CONSTRUCT 2014

Archive of Older Topics Archive Coffee Pot and Water Cooler
1

It was good to see many of you in Baltimore both at SCIP and CSI events. Congratulations to our discussion group members who were elevated to fellowship. The “No Registration” buttons were a hit, and a number of people asked about them; thanks to Colin and Lynn for making this happen. Most of the educational sessions were worthwhile, especially the ones on EPDs and HPDs (I think I am beginning to get it; I don’t like it, but I get it).

The number of manufacturers’ booths seem to have increased after the low during the recession. I was, however, very disappointed at the low numbers of design professionals on the show floor. Some manufacturers were almost hostile about the lack of traffic. Many who would not have questioned their participation 15 years ago have drastically scaled back or have stopped participating altogether.

Are product shows pass? Has CONSTRUCT outlived its usefulness? Will you be in St. Louis?

2

I thought the “No Registration” button was to protest licensing of architects.

Hanley-Wood now has the CSI, AIA, and USGBC shows. It appears that in each case, the organization takes care of education, while HW takes care of everything else. If it makes economic sense to them, they’ll combine two of them - or all three - into a single show, perhaps with the name “World of Construction”? Or, if they think they’ll make more money by maintaining separate shows, that’s what they’ll do.

Many people attend two of the shows, and more would if it weren’t for the time and expense. If CSI’s membership continues to decline, HW may well decide that it’s not worth their time to promote a separate show, and roll it into one of the others.

The Internet finally has become what was promised years ago, with access to information about a multitude of building products. That plus the recent recession appear to have affected the number of product representatives, as well as the need to be physically present to see products and how they are used.

It’s easy to see a future without trade shows. Being the old fart that I am, I appreciate face time, but the millennials and Generation Z, accustomed to doing everything online, won’t see the same value. With online product data, videos that show how products are made and installed, and 3-D printing, who needs to go anywhere?

As for me, meet me in St. Louis.

3

The opportunity I see is for the local CSI chapter product shows. Quick - one evening; low cost for the manufacturer or their local reps - ~$600; minimal travel for the local specifiers and architects and general staff - no travel or hotel expenses.

As a reminder I have a list of these shows I promote to manufacturers.
http://www.4specs.com/chapter_shows.html

If your chapter has a show, please ensure I have the 2015 dates.

4

Large national product shows may indeed be on the way out or, at least, combined and reduced in number for the reasons Sheldon mentioned. I believe then Colin’s idea of local “shows” becomes even more important.

I see the number of table top presentations at our CSI chapter meetings is increasing both in mumber and size of the displays. Much credit for that goes to J. Peter and Holly Jordan and other hard working chapter members.

I seek out local demonstrations for the younger architects (and even some of the more experienced) to attend which are more easily done locally - usually at a nearby job site or at the installers headquarters. When you see something as seemingly simple as a masory wall being laid up, or a fluid applied membrane installed with an experienced craftsperson there to tell you what he or she is doing and why it makes a big difference in the amount of thought put into what goes on in the design studio.

If product shows go the way of VHS tapes and land line phones I’ll miss them of course but I will still attend the CSI and AIA conventions when possible for all the other reasons. It pains me that I wasn’t able to get to Baltimore this month. I really like the city and it is a not-too-long train ride from there to see my daughter and son-in-law in Virgina.

5

I was thinking about this recently, and my first thought was YES! National Trade Shows don’t make any sense. We just had the Orange County (SoCal) trade show last week, and it was great. I value meeting and talking to all my local reps. It’s these connections that make attendance worthwhile. At a National level, I don’t think you can really gave that interpersonal relationship and service that we enjoy and treasure with our local reps.

But my second thought was that I recognize my good fortune of working for a well established architecture firm in Southern California, which is an area well represented and well serviced by all the major product companies.

What is it like for a member in a small firm, in a much smaller market? I can imagine there is some appeal in going to a national convention to rub elbows with folks they might not ever meet in any other scenario.

Are there enough people in that situation to keep a national trade show rolling? I have no idea. Are my thoughts on target, or perhaps a bit too condescending? I really don’t know that either. It’s certainly possible that the internet provides what folks in less well represented areas need. Its impossible for me to say. However, I can tell you that I enjoy the local trade shows, and will continue to support them and encourage my peers to attend.

6

This is where the region conference/shows can have a better bang for the buck for the manufacturers. Many of the reps we deal with have territories that are much larger than any of the local chapters. Instead of going to the opposite coast and talking to people I’ll never see again until the next East Coast conference, I connect immediately with manufacturer’s and reps that serve our area and are familiar with local product pipelines and regulations.

These region events are easier to get to for younger architects. It also makes it easier/cheaper to travel and turn it into a family vacation.

This year our region conference was in Hawaii. Harder to get to, but a great location. The West Region is planning a Tri-Region conference in San Diego, May 2015. Then in May 2016 it’s off to Lake Tahoe for a Bi-Region conference. Both are great places for the family to visit and stay a couple of extra days. These events could be made a little larger and more effective with educational sessions that are reflective of the local markets.

Many of the reps I deal with have territories that extend through these 5-6 adjacent Southwestern states. That means thousands of miles to cover.

7

Sure was great to see all of you who could make it!

I too am gaining perspective on material transparency. (I’ll add more thoughts to the other thread.) And I’m becoming enthralled with Project Information Manager concept.

The low exhibit hall turnout is so unfortunate! I got there both days and had great conversations with everyone I could make it around to, sure is too bad for anyone who missed it because there were many great folks there with solid technical info and updates, and some cool gadgets. I talked extensively with some national reps of west coast based companies who I was less familiar with before, so for that I think national shows are still good. I do also like to attend the regional and chapter product shows.

I wonder if the low turnout had anything to do with it being two floors down from the educational sessions and tucked in the back.

For me, face-to-face is sure preferable, and I certainly plan to see you all in St. Louis!

8

Some comments from a rep (er, national trade association)

A national show is a great idea to see many people all at one time instead of going from office to office to office. While that may be the preferred way to see new products, etc. sometimes the manufacturer doesn’t have the staff to visit all the firms. A national trade show allows multiple contacts all within a short time frame. It is also good to have technical people from the manufacturer meet the clients since they don’t typically go on sales calls.

Obviously, if there aren’t many professionals walking the show floor, then the exhibitor has to rethink if it is worth coming. I have also seen local shows have attendance problems, so they are not necessarily better than some of the national shows.

9

I spent most of my time on the show floor visiting with the exhibitors and inviting them to Construct 2015. Here are some general impressions:

The first-timers seemed to be fairly impressed with CSI and the show and several of them planned to be back next year. Most of that group who said they will be returning “got it” that CSI is about the quality of the lead (large firm specifier, independent specifier, technically oriented architect - you know who you are) and not the quantity of folks flocking the floor.

The old guard who come every year wouldn’t miss Construct - many of them had already taken advantage of Hanley Wood’s early sign up offer and had their booth space reserved for St. Louis. They too understand whom they are talking to.

There was one area of the floor (middle aisle away from the food service) where I perceived most of the grumbling about low turnout, and part of that may have been due to traffic patterns around the floor. Or it could have been the lovely weather and star-spangled activities kept attendees outside. Several of the exhibitors in this group had done Construct for a year or two, and thought the volume was down from Nashville. I really didnt have a good sense of whether that was true or not. But they all seemed to equate number of visitors with successful show.

Overall, I probably got around to 3/4 of the booths, and would guess that 80% of them felt positive about next year. Of course that could have been politeness on their part in some cases (telling the old retired guy what he wanted to hear, and shooing him on his way). Still, it seemed to be an overall positive reception.

But the reality is that numbers are down. The last time we were in Baltimore, we had over 700 exhibitors; this year we were under 300. CSI membership is down to the point where we are in danger of falling under the magic 10,000 number – this from an organization that was boasting nearly 18,000 members not too long ago.

During the upcoming year, the Greater St. Louis Chapter will be focusing on getting as many attendees here as possible, and weve been promised the support of our neighbors in the North Central Region. Id ask you all to do your part and encourage colleagues and friends in your area to attend in 2015.

Oh, and yes, I too am planning on showing up at Construct 2015 in St. Louis.