Can we all agree, 2020 was a total flop for Kitchen & Bath trade shows? Most were cancelled and a few got it together in time to go virtual. I don’t know about you, but I am seriously itching to get back on the trade show scene. I’m missing all of the interaction, education, and inspiration opportunities. I love strolling the vendor booths and learning about the latest in plumbing, tile, countertops, appliances, new innovations, and cabinetry (though I’d love to see more on this last point – seems to me, most shows are lacking in cabinet dealers and need to add in some higher end options).
2021 is coming in hot with some of our favorite trade shows going virtual right out of the gates (we see you CES aka Consumer Electronics Show – which was virtual from January 11-14). And, I don’t know if they’re being overly hopeful/ambitious, but come, June – quite a few shows are planning to go LIVE and in person. How are you feeling about the prospect of strolling live trade shows again?
Here are the top Kitchen & Bath trade shows and what you can expect from them in 2021:
KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) February 9-12, Virtual
KBIS is going down virtual this year. I have to say, I’m pretty excited to see how they handle things. I’ve been wondering how we’re going to “visit” booths virtually. This event is usually massive and held in Vegas. I love attending, but usually, by the end, I’m physically exhausted and I can never seem to see and participate in everything.
I’m very excited about the On Demand aspect of the virtual event. All presentations will be available On Demand until March 31. This will give us all loads of time to take in even more speakers and education opportunities than we could live. I love this idea!
IBS (International Builders Show) February 9-12, Virtual
IBS traditionally runs concurrently with KBIS and it will again this year, only virtually now. I’m very curious to see how this dual virtual event pans out. This year, IBS is offering 100+ education sessions in 9 industry tracks with an All Access pass.
I’m thinking going virtual might actually leave me less exhausted and allow me to consume more content. Score, score.
High Point Market, June 5-9, Live
Registration for this event will open in late February, but by the looks of things on their site, they are planning to be completely live and in person from High Point, NC. They have info listed addressing how they plan to stay #HPMKTSafe amidst the pandemic.
I will be curious to see, once registration opens, how quickly live tickets sell and who will be exhibiting. This is something to keep a close eye on.
New York Luxury Design Fair (Formerly Architectural Digest) September 9-12, Live
This show might just be the one with the most change happening. They’ve got a name change AND a new location. Event planners are swapping Pier 94 for Javits Center. They’ll likely be able to attract more people at this larger and more upscale venue.
As of right now, little more info than dates and location are available, but you can sign up for updates. This is another one I’ll be following closely.