Roy Manion

Global Buyers Mission (GBM):

We are now going all out on the GBM with all that is involved relative to recruiting architects, contractors, and engineers to attend. Architects pay a fee to attend, ensuring that only those who are really interested will be attending.  Developments include:

• We have sent out the invitations to the architect and designer community to attend the GBM and have already received registrations – this year everything is being done on-line, improving our response time and accuracy.
• Essentially, all the speakers for the Thursday seminars have been finalized.  We will now be working with them on their content.  We have great speakers again this year, which is important as they are a key draw for the architects and designers.
• As we began to do last year, we are now inviting contractors and engineers to the GBM.  If you have any relationships with one or more contractor or engineer firm that you wish us to approach, let us know and we would be pleased to extend an invitation.
• We have also begun the process of contacting exhibitors who wish to spend some one-on-one time with architects at their booth Friday afternoon.  We have a limited number of spots available, so if you are an exhibitor and feel that meeting with architects and designers is something that would benefit your firm, please let us know.

Architect Program:

As mentioned in past Wood Connections, we have started including contractors in our program and are now beginning the process of actually visiting them and/or setting up Lunch & Learn sessions, similar to what we have been doing for architects and designers.  Although the process is in its beginning stages, it is already paying off with a couple of leads for members of the program.

As mentioned in our last Wood Connections, we have successfully organized and delivered mill tours and seminars for some of our participating members.  One of the tours was with Unison Windows.  The event was fully booked so we decided to have a follow up tour, which is now also fully booked; once again illustrating the popularity of these types of events.

Another new program we have launched is Lunch & Learn sessions with architects and designers, specifically on the Wood First Act.  There are two key elements to the sessions: one, explaining the act and its impact on architects; and two, making the audience aware of the products in our industry that can be supplied on the projects identified by the Act.

As we do with all our Wood Connections reports, we welcome your company participation in these programs. If you require additional information about the program, please contact me at rmanion@bcwood.com.  If you aren’t quite sure if architects should be included in your marketing activities or how to go about doing it, again, just get in touch with us.  We would be pleased to provide answers to any of your questions and if you wish to, proceed in assisting you with making your company “architect ready”.