NAWLA Traders Market
The annual NAWLA Trader’s Market returned to Chicago for this year’s mega wholesaler event, held November 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency. NELMA joined 9 other Association members as part of the 246 lumber industry and services related companies that exhibited in the Market. More than 1,300 lumber wholesalers from throughout North America circulated the trade floor. NELMA provided booth visitors with the new 2017-18 Buyer’s Guide + Membership Directory, along with the popular Eastern White Pine Grade Swatch and Pattern Booklet. “This is obviously THE place to be to get in front of basically the entire lumber wholesaler industry,” stated Jeff Easterling, President of NELMA who manned the NELMA exhibit. “Our goal is to maintain, even increase the Association’s visibility before this important customer group through our exhibit at the Market.”
ABX+GreenBuild
The Architecture Boston Expo (ABX) was joined by GreenBuild to create one of the largest trade show events in 2017 for the design/build professionals. The two groups co-located within the Boston Convention Center, November 8-10, to draw over 900 exhibitors and more than 15,000 attendees. NELMA typically exhibits solo at ABX annually, but joined other wood product associations within the larger “Re-Think” Exhibit, sponsored by the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB). Matt Pomeroy, NELMA’s Director of Inspection Services represented the Association and reported that the design/build community seems to be increasingly recognizing Eastern White Pine for use in today’s designs. He provided information to questions regarding lumber grades and other construction inquiries that included debunking the idea that wood cannot be used in exterior applications. “The Grade Swatch received a lot of positive attention along with our Tree Seed Cups,” Matt stated. “Most visitors enjoyed the one-stop location to get all of their questions about various wood species and building codes answered at this larger wood industry exhibit space.”
