The cabinet industry is in a great spot right now with the recent win in a trade case against Chinese imported kitchen cabinets. The playing field has been leveled and now it's time to think about more unique ways your company can set itself apart from the competition.

When you think about kitchen appliances or countertop materials a few brand names top the list - Samsung, KitchenAid, Sub-Zero, Cambria. However, recent research from the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI) shows that homeowners are not asking their design pros for certain products by name. 94% of homeowners were completely undecided about their brands (at the first consultation) for cabinet hardware and 82% for cabinetry. This certainly presents an opportunity for cabinet manufacturers to stand out from the competition. What is one way to do that? By showing your customers that you care about meeting standards and manufacturing quality products.

KCMA is committed to bringing you the latest news in the cabinet manufacturing industry. Take a look at what’s been happening:

MANUFACTURING STILL HAS A SKILLS GAP

Before the covid-19 pandemic, US manufacturers faced a shortage of skilled workers. According to Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, as many as 2.4 million factory jobs could remain unfilled through 2028. Now, the US is facing the highest unemployment rate in decades. However, that still doesn't solve the original problems that plagued manufacturers - a tidy of Baby Boomers retiring from leadership positions and a negative view of manufacturing among younger workers.'

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KCMA is committed to bringing you the latest news in the cabinet manufacturing industry. Take a look at what’s been happening:

WHICH  LUXURY KITCHEN TRENDS WILL GO MAINSTREAM?

Professional kitchen designers say smart products, professional-looking appliances, and modern styling (such as contemporary cabinets that are easy to clean) are the top three trends that will make their way from the luxury market to mainstream in the coming years. 

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IKEA LINKED TO ILLEGAL LOGGING

KCMA is committed to bringing you the latest news in the cabinet manufacturing industry. Take a look at what’s been happening:

WOOD INDUSTRY 40 UNDER 40

Congratulations to the 2020 Wood Industry 40 Under 40! This award celebrates the next generation of industry professionals who are making an impact on wood products manufacturing in North America. KCMA is excited to see several members honored this year:

Today’s guest blog post comes from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). To learn more about them, please visit their website at www.nari.org.

A kitchen is a place for gathering and expressing culinary creativity. Does your kitchen inspire, or is it in desperate need of a refresh? When considering a kitchen remodel or update, the first step is knowing your personality and personal style. What colors inspire you? Do you like big, bold patterns or more neutral, soothing patterns? How much time does your family spend in the kitchen? Do you cook meals often? How much storage do you need? A redesign is a chance to build a dream kitchen that reflects your personal style, lifestyle and family values.

On March 6, 2019 the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance (AKCA) initiated one of the largest trade cases ever filed against one country in US history.  The Anti-Dumping / Countervailing Duty Petitions were filed at the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC) in response to China’s unfair trade practices, which threaten the survival of our $10 billion domestic kitchen cabinet industry that supports more than 250,000 American jobs.

KCMA is committed to bringing you the latest news in the cabinet manufacturing industry. Take a look at what’s been happening:

STD:  SAFE & SOUND WEEK 2020
Save the date for OSHA's Safe & Sound Week - a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace safety and health programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America's workers safe. The event takes place August 10-16, 2020.  Check out the resources they have to offer to see how your company can get involved.

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Today’s guest blog post comes from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). To learn more about them, please visit their website at www.nari.org.

With the start of a new decade, you may be ready for a kitchen makeover. Whether that means an entire remodel or simple updates, it’s time to dream about what your ideal kitchen would look like. To help, here are some of the coolest kitchen trends for 2020.

Color Trends

KCMA is committed to bringing you the latest news in the cabinet manufacturing industry. Take a look at what’s been happening:

IMPACT OF COVID-19 STABILIZES

According to the weekly NKBA Pulse that gauges the overall impact of the COVID-19 crisis in the kitchen and bath industry, the impact has remained flat after six weeks trending downward.

The weekly member survey measures sentiments about the effects of the crisis on design, manufacturing, building & construction, and retail & sales businesses. For the first time, there was no movement regarding impact among any of these four business categories. Overall, more than 800 respondents again rated the lockdown’s impact at an average of 6.9 on a scale of 1 (no impact) to 10 (significant impact).

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The United States has been experiencing an unprecedented state of turmoil since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Businesses across the country are shut down and laying off/furloughing workers.  In this time of crisis, how can an Association best serve its members?

KCMA is dedicated to providing value to our members through new services and reinforcing the benefits we already provide.  During these uncertain times it is imperative that as an Association, we remind our members that we are always here to assist them.  Not only do we want to ensure the protection of our members, but the cabinetry industry as a whole.