What an amazing week we had in Chicago! Myself,
Eoin Ryan from
The Galtee Group, and
Damian Woods from
W.Howard 'The MDF Specialists' attended the
North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) distributors’ event, with over 1,000 delegates present. I had the privilege to do a presentation on behalf of the Irish Wood & Interiors Network (IWIN), showcasing the expertise and capabilities of our member companies. I also shared our collaboration with
Cieblink, who are launching a Product Information Management (PIM) software we are starting to implement in the network.
It was a brilliant opportunity to connect with dozens of prospective buyers, build key relationships, and generate leads for future business. We were lucky to be hosted by industry experts
Freya Hannah (Cieblink) and David Smith from The David Smith Group, who introduced us to many of the top buyers/distributors in the US and Canadian markets. The event was packed with key figures from the North American and Canadian building materials supply industry, particularly woodworking products and sheet materials—a perfect fit for our network.
We also had some great experiences exploring Chicago, including seeing 9-time Grammy winner, Buddy Guy, perform live—an unforgettable night! We toured the city and had a productive meeting with
David O'Flaherty of
Enterprise Ireland USA, who shared that Chicago is home to 200,000 Irish diaspora, 25,000 of whom are in construction—highlighting the strong cultural ties and opportunities for Irish suppliers in this market.
The US is open for business—with trade from China down, buyers are actively looking for alternatives. For Irish companies ready to supply, there’s a real chance to make an impact.
It was a smashing week, and we’re excited for what’s ahead!
Thank you to
Frederic Pare and
Freya Hannah for the invitation to the event, and to
Michael Wilbur for hosting such an excellent gathering.
