Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2021 36 DECEMBER 2020 KITCHEN & BATH MARKET INDEX SUGGESTS STRONG 2021 FOR REMODELING Exclusive NKBA research reveals the industry is expanding for the first time since COVID-19 Outbreak 2020; YOY Sales projected to outperform 2019 T he National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and John Burns Real Estate Consulting (JBREC) released their Q3 2020 Kitchen & Bath Market Index (KBMI). For the first time this year, the KBMI is above 50 – at 61.9 – up from 44.2 in Q2 and 41 in Q1. Scores of 50 and above indicate expansion, and scores below indicate contraction. NKBA members rank the overall health of the industry at 6.9 on a scale of 1 to 10, just below the 7.2 reported in pre-COVID Q4 2019. While confident about current business conditions at 56.5, industry members are even more optimistic about future conditions, which they set at 66.9 as 2020 draws to a close. "As we approach the end of an unprecedented year, the industry outlook is promising," said NKBA CEO Bill Darcy. "While COVID-19 will continue to present challenges to the supply chain, labor and spending, we're grateful to be one of a few industries that has actually seen growth in response to consumers spending more time at home and looking to make their spaces more functional in this new normal. Kitchen and bath professionals are well-positioned for continued success into the coming year." "Consumers have undertaken a lot of remodeling in 2020, but significant opportunity remains, especially for the kitchen and bath market, going into 2021," notes Todd Tomalak, Principal at JBREC. "Much of the already completed renovation work has focused outside the home – redoing decks, gardens and outdoor entertaining spaces – in response to COVID-19 restrictions. For many families working and schooling from home, 2020 wasn't the ideal time to redo a space as essential as the kitchen or bathroom. As such, we anticipate continued activity for kitchen and bath remodeling next year." In the first half of 2020, NKBA members predicted negative sales for the year, but Q3 brought better news for the industry, which now expects a 1.1% increase in YOY sales compared to 2019. In fact, Q3 sales in 2020 were up 2.1% from 2019, and sales grew 5.9% since last quarter overall – ranging from designers, who saw a smaller 3.2% increase, to manufacturers, who experienced a significant 9.6% rise. More than half (62%) of all companies surveyed report COVID-19 drove higher demand to their business in Q3. While the crisis continues to have some adverse effect on the industry, with 29% reporting the pandemic has led to lower demand, its negative impact has lessened each quarter, and at 5.9 (on a scale of one to 10) is nearly 30% lower than the Q1 rating of 8.1. Among those industry professionals who haven't seen demand return to normal levels, 29% expect it to do so in 2021. The following trends are expected to impact homeowners and the industry into 2021: • For the first time, supply chain disruption is reported as the industry's greatest challenge, beating out economic uncertainty and recession and further hinting at an optimistic outlook for 2021 as manufacturers ramp up production in response to demand. Appliances and cabinets are most impacted, while other luxury products, particularly from Europe, are facing delays in lead times and backorders as well. • Increased pipeline demand is another promising indicator for 2021, with 53% seeing larger pipelines of projects or project orders in Q3 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. • Still, uncertainty remains. When asked if they think COVID-19 will "shut down" the economy again in Q4, 39% of NKBA members are unsure. Almost the same percentage (37%) do not expect another shutdown, but 24% do anticipate shutdowns as infection rates climb. B A T H [ T R E N D S ]

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