What is a brief history of the International Builders’ Show (IBS), and where do you see it going?
The International Builders’ Show is owned and produced by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). What started as a yearly meeting of the members more than 80 years ago evolved quickly into the preeminent annual gathering for those involved in all aspects of the professional residential construction industry. To provide a sense of the scope, earlier this year IBS brought together more than 1,600 exhibiting companies from 36 countries and 70,000+ attendees for three days of education, networking, and product discovery.
Our goal each year is to produce a world-class backdrop for suppliers and manufacturers to showcase what’s new and what’s next to IBS attendees with an emphasis on in- person product and service interaction and education. With a healthy dose of programming on industry best-practices and trends and invaluable networking opportunities thrown in for good measure.
What learning and educational opportunities are there for LBM dealers at IBS and from NAHB?
While IBS education programming offers 100+ sessions employing various formats, LBM dealers that attend IBS often tell us that their best learning happens while attending demonstrations in the Construction Performance Zone, Craft Techniques Zone, and other specialty areas on the show floor. And if connecting with builders and brands in the home building industry on a broad scale is important to you and your business, then attending the show is the most efficient and effective way to do just that.
What suggestions would you have to help LBM dealers work better with their builder partners?
It obviously depends on the people involved, but at risk of sounding like a broken record, IBS provides a great opportunity for LBM dealers to ask builders what they want and need in this regard. If someone is at the show, you know they are serious about their business. They are there to connect with existing and new partners and to build those relationships. Nothing beats the face-to-face interaction found at IBS.
Why should LBM dealers pay attention to trends from overseas?
It certainly seems like the world has “gotten smaller” in the last 20+ years and new trends at home can emerge from anywhere almost overnight. The Builders’ Show is an international event with more than a third of its exhibitors having their headquarters outside the U.S., and many more operating globally. Attendance provides an unparalleled opportunity to discover innovative products and techniques from across the globe that are likely to positively impact the business of home building in the U.S.
What value or benefits do you perceive in NAHB being a Gold Sponsor at LBM Strategies?
The first year we thought it would be a great way to promote the Builders’ Show to the LBM dealer audience and it truly was. That said, in addition to awareness, we now sponsor because of the education and networking the event provides. We love going on the tour to see the latest technology in use. And LBM Strategies provides an opportunity to better understand the challenges dealers are facing.
