The U.K. Called and Global Connect Came.
By Nicholas Tamarin
The InstallerSHOW 2025, the UK’s largest event for heat, water, air, and energy professionals, welcomed the NKBA | KBIS Global Connect team from June 24 to 26 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, U.K. Joining the team to meet with exhibitors, visitors, and media representatives were Global Connect Advisor LuAnn Nigara, a design business coach and speaker, Global Connect Advisor Eric Marshall, a custom closet expert, and Veronika Miller, lead consultant for Global Connect.
This year’s event was a landmark, bringing together 800 exhibitors, over 30,000 installers, specifiers, and decision-makers, and more than 95,000 visitor scans. It served as a premier platform for discovering new products, networking, connecting with manufacturers, and staying updated on industry trends.
Day 1 began with Noëlle C. Lavery, Director of Member Relations, Domestic & Global Brands, and Steven Campeau, Senior Manager, Global and Government Relations, walking the show floor with Global Connect Advisor Eric Marshall to meet with the more than 20 NKBA members and conduct micro-interviews at each stop. Day 2 proved dynamic. The NKBA team attended a significant reveal by Strategic Alliance Partner BMA, announcing their rebrand to the Bathroom Association. They also witnessed “Pitchfest,” a fast-paced version of KBIS’s spotlight sponsorships, where five companies presented their products to an engaged audience. Global Connect Advisor LuAnn Nigara participated in a panel discussion led by the Bathroom Association, followed by Nigara conducting interviews with various companies on the show floor. Meanwhile, Lavery and Marshall took an unexpected offsite factory tour of Lamtek near Sherwood Forest.
A key highlight of the visit was the NKBA-hosted North American Kitchen and Bath Design Business Breakfast on Thursday, June 26. It was held at the HAUS, an innovative activation on the show floor that showcased the stages of home construction, with NKBA members like Senstec, Titus, and BLANCO in attendance. During the breakfast, the NKBA presented the latest North American economic data, U.S. design business trends, and a preview of KBIS 2026, followed by a Q&A session. The NKBA team also visited numerous NKBA members exhibiting at the show, including Hidealoo, Häfele, Titus, Grohe, Hansgrohe, Fluidmaster, Gerberite, Grant Westfield, Sensio, Blanco, Senstec, and Croydex.
“We were excited to attend the InstallerSHOW this year and walk the show floor to meet NKBA members exhibiting as well as meet with potential new Global Connect members,” Campeau said. “This program serves as a platform to build partnerships with trade groups and associations such as the Bathroom Association and the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation, as well as assist companies to understand the $235 billion residential kitchen and bath North American market. We look forward to continuing making these important connections for the betterment and growth of the international K&B industry.”
To learn more about the Global Connect program visit nkba.org/global-connect.
