Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Klein.
Hi Kelly, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
KBK to the Trade is a dedicated wholesale B2B multi-line showroom servicing the greater San Antonio, Hill Country, Texas Coast and West Texas. We offer a broad selection of furniture, lighting, fabrics, rugs, wallcoverings, art, and accessories. Founded in 1981 by brothers Kenny and Bobby Kremer, they began by selling paint and wallpaper, then expanded into fabric.
In 2017, the business transformed when we added a second gallery dedicated to furniture, rugs, and lighting which gave interior designers a more complete resource for their projects.
In 2019, we introduced White Glove Receiving and Delivery to address the logistical challenges that independent designers and suppliers encounter with delivery and receiving of decorative products.
In October 2025, our showroom will expand to a total of 26,600 square feet.
Our foundation is customer service, product knowledge, and communication. We provide the organizational platform that allows designers to focus on their creative freedom. At our core, we’re entrepreneurs supporting entrepreneurs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Struggles have made us stronger. We live by the idea of “failing forward”—believing that each challenge is a learning opportunity rather than a setback.
Over the years, we’ve navigated a changing economy, the challenges of hiring and retaining the right team, sourcing product lines that align with our clients’ needs, managing claims and logistics, and refining how we process orders. We continually reevaluate our systems and invite feedback from our team and clients to stay agile and improve.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
KBK to the Trade is a to-the-trade showroom serving interior designers and members of the Trades. We’re proud to have been recognized by the American Society for Interior Designers (ASID) for our continued excellence:
– In 2023, we received awards for Best Furniture and Best Customer Service/Sales Team
– In 2024, we were honored as Best Showroom
– In 2025, we received Best Rugs Gallery, Best Furniture, and Best Customer Service/Sales Team.
These accolades are a reflection of our team’s passion, product knowledge, and relentless focus on the designer experience.
We pride ourselves on offering inspirational vignettes featuring timeless essentials in a highly organized space that empowers our clients’ creative and business success.
Our showroom serves multiple functions: it inspires, showcases form and function, allows for quick purchases directly from the floor, and helps clients make confident decisions through hands-on product exploration. With over 100 vendors represented in galleries, KBK brings the design community the resources only available in major market centers.
From idea to installation, every member of our sales and support team works diligently behind the scenes to offer personalized service. We receive, warehouse, and deliver products—adding peace of mind throughout the process. Our white-glove receiving and delivery service is unmatched in the region. We inspect all products on-site and solve any issues before they reach the client.
Simply put: we act as an extension of a designer’s team, as well as our suppliers, protecting their purchases and supporting their project’s success from start to finish.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
One of the biggest challenges for independent designers is sampling, procurement, and logistics. At KBK, we provide a platform to help designers launch and grow with confidence.
KBK to the Trade should be part of every designer’s business model for three key reasons:
1. Interior design is tactile and KBK provides the resources for lifestyle. You need to see, touch, and sit on products to ensure the right texture, color, and fit. Screens and online shopping can’t replicate that experience—light, material, and finish make a huge difference in person.
2. Collective knowledge. Our team trains weekly on new products and collections so we can source faster and smarter. We work with hundreds of clients using diverse vendors, and we learn from their experiences—good and bad. That shared insight becomes a resource for every designer we support.
3. Logistical support. Time and money are a designer’s most valuable commodities. By working with KBK, designers avoid the need for third-party warehousing. We handle product receiving, inspection, and resolution in-house—filing claims and resolving issues quickly and efficiently while items are still on our dock. And importantly, we don’t charge for warehousing while items are under claims resolution. Our infrastructure saves designers both time and cost, ensuring peace of mind from order to install.
Pricing:
- As agents for the lines we represent, our pricing is the same as if the designer were buying directly—but with the added value of personalized service and logistical support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kbktothetrade.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbktothetrade/
