“Wood is who we are.” That’s the simple and decisive response from international business executive Samantha Padden when asked to explain how France’s biennial international timber show, the Carrefour International du Bois (CIB), manages to grow each time.
In 2018 attendance was 10% higher, at around 11,520 and the stand total was up another 2-3 % at 563, following a 4% rise from 2014-16. The 2020 show, taking place from May 27-29 at Nantes’ Parc Beaujoire, looks likely to see the same sort of increases. That’s the way the CIB likes it; manageable, consistent, sustainable growth.
“We’re not going to suddenly increase our exhibition area,” said Ms Padden. “We always try to accommodate new exhibitors, but the overwhelming feedback from participants, is that we shouldn’t change the essential character of the event.”
Besides the manageable scale of the CIB, core to its character is that exclusive focus on timber. It’s governing board and organiser, regional timber association Atlanbois, have never been tempted to spread its net to include ancillary products or services.
Ten years ago, it did add a new section, Techniques & Solutions, for timber and wood products in building, keeping it ahead of the curve in the growing and diversifying global timber construction market.
In 2018 there was also a special exhibition space where researchers demonstrated the future potential for use of CAD/CAM and virtual reality design tools in timber design, manufacture and construction – and something similar may feature in 2020. However timber and its uses have always remained the essential heart of the show, and that won’t change.
“It means visitors know there won’t be distractions from other product areas and they’ll find things of interest – according to feedback in 2018, 90% said they’d found what they were looking for. Meanwhile, exhibitors can be confident that visitors will be exclusively interested in timber and will be there to make serious enquiries,” said Ms Padden. “It makes the show pretty unique and helps explain why it has developed into a true global forum, with exhibitors from outside France in 2018 up to 37% of the total, and visitors 29%.”
CIB has also been focused on spreading its message further around the world, with Ms Padden and her team working with the French exhibition marketing body PromoSalons, which has offices in 53 countries, including the UK.
Exhibitor pavilions, representing the timber sectors of specific countries and regions, are another established part of the exhibitor mix.
“So far we have Wallonia, Portugal, Estonia, north Italy and the Basque region,” said Ms Padden. “French regions also have active marketing bodies and Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Centre-Val de Loire, Pays de la Loire, Bretagne and Nouvelle Aquitaine will be present.”
At the other end of the scale, CIB also tends to have a strong representation from small to medium sized exhibitors. That seems to be largely thanks to the stand-size limit of 36m2, which means bigger companies don’t overshadow the rest.
Another particular characteristic of the CIB is its appeal to construction specifiers, which is attributed to the Techniques & Solution section, but also wider growth in timber construction across Europe. In 2018 architects, designers and engineers constituted 17% of visitors. Whether that will be repeated next year remains to be seen. According to the Atradius Market Monitor (https://atradius.co. uk/reports/market-monitor-constructionfrance- 2019.html) and the French Builders Association, after robust performance in 2017, French construction growth slowed to 2.3% in 2018, and residential building is forecast to contract this year. However, overall building output is expected to grow a further 2.5%.
Among special features at CIB will be its new product showcase and Innovations Awards, which proved a hit when launched in association with Le Bois International magazine in 2018.
There will also be a three-day conference programme. To ensure it is current, the themes have yet to be decided through liaison with exhibitors and visitors.
Timber market development initiatives will be present at the show too. These will include the France Douglas campaign, promoting the country’s still growing Douglas fir industry, the three-year, €10m Pour moi, c’est le Bois French timber marketing programme, and Adivbois, the public-private initiative to drive timber-based building across the country.
More developments are likely to be unveiled as the CIB visitor registration date approaches next February. But you can be sure, at their heart will be wood.
