Despite the unpredictable climate that was 2020, FEI Group has logged another record year, adding nearly 50 members across its five divisions in the last 10 months.
While this type of growth is not unprecedented in the group’s history, it is a sign of how popular membership in a national organization remains for locally and regionally based businesses.
KBx and K&B Alliance, the FEI Group divisions focused on cabinets, countertops, decorative plumbing and hardware, have seen the greatest surge, adding 20 new members since January 2020. The KBx membership is now approaching 50 companies strong with over 125 showrooms; K&B Alliance, now in its sixth year, counts nearly 100members who collectively represent 160 showrooms nationwide with one international member.
“We are not at all surprised by this spike in growth,” said Brian Penabad, president of the kitchen and bath divisions. “Networking, even though temporarily virtual, is more critical to small and medium-sized businesses than ever before. Today’s environment is fluid and because of that, business owners have to be creative; what an incredible gift to have like-minded entrepreneurs on hand who are willing to share successes and failures with their peers to better improve the industry as a whole.”
The group’s kitchen and bath supply side has also continued to expand, a factor the team attributes to the increase in membership. To date, the roster of supply partners is more than 100 long and covers 18 categories. Exclusive partnerships with companies like Masterbrand, The Stock Market, Daltile, Hardware Resources/Top Knobs, Kraus USA and Richelieu offer members a competitive advantage in their markets unavailable to anyone else.
There were a number of organizational changes at FEI Group last fall, too. Penabad was promoted to president of KBx and K&B Alliance and vice president of FEI Group. Allison Rea was promoted to vice president of marketing after 19 years with the company.
Eddie Schukar, who has been instrumental in building the foundation of K&B Alliance since its inception is 2013, remains vice president of Kitchen & Bath. His nearly 40 years of experience in the industry has helped the group expand its national footprint, improve the perception of the industry overall and give premier kitchen and bath/DPH businesses a voice on a national basis.
