KBIS Projects 40% Increase in 2010 Show Attendee Figures

ATLANTA, Ga.  –With the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) just around the corner and set to embark on McCormick Place in Chicago on April 16 - 18, 2010, attendee figures are showing a significant 40% increase over last year’s numbers during the same time period to date. Show producer Nielsen Expositions is now anticipating nearly 35,000 attendees at the show this year, which will include the industry’s top dealers, designers, builders, remodelers, retailers, and other professionals directly involved in the design and remodel of residential kitchens and bathrooms.
“The numbers are pretty staggering at this point as our research shows that 67% of the attendees who are registered for KBIS 2010 did not participate last year,” said Brian Pagel, vice president of the Kitchen and Bath Group at Nielsen Expositions. “This has surpassed our expectations and has generated a lot of early buzz and excitement surrounding the show in Chicago this year.”
A significant growth is particularly seen in the number of architectural firms that have signed up to attend the show to date, with a 20% increase compared to 2009 figures including many major architectural offices that have projects in the pipeline and will be looking for specific products, ideas and inspiration during the show. Design firms are also flexing solid numbers to date with a 15% increase overall compared to 2009 figures which includes many prominent designers and design firm executives. Lastly, Nielsen anticipates nearly a 10% increase in the number of plumbing wholesalers and distributors at KBIS this year based on the current projection figures.

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About the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit trade association with nearly 40,000 members that has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry for more than 45 years. NKBA.org provides consumers with an inspiration gallery of award-winning kitchen and bath designs, as well as articles, tips, an extensive glossary of remodeling terms, and illustrations and explanations of planning guidelines. At NKBA.org, consumers can also find certified kitchen and bath professionals in their areas, submit questions to NKBA experts, and order the free NKBA Kitchen & Bath Workbook.

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