consumers are more focused on personal security, social responsibility, and active participation in a supportive and inclusive community. Through Kohler’s 147-year history we have always believed that doing well as a business and doing good in the world go hand in hand. Being deliberate and strategic in our efforts, we’re focusing where we believe we can make the biggest impact and achieve the biggest reach.

The pandemic brought about the most profound market disruption many of us have seen in our lifetimes.

Companies had to simultaneously interpret atypical demand signals, reconsider workforce safety, adapt operations and consider new business opportunities. For us, supply chain challenges – both within Kohler and externally – disrupted manufacturing and created operational challenges that forced creative solutions. Despite these disruptions and challenges, one thing is certain: consumers’ values have markedly shifted, and their expectations are forever changed.

Pre-pandemic, consumers had been steadily turning toward products, services and experiences that reflected their individuality and their desire to escape the mundane, to seek adventures and live out their wanderlust. Today, after more than a year of a virus that was indiscriminate about its victims and a broader societal upheaval,

With dedicated teams leading the charge to discover solutions, we are making strides toward better: Better planet by improving the environmental footprint of our own operations, driving product innovation through the lens of sustainability, and reducing the impact of our supply chain; better communities by supporting the growth and economic development of communities through health hygiene and education efforts; and better lives by promoting equitable access to clean water and sanitation supporting health, wellbeing and human rights of our associations as well as everyone our business touches.

Our mission has long been to “Contribute to a higher level of gracious living for those who are touched by our products and services.” For us, gracious living goes far beyond beautiful products, innovative technology and ambitious design; it bonds us in a common purpose, compelling us to act with generosity to those who use our prod-ucts and with whom we interact.

As a part of that goal, we have developed a core philosophy called simply: “Believing in Better.” It involves encouraging our associates to become involved in causes they are passionate about, a platform from which we can take stands on issues, and every day, we harness our collective power as a company to make positive change happen.

We continue to be dedicated as well to building new relationships while emphasizing personal well-being. Throughout the pandemic, Kohler refined its virtual training programs and workshops, which have been a valuable source of support and information over these many months. We are eager to get back to in-person events and activities, but the safety of our employees and customers is still priority number one.

Moving forward, we will continue to rally around our wholesale and showroom partners to ensure their success and to cement these invaluable partnerships that have weathered the storm together.

Our goal is to increase foot traffic into those spaces through new state-of-the-art displays, beneficial customer programs, and, as always, innovative products that will appeal to consumers looking for Kohler’s superior quality and design.

Our relationship with ASA has been vital during this challenging time and we know that a fruitful future hinges on nurturing critical alliances. We have depended on ASA professionals to help us plot a course through this recent disruption, and as always, they have been a reliable resource for understanding how to identify consumer demands, manage fluctuating production needs, assess operational feasibility and develop a road map for navigating future changes.

We are immensely grateful and we envision a bright future together.