Anyone going to KBIS in Chicago 16-18 April.

More countertop companies will be there than at the countertop expo? humm

Jon, I really hope you are right. When I went to ISSFA and got trained, then to the shows, it was awesome.  I met so many great guys, along with a few crazy ones. Speaking of Lenny...  the ISSFA social times were awesome.. my head still hurts Lenny... 


But the reality is Jon... All the big players that were at our show and stopped attending, will be at KBIS, with the exception of LG... but because of their merger could not pull it out.  In these lean times, I'm sure a company will want to spend the cash to get in front of tens of thousands, versus a few hundred, it only makes sense.
I met ISSFA at the IWF show in Atlanta. They were there because they knew, cabinet guys like me might be interested in fabrication someday.

The countertop companys will be at KBIS because everyone there sells a product that needs a surface.  I really cannot think of a better fit.  I build cabinets, I recommend surfaces to my clients, and so will the thousands of attendees there.

This will be my first ever trip to KBIS. When I look at the exhibitor list, I cannot wait to see all the different bathroom options out their, all the new products out there for kitchens.  
When I sell a countertop, I try to up-sale doors, slides, drawer boxes, knobs, pulls. It only makes sense. 

To see all the products available to me at one place, priceless.  To go to a show and not see the companies i buy from???  While there is awesome value in the seminars, they just don't draw the people like the quality exhibitors do.

Jon, most of the fabricators out there are veteran fabricators that already know about the big sheet guys. Do you really think there are that many start up companies that need to be pandered to?

I'll be at KBIS...to see what is gonna stimulate the next generation of buyers...to me its all about the designs...I will then decide what material makes the countertop...Just like we diverse into CT materials..I also hafta diverse into cabinetry once in awhile..

I am going.  Not sure which day I will be there yet.

I'm driving up on Thursday night, have to leave early Saturday morning.... party... well that is a tradition with the Fabnet Guys eh? Someone said they thought you could smell a party from 1500 miles away!

The ROI will determine which one will survive.

In the long run, I think we will see these shows being every other year. It's too expensive for everyone, exhibitors and attendees to go to all these shows each year. ICE may need to get out of Vegas due to the costs the Unions charge to be really successful. Count all the Architectural, Design shows plus industry shows and its over whelming how much mfg could spend if they wanted to attend all of the shows. I have gone to many KBIS shows over the years. Typically when I don't go I feel guilty, and when I do go I feel guilty. Not much changes from year to year.

Im not sure with the pricing being driven down to where they are, that there is much money left for expensive shows. I would rather the vendors push our products to our customers rather than to us. That will benefit us much more.

Kelsey...I inboxed ya and had to say i will not be there...I have a nice deal in the morning that will give me a check ..it outweighed the Chicago trip...I really wanted to go and it was a big decision for me...I hope i can go next year is what I should say...because being physically able isn't the deal...I am a greedy ass and am taking all the jobs I can until I just go outright nuts...I just love money it so cool to look at...LOL...really would have like to get together with with you and John and a couple others I was suposta meet there