IBS Archives

Maine Cabin Masters Partners with NELMA @ International Builders Show

Posted on January 24, 2018 by

As part of the Wood, Naturally exhibit at this year’s mega International Builders Show (IBS), NELMA’s corner of the 20’x30’ space included a day with the stars of the hit DIY Network Show, Maine Cabin Masters. Fans from all over the US and Canada stopped by for autographs and photos with the primary characters of the show, Chase and Ashley Morrill, and Ryan Eldridge. This PR moment was the culmination of several months of work between Kim Drew, NELMA’s agent, and the show’s producers. The mutually-beneficial event drew additional visitors to the entire exhibit while offering the show’s stars an opportunity to meet and greet their viewers. “While it’s no secret that the show uses a ton of Eastern White Pine in their cabin and home renovations, having these personalities learn more about NELMA and how we promote the species may lead to additional opportunities in the future”, stated Jeff Easterling, President of NELMA. “We certainly enjoyed hosting these creative, builder-savvy personalities in our exhibit.”

Regarding this year’s IBS event, held January 9-11 in Orlando, more than 85,000 professionals within the design and construction industry were in attendance from around the world. NELMA’s Eastern White Pine Swatch and Pattern Booklet continue to garner attention by builders and designers as useful hands-on reference tools. More than 1,500 companies exhibited within the South and West halls of the Orange County Convention Center.

Continued funding by the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) provided NELMA the opportunity to be part of the Wood, Naturally exhibit space, shared with other wood product associations that included the Southern Forest Products Association, the Western Wood Products Association, the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, and the Western Wood Preservers Institute.

NELMA Exhibits at International Builders’ Show

Posted on January 24, 2017 by

As part of the Softwood Lumber Board’s continued promotional support of “appearance” grade products, NELMA once again participated within the Wood Naturally exhibit at the 2017 International Builders’ Show (IBS), held January 10-12 in Orlando, Florida. This annual event was spread over two massive convention halls with approximately 80,000 in attendance. Exhibits spanned over 569,000 net square feet of floor space, with more than 1,500 manufacturers and suppliers.

The 20’x30’ Wood Naturally exhibit provided a marketing focus on softwood products of various species manufactured in all regions of the country. This included Eastern White Pine (NELMA), Southern Pine (Southern Pine Council), Western Species (Western Wood Products Association), and pressure-treated products (Western Wood Preservers Institute).

NELMA encased its exhibit counter with panels of popular Eastern White Pine patterns as an attractive discussion starter with visitors. Edge & Center Bead, V-Groove, and the ever popular “Shiplap” provided a focal, touch-and-feel backdrop to talk about the design trends of using wood in home construction. NELMA’s Grade Swatch and Pattern Profile booklet supported these discussions.

“In addition to our visibility in front of this important customer audience, our participation also provided excellent opportunities to engage targeted consumer and trade press that attend the show. Appointments with editors and publishers set up by NELMA’s PR Agent, Kim Drew, multiplied our exposure and ability to discuss the variety of products and applications of northeastern softwoods produced by members of the Association”, reported Jeff Easterling, President of NELMA.

This event is by far the largest builder/contractor audience for NELMA’s promotional activities during the year. The Association would like to thank the Softwood Lumber Board for their support which allows NELMA’s participation in large national trade events, such as IBS, that would otherwise not be feasible!

A First for NELMA: IBS 2016

Posted on February 5, 2016 by

The International Builders’ Show (IBS) is THE annual place to be for the building and construction industry, where thousands are in attendance during the 3-day event. The 2016 Show was held January 10-12 in Las Vegas and according to NAHB, “This mega-event brought together more than 110,000 builders, general contractors, remodelers, designers, flooring professionals, as well as product specifiers from around the globe.” These attendance numbers actually put the show back at levels prior to the housing crash that began in 2007.

As they say, timing is everything and NELMA was pleased to participate as an exhibitor for the first time ever as part of the Softwood Lumber Board’s (SLB) expanding Wood, Naturally residential outreach campaign. This marketing effort includes the promotion of “appearance” grade interior and exterior products (Eastern White Pine) and outdoor decking. In addition to NELMA, the highly visible 20’x30’ Wood, Naturally exhibit space included Southern Forest Products Association, Western Wood Products Association, and the Western Wood Preservers’ Institute. “If you want any kind of visibility as an exhibitor at this event, you must have a large presence to get noticed…a typical 10’x10’ space will quickly become invisible to attendees”, stated Jeff Easterling, President of NELMA. “We were pleased that the SLB added IBS as an opportunity for us to showcase Northeastern Softwoods to this important target audience.”

NELMA’s portion of the exhibit contained our Eastern White Pine “pattern box” in additional to two 7’ tall eye-catching graphics on the front/back of a display kiosk. By mid-afternoon of the final day of the Show, NELMA’s supply of the Eastern White Pine Grade Swatch, Pattern Booklet, and Northeastern Softwoods “Map” were depleted!

In addition to providing spec tools and showing actual “touch-and-feel” profile samples to builders and contractors, NELMA was able to multiply its exposure through meetings at the Show with trade and consumer press via appointments arranged by Kim Drew, NELMA’s PR Agent. “IBS draws just about every building & construction trade magazine and bloggers which makes it a fantastic opportunity for us to get some face time with important editors to talk about what’s new with Northeastern Softwoods, Jeff added. “New opportunities for NELMA to place articles or showcase our members’ product were added lagniappe to our presence at the Show.”

NELMA’s Exhibit Outreach Ramps Up

Posted on October 30, 2015 by

The Association’s exhibit hits the road beginning in November at a number of significant events attended by important targeted audiences identified within NELMA’s Marketing Program. Here’s a preview of where we will be:

NAWLA’s Trader’s Market 2015
November 4-6, 2015
Hilton Anatole – Dallas, Texas

Look for NELMA at Booth #416 at this major industry event. The Traders Market has held a unique position among lumber and building material tradeshows since it began in 1996 as the only one that is focused almost exclusively on the lumber supply chain. Exhibitors are almost always manufacturers of lumber and lumber-related products, not machinery or other equipment providers.

ABX 2015
November 17-19, 2015
Convention Center – Boston, Massachusetts

ABX (Architecture Boston Expo) is the leading building industry event in the Northeast and draws more than 5,000 architects and design professionals for its 3-day event. NELMA’s exhibit will be in Booth #535.

IBS 2016
January 19-21, 2016
Convention Center – Las Vegas, Nevada

For the first time ever, NELMA will be an exhibit participant at the International Builders’ Show (IBS)! Thanks to the financial support of the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB), 4 lumber associations including NELMA will share space #15293, a 20’x30’ space under the banner of “Wood, Naturally”. The Southern Forest Products Association, the Western Wood Products Association, and the Western Wood Preservers Institute will join NELMA in promoting all things wood to the more than 50,000 building industry participants expected at this annual event.