Plan Ahead to Get the Most out of GlassBuild
Advice from exhibiting companies
GlassBuild America is a big show. And in 2025, it will be the largest yet, in terms of square footage, with 231,400 square feet of exhibit space, 550 exhibitors, and hundreds of products and services on display, not to mention opportunities for workforce development, insights for your business and demos right on the show floor.
When I asked exhibiting companies what their advice was for attendees preparing for GlassBuild this year, the main takeaway was: plan your trip to get the most out of the show.
“My main word of advice is to go in with a plan,” says Nate Huffman, regional sales manager, North America East, LiteSentry. “There are so many companies and new and exciting toys to see that one can easily lose track of time and miss out on some of the major items they wanted to see. I’d make a list of the must-see things, like equipment. Then, I’d have a list of companies that I’d like to stop by to see what’s new, and then of course I’d try and leave some time to just wander the floor and see if I can find anything new that I didn't know existed.”
“Our advice is simple: come prepared,” says Brad Thurman, vice president of sales and marketing, GGI. “Review the floor plan ahead of time, identify key exhibitors and schedule meetings in advance.”
Dan Reinhart, CEO, Salem Fabrication Technologies Group, recommends bringing the whole team if possible, and having different staff go to different events. “Encourage cross-functional attendance—technical staff for automation, leadership at forecasting panels and marketing/sales at strategic networking events.”
Planning ahead is especially important this year, with debut events and opportunities happening at the Main Stage and on the show floor. Here are a few highlights.
01 | Glass Magazine celebrates its 75th anniversary at the Main Stage
This year’s Glass Magazine Awards ceremony will also include a celebration of Glass Magazine’s 75th anniversary. The awards added a new category this year, Best Retrospective Project, which encouraged companies to nominate projects from the last 75 years. Join the event to marvel at the accomplishments of companies doing stellar work in the industry, and help the magazine celebrate its diamond anniversary.
02 | Show off your skills
The National Glass Association remains committed to developing resources for workforce development, and that initiative continues at this year’s GlassBuild. At the show, attendees will have two opportunities to show off their skills: The “Shower Design Challenge” will offer glaziers an opportunity to measure and design a frameless shower enclosure, and the “Are You AGMT Ready?” challenge will test glaziers’ sealant knowledge and ability to spot installation errors.
03 | Network with peers on the show floor
Included in the many opportunities to network at GlassBuild, attendees will have three opportunities to enjoy breakfast on the show floor: on Nov. 4 at the Blueprint for Collaboration: Celebrate the Glass Magazine Awards breakfast; Nov. 5 at the Family Business Breakfast where attendees can learn about exit and succession planning; and on Nov. 6 at the Women in Glass + Fenestration event. Attendees can also enjoy the NGA member lounge and the after-party on the last day of the show.
