Around this time each year, remodelers across the country are deciding whether they should attend the annual NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS) and if the time away from the office and the travel expenses are worth it. I wonder how professional remodelers can decide not to attend.

I strongly believe that spending time at IBS is a worthwhile investment in your business. You can step back from the day-to-day demands of running your company, network with other like-minded professionals, discover exciting new products, and attend multiple educational sessions. I’ve learned valuable real-world strategies at the show that have helped my business stay competitive in our complex and evolving industry.

My firm, Owens Construction, has been operating for more than four decades, and I attribute our longevity to staying open-minded and embracing new ideas throughout the years. Competition in the industry has grown exponentially. The number of remodeling companies nearly doubled nationwide between 2000 and 2025, from 69,000 to 128,000, according to NAHB data. This staggering statistic illustrates how important it is to invest time in making sure your business is successful and sustainable.

Sharpen Your Business Skills

Attending IBS education sessions is one way to ensure that your business measures up. Speakers and presenters represent the full scope of the remodeling sector, from business owners to software developers to leading economists. One session that stood out to me at this year's show was "Practical Strategies to Maximize Remodeling Margins," which featured four panelists sharing the best ways to calculate job costs, approach markups, and make operational improvements to maintain healthy margins. The 2027 IBS Education schedule will be released soon, and I know it will not disappoint.

See What’s Next

Walking the exhibit floor is one of my favorite parts of the show every year. The Las Vegas Convention Center will be filled with exhibits from more than 1,700 of the industry's leading manufacturers and suppliers. I also make time in my schedule to tour The New American Remodel home, an inspirational and aspirational real-world showroom of new products and design ideas.

Put New Ideas to Work

My NAHB Remodelers Council colleague Elliott Pike, owner of ELM Construction in Homewood, Ala., has found IBS so valuable that he brought his entire team to the show in February. For him, the cost of bringing his employees was outweighed by their exposure to new ideas and business practices, which they quickly implemented to make the company more efficient and profitable. Instead of looking at IBS as an expense on a balance sheet, Elliott viewed it as an investment in his employees and business.

As a dedicated business owner, I know how hard it is to step away from the office, even for a few days. At the same time, there is no other trade show that provides such valuable access to education, innovation, and networking to help your business thrive.

Registration opens Sept. 1 at buildersshow.com for IBS 2027, Feb. 2-4, in Las Vegas. I hope to see you there.