The show organisers are expecting a total of 50-75 buyers to take part in the exercise, which enables them to meet exhibitors privately to discuss specific products and projects.
“We’ve had more interest this time than at the show last year,” said Timber Expo managing director Darren Richards. “They include most of the leading players in construction, but also this time some of the top names among their customers in areas such as retail and the DIY multiples sector.”
The list of contractors and developers taking part in the forum includes Laing O’Rourke, Skanska, Vinci, Lend Lease and BAM, while building clients include Sainsbury, B&Q and ASDA.
Another participant this year is Jewson. “All the exhibitors can register to have a 30-minute meeting with the buyers,” said Mr Richards.
“That doesn’t sound very long, but exhibitors and buyers have the opportunity to post information about themselves, the products they offer and the projects they’re planning, in advance, so at the show they can immediately get down to the detail.
It’s a very effective means of business communication and proved very popular with exhibitors in 2011.” Each buyer is expected to have around four meetings on each of the two days of the show, giving a total of up to 300.
They have to be booked in advance, and exhibitors are prioritised according to whether they are a show sponsor. The login details for online registration are sent out in order, with top platinum and gold sponsors receiving theirs first, followed by silver, bronze, then non-sponsors.
The first will be emailed this week. According to Mr Richards, there are just a dozen stands left to be booked at the show.
“We are expecting to be full, which will give us around 160 stands, a 40% increase on 2011,” he said. The show is also forecasting an increase on last year’s 4,000 visitor total.
“We’re really hoping to break through the 5,000 mark and pre-registrations are already up 12% on 2011,” said Mr Richards. “We’re also going to get more architects, engineers and other specifiers, groups we have specifically targeted with our show marketing, which is what exhibitors last year said they wanted.”
