Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2024 24 With its move to the larger Lafite Ballroom at Wynn, at nearly double the size of last year's venue, the awards and after party will feature guaranteed seating for all attendees and an all-new format that's designed to dazzle. In the kitchen field, awards will be given for Large Kitchen (over 300 square feet), Small Kitchen (under 300 square feet) and Specialty Kitchen (spaces such as outdoor kitchens, Kosher kitchens or guest-house kitchens). The awards for bath design will also be given in three categories: Primary Bath, Secondary Bath, and Powder Room. First-place winners in each of the six categories will receive $5,000, second-place winners will receive $3,000, and third-place winners will get $2,000. The final two awards – Best Overall Kitchen and Best Overall Bath – will be selected from the six individual category winners. The two designers who win Best Overall will each walk away with $20,000. At 2023's Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards that kicked off KBIS in January, the top winning projects showcased a range of materials and finishes. Sarah Robertson, AKBD, Principal of Mamaroneck, NY-based Studio Dearborn, took home both Best Small Kitchen and Best Overall Kitchen for her "Creek Lane" design, which the judges called "a case study in how to mix materials." Robertson said the inspiration was "for a client who loved the outdoors and wanted to bring that indoors, but also with a little bit of glam…so there was a lot of playing with finishes and surfaces." The Best Overall Bath winner was the top Primary Bath, "Serene Luxury," by Mary Maney, CKBD, Designer at Crystal Kitchen + Bath in Crystal, MN. The judges appreciated that Maney's clients "wanted elegance and luxury, and this design delivered." According to Maney, the homeowner wanted lots of different patterns and tiles mixed together. "The design was made up of really pretty leafy patterns, and the light fixtures were all glittery," she said. Who will win this year? To be among the first to find out, reserve your tickets, priced at $150 per person. Wynn Las Vegas will provide a glamorous setting for this semi-formal kick-off event, which will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. As always, the party that follows the awards ceremony will feature a lavish buffet with an open bar and live musical entertainment. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for details about the three finalists in each of the six Professional Design Awards categories. At the event itself, you'll also get a chance to salute the industry's talented next-generation winners of the Student Design Competition and applaud the industry's most innovative showrooms. To buy tickets for NKBA | KBIS Design Awards, you must first register for KBIS at www.KBIS.com. ENCOMPASS SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES INTEGRATION WITH MR. APPLIANCE ® New venture aims to enhance parts availability and customer satisfaction Encompass Supply Chain Solutions, a global leader in the high- tech distribution of OEM parts for home products, including residential appliances, HVAC, consumer electronics, and related products, today announced a strategic integration with Mr. Appliance ® , a Neighborly ® company and a leading home and commercial appliance repair brand. With this collaboration, Encompass will be integrated seamlessly into Mr. Appliance's SmartParts system, allowing Mr. Appliance franchise locations to find and purchase the precise parts they need effortlessly, from a trusted and reliable supplier. Encompass is a current participant in ProTradeNet®, a network of industry-leading vendors exclusive to Neighborly. Streamlining the procurement process and saving valuable time for customers, this integration is set to further expand parts availability and customer support in the residential appliance repair industry. Locations can also continue to buy parts directly through encompass.com. "We are thrilled to be working with Mr. Appliance, a highly respected player in the repair industry," said Joe Hurley, EVP of Sales and Marketing for Encompass. "Our commitment to expanding parts availability and delivering unique technology solutions aligns perfectly with Mr. Appliance, and together we will further reinforce our promise of helping our customers get the parts they need, as soon as they need them." Ron Shimek, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company, said: "Mr. Appliance is excited about our new venture with Encompass. This integration will help us deliver on our vision to be so remarkable that we become a beloved household name." Formed in 1953, Encompass is one of the country's largest suppliers of repair parts and accessories for products throughout the home. Encompass also offers complete parts supply chain management, 3PL, depot repair, and reverse logistics service. In addition to consumers, we support an array of B2B customers including manufacturers, multi-family property management, warranty providers, service networks, independent dealers, and retailers. In 2022, Encompass was acquired by Parts Town Unlimited to expand its residential parts division. Visit www.solutions.encompass.com for more information. I N D U S T R Y [ N E W S ]

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