NKBA

What NKBA does

NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) is a U.S. non-profit trade association founded in 1963 and headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, serving the residential and commercial kitchen and bath industry. Its member base spans designers, manufacturers, retailers, remodelers, and architects, supported by 51-100 employees and a network of over 50 local chapters across the United States. The association operates a diversified portfolio of programs anchored by three core assets: (1) a three-tier professional certification ladder (AKBD, CKBD, CMKBD) plus specialty badges and a CEU program; (2) KBIS, the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show co-located with NAHB's International Builders' Show as Design & Construction Week; and (3) the K&B Pro Hub member portal, Knowledge Base, proprietary industry research (including the annual Kitchen Trends Report), and the VFTI conference program.

The business model combines subscription-recurring membership dues and certification/CEU fees with transaction-based revenue from KBIS (booth rentals, registration, sponsorships) and one-time sales through the NKBA Store of planning guidelines, exam prep, and research reports. Corporate sponsorships and advertising at KBIS, THE BASH, Design and Industry Awards, and the Thirty Under 30 program provide a further monetization layer. Distribution runs through direct membership recruitment, the chapter network as a grassroots channel, the global e-commerce storefront at store.nkba.org, and the Global Connect initiative that extends international reach via strategic alliances (e.g., TUV Rheinland for European compliance standards). The underlying technology is a conventional member platform stack — the K&B Pro Hub at hub.nkba.org, the Knowledge Base at kb.nkba.org, online certification tracking, CEU program management, and virtual event delivery — without disclosed AI/ML components.

Name

NKBA

Legal name

National Kitchen and Bath Association

Website

https://nkba.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NKBA is a U.S. non-profit trade association founded in 1963 that serves kitchen and bath industry professionals through certifications (AKBD/CKBD/CMKBD), the annual KBIS trade show, a chapter network, proprietary research, and continuing education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hackettstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from kitchen and bath industry professionals including designers, manufacturers, retailers, and related businesses. Members receive access to certifications, CEUs, industry research, and chapter networks.
2. KBIS Trade Show: Revenue from the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), including booth rentals, sponsorship packages, conference registration, and expo attendance. KBIS co-locates with NAHB's International Builders' Show as part of Design & Construction Week.
3. NKBA Store: Sales of course materials, certification exam prep products, planning guidelines handbooks, professional resource libraries, and market research reports.
4. Certification and CEU Programs: Revenue from professional certifications (AKBD, CKBD, CMKBD) and continuing education unit programs for kitchen and bath designers.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities and corporate advertising during KBIS events, including branding at THE BASH, NKBA Design and Industry Awards, and Thirty Under 30 program.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NKBA is a not-for-profit trade association that serves kitchen and bath industry professionals through professional certifications (AKBD, CKBD, CMKBD), continuing education (CEU) programs, proprietary industry research, and the annual Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). The organization also operates a digital member platform (K&B Pro Hub), publishes industry planning guidelines and trend reports, and runs a nationwide network of over 50 local chapters supporting members.

Product overview

NKBA is a professional trade association offering a portfolio of membership-based services and programs for the kitchen and bath industry. The core offerings include KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show), a major annual trade show co-located with the International Builders' Show; a three-tier certification program (AKBD, CKBD, CMKBD) for professional designers; specialty badges for continuing education; planning guidelines publications; and the K&B Pro Hub member portal. Additional programs include Voices from the Industry (VFTI) conference sessions, Design Competition, Thirty Under 30 program, Chapter Leadership support, Global Connect international business development, NextUp workforce development, and an online store for educational materials and publications. The association also publishes annual Kitchen Trends Reports and provides CEU credits for professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NKBA: Primary association brand for kitchen and bath professionals
• KBIS
• Design & Construction Week
• Voices from the Industry
• AKBD
• CKBD
• CMKBD

Products and services

• NKBA Membership Professional association membership providing access to certifications, industry reports, networking events, continuing education, and member-only resources for kitchen and bath industry professionals and companies.
• KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) Annual trade show co-located with the International Builders' Show (IBS) as part of Design & Construction Week, featuring exhibitors, education sessions, and networking events for kitchen and bath industry professionals.
• NKBA Certifications (AKBD, CKBD, CMKBD) Three-tier certification program for kitchen and bath designers: Associate Kitchen & Bath Designer (AKBD), Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer (CKBD), and Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD), validating professional expertise.
• CEU Program Continuing Education Unit program allowing professionals to earn credits through approved courses, webinars, and educational content to maintain certifications.
• K&B Pro Hub Online member portal providing access to resources, industry insights, professional development tools, and exclusive content for kitchen and bath industry members.
• Planning Guidelines Industry-standard planning guidelines and handbook for kitchen and bathroom design, available for purchase in the NKBA store.
• Industry Reports & Research In-depth industry reports, market studies, and research publications including the annual Kitchen Trends Report covering kitchen styles, color trends, design layouts, and material choices.
• Voices from the Industry (VFTI) Conference Educational conference program at KBIS featuring panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, and presentations on industry-relevant topics in four tracks: Building/Remodeling, Design, Marketing, and Technology.
• Global Connect Business development initiative helping North American kitchen and bath industry professionals with international expansion, featuring strategic alliance partnerships like TUV Rheinland for European product compliance standards.
• NKBA Store Online store offering course materials, certification exam prep, market research publications, planning guidelines handbook, and professional resource library.
• Specialty Badges Specialty badges that certified members can earn to demonstrate expertise in specific areas of kitchen and bath design.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72% of consumers prefer transitional/timeless styles; 96% prefer neutrals according to NKBA's 2026 Kitchen Trends Report
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TUV RheinlandstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2025TUV Rheinland, a German-based global independent product testing and compliance company, has joined NKBA Global Connect as a Strategic Alliance Partner. Under this exclusive partnership, TUV Rheinland provides expertise to North American kitchen and bath industry professionals on European product compliance standards, including environmental, sustainability, safety, and sustainable sourcing requirements that differ from U.S. standards. The collaboration aims to help companies build sustainable business practices and meet net-zero environmental goals.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• High Point Market Authority: High Point Market Authority operates one of the largest home furnishings trade shows in the world (High Point Market), a direct operational analog to NKBA's KBIS in the adjacent home/furnishings vertical. Both are non-profit-style trade show organizers driving manufacturer and designer attendance.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): NAHB is the largest US trade association for the home building industry and co-locates the International Builders' Show (IBS) with NKBA's KBIS as 'Design & Construction Week.' It is the closest comparable as a non-profit trade body running a major annual trade show and certification programs, and it shares joint branding and venue economics with NKBA.
• Interior Design Society (IDS): IDS is a member-based interior design association that offers certifications, chapter networks, and professional development. It is a smaller-scale but structurally identical trade body to NKBA, competing for the same residential designer persona.
• International Interior Design Association (IIDA): IIDA is a commercial-interior-design professional association with membership, certifications, continuing education, and a strong event portfolio — a comparable trade-body model with overlapping membership targets in the kitchen/bath design community.
• American Society of Interior Designers (ASID): ASID is a non-profit professional association for interior designers offering membership, certifications, CEU programs, and industry research — directly parallel to NKBA's structure and revenue model, just at a broader interior-design level that overlaps kitchen/bath designers.
• International Housewares Association (IHA): IHA is a trade association for the housewares industry running The Inspired Home Show and offering member services, market research, and education — structurally identical to NKBA and serving overlapping manufacturer and retailer segments.

Emerging players

• CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association): CEDIA is a trade association for the residential technology integration industry with membership, certification (CEDIA ESC), annual trade show (CEDIA Expo), and industry research — a comparable association model in the broader residential design/build ecosystem that increasingly intersects with kitchen and bath specifications.
• NEWH (Network of the Hospitality Industry): NEWH is a non-profit hospitality industry network for designers and suppliers with scholarships, events, and member programs. It is a smaller but structurally similar trade body in an adjacent commercial design vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Las Vegas Market (International Market Centers): Las Vegas Market is a large home furnishings trade show and marketplace operated by International Market Centers, comparable to NKBA's KBIS in scale and audience overlap, though broader in scope across home categories.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA): AIA is the largest US professional association for architects, offering membership, certifications, CEUs, conventions (AIA Conference on Architecture), and industry research. It is a much broader incumbent in the built environment that overlaps NKBA's architect and designer member segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thenkba
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-kitchen-and-bath-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/thenkba
• Xx.com/thenkba

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NKBA