Company Profile:

mafi is an Austria based wood producer of wood walls, floors and ceilings made solely from sustainable local forests. "We do not coat our wood in any artificial surface barriers. Touching and smelling wood is proven to reduce stress and can heal people but only without the coating." 

Event(s) attended: BOND Custom 2024, 25 & Five Star USA 2022

Industry: Natural wood surfaces

Company size (by employee count): 85+/-

Attendee Profile: 

Walter Lourie, National Sales Manager and Sustainability Manager 

“I live in Maryland and have over 25 years in the wood flooring industry. Air Force Veteran and lived in Alaska and the northeast. Grew up on a farm and I love to garden and be in nature. Interested in meeting people who specify with health and ecology in mind."

Personal fact:

Hired to refurbish the wood floors at the National Gallery of Art.

Favourite quote:

"No matter how things happen, they are for our benefit, regardless of whether we are sad or think that we have been abandoned by God."

 

 

 

 

The Problem

 

 

 

 

 

"Getting myself and our product in front of senior architects and designers is everything I do. The most important part of our business is the interactions with those who have been hired to complete the intent of the end user. These professionals have a reputation to uphold, and they are great for us because of the well thought out decisions they make on behalf of their clients."

The Solution:

“Getting the face time we need with those architects and designers is no longer hard because of BOND Custom. Relationships start and end with conversations.

Emails are not conversations. We must engage in more physical interactions if we want true relationships.

BOND Custom gives us the platform we need for those physical interactions and conversations that get the relationships started."

Results

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Every BOND event has resulted in new business for mafi, typically generating 1-2 projects immediately following the event, with ongoing follow-up conversations continuing to create additional opportunities.

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BOND has enabled Walter to present mafi's products to architects and designers face-to-face, helping them understand firsthand what sets them apart from the options they would normally turn to.

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Whilst building relationships with senior designers at BOND, Walter has also been led to their trusted partners, who have also become clients. A "win-win." 

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"I have made strong personal relationships from these events. That includes those outside of work – family crisis type of relationships...the best kind."

Walter's comments on:

ROI:

"One project a year would be a good return on our investment with BOND – but we get at least two! 

Connections made:

"Connections made at BOND are consistently the best compared to any other industry events that I attend."

Audience quality:

“Superb! Excellent people can be found everywhere, but they are heavily concentrated at BOND.”

Quality of access to attending architects and designers:

"Almost all are attending for the same reason... it is easy for us to find the type of clients that we like to work with." 

Help to navigate new regions:

“While we build relationships with designers, we are also finding their trusted partners in other regions in the trades… who have also become our clients. This is a win-win for us."

Compared to trade shows:

“We don’t need no stinking trade shows! Trade shows are okay but nothing is more intimate and effective than sitting across the table with a potential client."

Anything that has surprised you at BOND?

"Other than it just keeps getting better?"

Any advice to other suppliers considering BOND?

“If you decide to attend a BOND event, get your ducks in a row and come with professional deliveries or don’t come at all. In other words, be excellent or stay home."

Anything else?

"The staff at BOND are world-class and deserving of commendation here. Nothing is more inspiring than being with people who are setting the bar higher every singe time you meet them."  

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