
This year, the Statement Kitchen category received many incredible submissions, but I also noticed several outstanding products on the show floor that weren’t entered into the competition. Exhibitors should recognize that “you have to be in it to win it”—the exposure and recognition from an award-winning product can significantly impact brand growth.
I hope that in the future, exhibitors large and small realize that the spotlight can change the trajectory of a product or company. There are several products that I wouldn’t have seen on my own had I not been a judge.