For over a century, the KOHLER brand has been synonymous with high-quality and sophisticated design, and a penchant for innovation. In the world of bathroom fixtures and accessories, KOHLER has produced exceptionally well-crafted products that are not only functional but of high aesthetic value as well. The brand is often associated with upscale lifestyles owing to the high bar they set for themselves with each product they design and build. The team works hard to meet customer expectations with a deep understanding and emphasis on the comfort one deserves to feel in their home.
KOHLER’s Operating Principles
“The contemporary DNA that KOHLER is known for today has existed for more than a 100 years,” says Salil.
Walter KOHLER, the company’s second CEO, predicted that free and natural goods, such as sunshine and fresh air, were going to have real value, far more than the economic goods we’re used to. “Walter made that statement back in the 1900s, and it still stands true till today. That’s how visionary KOHLER was and still is as a company. And that’s what’s driven this organisation over the years.”
While there’s always been a focus on building leading edge products that look beautiful as well, KOHLER has always maintained its intention on bettering the community and maintaining the environment.
“Our current CEO David KOHLER, often talks about how he wants to leave the planet a better place than he inherited it. Now that’s a tall task. No one can do it alone. When we design products, we always question the amount of resources that we are utilising. How much are we destroying? And what can we do about the latter? When I was first hired by KOHLER, I remember Walter KOHLER’s statement and I thought, wow, this company is really onto something. They really do follow through with what they believe in.”
One of KOHLER’s operating values or guidelines is that they have to be at the leading edge of design and technology. The other one is what they use for guidance when seeking inspiration. Salil explains further, “For the latter, we don’t look to the world that we are already familiar with – our competitors, the bathroom industry, plumbing, or even construction for that matter. Our inspiration comes from entirely different sources. We closely observe brands and companies, such as Tesla, Amazon, and Google, and what they are doing to disrupt the world. We are learning to integrate those trends into making our products not only useful for the consumer, but also far more gentle on the environment.”
KOHLER has R&D centers around the world, with a large presence in the US and China. This brings in diversity of thought and talent. Additionally, Salil explains how this helps in practical cases that can be tested anywhere in the world at the same time, leading to a lot of product ideas that can be generated and tested simultaneously across the globe.
Gracious Living
Gracious Living is a mission that incorporates a lot of what the company is known for. Good taste, charm and, most importantly, the enhancement of nature. “Some people want a tech feel. Some prefer an organic, natural appeal. We developed a bathtub, which resembles an infinity pool, because we realised that a lot of our consumers were looking to have a really soothing and calming experience in the bathroom. This is a prime example of technology that delights the end user, and does not simply exist for the sake of it.”
An internet connected, voice activated bathroom isn’t something you see everyday. Nor is it something we thought anyone would ever really require. However, these smart products from KOHLER are a result of an overlap between technology and lifestyle trends, with the design team seizing the opportunity to create something that would appeal to millennials.
“It’s not only voice activation or playing music. We’re using data to optimise water and energy usage too. We are increasingly looking at giving an option for consumers to save resources. The eco-friendliness aspect is definitely a strong driver in addition to any new technological trends.”
Talking about the upcoming KOHLER flagship store in Dubai, Salil explains, “It’s not about technology alone. We like to immerse ourselves within architecture, art and culture. We also realise that Dubai is the epicenter of the Middle East, and there are always global travelers passing through the UAE. Therefore it made sense to create a flagship store for KOHLER here. We want to go beyond simply displaying products to also sharing the experience of using them. So you will see products in an environment that you perhaps hadn’t thought of. We have spots in the showroom that are inspired by historic, Islamic architecture. That’s very important for us as a brand. We are global, but we want to reflect and live the ethos of the countries that we operate in. Our new showroom will offer a little bit of escapism, where you can come in and say ‘Wow, this could be my bathroom’. Our goal is to get people excited by the concept bathrooms on display. And we’re looking forward to hosting our creative fraternity here, and showing what we really have to offer.”
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31 March, 2022
