The Boost that the Retail Building Industry Needs

The Building Company (TBCo) hosted its biggest ever General Building Material (GBM) trade show on 15 February at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

The trade show, hosted by TBCo’s most prominent GBM brand Buco; brought together suppliers, buyers and store managers from across the country to showcase the latest industry innovations and cemented the company’s role as a trusted and preferred industry partner.

The event was TBCo’s biggest trade show to date with over 100 suppliers participating. Bigger and better than ever, the event had to move to a larger space after attendees exceeded capacity in the original venue. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase new products and technologies with the trade show serving as a merchandise innovation ‘’think tank’’, where new ways of merchandising and laying out of stores were presented. Among the themes covered were creating displays for target customers; why specific signage is now vital, and why sales team knowledge can make or break a brand. This tied in well with the trade show’s theme of ‘Vibrancy’.

The event was TBCo’s biggest trade show to date with over 100 suppliers participating. Bigger and better than ever, the event had to move to a larger space after attendees exceeded capacity in the original venue. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase new products and technologies with the trade show serving as a merchandise innovation ‘’think tank’’, where new ways of merchandising and laying out of stores were presented. Among the themes covered were creating displays for target customers; why specific signage is now vital, and why sales team knowledge can make or break a brand. This tied in well with the trade show’s theme of ‘Vibrancy’.

Effective display of goods in the hyper-competitive post-Covid landscape has become a critical sales tool where time-pressed consumers need easy and instant access to what they are looking for in a store environment that is both welcoming and easy to navigate.

The event also used technology to its advantage. Suppliers and delegates were given access to an app where live interaction with all delegates was facilitated. They could live stream the event, post pictures and videos and participate in competition polls. This clever use of technology encouraged participants to move through the space using the app, to share details thereby forming relationships and strategic partnerships to enhance the delegates’ networking experience.

“This trade show truly exceeded our expectations. It embodied our business philosophy of building strong, strategic partnerships and symbiotic relationships with our suppliers so that they share in the company’s growth and success,” says company CEO, Steve Du Toit. “Even though the trade show was a full day, we feel as if we wanted much more time to network, brainstorm and share innovative ideas. All in all, I think participants left feeling energized and excited with a vibrancy that fuels the kind of innovation that the industry needs,” he adds.

Merchandise executive Stuart Jowett opened the trade show stressing the importance of how success in the industry is predicated on creative solutions and nimble thinking. “We know that the majority of customers that buy from us do so to make a living," said Stuart Jowett, Group Executive: Merchandise. "But we are also building the capability to service our DIY customers. Through effective partnerships and by leveraging new technologies, processers, products, and solutions, we can make our operations more efficient and improve added value to our customers."

Following the trade show, TBCo hosted a supplier dinner to thank and recognise their suppliers. The suppliers who won awards were PPC Cement, Duram, Academy Brushware, Stevens & Co, IB McIntyre & Co, Vermont Sales, Handyman, Bostik South Africa, PG Bison, Kwikbuild Cement, Swartland, Safe Door, Ryobi and Plascon.

At the supplier dinner, John Stevens of Ryobi delivered an address on behalf of the suppliers: ‘On behalf of all the suppliers, we would like to extend a big thank you to Buco for hosting a phenomenal event. This has been one of the better Expos we have participated in, in a while. The interaction with the delegates were particularly good. We believe that this is a great business to get behind based on their commitment to growth.’

The following day TBCo hosted another successful event which was their Annual Conference. Attendance was in excess of 250 delegates and included a company update from Steve Du Toit and Pepkor’s COO, Sean Cardinaal, as well as overviews from key operating units within the company.

“The success of these events, which I believe is the best we’ve ever held, truly highlights the ways in which Buco is growing and finding ways to do things bigger and better,” says Steve Du Toit, Company CEO.