Armstrong Cabinets Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates Three of last Four Years! Armstrong Cabinets Scores 5 out of 5

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Offering the Right Balance of Quality, Appeal, and Affordability is Increasingly Important to Satisfying Kitchen Cabinet Purchasers

Armstrong Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Cabinet Manufacturers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 9 June 2010 - While price is still a primary consideration for consumers who purchase kitchen cabinets, design and operational performance have become increasingly important to overall satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Kitchen Cabinet Satisfaction StudySM released today.

The study measures customer satisfaction with kitchen cabinets by measuring five factors: design features (such as the variety of cabinet colors/finishes and range of sizes and shapes available), operational performance (including smoothness of drawer slides and sturdiness of cabinet joinery), ordering and delivery, price, and warranty.

Armstrong ranks highest in customer satisfaction among cabinet manufacturers with a score of 759 on a 1,000-point scale. Following Armstrong closely in the rankings are Thomasville (757), KraftMaid (756), IKEA (755) and Merillat (752).

"Overall, a number of cabinet manufacturers deliver a very satisfying experience to their customers," said Christina Cooley, senior manager of the real estate and construction industries practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "However, each of the highly ranked manufacturers has its specific set of competitive strengths. Customers should define their needs carefully before choosing a brand, as there may be one particular manufacturer that best meets their needs."

Armstrong performs particularly well in two factors: operational performance and warranty. Thomasville performs particularly well in the design features factor, while IKEA performs well in the price factor, and Merillat performs well in the ordering and delivery factor.

The study finds that although price continues to be an important aspect of overall satisfaction, both operational performance and design features have become increasingly important to driving satisfaction among kitchen cabinet owners during the past two years.

"Combining quality construction, appealing styling, and affordability is essential for satisfying kitchen cabinet purchasers," said Cooley. "Currently, many homeowners choose to remodel their current home instead of buying a new home. Consumers rely heavily on in-store product displays when choosing cabinet brands and styles, so cabinet manufacturers should work closely with retailers and dealers to display cabinets in ways that highlight the brand's variety of design offerings and make it easy for sales staff to demonstrate the quality features of the cabinets."

Purchasing kitchen cabinets is a significant investment, both in terms of the advance planning required and the cost of the project. J.D. Power and Associates offers these tips to consumers who are shopping for kitchen cabinetry:

* When shopping for cabinets, familiarize yourself with the different brands and design options available by visiting manufacturer and retailer websites, as well as physical showrooms and in-store displays. * Be sure to plan ahead as to whether you will measure, order, deliver, and install the cabinets yourself, or hire someone else to do it. Many retailers provide a one-stop purchase and installation experience, but many consumers opt to do some of these steps on their own. Due to the complexity of the job, consumers who plan to do some or all of the work themselves should seek out resources and information to ensure the job is completed correctly and achieves the desired results.

The 2010 U.S. Kitchen Cabinet Satisfaction Study measures customer satisfaction based on responses from 1,119 consumers who purchased kitchen cabinets within the previous 12 months. The study was fielded in March and April 2010. Visit the J.D. Power Business Center for additional information on J.D. Power's home improvement research.

About J.D. Power and Associates Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.