Global B2B event organizer Informa Markets and The Build Show, a digital media brand for the residential construction industry with more than 1.7 million subscribers, have joined forces to launch Build Show LIVE, a B2B residential construction event designed for custom home builders, specialty contractors, remodelers, and architects. 

The debut event is expected to attract approximately 150 exhibitors and 3,000 attendees, according to officials from Informa Markets, which boasts more than 450 brands in its event portfolio. 

Set to kick off Nov. 7-9 at the Austin Convention Center in Texas, the inaugural trade show and conference will offer three days of specialist education in building science, fine craftsmanship and high-performance techniques, as well as a two-day expo featuring residential building manufacturers showcasing the latest products and solutions alongside hands-on education and demonstrations. 

The big picture: The show will provide residential construction professionals with the opportunity to learn directly from building experts from The Build Show, a video storytelling platform that offers building science knowledge and insight to foster higher quality residential construction outcomes. Session topics covered will range from the processes and applications behind the business of building, designing homes and historic preservation, as well as HVAC and insulation optimization, green and eco-friendly production, weatherization and carpentry.

Deeper dive: With more than 5 million average monthly video views by professional builders, remodelers, architects and homeowners, The Build Show platform also partners with leading construction manufacturers, organizations and companies, providing customized advertisement and sponsorship opportunities.

What they are saying: “Build Show LIVE is the biggest iteration of The Build Show since its inception,” said Matt Risinger, CEO of Risinger Homes, and creator and CEO of The Build Show. “As the premier event for our community, we will get together face-to-face to share ideas in a focused environment, dedicated to bettering and growing residential construction practices and learning how to create high performing, healthy and long-lasting homes, from the most talented people in the business.” 

Why it matters: “The live show will offer an unmatched experience that has never been done before, tailored to each market sector and supported by our master team, providing tactical and tangible training throughout practical demos, with over 100 essential brands as seen on The Build Show, plus much more,” said Risinger

Zoom in: The show’s location in the southwest region was a deliberate strategy, given that Texas construction contributes $101 billion to U.S. economic activity each year, according to Informa Market officials. The state’s most populous cities – San Antonio, Houston, Austin, and Dallas ­– are also among the top markets for new builds and remodels in the U.S., according to the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies. 

Zoom out: “Launching Build Show LIVE in the Texas region delivers an invaluable combination of expert insight and content, demonstrations of ground-breaking methods and an abundance of chances to connect in real life, all of which fuels explosive industry growth,” explained Kevin Thornton, senior vice president, Informa Markets Infrastructure and Construction. “Collaborating with the most trusted voice in residential construction, The Build Show, as well as its followers, to create this must-attend, in-person touch point, increases the resources available to support ever-expanding connectivity far beyond the reaches of digital interactions.”

In this exclusive interview, TSNN caught up with Thornton to get an inside peek into the show and the strategy behind Build Show LIVE.

When and why did Informa Markets recognize a need for this show and what are its expectations for the launch? 

Launching Build Show LIVE in Austin will bring the Build Show media brand to life in the heart of the southern region, where the demand for high-performance building continues to grow. Through this partnership, we can bring the top companies, leaders and voices in residential construction together for an event dedicated to helping custom home builders build better. High-quality education and expert know-how will equip the industry with the content, training and manufacturer expertise needed to enhance home performance. The Build Show experts are an extremely impressive group, representing different geographies, climates and areas of expertise, all with the same goal to “Know Better and Build Better.”

How will this event differ from other Informa B2B events?

We have another event in Providence, Rhode Island that focuses on residential building named JLC LIVE. It is a 25-year-old event that has one of the highest net promoter scores (NPS) among B2B trade events in the entire world. The concept, when it began, was to take the highly successful Journal of Light Construction (JLC) magazine and “bring it to life.” 

That is exactly what we are doing with Build Show LIVE (BSL). We are taking the success of the media brand The Build Show, which focuses on building science content and training videos, and we are bringing it to life in a live format. What is unique is that the event, at least in its nascent stage, is really a B2B influencer event. Matt Risinger, the builder and proprietor of Build Show, is the most influential custom home building influencer in the industry. BSL is leveraging his reach (with things like VIP packages that included meet-and-greets and home tours of his actual home) and the reach the other Build Show experts have in both the trade and DIY community.

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