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BC Wood Global Buyers Mission to take place virtually

BC Wood is pleased to announce the return of the infamous Global Buyers Mission (GBM), the largest and most important wood show for international buyers and Canadian sellers of value-added wood products. This one-of-a-kind networking event for buyers, sellers and the sector as a whole — postponed due to COVID-19 — is now scheduled for Jan. 25-29 in an exciting and unique virtual format.

Like the usual in-person event, the new format includes direct contact and live meetings with pre-qualified international buyers, but in a virtual Whistler setting — right down to the simulated booth locations on the tradeshow floor. Further, buyers and mission-leaders will have advance access to the tradeshow and company promotional materials, to facilitate the scheduling of meetings that will take place during the live event (with interpreters as required). Sellers in turn will have attendee listings and detailed user analytics to inform their post-event follow-up.

In Whistler, the GBM was constrained by venue size and international travel limitations, but a virtual event has no limitations on the information exhibitors can share in their booth, or on the number of qualified buyers who can participate. As such, BC Wood hopes to attract many more than the 400+ buyers and specifiers from 22 countries that have attended in the past. In addition to connecting wood buyers and sellers, the new format will continue to provide opportunities for industry, government and allied representatives to network.

Other online activities consistent with the in-person format, include:

• Presentations by key federal, provincial and industry leaders.
• Meet-and-greet networking events at the Roundhouse Lodge at the top of Whistler Mountain.
• Engagement with architects attending WoodTALKS at the GBM through live and pre-recorded webinar presentations by leading architects, builders and industry members.

The invitations are out and participating wood buyers are being pre-qualified from:

• Australia
• Belgium
• Canada
• China
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• India
• Ireland
• Japan
• Korea
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Taiwan
• Vietnam
• UK
• USA
UA Emirates

Value-added wood products promoted and sold at the GBM will include:

• Log and timber frame homes
• Pre-fabricated structures
• Engineered wood products and specialty lumber
• Windows and doors
• Cabinets, moldings, flooring, and other value-added wood building products
• Specialty lumber and Western Red Cedar products

As BC Wood’s premier business development activity, the GBM helps value-added manufacturers connect with hundreds of qualified buyers and specifiers of wood products. Sales generated on the trade show floor have increased nine-fold since the first event in 2004, to $35 million per year.

Collectively, B.C.’s 800 value-added wood product companies employ 17,200 people and report annual sales of $4.3 billion. Compared to primary mill operations, value-added manufacturing is more job- intensive, generating two to 22 times as many jobs per m3, and many value-added companies source their feedstock from primary producers.