BOND: A story 20 years in the making
Since being set up by Oliver ‘Olly’ Needs in 2004, BOND has continued to embody the things he holds dear as an innovator, salesman, business owner, family man and friend: a company of people who have come to trust and rely on one another to consistently deliver the best 1-to-1 event experience in the business.
Every BOND event takes the format of an all-inclusive business retreat, centring around one-to-one business meetings between very senior architects and designers from the top A&D firms and ambitious, innovative manufacturers. Everyone stays together for 3 days and nights, so there's time and space to get beyond the sales pitch and enjoy some quality time with each other, away from daily pressures and distractions, everything organised by BOND.
BOND currently organizes and runs 8 events annually in the US, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, focusing on the most thriving sectors in the architecture and design industries; commercial, hospitality, high-end single family residential, multifamily residential and interiors.
The true pioneers of the 1-to-1 meetings forum concept, BOND has given manufacturers a viable alternative to the trade show ‘lottery’ which inevitably favours the big brands with big budgets. Over the past 20 years, BOND has won the support and affections of those manufacturers looking to compete on a level playing field with the big brands and for a direct route to a level of decision maker which simply wasn’t available to them before.
“BOND was created to really fill a gap between very senior architects and senior people from product suppliers - people that were supplying products to the architectural sector. And, before BOND came along, there was no way that those two senior groups of people could really meet. 20 years on and looking back on the thousands of people that we've brought together and the mind-boggling amount of business that's been done because of it, our mission is still the same: to deliver what we promise, and that will never change."
Oliver Needs, President & Owner
The History of BOND Events
May 2004 - BOND is Born
Oliver Needs and late friend Laurentino Vizan come up with the name whilst walking their old stomping ground in Mayfair, turning onto Bond Street.
2005 - Arc US is launched
Who? Manufacturers meet with Design Principals and Heads of Specification from the Top 100 architecture firms in North America.
What? Commercial projects.
R.K. Stewart, President Elect, AIA enters BOND world and has never left.
Learn more about Arc US here.
2007 - Arc Interiors is launched
Manufacturers meet with Head of Interior Design or Interiors Principal, from Top 100 architecture firms in North America, as defined by ‘Giants' list.
What? Commercial projects.
Learn more about Arc Interiors here.
2010 - Arc Middle East is launched
Who? Manufacturers from all over the world meet with Principals working on the largest projects in the Middle East / GCC.
What? Commercial projects.
Learn more about Arc Middle East here.
2011 - Arc Latin America is launched (not currently running)
Who? Principals with the most projects in the Latin America. Interiors and Exteriors suppliers from within Latin America and outside.
What? Commercial projects.
2013 - BOND Multi is launched
Who? Manufacturers meet with leading Principals and Developers working on Multifamily Residential Projects in North America.
What? Multifamily residential projects (regular apartments, plus student housing and senior living.)
Learn more about BOND Multi here
2014 - BOND Diseñotel is launched
2nd event to go into a specific vertical/niche.
Who? Manufacturers meet with Principals in leading Architecture firms working on major hotel projects in Latin America.
What? Hospitality projects only.
Learn more about BOND Diseñotel here.
2014 - BOND Healthcare is launched (not currently running)
Who? Manufacturers meet with Principals and Owners from leading architecture firms working in Healthcare in North America. i.e. Head of Healthcare. Designing Hospitals, senior assisted living, clinics etc.
What? Healthcare projects only.
2015 - BOND Custom is launched
Who? Manufacturers meet with Principals from leading firms designing high-end custom homes in North America.
What? Luxury single-family Residential Projects
Learn more about BOND Custom here.
2017 - Co-Founded Rise CSR program
Learn more about our social responsibility partner here.
2017 - BOND Regional is launched (not currently running)
Who? Manufacturers meet with Principals from leading regional architecture firms in North America.
What? Commercial projects.
