By Dianne M. Pogoda
Company News
Kingswood Capital Buys Kichler Lighting: Kingswood Capital Management has acquired Kichler Lighting from Masco Corp. and will merge Kichler with its portfolio company, Progress Lighting. The acquisition aims to create one of North America’s leading residential lighting platforms. The combined company will benefit from expanded distribution and service capabilities and a robust product catalog serving customers across homebuilder, trade, showroom, retail, and ecommerce sales channels. More info here.
Armina Expands in South Florida: Pittsburgh-based Armina, a natural stone importer and fabricator, has opened two locations in South Florida, marking the brand’s expansion in that market. Armina Stone Miami, a gallery and fabrication facility, opened in Hialeah, and Armina Luxe opened a luxury showroom in the Miami Design District. KBB has more.
Almo Taps Kassenbaum: Almo Corp, the nation’s largest independent distributor of appliances, professional AV/electronics and housewares, has named Maggie Kassenbaum SVP of its Premium Appliances division, overseeing strategy, revenue, profitability. She leads all business-building activities, including new business development, product sales, sales support, product management, and marketing. Prior to Almo, Kassenbaum was SVP & GM of luxury retail for Synchrony (formerly GE Retail Finance), and held leadership roles at GE and Haier Smart Home, most recently as VP of U.S. Sales for Fisher & Paykel Appliances. Learn more here.
Obituary: Beata Galdi: Long-time NKBA Manhattan Chapter member Beata Galdi has died after a brief illness. Founder and president of Beata Galdi Design, an award-winning interior architecture firm in Manhattan, her projects ranged from residential to retail and hospitality, including restaurants, hospitals and hotels. Her approach was defined by manipulation of light, precise application of color and the careful selection of natural materials that elevate the beauty of the space. She studied interior architecture, art and the integration of architecture and painting and earned a degree in Interior Architecture at the Academy of Fine and Applied Arts in Krakow, in her native Poland. She was an active member of the Manhattan Chapter, volunteering for many events including the 2019 NKBA Manhattan Healthy Kitchen Symposium and helping the Membership Committee.
Chapter Updates
Oktoberfest in Maryland: Enjoy some beer, brats and an oompah band with the Baltimore/Washington Chapter on Oct. 17 for an Oktoberfest networking happy hour. The event is free and takes place from 5 to 7 PM at the Sub-Zero Wolf Cove Showroom, 9204 Berger Road in Columbia, MD. Info and registration here.
Battle in the Mountains: The Rocky Mountain Chapter is hosting a Battle of the Chefs culinary showdown on Oct. 17, 5:30 to 8:30 PM, at Roth Living, 742 South Broadway in Denver. Local chefs will go head-to-head, competing for the title of Top Chef. NKBA Members are $25, non-members are $35, and students are free. Info and registration here.
Industry News
AHAM Battles CA Warning Label: The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers is protesting California’s proposed legislation to require warning labels be placed on all gas cooking products. The Washington, DC-based trade group asserts that California bill AB 2513, represents “harmful legislation [that] is grounded in misinformation about the health risks, faulty data and an incomplete approach to protecting consumer health and safety when it comes to indoor air quality.” KBDN has the story.
New Home Sales Slip in August: Sales of new single-family houses in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 716,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 4.7 percent below July’s rate of 751,000, but is 9.8 percent higher than the August 2023 estimate of 652,000. With a median sales price of $420,600 and an average of $497,700, the inventory of new houses for sale at the end of August represents a supply of 7.8 months at the current sales rate. More detail here.
London Design Festival Reveals a Whimsical Side: The 22nd London Design Festival wrapped up nine days showcasing installations, projects, and trends that could emerge in the near future. Among the key elements: a revival of mid-century modern style, the importance of sunlight, and furniture gets “playful.” More detail at Livingetc.
