be selling magnification mirrors.
There is nothing like shaving in the shower! Aptations’ ClearMirror is the innovative solution for fogless mirrors in bathrooms and grooming spaces across North America. These mirrors are energy efficient, permanent, safe, easy to install and UL/C-UL listed.
• Great Grabz (www.greatgrabz.com) has award-winning designs of Wave decorative ADA-compliant safety grab bars with exceptional mounting kits.
• Healthcraft, winner of the “Best of K/BIS 2011” Best Universal Designed products, with their SerenaSeat (www.healthhcraftproducts.com) offers a whole new generation of bath products with solutions for those wanting assistance without compromising luxury.
• Electric Mirror (www.electricmirror.com) launched their “Visionary” luxury medicine cabinets with lighting and LCD-mirrored TV which was a huge hit!
Changing the way we mount accessories forever
• Innovative Products Sales International (www.innovativeproductsinc.com), which was a huge hit at ISH, Germany, 2011, is a manufacturer of bath accessories, shower products and grab bars and has patented a “no drilling required” mounting technology for all of their products. This technology works on tile, stone, glass, marble, wood, metal and most plastics. The ADA-compliant system works indoors or out and on smooth or rough surfaces. The products can install in less than two minutes and are removable if needed, with no damage to the surface. The system can easily be installed by the average DIY consumer. Many manufacturers will buy this technology from them for their accessory lines.
Best kitchen products
• Stainless Living backsplash systems (www.stainlessliving.com) were a huge hit. These distinctive backsplashes are available in three sizes and 14 different designs. You can choose from the three stock sizes or the systems can be customized to fit perfectly, to your exact specifications. Installation is accomplished in minutes, using a combination of two-sided tape and construction adhesive. Plumbing and appliance showroom display and stocking distributor programs are offered strictly through “channel distribution” and are very profitable. For 2012 they will be offering S.S. dishwasher panels and refrigerator fronts in 14 different patterns. They are a $25 million dollar, 70-year-old company.
• Rigidized stainless steel countertops (www.rigidized.com) offers custom metal countertops made from textured and plain stainless steel and copper. Stainless steel countertops are hot! There is a wide offering of edge-profile backsplash styles and corner options such as integral sinks. For showrooms, one unit can be put on display for qualification purposes. It is as easy as mailing or faxing CAD or shop drawings to Rigidized from your client. They will give you a consumer price, a trade price and your price. These products are highly profitable and competitive, and they ship to all parts of the U.S.
Other niceties
I am sure that I missed many new products in this article. Please let me know what I missed or if there are any new and hot products that you think should be included in future articles. I can be reached via e-mail at pschor@dynamicresultsinc.com.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope it was of great benefit, especially for those who did not come to K/BIS. Mark your calendar for K/BIS 2012, April 27–29 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Peter Schor, president of Dynamic Results Inc, is a bath/plumbing industry speaker, educator, author, columnist and consultant in the many segments of our industry. For the past 20 years, he conducted seminars and speaks at numerous conventions. Schor has great expertise in the field of showrooms and hotel bathrooms and has won many industry awards. He also consults manufacturers in taking their products to market in the areas of sales, marketing and public relations. Schor can be reached at 1302 Longhorn Lane, Lincoln, CA. 95648, phone 916/408-5346, fax: 916/408-5899. e-mail pschor@dynamicresultsinc.com or visit his web site: www.dynamicresultsonline.com.