Kitchen and Bath Industry Show 2024
The upcoming Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas is just on the horizon. The event will take place on February 27th-29th. This year is the 60th anniversary of the show, which makes it exceptional. KBIS has organized an event to commemorate its anniversary – the celebratory toast. The ceremony will be held on February 29th at NEXTStage in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. To mark the occasion, guests will be honored with champagne and cake.
For those who are unfamiliar with KBIS, it is an inspiring and interactive platform focusing on all kitchen and bath design aspects. The National Kitchen and Bath Association hosts the show to demonstrate the newest industry products, trends, and technologies from various exhibitors.
This year, we will attend the last two days of the show, February 28th and 29th. Feel free to contact me at elizaveta@usfutaba.com for any additional information or if you would like to schedule a meeting with us.
Product Highlight
Aluminum Hourglass Closet Rod
This edition’s product highlight is the Aluminum Hourglass Closet Rod. Recently, we have added two new anodized finishes – matte black and dull brass. With these additions, all our aluminum rods now come in the same variety of finishes – dull chrome, dull nickel, dull brass, matte black, and oil rubbed bronze.
This product is made from high-quality aluminum, which is both durable and lightweight. Its hourglass shape provides a modern and sleek appearance too. Below are several other features that make this rod stand out:
- Reversible design: the option to choose a ribbed or smooth side
- Protective plastic strip: prevents damage to the aluminum finish
- Secure supports: locks and holds the rod tightly in position
To learn more about anodized aluminum, scroll down to the end of the newsletter.
Samples are available upon request but are limited. Please visit our contact page or send an email to sales@usfutaba.com for more information.
Industry News
Interest Rate Drop
Although today’s world is full of unpleasant news, there is always something good too. The economic predictions state that we are expecting relatively low interest rates throughout the year 2024.
Declining rates have a huge effect on the housing market. Such a tendency leads to an increased builder and buyer activity. Specifically, when rates fall, it becomes more affordable for buyers to obtain a mortgage, which leads to an increase in demand for new homes. Consequently, this increased demand encourages developers and builders to invest in new construction projects. Additionally, lower interest rates make it more attractive for existing homeowners to refinance their properties, which can save them money for spending on home improvements.
On the other side, such a boom in the housing market can bring challenges. For instance, we can expect an increase in prices for home-related products such as lumber, furniture, or decorative hardware. Additionally, due to a high volume of work, there may be a shortage of workers available to complete projects and prices for labor may go up.
To track changes in the housing market, you can refer to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This index is a monthly survey conducted by NAHB and Wells Fargo Bank among homebuilders. It measures the confidence of builders in the housing market and their expectations for the future. The HMI is calculated based on three questions and ranges from 0 to 100, with a score above 50 considered good. Recently, the HMI of the Northeast was scored at 55, the South at 41, The West at 32, and the Midwest at 34.
Anodized Aluminum: What Are the Benefits?
Anodizing is a process of treating nonferrous metals to increase their durability, corrosion resistance, and aesthetic appeal. It involves immersing the chosen material in an electrolytic solution and running a current through it to create an oxide layer on the surface. This layer is then colored or left neutral depending on the desired outcome. Anodizing is commonly used on aluminum, but it can also be used on other metals such as titanium, magnesium, and zinc.
One of the significant benefits of anodized aluminum is its increased durability. Anodized aluminum is resistant to peeling, chipping, and flaking. The electrochemical process enables the color to penetrate deep into the pores of the aluminum, resulting in surface resistance to damage caused by corrosion or UV light. It helps the appearance of the aluminum to remain intact for an extended period, regardless of exposure to humidity or sunlight.
Finally, anodized aluminum is much safer for humans compared to other metals. The process of anodizing is non-toxic. The surface is free from any harmful chemicals or substances that could be hazardous to one’s health.