Case Study
Water pressure
How Kohler made a spectacular splash at KBIS
Client
Event
Challenge
Washing away the past: Create a personalized journey beyond previous exhibits
As a household name in the kitchen and bath world, Kohler wanted to make a splash with product launches across a variety of product lines at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). To accomplish this goal, the brand envisioned a truly interactive showroom in a semi-permanent space, reaching all audiences from interior designers to plumbers.
Rather than organize its exhibit design around the various product lines as in years past, Kohler featured its products across four experiences to take attendees on a luxurious (and sustainable) journey: Believing in Better, Design & Inspiration, Wellbeing Everywhere, and A Smarter Home.
Solution
Showering the senses: Staging a showroom with four immersive experiences
At KBIS, the Kohler Events Stage was strategically placed front and center with scheduled programming featuring panel discussions between industry experts Mikel Welch, Breegan Jane, and Jean Stoffer to provide thought leadership conversations in a more intimate way. This stage worked double-duty by hosting several events in the evening, including the NAHB endowment ceremony as well as VIP gatherings.
Upon entering the booth, attendees could create their own experience moving through each space — guests were able to either connect with an associate or use self-scanners to explore. Each theme was designed as a true showroom with natural elements, museum quality graphics, mood lighting, and running water. Guests were welcomed to join HGTV’s Chip Wade every hour as he participated in panel discussions and gave booth tours with Kohler product experts.
Attendees began in the Design & Inspiration area where the latest trends from “Modern Mood” to “Soft Escape” were featured. Attendees moved from Inspiration to Wellbeing Everywhere, viewing the latest products to keep feeling fresh and clean.
A Smarter Home featured the latest Alexa-integrated products to keep connected and make sure baths are the perfect temperature. Believing in Better, Kohler dedicated a space to its sustainability practices by leading with more eco-friendly products to benefit communities.
Each carefully curated design brought in-home inspiration to life in an authentic setting. The real kicker? Attendees could pick up, turn on, sit in, or sit on Kohler products, making it a truly interactive experience. Recycled water was even built into the exhibit design allowing attendees to actually feel the water pressure.
Result
Making waves: Award winning results worth reposting
Kohler’s new exhibit design was a hit at KBIS, with a big win for Best Large Booth. Kohler maintained its status as an industry leader and the brand was able to increase leads, social media reach, and user-generated content. The KBIS 2022 booth themes were heavily shared across social, with 700+ social mentions from Kohler partners, media, and attendees throughout the week. During the show, the team was also able to capture content and drive more traffic to Kohler Living, a new site dedicated to sharing the latest trends and best practices.
