Bigger + Better EXPO 2024

Bowens EXPO 2024 

From humble beginnings to a full house at the Royal Exhibition Building, Bowens Expo is shaping up to be one of the biggest events for the building and construction industry this year.  

17 years ago, Bowens had the idea of moving away from multiple small, in-store trade nights to a large, single, company-wide exhibition. As remains the case today, this event is designed for suppliers to showcase their products directly to eager builders who want to educate themselves and improve their businesses with the latest and most efficient building methods and materials. While the first year proved the concept, it was clear the execution needed some work. 

“Prior to our first expos, we would drag a small group of suppliers from one store to another as they did their best to promote their products to a handful of our most loyal account customers,” John Bowen, Bowens’ Managing Director, said. “They would present a few items on card tables at our stores, most often in the winter months. I can remember sitting at our Hallam branch freezing. It must have been 5° and we had cold beer on ice and bags of chips behind a makeshift bar. Simply put, it didn’t work. Not for our customers, suppliers or staff.”  

Knowing there was a better way, John and his team decided to grow the event into a more sophisticated proposition. They developed, tweaked and evolved the original idea into the far superior Bowens Building + Innovation Expo you see today. 

This year Bowens is hosting its 10th Expo, and although a lot has changed over the years, the sentiment remains the same. Expo is for those builders and trades wanting to learn more about the latest and most innovative products in the market.  

“Our job is to make sure we’re finding better solutions to help builders and trades be more efficient,“ John said. And with a line-up of experienced guest speakers, 150+ suppliers and the widest range of innovative products under one roof, builders and trades will find more than one reason to visit Bowens Expo 2024. 

What to Expect at the Expo 

With over 10,000 builders and trades expected to walk through the doors, it will be the biggest Expo yet. Not only is Bowens celebrating 130 years as a leading timber and hardware supplier, the planning and preparation for this years’ Expo has been extensive. You’ll find prizes and giveaways, heavily discounted products and, for those who attend, the chance to win the major prize – a 2024 Toyota Hilux 4×4 Rogue.  

In addition, there will be a dedicated food truck area with Woodfired Pizza, Mexican, Vietnamese, Fish N Chips, Burgers, Souvlakis and Korean BBQ, all included in an attendee’s free ticket. Refreshments and barista-made coffee will be available throughout the day and a live DJ to keep the crowd entertained. 

Beyond the giveaways, the major prize, the free food and drinks, builders and trades will walk away with an in-depth knowledge of the latest innovative products and building systems. Solutions that not only create a more cost-effective build, but also reduce labour costs, site hire costs and slash construction timeframes. 

Rethink Building Innovation Seminars 

Our bigger and better Rethink Building seminar space will play host to a series of 30-minute sessions with special guests, live product demonstrations and ‘on the couch’ style conversations with builders who utilise innovative products in their builds. Builders and trades can pick and choose the seminars and demonstrations of interest to them. 

“This is our opportunity to challenge the industry to be better, to challenge our suppliers to come up with some great solutions, not to just provide the same product again and again and again,” John said. “We also want to challenge the audience by providing them with products they haven’t seen before to help resolve onsite problems.” 

It serves as an opportunity to examine products that are beneficial for builders and to discuss how they can be implemented onsite. The seminars will cover Whole-Of-Home (WOH) energy efficiency requirements, “High-Performance” building solutions and highlight the opportunities provided when working with products that can solve onsite issues arising from the recent NCC changes. 7-star will also be a hot topic for discussion and how high-performance products can offer solutions for a variety of different builds. 

Builders and trades will get industry insights from experts in the Passive House and high-performance building space, highlighting differences in the building process, the costs involved and the ultimate outcomes for clients. Our innovation seminars will also showcase products that will not only improve the speed and efficiency of a build but save unnecessary costs.  

“All of the suppliers have been challenged to provide something new; products and services our customers haven’t seen previously, as well as solutions that will advance builders and their businesses,” John said. “This will be an event where builders are learning, from the beginning to end, about innovation, services and opportunities to help them to be better.” 

Bowens Expo 2024 Details 

Our FREE event will give you access to live product demonstrations and seminars, expert advice from industry specialists and in-depth knowledge about innovative products. It will also include free food and drinks, exclusive specials, free giveaways and the chance to WIN a brand-new Toyota Hilux. 

Join Bowens at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton, on Wednesday 11th September 2024 between 3:30 – 9:00pm AEST. 

You don’t want to miss this one.

Register now!