Make Your Builders’ Show Investment Count: 5 Ways to Maximize Your ROI!

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Set a Clear Goal for the Show

• Step 2: Prioritize These Must-See Exhibits & Sessi …

  • Product Discovery (New Building Tech & Materials)

  • Business & Marketing Strategy

• Step 3: Build Relationships That Actually Matter

  • Who You Should Be Networking With:

• Step 4: Create Content & Position Yourself as an I …

• Step 5: Follow Up & Implement What You Learned

• Your IBS 2025 Game Plan Checklist

• About Me

The International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas is the biggest opportunity of the year for home builders to discover new products, connect with vendors, and learn about trends that home buyers actually care about.

But let’s be real: Attending IBS isn’t cheap. Between travel, hotels, registration fees, and time away from job sites, you’re easily investing thousands of dollars in this event. That means you can’t afford to just “wing it” when you get there.

Here’s a Builder Playbook-approved plan to ensure you leave the Builders’ Show with new opportunities, valuable insights, and an actual ROI on your investment.

Step 1: Set a Clear Goal for the Show

Before you even step foot in the convention center, ask yourself:

✅ What’s my #1 priority for attending?

• Finding new materials or building technologies?

• Meeting vendors who can improve your margins?

• Learning what home buyers are demanding in 2025?

• Connecting with other builders to swap business strategies?

💡 Pro Tip: Write down three key takeaways you want from the show and review them each morning before heading out.

Step 2: Prioritize These Must-See Exhibits & Sessions

With 1,300+ exhibitors and hundreds of sessions, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. Instead of walking aimlessly through the show, plan your must-see stops ahead of time:

Product Discovery (New Building Tech & Materials)

• Smart Home & Energy Efficiency: What’s the next big thing in smart homes?

• Prefab & Modular Construction: Is this the future of home building?

• Luxury & Custom Home Trends: What high-end features are selling the fastest?

Business & Marketing Strategy

• "State of the Home Building Market" – Industry trends, buyer demand, and market outlook.

• "Social Media & Digital Marketing for Home Builders" – How builders are using content marketing to generate leads.

• "The Future of Home Financing & Buyer Behavior" – What’s happening with interest rates and lending options?

💡 Pro Tip: Block out 15 minutes each evening to summarize your top takeaways so you don’t forget them after the show.

Step 3: Build Relationships That Actually Matter

IBS isn’t just about the products—it’s also about who you meet. Some of the most valuable connections you’ll make won’t happen at an exhibit but over coffee, at an after-hours event, or in the hotel lobby.

Who You Should Be Networking With:

🔹 Vendors & Suppliers: They often have insider knowledge about pricing trends and can hook you up with exclusive deals.
🔹 Other Builders: Learn what’s working (or not working) for them and exchange ideas.
🔹 Home Building Influencers & Media: If you want to be featured in industry publications, now’s the time to introduce yourself.

💡 Pro Tip: Instead of generic “let’s connect” conversations, ask them:
➡️ What’s one product or tool you’ve seen at the show that’s a game-changer?

🔥 Bonus: Follow up! Send a quick email or LinkedIn message to key contacts within 48 hours after the show so they remember you.

Step 4: Create Content & Position Yourself as an Industry Leader

Want to stand out while you’re at the show? Document your experience in real-time:

📸 Post a daily recap on LinkedIn or Instagram:

• “Top 3 Innovations I Saw at IBS Today”

• “The #1 Mistake Builders Are Making in 2025 (and How to Fix It)”

• “Just met with [vendor]—here’s why their product could change the game.”

📹 Shoot quick videos of key insights and upload them to social media.

• Even a 30-second clip of a product demo or expert interview can make an impact.

📝 Write a blog or email recap after the show.

• Share key takeaways with your audience (potential buyers love seeing what’s next).

💡 Pro Tip: IBS is packed with homeowner trend insights—be the first builder in your area to share them with your potential buyers!

Step 5: Follow Up & Implement What You Learned

Once IBS is over, the real work begins. Most attendees never follow up on the insights, contacts, or new opportunities they found at the show.

Here’s how to turn your IBS experience into real business growth:

📩 Follow up with vendors:

• If you saw a product you liked, reach out within a week to request samples, pricing, or a site visit.

🔄 Meet with your team:

• Share key insights from IBS and brainstorm how to apply them to your projects.

📈 Test & implement new ideas:

• Whether it’s a new building material, software tool, or marketing tactic, pick ONE thing you can start using immediately.

Your IBS 2025 Game Plan Checklist

✔️ Set your goals before the show.
✔️ Plan which exhibits and sessions to attend.
✔️ Prioritize high-value networking.
✔️ Share content & insights to build authority.
✔️ Follow up & apply what you learned.

📌 Final Thought: You’re spending thousands to attend IBS—make sure you leave with insights and relationships that will generate a return for your business.

Send me a note if you'd like to meet up at the shows! If you can’t make IBS this year, I’m happy to connect anytime on the phone or via Zoom. We can chat about content marketing strategies, editorial content, and what you can do to keep your business moving forward in 2025.

Also, please feel free to email me with what you’d like to see from the Builder Playbook this year. Your feedback is key to ensuring that I’m delivering the best content to help you succeed.

I’m also excited to share our partnership with REEKON Tools! I saw the T1 Tomahawk Digital Tape Measure at the Builders’ Show a couple years ago and knew it would be a hit. No more scrambling to take notes or deal with inaccuracies. Their lineup of digital measuring tools ensures you never forget a measurement, make less mistakes, and leverage 1/32" accuracy to always capture the right value. 

Best regards,
Timothy Dahl
Founder, Builder Playbook

About Me

I have more than 15 years of experience leading editorial teams and managing content and product marketing campaigns at Lowe’s, Popular Mechanics, This Old House, and various startups. I founded Charles & Hudson, Bob Vila’s favorite home improvement blog, and Built by Kids, a Webby-nominated and New York Times favorite.

My current focus is on content marketing, delivering results for Lowe’s, Samsung, Hearst magazines, and home builders across the country. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, training in jiu-jitsu, and wrenching on my 100 Series Land Cruiser.

My LinkedIn to see professional me.