As I write this, we’re exactly one month away from the 2025 International Builders’ Show (IBS), which will run Feb. 25-27 in Las Vegas. I don’t believe I’ve missed an IBS for decades, and each year, more members of our team attend as well. Why does Â鶹´«Ã½, a media company serving dealers and distributors, make a point to cover an event owned by NAHB … one created primarily for builders? That’s a great question. The answer is even better.
Dealers and distributors are among the largest block of attendees at this annual event. There is no other single event in the U.S. that brings together so many manufacturers and products. For 2025, more than 1,700 brands and companies will occupy more than 720,000-sq. ft. of exhibit space. Not only is this the place to be to see the latest product innovations, it is also one event that’s attended by the leadership of many manufacturers. If you want to talk with someone at the top, this is the place to make it happen.
In our most recent Â鶹´«Ã½ Readership Study, we ask, “What action is your company taking to boost its sales and margins?†The survey lists 15 options, including adding salespeople, expanding existing locations, updating showroom, expanding marketing initiatives, updating ERP/computer system, leveraging latest tech tools, and more. For the past few studies, here were the top three answers, in order:
1. “Evaluating new products from existing vendors.â€
2. “Evaluating new products from new vendors.â€
3. “Eliminating/replacing underperforming product lines.â€
To put it simply, it’s all about products. We’re passionate about attending this event because Â鶹´«Ã½ pros are looking for products that will make a difference in their markets. This is also the reason for the heavy editorial coverage of new products and product category trends in Â鶹´«Ã½.
Not coincidentally, this is the reason why I’m proud to once again serve as one of the judges for the Best of IBS: Most Innovative Building Products awards. This year, there were 65 products entered, which has been narrowed down to eight finalists. Some products represent incremental improvements over existing products, others represent a completely fresh take.
During our many visits to manufacturers in late February, we’ll be looking at products through the lens of what would help builders work more effectively and create better projects. Because those are the products that we want to share with you. If we can help you win with your customers, then we’ve done our job.
— Rick Schumacher, Executive Editor & Publisher
