Welcome to the 10th anniversary of the Global Buyers Mission™ (GBM) – a three-day, invitation only networking/tradeshow event developed to bring together pre-qualified international buyers of wood products from around the world, with Canadian manufacturers of products that include finished materials, building supplies, and remanufacturing products.

The GBM continues to be the best business building event in Canada for wood products manufacturers interested in growing their export market opportunities – and developing new business relationships with architects, designers, developers, builder & contractors – and other exhibiting wood products companies. Response from our 2012 Exhibitors surveys indicated an estimated $48+ million in new business from attendance at the event.

To celebrate our 10th Anniversary, we are also putting on a little competition to see who can come up with the best booth design/display. This will be judged by a committee of your peers and international buyers, and the incentive is to win back the cost of one booth space! (That’s better than an ipad, right?!)

We are very pleased to be partnering once again with the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (WRCLA) on the event, as they deliver their Cedar Summit program on the 4th and 5th. We will also draw the important architect / designer / contractor / builder decision makers with our popular Wood First program, which will run through the whole event. Last year, pre-qualified wood products buyers came from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Eastern Canada, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

We will be back at the beautiful Whistler Conference Centre and have negotiated unbeatable hotel rates for our delegates in Whistler Village.

You will not want to miss this opportunity to showcase your products to over 250 pre-qualified international buyers plus North American specifiers!

Exhibit space is limited and will be available on a first-come / first-served basis. If you haven’t already registered, contact us for your online registration link at gbm@bcwood.com or call 604-882-7100. The link will include a floor plan showing the space and showroom layout for exhibitors.

In case you haven’t seen them yet, here are some links to a few short videos from last year’s event:

2012 Global Buyers Mission Video: http://youtu.be/75FB6QDMv1o
2012 Wood First Video: http://youtu.be/2oAK2n6Vf8U
2012 Global Buyers Mission Exhibitor Testimonials: http://youtu.be/C5j5u6ShUP8
2012 Global Buyers Mission Buyer Testimonials: http://youtu.be/c2Xwy8yRbio
BC Wood YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BCWoodAssociation

Proposed Program Schedule

Thursday – September 5th
Association Business & In-Market Representatives Meetings
Evening Welcome Event at the spectacular Roundhouse Lodge at the Peak of Whistler Mountain for all participants

Friday – September 6th
Morning Networking/Tradeshow/Meetings
Afternoon WRCLA Sponsored Golf Tournament; Architects in-booth presentations; or Whistler free time
Gala Evening Event

Saturday – September 7th
Morning Networking/Tradeshow/Meetings

2013 Exhibitor Fees

BC Wood, WRCLA or Canadian Wood Products Association Member:
10 x 10 booth – $2,079 (includes 2 exhibiting participants)
Non-member:
10 x 10 booth – $3,129 (includes 2 exhibiting participants)
Each additional company participant: $400 / Spousal Program: $150 (includes 2 Evening events)

Exhibit Registration Includes:

• 2 full participants per booth space
• Basic electrical, pipe & drape, covered table & 2 chairs, carpet & Wi-Fi
• All meals during the event including the Thursday night Welcome Event at the Roundhouse Lodge & Friday evening Gala Event
• Full access to Thursday Association Programs
• Complete multi-lingual company listing in the Mission Program Guide

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like more information on the GBM or how it could benefit your company.

BC Wood just recently received confirmation that the funding for our 2013-2014 trade show activities has been approved. We began this year’s proposal writing with some concerns over just how much our members would want to take on in the coming year. Our early December sector meetings with member companies provided some good input on how much companies wanted to do this year and where they wanted BC Wood to focus its’ efforts.

BC Wood took this input and put together a comprehensive package of market development activities. Upcoming activities will focus on expanding market share in the United States while maintaining the hard won presence we have gained in Asian markets and Eastern Europe. Recognizing the possibility of a new and emerging market opportunity in India, BC Wood has scheduled a mission and participation in a trade show in Bangalore in February 2014. The Global Buyers Mission, our 10th, will be a highlight, with over 200 buyers coming to Whistler in early September.

I would like to recognize and thank the staff of BC Wood for the extra effort they put towards writing these funding proposals. The result was that BC Wood has another strong program of approved trade event activities for 2013-2014. For those of you wanting to see the updated list of trade show activities, please visit the BC Wood website at www.bcwood.com and select Trade Events from the Programs & Services tab. Any comments or questions regarding these planned activities can be directed to me at bhawrysh@bcwood.com or by calling our office at 604-882-7100.

After a successful show in 2012, BC Wood returned to the MBC Show in Seoul, South Korea from January 25th to 28th. MBC is one of the largest construction shows in Korea with 312 exhibitors this year and over 170,000 visitors comprised of builders/architects (39%), interior designers (32%), manufacturers (6%), and distributors (4%) according to the organizers data. Products on display at the show included everything from structural materials and construction equipment to windows, doors, and finishing materials.

The Canadian pavilion was once again organized by BC Wood’s Korean representative, JC Lee. While there were other overseas exhibitors at the show, only the Canadian exhibitors enjoyed a branded pavilion. A total of six BC Wood members took part covering a variety of species and lumber products as well as kitchen cabinets and siding products. The BC Wood booth was used as a reception desk for clients coming for appointments as well as to disseminate information on Canadian wood products and recruit buyers for the September GBM.

As always, JC lined up meetings for the attending members with key clients. However, this year he also arranged an opening day reception inside the pavilion in order to create a networking opportunity for members with invited Korean wood industry VIPs. Both the BC Government Office in Seoul and the Canadian Embassy were partners in this event. Over 100 Korean clients attended this event.

BC Wood also organized an architect’s seminar on the day before the show in collaboration with KIA (the Korean Institute of Architects) in order to promote the use of Canadian wood products in commercial building projects and particularly for facilities being built for the Pyungchang Winter Olympic Games. The event was held at the historic Old Seoul Rail Station and was attended by close to 100 KIA members. Attendees were able to learn about the various wood solutions offered by Canada while we were also able to gain access to high-value specifiers and influencers in the Korean architectural community. BC Wood is planning to further develop this target segment by taking part in the KIA Convention this October. Please contact Jim Ivanoff (ivanoff@canadawood.jp ) or JC Lee (lee@canadawood.or.kr ) for more information on this upcoming event.

Our 2012 Global Buyers Mission videos have now been uploaded. All of our videos can be seen on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BCWoodAssociation?feature=watch

Global Buyers Mission Video

Wood First Program Video

Buyer Testimonial Video

Exhibitor Testimonial Video

I am pleased to announce that, effective immediately, Jim Ivanoff will assume the position of Director – Asia Pacific Region with BC Wood. Jim’s broader role within BC Wood will include the responsibility for the day to day operations of BC Wood in the Asia Pacific Region with specific focus on Japan, China, and South Korea. Providing support for its members in these Asian markets is a critical component of BC Wood’s mission and we will maintain our current staffing in Japan, China, and South Korea to carry out this mission. BC Wood’s representatives in these markets will continue their efforts on behalf of our members with an added level of coordination and direction from Jim in Tokyo.

As most of you know, Jim has been valuable asset to BC Wood and its members in Japan since he joined the BC Wood team nine years ago. Jim’s new role and responsibilities will help to integrate BC Wood’s program across the Asian markets and provide even better services for our members going forward. Please do not hesitate to contact Jim at  Ivanoff@canadawood.jp for any additional information on BC Wood’s programs in Asia this year.

Coming next week, BC Wood will be participating for the second time at the Seoul Living Design Fair at COEX in the Korean Market. Last year, the small, but targeted exhibit showcased high-end designed furniture from British Columbia and was extremely well received. Members of Korea’s design community were very interested in the Design Canada theme and had a particular interest in the use of wood as a material. This year, we are taking a larger space and showcasing more companies and new products at Korea’s key design trade show of the year. Check back with the next issue of Wood Connections for the results of this event. For more information, contact David Pao at  dpao@bcwood.com.

This week in Korea, BC Wood’s in-market representative, Mr. JC Lee, has been very active in wrapping up participation and exhibition at the 28th MBC Construction Expo at SETEC in Seoul. One of Korea’s premier building and construction conferences, the MBC show had over 350 exhibitors and approximately 150,000 attendees.

BC Wood worked closely with Canada Wood partners, Council of Forest Industries (COFI) and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), in displaying a unified booth representing Canadian wood product manufacturers. Five companies participated in the event in a joint effort to market Canadian products to the attendees of the event including Korean builders, architects, home-owners, distributors, and material importers. Exhibitors in the booth displayed products ranging from construction lumber to engineered wood timber products. For some companies, participating with BC Wood in the Canadian pavilion marked a first step into the highly competitive Korean market.

In addition to the highly visible space at the show, BC Wood and CMHC coordinated a wood products seminar for members of Korea’s building and construction industry. Member companies had the opportunity to present information about Canadian wood products and company capabilities to nearly 200 attendees at this event.

South Korea’s interest in wood products and construction reflects a strong wood history and affinity for the material. Korean consumers are growing more sophisticated and are looking into higher quality imported products that are environmentally compliant. With growing affluence and ongoing improvements in living standards, Korea is rapidly developing into a market with high potential for both wood frame construction and value-added wood products in the foreseeable future.

For more information about events in the Korean market, please contact David Pao at dpao@bcwood.com

Register now for the 28th MBC Construction Expo in Seoul, Korea, this coming January 27-30, 2012. BC Wood will be taking space at this building and construction show to exhibit member products to Korean builders, architects, distributors, and construction material importers. The four-day event is expected to attract over 150,000 attendees as well as 350 exhibitors.

This trade event offers an excellent opportunity for BC Wood members to tap into the Korean market and take advantage of our expert in-market representative. Members that would benefit from this event include manufacturers and suppliers of remanufactured lumber products, prebuilt homes, kitchen cabinets, log home and timber frame homes, and engineered wood products.

BC Wood will be coordinating space for members at the event; advertising in key industry publications; managing event logistics; and organizing business networking opportunities. Space is limited so contact David Pao ASAP at dpao@bcwood.com to register.

For more information, please click here.

Westminster Industries Ltd. was founded in 1975 by Dave Wasmuth in New Westminster. It is now one of the most respected and oldest, originally owned lumber wholesalers in the Lower Mainland. They are currently located in White Rock and have a distribution yard in Delta.

Westminster Industries works with the majority of the major and medium sized mills in BC and Alberta, distributing Hemlock, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, and SPF to both domestic and international markets including Asia, Middle East, Europe, and Australia. Providing service to purchasers over this broad range of clients is a knowledgeable staff and experienced traders, including two traders fully conversant in all Chinese dialects. Westminster Industries is seen as a valued supplier to its long and growing customer base. They also have strong ties to the community through their various donations and charitable work, with the most recent being donations for the new White Rock Bike Park.

Since their start in 1975, Westminster Industries has been following the trends and adapting to the market. This, coupled with their experienced staff, has been the key to their growth and success. They recently updated their website to reflect current conditions and company adaptions. The website is now easier to function and educates the customer on what Westminster’s products and services are. To view their new website, go to www.westmin.ca

BC Wood is organizing participation at 28th MBC Construction Expo at the SETEC convention centre in Seoul, Korea from January 27-30, 2012. This building and construction show will have over 350 exhibitors and an expected 150,000 attendees. These attendees will include builders, architects, home owners, distributors, and construction material importers. This trade event offers an excellent opportunity for BC Wood members to tap into the Korean market. Members that would benefit from this event include manufacturers and suppliers of remanufactured lumber products, prebuilt homes, kitchen cabinets, log home and timber frame homes, and engineered wood products.

With a deep rooted history and affinity for building with wood, South Korea remains an important export market for British Columbia’s value-added wood products. In 2010, South Korea represented British Columbia’s fifth largest offshore market with 278,000 m³ of wood product exports. South Korea has experienced strong economic growth and recovery, in light of the recent global downturns, with growing affluence and continuously improving living standards. Korea is far from the labour intensive economy it once was and is now a global leader in design and technological trends. Korean consumers are growing more sophisticated and are looking into higher quality imported products that are environmentally compliant.

For more information about the show, please contact David Pao at  dpao@bcwood.com

For the sixth year in a row, Whistler again hosted a B.C. wood industry conference last week — but a changing demographic in attendees offered an opportunity for resort officials to connect with international delegates interested in the resort.

The 2011 Global Buyers Mission (GBM), organized by the B.C. Wood Specialties Group, took place at the Whistler Conference Centre last Thursday through Saturday (Sept. 8 to 10). The event saw about 700 attendees including buyers from around the world and wood companies from across B.C.

According to organizers, about 70 per cent of buyers, attendees and sellers were participating in the conference for the first time. With the recent decline of American markets for B.C. wood, more buyers came from Asian markets such as China and Korea.

Those are areas Whistler has been trying to reach from a tourism standpoint, and at least one municipal official had the chance to promote the resort to a group of conference attendees.

Mike Vance, RMOW general manager of policy and program development, was asked to speak at the conference on behalf of the Council of Forest Industries, according to information provided by the municipal communications department.

The delegation of China-based land developers was interested to learn if they can build a resort like Whistler and use some of the municipality’s best practices as a model, a spokesperson said. Vance’s presentation focused on Whistler’s success as a resort, including its evolution, leading-edge practices and strong brand.

The group of about 30 people was also taken on a tour of the Whistler Public Library, the Rainbow neighbourhood and the Lost Lake Passivhaus to learn more about green and energy-efficient building features and the use of wood as a sustainable resource.

Whistler is a great place to host the GBM conference because it’s a really good showcase of B.C. wood and its uses, said Mike Cunningham, a representative for the conference.

“Look at the chalets, the residential homes, the construction — even the convention centre itself,” he said.

Besides Whistler’s abundance of wood, keeping the GBM in the resort helps to keep the invitation-only event small in order to keep that face-to-face interaction, according to Cunningham.

“For the buyers and the sellers the real advantage of this conference is that it gives them that opportunity to interact in a little more of a relaxed setting,” Cunningham said.

There was also plenty of opportunity for delegates to enjoy Whistler.

“They go golfing, they go up the gondola. Its spectacular scenery and they love it,” Cunningham said. “A lot of people bring their spouses with them too and compared to being somewhere stuck in a hotel, we intentionally design the conference with a lot of free time.”

It’s important to have the conference each year in order to attract new buyers and allow smaller B.C. companies to sell their B.C. wood products to the large international market, Cunningham added.

“For a large- to medium-sized company trying to sell to a huge market in China, if they have never done business in a place like that before it can be quite daunting for them to jump on a plane and fly over there and start looking for people to buy their product.”

Source: Whistler Question Local News – September 15, 2011

 Registration for the 8th annual GBM is now sold-out completely. We are delighted to host over 600 delegates to the event this year. The entire office will be in Whistler from Tuesday, September 6th to Sunday, September 11th.

Click here for a current listing of participating industry manufacturers and suppliers.

You can access the current list of registered buyers from Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, India, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Mexico, United States, Vietnam and Taiwan. Click here for the international buyer listings.

As many of you know, we are also delivering the Living and Building with Wood Forum on Thursday, September 8th, as part of the GBM Program. Participants include: architects & designers; municipal planners; engineers; developers and builders and will be attending to learn about how to use wood in both commercial and residential projects. Click here for a listing of LBWW participants.

The overall GBM Schedule of Events can be accessed by clicking here.

You can also check out BC Wood’s website (www.bcwood.com) for GBM info, lists of past buyers and exhibitors, and great event photos from 2009 and 2010.

We would like to thank our partners and sponsors, without whom this program could not be delivered: Platinum Partners: Natural Resources Canada Wood Export Program (CWEP); Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (FII); and Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC); our Silver Partners: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau (CSSB); and our Bronze Partners: the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and HSBC Canada. Our Corporate Sponsors this year include The Waldun Group, Howe Sound / Pallin Timber and BFL Canada Insurance Services Inc.

To those of you already registered, we look forward to seeing you on the Mountain!

For more information, please contact me at rwalker@bcwood.com  or call me at 604-882-7100.

September 8th to 10th in Whistler – Exhibit space is sold-out and you can click here for a current listing of participating manufacturers and suppliers.

You can access the current list of registered buyers from Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, India, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Mexico, United States, Vietnam and Taiwan and although we are still waiting for a few more confirmations, I believe our buyer list is 90% complete.  Click here for the listings.

The overall GBM Schedule of Events can be accessed by clicking here.

You can also check out BC Wood’s website ( www.bcwood.com) for GBM info, lists of past buyers and exhibitors, and great event photos from 2009 and 2010.

As many of you know, we are also delivering the Living and Building with Wood Forum on Thursday, September 8th, as part of the GBM Program.  Participants include: architects & designers; municipal planners; engineers; developers and builders and will be attending to learn about how to use wood in both commercial and residential projects.  They will also have the opportunity to meet the manufacturers and suppliers during the program at the GBM, who supply the materials to help them successfully complete their contracts. To see the list of registered participants, click here.

We must thank our partners and sponsors, without whom this program could not be delivered: Platinum Partners: Natural Resources Canada Wood Export Program (CWEP); Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (FII); and Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC); our Silver Partners: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau (CSSB); and our Bronze Partners: the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and HSBC Canada. Our Corporate Sponsors this year include The Waldun Group, Howe Sound / Pallin Timber and BFL Canada Insurance Services Inc.

To those of you already registered, we look forward to seeing you on the Mountain!

For more information on what registration opportunities are still available, please contact me at rwalker@bcwood.com  or call me at 604-882-7100.

BC Wood recently completed its annual tradeshow in the South Korean market exhibiting at the 14^th Seoul International Housing Material and Decoration Fair. The show was well attended this year with 178 exhibitors and over 70,000 visitors. 34 of these exhibitors were from overseas including 6 booths representing Canadian manufacturers of wood products. This is an industry only event and focuses on building and construction professionals in the Korean market. In addition to Canada, other countries that had a significant presence at the show included Germany, Japan, New Zealand, China, Denmark, and the United States.

BC Wood and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) worked together to promote Canadian wood products at the show and through a series of seminars and presentations. Specific products that were effectively showcased in the Canada Wood booth to the Korean market included Western Red Cedar, specialty lumber, and building products. At the show, BC Wood staff and members gathered leads, made new contacts, and recruited potential Korean wood buyers for the upcoming Global Buyers Mission in Whistler.

Also at the show, CMHC coordinated and delivered several technical seminars and presentations focused on integrated building design and community planning. BC Wood and CMHC presented to various associations, architects, and organizations that are key influencers in the Korean building and construction industry including KRIEA, KWCA, KWBDA, and representatives from Gimpo City.

In addition to promoting products at the show, BC Wood and CMHC actively promoted products and services in three major industry newspapers prior to the show, including several ads featuring Canadian companies. After the show, BC Wood organized several business networking meetings for members with key players in the Korean wood industry including importers, distributors, and builders.

For more information on this market, you can email me at dpao@bcwood.com or call 604-882-7100.

BC Wood Asia Market Programs 2011

Mark your calendars for 2011 for BC Wood’s Asia market programs! We are currently organizing trade events in Japan, Korea, and China for member companies looking to expand their businesses in these markets. BC Wood will have cost-shared booth space available to members at these events; but space is limited and is filling up quickly. For more information, contact me at dpao@bcwood.com

Upcoming Asia Tradeshows:

Seoul Housing and Deco Fair (HOMDEX) (Korea)
February 9-13, 2011
The 14th annual Seoul Housing and Deco Fair (Seoul International Housing Material and Decoration Expo) is the best international Building Expo in KOREA. It brings together the most comprehensive array of products, equipment, and services in Korea and international professionals (developers, constructors, builders, distributors, contractors and specifiers).  For more information, visit http://homdex.net/en/main_e.asp

WoodBuild China 2011 (China)
March 1-4, 2011
The 9th International Exhibition of Timber and Wood Products for Furniture and Building Industries is China’s premier event for the woodworking industry with over 400 exhibitors and trade visitors from over 15 countries. WoodBuild China specifically focuses on supplying wood products for the furniture and building industries. This event also hosts Furnitek, which is targeted towards the hardware & furniture manufacturing accessories sector, and WoodMac for the forestry/woodworking machinery & supplies. WoodBuild China is an industry-only trade event that attracts distributers, wholesalers, building and landscape developers, and wood product manufacturers. For more information, visit http://www.woodmacchina.net/en/index.asp

Mr. JC Lee, BC Wood’s in-market representative for the Korean market, will be visiting member companies from November 3^rd to 13^th. During this visit, JC will be talking to companies about current opportunities in the Korean market for wood products. BC Wood is currently planning to attend the Housing Brand Fair in February, 2011, and the Seoul Living Design Fair in March, 2011. Companies interested in exporting products to this market should contact David Pao (dpao@bcwood.com) or JC Lee (lee@canadwood.co.kr) for more specific information.

Mr. JC Lee recently met with Mr. Young-rok Yoo, the newly elected mayor of Gimpo city this year. Gimpo City is located near Seoul and Il-san City and has a population of 220,000. Targeted for future development as a new “green” city, Gimpo is currently developing residential housing for an expected population increase to 500,000 people. Mr. Lee found that many new projects are under development including new stadiums, shopping facilities, public parks, conference centres, libraries, and an extended subway line to Seoul. The new mayor is a strong proponent of environmentally friendly projects and has pushed the slogan, “Build a Sustainable Green City”. In meeting with the mayor, JC was able to further promote wood to be used for several upcoming public projects. Mr. Yoo is keen to use more wood and is looking to build an educational exhibition centre that emphasizes the benefits of using wood. JC will continue to work officials at Gimpo City to promote wood products for these projects.

For more about the Gimpo City in English, please follow the link below.
http://jp.gimpo.go.kr/eng/administrative_01_01.jsp

Mr. JC Lee, BC Wood’s in-market representative for the Korean market, partnered with CMHC and the Canadian Embassy in Korea to organize a two day business networking meeting (July 3-4th) for key players in the Korean wood products industry. There were 25 attendees at the event, representing the majority of all building products and lumber importers in the Korean market. Most of the attendees were business owners or CEOs of large firms involved in the Korean wood products industry. The two day event was an excellent opportunity for these business leaders to network and learn more about Canadian wood products.

Mr. Lee used this opportunity to actively promote Canadian companies interested in the Korean market and recruit serious wood buyers for both the Global Buyers Mission this September and the Housing Brand Fair in 2011.