Unique Perspectives from Attending the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, Nevada This Year
HomeAid has exhibited at the International Builders’ Show for many years. This year was the same as years past in many ways. We attended the massive trade show with newly branded hats, matching shirts, and smiles on our faces while spreading the word about HomeAid’s mission of helping those experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.
This year, however, we did have a unique situation in that our IBS veteran, Robin Arnett, our Chief Expansion Officer, attended her 27th IBS this year, while a first-timer, Melissa Nicewarner Daly, our Chief Impact Officer dove into the 200,000+ person event headfirst. We asked them each to share their experiences with us.
An IBS first-timer’s takeaways:
Sharing the stage with Realtor.com New Construction at AREA15 was a fun way to achieve education and advocacy in one fell swoop. Housing is an issue that impacts everyone, and I appreciated the opportunity to share our mission with builders with the talent and resources to help us end homelessness.
The challenges that the building industry has faced (looking at you, supply chain) applied pressure in ways that forced creativity, and the results can be seen in the innovation of products and customer engagement. Walking the miles of booths, I witnessed many unique and cutting-edge products and interesting twists on traditional materials.
The opportunities to make new friends and reconnect with old friends were plentiful, and that is always my favorite part of any event. I met so many dynamic people and was delighted to see the fruits of efforts made to increase women’s roles in the building industry, as well as, create efficient pipelines from job seekers to the trades.
An IBS Veteran’s takeaways:
My time this year at IBS was something special. After a condensed version of IBS last year in Orlando, with over 200,000 people who are all there to support the building industry, felt energizing! This is actually the 27th show that I have attended. I find in each one that seeing friends I only see once a year, it's still so fun.
And the walking, let's talk about the walking that is done while at IBS! It is definitely not for the faint of heart. But, the chance to see so many new products, ideas, and innovations is quite exciting.
But, the reason I've returned for the last 27 years is the people. The friends that I've made over the years in various aspects of the industry, and running into them in the hallway, at the food court, in meetings, or on the show floor is always fun. And while they do not all work with us at HomeAid, they know about HomeAid and I believe they would agree that housing is a human right and all 105,000 were at IBS in the pursuit of creating housing for all.
Melissa and Robin in matching HomeAid flannels.
Robin and Melissa at IBS.
It seems rather if it is your first time or your 27th time, connecting with people and seeing the new things the industry has to offer is a consistent theme of the International Builders’ Show.
We will see you next February in Las Vegas while wearing more matching outfits, comfortable shoes and talking about HomeAid’s mission.