Getting specified for multiple, large-scale multifamily residential projects
What makes an event effective? Ultimately, it’s about the results and that means getting your products specified for multiple, large-scale multifamily residential projects.
There’s no arguing with results and, in our experience, those results come from key relationships – from getting to know the architects and developers who call the shots on the projects you want in on.
Getting specified is a long-game and it has to start with a conversation. But, making just one of those conversations happen is perhaps the biggest, most frustrating challenge for any salesperson who finds themselves in the competitive marketplace of multifamily project business.
I don't give 5-Star reviews lightly or automatically; however I am always inspired to give BOND Multi a 5-Star Rating! The Energy, Organization, Creativity and Engagement can't be beat!
Jack (John) Devilbiss, AIA Bonstra Haresign ARCHITECTS, LLP Partner
Three Key Ingredients
In 22 years, BOND has come some way in developing and delivering the perfect recipe to help salespeople get the conversation started. BOND does this at each of its architecture and design events, by guaranteeing to deliver two key ingredients:
- Right People (The ones running the major projects in your sector)
- Quality time with those people (To get to know each other personally so trust and friendships can build and that’s when the real business comes)
The third essential ingredient which BOND cannot provide, without which, the mind-blowing potential of the first two would go to waste is YOU and the impression you make while you are here. BOND does much of the heavy lifting but you need to come and get stuck in.
80 of Multifamily’s biggest project influencers
This year’s BOND Multi brought together an exceptional group of 80 architects and developers from across North America - the very best in multifamily design, alongside a select group of suppliers.
All attending architects and developers had live, confirmed portfolios of major multifamily residential projects and were at the right level to influence (and protect) who and what gets specified.
Here is a small sample from the confirmed attendee list:
Matthew Hart
Principal
Perkins Eastman
Krista Dumkrieger
Principal
Cooper Carry
Kamran Charmsaz
Principal
KTGY
Robert Steele
Senior Associate
DLR Group
Nate Loeffelholz
Chief Operations Officer
Base4
Erin Faulkner
Principal, Residential, North America
NORR
Please take some time to study the firms and job titles. Is there any other way to get in front of this number of key decision makers and get to know them over three whole days away from the office?
Suppliers: How do you rate BOND Multi overall? 4.75/5
What stood out to me the most was the firms that I met with all have active projects that my product could fit into.
James Medina Noble Company National Sales and Architectural Manager
100s of large-scale multifamily projects
Large-scale multifamily and high-density residential projects throughout North America. That’s what’s on the table at BOND Multi.
In fact, every architect and developer you’ll meet must:
- Be at Principal level
- Work internationally in scope
- Evidence a portfolio of live, confirmed multifamily residential projects throughout N America.
That’s why BOND Multi is a unique proposition in the multifamily event space and part of what makes it such an exciting and compelling event experience and a potential game-changer for those chasing large-scale multifamily residential projects.
Here are just a few of the multifamily residential projects ‘our’ architects and developers brought to the table this year:
Three whole days (and nights) together
Now you have an idea of who you’ll meet at BOND Multi and the projects they bring to the table.
Even more compelling is the quality of time you get to spend with them and how, if you use it wisely, you can get a real sense of where the synergy is and where the business is likely to come from.
Manufacturers got a real feel for the architects and developers attending a month before the event when they were given access to BOND’s delegate portal.
Here they could study all the information that the attending architects and developers had provided including the projects they’re working on, their personal remit and the types of products they’re hoping to source at the event.
This information helped them to select the project leaders they most wanted to meet and gave some insight for conversation starters at the event.
1-on-1 with the architects and developers leading America's biggest multifamily projects
Two weeks before kick-off, everyone received their provisional meetings schedules, each with a guaranteed number of meetings, according to their chosen package.
Each of those meetings represented a guaranteed conversation starter with one of multifamily’s most sought-after architects or developers. And that's not including all of the networking opportunities…
BOND’s Multifamily community fly in from all over the states and beyond, so delegates can be spotted around the hotel from days before the event to days afterwards, depending on plans and prior engagements.
Those able to arrive by lunchtime on the day of the event had the option of getting on board the pre-event tour, which comes highly recommended as the perfect early ice-breaker.
Well organized and on target for connections appropriate to our business.
The quality of our meetings from start to finish was exceptional!
Mike Brabham, SIMONSWERK, VP Sales
Pre-Event Tour
Bowers Museum, whose mission is to ‘enrich lives through the world’s finest arts and cultures’ was this year’s destination.
Introductions, re-acquaintances and conversations were in full flow as the shuttle set off, those opting to take part being delighted with their decision as they started to get to know some of multifamily’s most influential characters.
Back at the hotel, time to freshen up, maybe a quick swim and catch up with things back home before everybody officially gathered for the first time around the Welcome Dinner that evening.
The most well-connected and influential people in multifamily
BOND’s Founder, Oliver Needs (see BOND: Origins) kept his welcome speech short and sweet, allowing folks to get down to the serious business of grabbing a cocktail, eyeing up the fabulous buffet and saying hello to whoever comes within your orbit.
And it doesn’t take long at all to realise you’re amongst some of the most well-connected and influential people in multifamily.
What tends to surprise first-timers is how relaxed and open our guests are now that they’re away from office and project pressures. This is quality time. Welcome to BOND Multi.
1-on-1 with multifamily’s biggest hitters
First-morning nerves run high – especially for first-timers meeting some of multifamily’s biggest names 1-on-1. A post-breakfast seminar is the perfect bridge to get the brain engaged.
It’s about now that you’ll recall what the helpful woman from BOND said in the live webinar on preparing for the event: Do your prep. Read up on who you’re meeting. Find out what they’re working on.
Ask the right questions and show you're willing to take the time to understand things from their side before you suggest how and where your expertise could help things along.
And, you’ll likely find yourself talking about things that have nothing to do with multifamily project business at all. Maybe you’re both into baseball. Nature. Cats. 80s electro? Who knows – just go with it and enjoy the ride.
This is about getting a feel for one another and the best, long-term business will almost always come from conversations that start like this.
The BOND Event and format is great because it gives me an opportunity to actually connect to manufacturers and suppliers who we need at this moment .
Damon Brider, Principal, LRK Architects
Doors in high places are starting to open
In just four 30-minute meetings you’ve got more insider information at the major firms than you've managed to get in years. Intel has been shared, common ground has been felt and doors in hard-to-reach places are finally starting to open.
Lunchtime. Your first morning of meetings has flown by. You’re energised by the positive conversations you’ve had and you can’t wait to speak to the office later. There’s a lot riding on this – it was your choice to go for it.
Would it be as good as it sounded? Would the people you were hoping to meet even show up? Would they be open to working with a company like yours who does things a bit differently to everyone else?
Yes, yes and time will tell. Right now, it’s time to pile your plate with round one from the sumptuous buffet and go sit with some of your new friends. Or dock into a table full of strangers? Your move.
One of the most exciting and productive days of your career
The bulge of business cards in your pocket is growing – lunch leading to more unexpected intros and openings and you already met your next appointment so you go into the afternoon's meetings so much more confident than this morning’s. Bring it on!
But, first it’s back to the seminar room for those insights on the ‘shifting middle’ of today’s multifamily markets, bringing you right up-to-date with the bigger picture.
And, before you know it, you've been given the 5-minute signal to wind your final meeting of the day up and you scribble down the details of how and when to follow up after the event.
And, as you head to your room to take a breather and catch up with things back home, exchanging nods and smiles with familiar faces that you pass, you are looking forward to a night of California Dreamin’, set to the tunes of the Beach Boys and a chance to wear one of those Hawaiin shirts that your kids hate.
Over the course of the event we spoke directly with decision-makers, had substantive conversations about their projects, and built relationships that would normally take months to develop. The exposure and quality of conversations made it one of the most productive shows we've attended.
Dan Fritz, Evolve Stone, Vice President of Business Development
It’s often on this second night, when the collective atmosphere is a mixture of relief at having gotten through day one and excitement at the company you find yourself in that you realise THIS is where career-changing conversations can happen .
Because folks are more relaxed and open here than you'd find them in their offices so conversations flow better and go further.
Being in the company of some of the most well-connected and influential people in multifamily project business is one thing. Having meaningful conversations that you'll both remember afterwards is the game-changer.
You’re making friends. You’re good at this stuff. Meanwhile, your sales pipeline doesn’t know what’s hit it. And there’s another day of this tomorrow!
A community shaping the future of high-density residential living across North America
Cold one in hand, you wander over to some faces that you recognise and settle in for another evening of that relaxed, natural networking. In its 22 years of doiung this, BOND has learned a thing or two about creating an environment that lets conversations breathe and relationships thrive.
BOND Multi isn’t just a networking event; it’s an invitation to come and be part of a community that's shaping the future of high-density residential living across North America. If that sounds like your thing, we suggest you get in touch today.
Suppliers: How likely are you to recommend BOND Multi to your colleagues and peers? 95%
The following comments were made on Linkedin around the event.
