INDEX:
Kohler Retail Fixtures


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This Kohler Retail Fixtures index page aggregates links
to all post and photos of the brand’s retail merchandising and outfitting.
BACKSTORY: Kohler Co., founded in 1873 by John Michael Kohler, is an American manufacturing company based in Kohler, Wisconsin.[1] Kohler is best known for its plumbing products, but the company also manufactures furniture, cabinetry, tile, engines, and generators. Destination Kohler also owns various hospitality establishments in the United States and Scotland. In February 2017 Kohler Co. acquired UK-based Clarke Energy, a multinational specialist in the engineering, construction, installation and maintenance of engine-based power plants and is an authorised distributor of GE’s reciprocating engines in 19 countries worldwide.[2]
Kohler Co. was co-founded in 1873 by Austrian immigrant John Michael Kohler and Charles Silberzahn with the purchase of the Sheboygan Union Iron and Steel Foundry from Kohler’s father-in-law, Jacob Vollrath, for $5000.[3] Early products included cast iron and steel farm implements, castings for furniture factories, and ornamental iron pieces including cemetery crosses and settees. A breakthrough came in 1883 when John Michael applied enamel to a cast-iron horse trough to create the company’s first bathtub. The company has been primarily in the plumbing business ever since, and is known for its plumbing fixtures.
In the early 20th century, Kohler made drinking fountains with a “bubbling valve”, from which water shot vertically. Eventually the entire fountain came to be known as a “bubbler” in the area in which Kohler products were sold.[4] The term bubbler is still used in most of Wisconsin and some other areas of the United States.[5][6]
In 1934 and 1954, Kohler Strikes took place. On November 15, 2015, workers voted for the 2015 Kohler Strike, making it the fourth strike in the company’s history; the third took place in 1983 and only lasted a few weeks.
Former Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler, Sr. was president of Kohler Co. and his son former Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler, Jr. served for many years in senior management. The presidency of Kohler was passed down from Herbert Kohler, Jr. (born February 20, 1939, grandson of the founder), to his son, David Kohler, on June 1, 2015.
In 1998, Kohler made a plan to buy back any outstanding shares not owned by the family. All family members had to exchange their common shares for shares with limited rights that could not be sold. Since Kohler is not a publicly traded company, the number of shares floating was minimal.[vague] Kohler offered $55,400 per share, but some shareholders challenged this valuation and sued. The IRS also challenged this valuation by prosecuting the estate of Frederick Kohler, who had recently died holding 975 shares, but Kohler won the lawsuit.[7]
Kohler’s bath and kitchen fixtures are available in American hardware and home improvement stores and from Kohler Kitchen and Bathdistributors. Kohler still makes traditional cast iron bathtubs, one of the few United States manufacturers to do so. Besides residential products, Kohler manufactures a commercial line of bathroom fixtures. The company also does artistic custom work, such as hand-painted sinks and toilets. Kohler was named by “The Builder Magazine” as the “most used” and “best quality” in the “Bath Accessories” category as well as the top spot for “brand familiarity”, “most used” and “quality rating” in the “Bath Fixtures” and “Whirlpool Baths” categories.[11]
Kohler also makes a wide range of small industrial engines. Traditionally, the company manufactured gasoline engines; however, after purchasing the Italian company Lombardini, it extended its range and now offers diesel engines up to 134 HP.[12] Kohler engines power a range of devices from water pumps to off-road vehicles. The Global Power group manufactures generators of varying sizes. Kohler was the first company to offer residential back-up generators, starting in 1920.[13]
In 2007, Kohler created a joint venture in China called Kohler-YinXiang Ltd., based in Chongqing, China, to manufacture small gasoline engines, and intends to begin importing more of their engines, rather than building them in the US.[14][15] Kohler’s UK subsidiary is the Cheltenham-based Kohler Mira Ltd, best known for manufacturing Mira Showers.
Since then, the company has been expanding in the areas of furniture, cabinetry, and tile in the consumer market, and engines and generators for industry. The Kohler Interiors division of the company comprises Baker Furniture, McGuire Furniture, Kallista, Ann Sacks Tile and Mark David.
Kohler displays many of its products at the Kohler Design Center in the village of Kohler.
(SOURCE: Wikipedia)
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Kohler Retail Fixtures
Topmost posts may be scheduled but not yet live.
Please click further down the list if necessary.
For Kohler retail fixtures see…
” Kohler Graceful Sign Arc Literature Holders ”
” Fall Toilet Refresh Display by Kohler ”
“The Bold Look of Kohler Brands Showroom Slatwall”
“Kohler Branded Backstory“
“Kohler Porcelain Color Samples”
“Kohler In-Store Test Chamber”
“Kohler Dropshadow Benefit”
For all Kohler resources see…
“Kohler Pinterest Board” (Pending)
“Kohler Index Page”
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