K.B.I.S. International

What K.B.I.S. International does

K.B.I.S. International operates the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), North America's largest annual trade show dedicated to kitchen and bath design. Owned by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) — a 1963-founded not-for-profit trade association representing approximately 14,000 member companies and 50,000+ industry professionals — KBIS is professionally produced by Emerald X, a B2B event operator running 140+ events annually. The show aggregates the full kitchen and bath supply chain: 600-650+ exhibiting brands, 2,250-2,500 exhibitors when co-located with NAHB's International Builders Show as Design & Construction Week, and 117,000-124,000 attendees at recent editions spanning 1.15-1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space.

The core product is the three-day physical trade show, augmented by a digital infrastructure including the Exhibitor Hub portal (booth management, invoicing, directory listings), NKBA Mobile App (attendee-exhibitor meeting scheduling), and Digital Show Directory (online and print). Layered on top are multiple integrated programs: NEXTStage thought leadership panels; LUXURY Lounge for high-end design; Voices from the Industry (VFTI) Conference with CEU-accredited education and on-demand sessions through 2026; Best of KBIS Awards across seven categories; Innovation Hour audience-voted product showcase; Discovery District; KBIS Podcast Studio (AJ Madison-sponsored); and Homeworthy x KBIS Live Studio (GE Appliances-powered).

Revenue is generated through five streams: attendee registration fees, exhibitor booth rental (primary revenue with NKBA member discounts), tiered sponsorship and advertising (Platinum, Innovation Hour, session sponsors), exhibitor services through official contractor Freeman (freight, electrical, furniture, lead retrieval), and conference programming (VFTI). Go-to-market combines event-driven acquisition, enterprise field sales with regionally-segmented account executives, international agents in eight countries, and community-led distribution through NKBA's 50,000+ member network. KBIS 2027 and 2028 are committed to the Las Vegas Convention Center following the 2026 Orlando edition.

Name

K.B.I.S. International

Legal name

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

Website

https://kbis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

K.B.I.S. International operates KBIS, North America's largest annual kitchen and bath trade show, owned by NKBA and produced by Emerald X. It connects 600+ exhibiting brands with 117,000+ industry professionals across designers, builders, dealers, and manufacturers through a three-day exhibition co-located with the International Builders Show.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Show & Exhibition Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

Keywords

• Kitchen bath trade show
• Exhibit booth sales
• Trade show management
• Conference education programming
• Event sponsorship advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

San Juan Capistrano

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Attendee Registration: Fees charged to industry professionals for attending the trade show, including expo-only passes and conference passes. Registration is non-refundable but substitutes may be sent.
2. Exhibitor Booth Fees: Primary revenue stream from manufacturers and brands renting exhibit space. Companies receive 10 booth staff badges per 100 square feet. Additional staff may be registered for fees. NKBA members receive discounted booth rates.
3. Sponsorship and Advertising: Sponsorship opportunities including Innovation Hour track sponsors, session sponsors, and exclusive advertising placements in official KBIS materials. Digital upgrades for enhanced brand placement in the online directory and floor plan.
4. Exhibitor Services: Additional revenue from freight handling, electrical, furniture, carpet/flooring, lead retrieval units, and other booth services ordered through official vendor Freeman
5. Conference Programming (VFTI): Voices from the Industry conference sessions with CEU credits available. Includes access to on-demand sessions through end of 2026.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

KBIS is an annual trade show event that brings together kitchen and bath industry manufacturers, designers, dealers, builders, and remodelers for three days of product discovery, education, and networking. The event features over 600 exhibiting brands across nearly 500,000 square feet of exhibit space, complemented by the co-located VFTI Conference with CEU-accredited sessions, NEXTStage thought-leadership panels, the LUXURY Lounge, the Best of KBIS Awards program, and the Homeworthy x KBIS Live Studio broadcast platform.

Product overview

KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) is North America's largest trade show dedicated to kitchen and bath design. The event is a unified platform combining the core trade show exhibition with multiple integrated programs: NEXTStage for thought leadership panels, LUXURY Lounge for high-end design discussions, Voices from the Industry (VFTI) Conference for CEU-accredited education, Best of KBIS Awards for product recognition, Innovation Hour for emerging product showcases, Discovery District for trending products, KBIS Podcast Studio and Homeworthy x KBIS Live Studio for content creation, and NKBA Global Connect for international membership services. The show co-locates with the NAHB International Builders' Show as Design & Construction Week, and is owned by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and produced by Emerald.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) North America's largest annual trade show dedicated to kitchen and bath design, connecting manufacturers, distributors, retailers, designers, and builders for three days of product discovery, networking, and business growth. Features over 600 exhibiting brands and co-locates with the NAHB International Builders Show as Design & Construction Week.
• NEXTStage

Quantifiable outcome

• 117,000 industry professionals attended Design & Construction Week 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• NKBA Global Connect Strategic Alliance PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The Global Connect program, established in 2018, has built partnerships with international associations including: European Association for Taps and Valves Industry, Lviv Furniture Cluster (Ukraine), Brazilian furniture associations (FIMMA, MOVESUL), German associations (AMK, VDM), Italian associations (AVR, FederlegnoArredo, SICAM), Spanish associations (AMC, Amec, ASEBAN, FEBAN), and UK organizations (BIFIS, Bathroom Association).
• NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013NKBA is the not-for-profit trade association that owns KBIS. With nearly 14,000 member companies, NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry since 1963. The association's vision is a world where everyone enjoys safe, beautiful and functional kitchen and bath spaces. NKBA provides member discounts, certifications, and community programs that drive show participation.
• NAHB International Builders Show (IBS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013NAHB's International Builders Show co-locates with KBIS as Design & Construction Week (DCW), creating North America's largest gathering of residential design and construction professionals. One registration pass provides access to both shows. DCW 2026 drew over 117,000 attendees across both events.
• Emerald XcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEmerald is the leading B2B event producer managing KBIS. With over 140 events annually, Emerald provides show management, marketing, registration services, and venue coordination. The company operates from its New York headquarters and is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates.
• HomeworthymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHomeworthy, founded by 3x Emmy Award-winning journalist Alison Kenworthy, partnered with KBIS to launch the Homeworthy x KBIS Live Studio. The studio produced live design interviews, trend forecasts, and insider conversations during KBIS 2026, with content available on-demand. Powered by GE Appliances brands Monogram, CAFÉ, and GE Profile.
• GE Appliances (Monogram, CAFÉ, GE Profile)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerGE Appliances brands served as power sponsors for the Homeworthy x KBIS Live Studio, showcasing design district products and enabling live streaming of design conversations. Their brands appear throughout the show floor as key exhibitors and sponsors.
• AJ MadisonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAJ Madison, a major appliance distributor, sponsored the KBIS Podcast Studio, bringing industry conversations to the show floor in an intimate, content-rich format.
• FreemancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFreeman is the official show contractor for KBIS, providing exhibit installation and dismantling, freight handling, and exclusive aerial rigging services. They manage the marshaling yard and exhibitor service desk.
• Maritz Global EventscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMaritz Global Events serves as the official registration partner, managing attendee registration, lead retrieval units, and badge production for KBIS.
• EvolveCon (HotelMap)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEvolveCon, powered by HotelMap, is the only authorized housing provider for KBIS, managing hotel reservations for attendees and exhibitors.
• LUXE Interiors + DesignmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLUXE Interiors + Design is the official media sponsor of Best of KBIS awards program. With 4.5 million print and digital reach, LUXE provides editorial coverage and credibility to the awards program.
• Sharp ThinkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSharp Think is the official public relations agency for KBIS, handling media inquiries, press credential management, and communications strategy.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Las Vegas Market (International Market Centers): Las Vegas Market is a major home furnishings and design trade show co-located with other industry events in Las Vegas. It serves an overlapping buyer base of designers, dealers, and residential builders with a comparable booth and sponsorship revenue model.
• Coverings (Tile & Stone Trade Show): Coverings is North America's largest trade show for ceramic tile and natural stone, often overlapping with KBIS exhibitors (e.g., Cosentino, Daltile) and surfacing categories. It serves a comparable B2B audience of designers, dealers, and contractors in the residential surfacing market.
• International Builders Show (IBS): NAHB's International Builders Show is KBIS's co-location partner for Design & Construction Week. It is a directly comparable B2B trade show serving the residential construction industry with a similar exhibitor/attendee model and revenue mix of booth fees, registration, and sponsorships.
• High Point Market: High Point Market is the world's largest home furnishings trade show, running twice yearly in North Carolina. It serves an overlapping buyer base of interior designers and residential dealers with a comparable exhibitor/attendee revenue model.
• Surfaces (Flooring Trade Show): Surfaces is the leading North American flooring trade show, frequently co-located with other building industry events. It serves a comparable audience of dealers, designers, and contractors and competes for overlapping exhibitors like Mohawk, Shaw, and MSI.

Emerging players

• NAFEM (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers): NAFEM is a trade association that owns The NAFEM Show, a biennial foodservice equipment trade show. It shares the association-owned trade show model with NKBA/KBIS and targets adjacent kitchen industry buyers (commercial vs. residential).

Broad incumbents

• Informa Markets: Informa Markets is one of the world's largest trade show organizers with a portfolio spanning hundreds of B2B exhibitions. Its design and construction-adjacent shows (e.g., Surface Design Show, Cityscape) make it a direct competitor for exhibitor budgets and a structural comp for revenue mix.
• RX Global (Reed Exhibitions): RX Global operates a portfolio of 400+ trade shows including design and consumer goods events (Maison&Objet, Ambiente). It competes for exhibitor marketing dollars and represents a comparable B2B event production and monetization model.
• Emerald X: Emerald X is KBIS's production partner and one of the largest B2B event producers in North America, operating over 140 events annually. While Emerald produces KBIS, its broader portfolio (including Surf Expo, Outdoor Retailer, and others) makes it a structural peer for event production capabilities and scale economics.

Regional players

• Atlanta Market (AmericasMart): Atlanta Market is a major home and gift trade show held in Atlanta. It serves a partially overlapping buyer base of interior designers and retailers with a comparable revenue model, and is a regional alternative to KBIS for buyers in the southeastern US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kbis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KitchenBathShow
• Facebookfacebook.com/kitchenbathindustryshow
• Instagraminstagram.com/kbis_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 K.B.I.S. International