International Builders’ Show Bucks Trend of Housing Downturn

Despite the country’s slowing housing market, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently announced that attendance registration for its International Builders’ Show® (IBS) was up 15 percent compared to this time last year. The IBS is the housing industry’s largest annual light construction trade show and exhibition, held Feb. 13-16, 2008, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

“Builders view the International Builders’ Show as an indispensable business tool,” said Ken Klein, chairman of the NAHB Convention & Meetings Committee and a builder and remodeler from Tulsa, Okla. “They come to the show to gain valuable knowledge on the industry; order the latest building products that will keep them competitive in their market; and educate themselves on timely sales and marketing practices.”

NAHB also reported that the number of dealer distributors registered to attend the Show has jumped 37 percent year-to-date. This figure is particularly important to exhibitors who view dealer distributors as a large source of prospective business.

“Does this mean the downturn is over? No. But builders and suppliers are aggressively positioning themselves to ride out the downturn and come back strong when the market improves,” Klein added.

More than 100,000 people from 100 countries attended last year’s show. The 2008 IBS will feature more than 1,900 exhibitors representing more than 300 industry categories and displaying the latest in home and building products and services.

Visit www.BuildersShow.com for additional, up-to-date information on the show; or to tour the Builders’ Virtual Trade Show at www.BuildersShow.com/VTS, featuring the virtual booths of suppliers who will exhibit live at IBS.

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