WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 17, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — With pre-registration almost 25 percent higher than it was at this time last year and exhibit space sales going strong, the 2012 International Builders’ Show (IBS) is shaping up to be an outstanding event for both attendees and exhibitors.
Sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the International Builders’ Show is the most important event of the year for the U.S. home building industry and the largest annual light construction trade show in the world. The IBS will be held from Feb. 8 to 11, 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
“The International Builders’ Show is truly unique,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. “No other event provides such exceptional education and networking opportunities and such a superb showcase of top quality products for the home building industry. We’re expecting more than 50,000 attendees and more than 800 exhibitors at the 2012 show.
“The IBS also demonstrates the strength, resilience and tenacity of the home building industry. Housing has been hit much harder by the downturn than any other sector of the economy, and we are very pleased that so many manufacturers and suppliers have recognized the value of exhibiting at the IBS and continue to participate each year,” Nielsen said.
Karen Formico, marketing manager for longtime IBS exhibitor Broan-NuTone explained the value that participating in the show provides for the company, which is North America’s largest producer of residential ventilation products such as range hoods, ventilation fans and indoor air quality products. “In these tough times, Broan-NuTone recognizes that our customers have limited resources and can’t attend multiple events as they may have in the past. Because of this, we have selectively cut back our face-to-face marketing efforts, eliminating those events that don’t provide the greatest return,” Formico said.
“The Builders’ Show remains the single best way for builders and specifiers to find the best solutions to their construction challenges and, as such, continues to be an important part of our marketing efforts. We feel it is still one of the best ways to reach the great majority of our customers in an environment that lets us interact with them on a personal level and, more importantly, lets them interact with our products and learn how we can help solve their challenges. In a world that’s moving toward webinars and online education, there is still nothing better than hands-on and face-to-face contact,” she said.
In addition to an outstanding lineup of almost 200 education programs and more than 400,000 square feet of product exhibits, the upcoming IBS will provide numerous networking opportunities for attendees.
“Our members greatly value networking, and we strive to meet that need with innovative, value-added programs,” said Nielsen. “The ‘Centrals’ are a good example. We have designated specific areas of the show as Centrals for various specialties such as custom building, multifamily and remodeling. At the Centrals, attendees can meet others working in their field, get answers to questions, and see presentations that address the issues they deal with on a day-to-day basis. We also organize product tours so that people at each Central can meet with exhibitors showing products suited to their segment of the industry.”
The IBS also provides attendees with perspective on how the housing industry and their own businesses function in the context of the broader national and international economies.
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak during a special session of the NAHB Board of Directors meeting on Feb. 10. This is an outstanding opportunity to hear from a man who is at the center of the nation’s efforts to mount an economic recovery. Registered IBS attendees will be welcomed as part of the audience on a first-come, first served basis.
To register for the IBS, or for more information about attending or exhibiting at the International Builders’ Show, please go to http://www.buildersshow.com/.
