During the months of research before the first announcement of The Timber Show last September, the organisers consulted key industry trade associations and individual companies and received enthusiastic support for what most described as “a long overdue event”.

Nearly a year later, as final preparations are being made for the exhibition, that enthusiasm remains undimmed: even now, companies are contacting the organisers to book a stand and join the existing exhibitors – who are promising a raft of product launches and innovations for visitors.

From the outset, the key priority of the organisers has been to ensure that The Timber Show is a successful business event for exhibitors, and the past few months have seen extensive promotion activity, with advertising placed in a wide range of trade magazines as well as a large direct mail campaign. As a result, say the organisers, buyers from the construction, merchanting and manufacturing industries have been pre-registering via the website and telephone hotline for their free entry badges, which will be sent to them in advance so they can avoid queuing on arrival.

Taking place at ExCeL in London from September 12-14, The Timber Show is supported by The Timber Trade Federation, British Woodworking Federation, Wood for Good, Canada Wood, UK Timber Frame Association, UK Forest Products Association and TIMBERWeb.

“There’s an immense opportunity for the timber industry to increase market share on the back of changing public perception about timber and growing awareness of its performance, aesthetic and environmental benefits,” said exhibition director John Southam.

“At The Timber Show, architects, specifiers and buyers will have access to a diverse range of products and information to inspire their imagination and improve their productivity, quality and profitability – whether they’re involved in private, commercial or affordable building projects, interior design, shopfitting, wood-based manufacturing, or trade and retail sales.”

Exhibitors

Exhibitors at the inaugural show include UK and overseas suppliers offering everything from raw materials to engineered timber, high quality veneers, flooring, cladding, finished and semi-finished components, and related products and services such as fire and preservative treatments, structural fittings, software, port operations and materials handling.

With the organisers setting a limit on the maximum stand area, so that no exhibitors would dominate the event through sheer size, these companies will compete on a level playing field for the attention of visitors.

One thing visitors won’t be able to miss is the impressive feature of a timber frame house being completed in the exhibition hall every day. Presented by Stewart Milne Timber Systems, the feature will allow visitors to see the actual build process and appreciate the ease and speed of erection for timber frame – the ideal modern method of construction.

“Publicity about the government’s need to balance the requirement for more housing with its environmental commitments has given timber a particularly high profile in the construction sector,” said Mr Southam.

“However, The Timber Show is more than a building exhibition: it is a forum for promoting timber in all its forms and to all types of customer. Many of our exhibitors are targeting manufacturers of wood-based products – from furniture to boatbuilding – and merchants and retailers who supply trade customers and the general public. The investment in visitor promotion has covered all these markets.”

While maintaining the focus on providing a successful business event for exhibitors, the organisers are also aware that the exhibition can contribute to overall generic marketing of timber – not only providing buyers with an opportunity to see products and meet and compare suppliers but also to inform and educate. That thinking led to the development of a free complementary seminar programme with expert presentations on a range of topical issues affecting timber.

“The Timber Show is unique because it is a dedicated timber event,” said Mr Southam, “and 100% of our visitors – whether they design with it, build with it, manufacture with it, or sell it – will be there because they need to find suppliers and information about timber.”