By David MacDonald
david@peicanada.com

An Eastern PEI company was among several in the Atlantic Canada wood products sector industry that found success during a recent marketing event held in Las Vegas.
The annual International Builders Show, which was held January 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, included more than 1,100 exhibits from companies around the world. One of those booths was from the Atlantic Wood Specialties Association, which represented four Atlantic Canadian companies including Royalty Hardwoods Ltd in Pooles Corner.
Executive director Sid Watts of Kilmuir was hand with product samples and brochures and to gather leads from builders and architects in attendance.
Mr Watts said he got a couple of hot leads from contractors in Calgary interested in what the association had to offer, with one of those contractors currently in discussions with Royalty Hardwoods.
The association charged a fee to companies wanting their products represented, and Mr Watts said this kind of representation is good for companies who’d otherwise not be able to afford going to such an event.
“What it really shows to me is this is far and away the most cost efficient way of going after some of these markets. Not one of these companies would have gone to the show on their own but for a very tiny cost, their product is exposed to architects and builders from around the world.”
A total of 55,212 people attended the Las Vegas event.