Kohler to incorporate more traditional Chinese culture into its products

The bathroom and kitchen products producer Kohler Co Ltd plans to integrate more elements of traditional Chinese culture into its product designs as part of its strategy to further expand its presence in this creative and rapidly developing market, highlighted Kohler's CEO in a recent interview with China Daily.

"We have great respect for the Chinese culture, and that's also why we have established a design center right here in China. We're also researching the trends all over China and looking for different collaborations that enable us to really connect with the Chinese culture," said David Kohler, chair and CEO of Kohler Co.

Last year, the company signed a deal with Forbidden City Culture Development Co Ltd to blend the innovative power of Kohler with the historic value of Chinese tradition culture.

In addition to the already introduced products, such as Fresh Green Artist Editions, a collection of bathroom basins featuring exquisite floral composition, the company promises to introduce more product lines in the future that bring elements of Chinese heritage into contemporary designs.

Headquartered in Wisconsin, Kohler is one of the biggest family businesses in the US and has expanded its operations to countries worldwide.

Leading its competitors in terms of market share in China, Kohler has expanded its footprints in the Chinese market ever since it established a representative office in Hong Kong in 1995. In 2023, the company captured a market share of 18.5 percent in China's sanitary ware manufacturing sector, securing the top position, reported All View Cloud, a consulting firm specializing in household furniture and appliances.

To date, the company has established 13 factories, with its footprint spanning over 250 cities in China.

"China is a market that is really strategically important because all the brands in the world are in this market. If you compete in and lead this market, it makes you very strong and very innovative," said Kohler. "It's a market that creates a kind of positive, healthy dynamics for companies."

Kohler highlighted the sophistication of Chinese consumers, particularly in Shanghai, where he observed a plethora of interesting designs in places such as restaurants and bars.

"It shows you how important and interesting this country and market is because there's such a great sense of design and entrepreneurial spirit here. I think it is really needed to watch all these businesses from startups to grow - local brands and all the international brands," he added.

Committed to staying at the forefront of consumer engagement, Kohler also said it will focus on investing in China and leveraging new trends such as livestream shopping in the future.

"We're very passionate and very committed to staying on the leading edge of design and technology. It's really in our DNA, it's who we are. It's also part of our entrepreneurial spirit," he said.

According its 2023 Global Impact Report that unveiled in August, Kohler has been pursuing strong and sustained growth while improving its environmental, social, governance (ESG) performance by largely reducing its global operational net greenhouse gas emission intensity by 64 percent, global operational net waste intensity by 66 percent, and water withdrawal intensity by 65 percent since 2008.

"We really demonstrate excellent, progressive results on the way to this commitment to be net zero by 2035," Kohler expressed.

"Our strategy very much is in line with what the Chinese consumers and the Chinese government are concerned with in terms of improving the quality of the environment in the broader society here in China," he added.

Zhang Zile contributed to this story.