EVENT RECAP

SOCIAL TABLE participants included (top row, l-r) Brian Hawrysh, Chuck Casey, Jim Ivanoff, Brent Comber. (Row 2) Dave Farley, Johnny Matak, Greg Henderson, Randi Walker. (Row 3) Jennifer Raworth, Dai Ona, Ray Greene, JC Lee. (Row 4) Nora Gonzalez, Monica Alvarez.

BC Wood’s virtual Global Buyers Mission spans the globe

Close to 00 attendees, from 1 countries, across five continents met virtually with some of the industry’s top Canadian manufacturers and speakers at the week-long 0 1 BC Wood Global Buyers Mission.

The 1 th annual event, traditionally held in-person in Whistler, B.C., made the decision to pivot for the first time to virtual late last year—giving the organization just 0 days to translate its always-engrossing format into an engaging online experience for industry members around the world.

Unique elements for the event ranged from dynamically translating the entire platform into eight different languages, to tracking AIA educational credits from presentations, to over 00 individual oom exhibitor meeting rooms for hundreds of pre-scheduled and on-demand meetings—many with interpreters included. To host the Global Buyers Mission, BC Wood partnered with Media Group’s interactive virtual platform because, according to GBM program manager Randi Walker, “They understood our industry, had direct access to our targeted U.S. audience, and had already successfully delivered virtual trade events for other like-minded industry associations.”

“We were honored to have been chosen by our friends at BC Wood to help them host their marquee event. aving served this industry for almost 100 years puts an extra pressure on our team to never let a client down and to always over-deliver,” said Media Group president Patrick Adams. “Our industry is made up of tough individuals who always find a way forward in challenging market conditions. This event was too important to a global industry audience for us to deliver anything but perfection.”

Analytics showed that over % of the typical attendance registered for the virtual event, with an average daily booth attendance of over three dozen qualified buyers per exhibitor. In addition to being able to take buyers on video plant tours and present in-booth, live accredited seminars, exhibitors also received critical lead generation reports to follow up on after the event.

While this virtual event was made as a necessary substitute due to CO I , the feedback has been so positive that BC Wood is planning a virtual component to its in-person 0 event. Walker said, “Based on survey feedback from our international audience, it is clear that we will move forward with some level of virtual delivery incorporated into our next live event. Many buyers indicated that having it virtual meant more of their critical staff could attend and meet with suppliers directly, something companies, particularly from Asian and European markets, simply couldn’t afford to do for a live event.”

EXHIBITORS like Interfor’s Greg Fitz and Carl Dobler welcomed attendees to their virtual booth.

Adam Fallis Keith Murray Peter Butzelaar Christina Thiele James Webb

Grant Cowx Shane Carphin Mark Lee Caroline March-Long Robert Lennon