Top 10 HomeSphere Experiences at IBS/KBIS 2023 in Las Vegas

While ramping up for IBS and KBIS this year, we could feel the energy building for the event in Las Vegas. More of our manufacturer partners had plans to attend or exhibit than in recent years and our builders were looking forward to networking with other builders and discussions with suppliers.

With over 70,000 residential construction professionals in attendance and around 1,300 companies exhibiting​, the 2023 event was the largest International Builder Show since 2008. With all the positive energy in the air and the great enthusiasm expressed at the event, we'd like to share some special moments with you.

Our top 10 HomeSphere experiences at this year's IBS/KBIS:

10: Got our ‘80s fix with a Las Vegas Cyndi Lauper impersonator.

On the night of Feb. 1, HomeSphere sponsored the biggest builder party at the show with over 2,000 construction professionals in attendance. The Builder VIP Party at the Brooklyn Bowl boasted a bold 80s theme, complete with paint-splattered drink koozies, adorned with the HomeSphere logo, bowling illuminated by black light, good food and drink, great networking opportunities and a really rad Cyndi Lauper impersonator.

9: The Mafia’s association to Vegas is no secret and neither is the great food at Maggiano’s Little Italy.

The HomeSphere team invited HomeSphere manufacturers and builders in town for the show to dinner on Jan. 31. The delicious family-style meal at Maggiano's Little Italy included stuffed mushrooms, baked ziti, other Italian cuisine and desserts. Besides HomeSphere, manufacturer representatives from Rinnai (tankless water heaters), GAF (roofing), Siemens (electrical products) and Lennox (HVAC-related products) enjoyed the meal, in addition to some HomeSphere builders.

8: Magic acts were performed by Lennox, but they're often making rebate dollars magically appear in our builders’ pockets.

For those who came by their booth, Lennox dazzled crowds with a magician and filled bellies with yummy cookies. HomeSphere builders who use Lennox also find that rebate earnings magically appear from Lennox for products like energy-efficient air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, comfort controls and indoor air quality systems.

7: Sought out a morning jolt of caffeine to start our tradeshow engines.

On the morning of Jan. 31, HomeSphere sponsored the Gerber Expresso bar at KBIS. While builders drank their caffeinated beverages of choice, they toured the Gerber Plumbing booth and saw many new and redesigned products that are rebate-eligible through HomeSphere, including the Viper® and Avalanche® toilets, Parma® bath faucets, and Viper® and Kinzie® kitchen faucets.

6: Only in Vegas — Bloody Marys served at 10 a.m.

At 10 a.m. sharp on Feb. 1, drinks were out at the HomeSphere-sponsored Nice Group Bloody Mary bar. While sipping on their beverages, builders could check out the Nice Group brands on the HomeSphere program, including 2GIG and ELAN Home Security and Controls Systems, Linear access control and gate/garage door operators, and Proficient Audio and SpeakerCraft audio systems.

5: Hung out with a friendly alien twice our size.

Greenheck Residential Ventilation Solutions really knew how to build intrigue before the show by posting LinkedIn questions like, "Do you know what is lurking in your ventilation?" The answer appears to be an alien, with the brand going all out on an X-files-inspired booth complete with an alien photo-op. Jim Shelton, general manager of Greenheck Residential Ventilation Solutions, described his alien friend: "He is actually a great guy and he wants to help home builders upgrade to high quality and the most cost-effective ventilation fans and ERVs in the universe."

Greenheck products are rebate-eligible for multifamily and single-family builders through HomeSphere. And, Greenheck and HomeSphere removed barriers with their first-ever Direct Purchasing Portal, where single-family builders and trade partners can now gain rebates and purchase Greenheck ventilation products directly through an e-commerce platform.

4: An old carnival game means business for our countertop manufacturer.

While Skee-Ball was first patented in 1908 and Wilsonart has only been around since 1956, we cannot refute that combining the two in 2023 resulted in a lot of booth traffic for Wilsonart at KBIS. Wilsonart applied its industry-leading THINSCAPE® Performance top to their Skee-Ball platform. Ball throw after ball throw proved just how well the 1/2-inch surface held up to the abuse and still looked great. In addition to THINSCAPE, Wilsonart has other rebate-eligible products offered through HomeSphere.

The countdown continues after our colorful collage of photos.