3 ways attending roofing expos can help your company

By Emma Peterson. 

From the trade show floor to classes and networking opportunities, attending industry expos is important to building a resilient and knowledgeable future for roofing.  

In Season 5, Episode 68 of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth hosts Will Lorenz of General Coatings and Barry McConway of Everroof to talk about their companies and experiences at last year’s Western Roofing Expo (WRE). 2024 marks WRE’s 50th anniversary and will showcase over 200 different companies from across the western United States. This expo is a fantastic opportunity for industry professionals to form connections and learn about the latest innovations. Will and Barry shared with Heidi the top three reasons why industry expos are beneficial to professionals and business owners. 

1 – Trade show booths 

Everroof had a booth on the trade floor at the last WRE and Barry noted that it was a great way toraise brand awareness and expand their company’s customer base. He elaborated, “For Everroof, we've got a history of about 10 years of producing products and delivering them. It's just not as national as it should be. So, we're here to get the word out.” By hosting a booth, business owners and their teams can significantly increase their brand’s visibility and reach by having a greater physical presence on the trade show floor.  

2 – Educational opportunities 

Another key part of expos like WRE are the educational events offered each day. Barry explained that building bridges between contractors and manufacturers is crucial to the industry and that one of the best ways to do this is through education. He explained, “As we're in trade shows and as we're meeting people, I see a lot of roofing companies and contractors that are coming up that still haven't done coating work.” Will added, “Much of making the right call on the job is learning first.” By encouraging professional development and education, expos can help employees and members of the industry at all levels of expertise. 

3 - Networking 

Last but not least, are the networking opportunities at events like WRE. While some of these events are designed into the trade show’s programming, a lot of networking happens naturally when many professionals come together in one location. Will shared, “It's always great to get together with other folks in the roofing industry, these knowledgeable people bring greater value to our contractor base and help them be a success.” The chance to meet people face-to-face and build community at the booths, educational classes, events and the moments in-between in something cannot be taken for granted.  

Listen to the episode or Read the transcription to learn more General Coatings and Everroof!