AWFS Vegas sets new records: with more than 400,000 net square feet of exhibit space filled, the 2005 AWFS Vegas Fair is gearing up to be the largest event in the biennial show's history.

Slide over Celine. Move over Manilow. The AWFS Vegas Fair will take center stage next month, with a show-stopping array of new technology and supplies for the woodworking industry.

Excitement over a new venue, combined with continuing economic improvement, have show organizers predicting a full house for the four-day event. The AWFS Vegas Fair will be held July 27-30 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The show is sponsored by the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers. Cost to attend the show is $10 for a four-day exhibit pass, if purchased by July 8. After that date, the price for the passes rises to $30. For more information, www.awfsfair.org or phone [phone].

Largest Ever--and Still Growing

If success is measured by size, than the 2005 AWFS Vegas Fair has reached its pinnacle. With more than 414,000 net square feet of space already contracted to exhibitors, the 2005 show has trampled the record held since 2001 of 365,960 net square feet.

At press time, there were 871 exhibitors--"and still counting,"--and the show was at 98 percent capacity. "We're still getting calls on a fairly regular basis," says Angelo Gangone, AWFS trade show director. "We expect to be at capacity by the show.

"We are already contracting for more space in 2007," he adds. While this year's show takes place in the South Halls of the convention center, 2007 plans call for the majority of the exhibits to be located in the North and Central Halls. The next AWFS Vegas Fair is scheduled to take place July 18-21, 2007.

"Vegas has become the number-one trade show capital in the United States. Having the show here is a very big draw [for both exhibitors and attendees]," Gangone says.

Attendance Set to Soar

With pre-registration up significantly over 2003 figures, this year's show is expected to top records in attendance, reaching upwards of 20,000 to 30,000 in visitor registrations. Increases appear to be across the board, with millwork and cabinets accounting for the largest segment of the pre-registrations, Gangone says.

Show management put forth a lot of effort to publicize the show and attract a large audience, he adds. "We really took the comments given to us in the [2003] attendee survey and tried to follow them. We also geared up our marketing efforts and doubled our exposure in the magazines. We put a lot of effort in getting people aware of the change of venue and, more importantly, getting them away from thinking of this as a regional show, and instead as an international one," Gangone says.

Based on early attendance figures, the effort has succeeded. International attendance has grown significantly, Gangone says, with most of the growth attributed to increases in Mexican and Canadian registrants.

"This show has definitely gained an international appeal," he adds. "June 1 demographics compared to two years ago found that while two years ago attendees came from six different countries, this year it's 28 different countries."

As an added draw for woodworkers, the inaugural Las Vegas Market furniture show will run concurrently with the AWFS Fair. The Las Vegas Market will be held July 25-29 at the new World Market Center, with some exhibits to be located at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Show organizers say the two events will help draw a combined 60,000 woodworkers to Las Vegas that week. (See Woodworkers Score on a Daily Double, p. 56)

New Features & Highlights

To play up the international aspect of the fair, this year's show management will give each attendee a "Passport to Prizes," which they can then have stamped at designated booths. Drawings will be conducted throughout the show for a variety of prizes, including: laptops with DVD drives, digital cameras, iPods, flatscreen monitors, etc.

Another highlight of the show will be the expanded First-Time Exhibitor and New Products showcases. These showcases will be located at the main entry point by registration.

The First-Time Exhibitors Showcase will feature the products and services of more than 250 companies. The New Products Showcase features new-to-market machinery and supplies, which are organized into seven categories: large machinery, small machinery, power tools, hardware, components, upholstery, tooling and software. These items are also eligible to compete for Sequoia Awards in four categories: Environmental Achievement, Ergonomics/Safety, Product Innovation and Productivity.

AWFS VEGAS FAIR AT A GLANCE

Dates: July 27-30.

Exhibit Hours: 9:00 a.m.--5:00 p.m. Wednesday--Friday 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. on Saturday

Location & Transportation: Los Vegas Convention Center, Los Vegas, NV. Free shuttle buses will run between the host hotels, the Los Vegas Convention center, and the World Market Center. The Las Vegas Monorail also offers convenient stops for a nominal fee.

Exhibitors: Nearly 900 domestic and international manufacturers and distributors of woodworking equipment, supplies and services.

Seminars: Seven education tracks covering a wide range of topics: Business Management. Software/Technology, Cabinet/Millwork, Hand-Crafted Furniture, Sanding/Finishing, Safety & Environment and Techniques & Applications. Part of the 2005 College of Woodworking Knowledge, the 44 information-packed include 1 1/2- and 2-hour seminars and panels, and 3- and 4-hour in-depth presentations focusing on specific skills. In addition. 1 1/2-hour SMART (Special Machinery and Relevant Technology) programs will be conducted on the exhibit floor prior to the show opening in the morning. [See Seminar at a Glance, p. 60]

Awards Ceremony: Presentations will be made to winners of the Sequoia Awards, Student Design Contest, Show Stopper Awards, Top Gun Awards and to those companies in the Wood & Wood Products' 2005 WOOD 1130. Scott Phillips, host of "The American Woodshop," will emcee the awards dinner, to be Thursday, July 28, at the Hilton Hotel. [See AWFS: Award-Winning Events, p. 54)

Show Sponsor: Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers

Information: Visit www.awfsfair.org or phone [phone].

WOOD 100 HITS THE JACKPOT

The woodworking industry will hit a double jackpot this July when North America's fastest-growing woodworking companies and the largest show in AWFS Fair history combine forces. Representatives from at least half of this year's WOOD 100 companies are expected to be on hand to learn, to teach and to be honored.

WOOD 100 Execs Talk Shop

Executives of three companies featured in Wood & Wood Products' 2004 WOOD 100 Report will share their company's growth secrets in a seminar during the AWFS Vegas Fair. The program, entitled, "Growing Your Business," will take place from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. on July 29. (For seminar details, see p. 58. A complete seminar schedule can also be found on p. 60.)

WOOD 100 Reps Honored

The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers plans to honor representatives of this year's WOOD 100 firms during a banquet ceremony at AWFS Vegas. The dinner gala is scheduled for Thursday, July 28, at the Las Vegas Hilton. The evening's festivities will be emceed by woodworker Scott Phillips, TV host of "The American Woodshop."

WOOD 100 executives also qualified for two free room nights at one of four Caesars Entertainment Hotels during the fair.

To accommodate the AWFS Fair schedule, publication of the WOOD 100 Report is being moved up one month to August.

About the WOOD 100

W&WP launched the WOOD 100 in 1990 to pay homage to fast-growing North American woodworking companies. The slogan, "Not the biggest, the best," underscores the fact that the WOOD 100 is open to companies of all sizes, from $100,000 in annual sales on up.

This year's WOOD 100 Report will rank and profile companies based on annual sales growth achieved between 2003 and 2004.

AWFS: AWARD-WINNING EVENTS

For those who try their luck at the slots only to find their wallets a little lighter, AWFS Vegas offers several other ways to be a winner.

Companies, products and individuals demonstrating achievement in the industry will be recognized at this year's AWFS Fair Awards Dinner on Thursday, July 28, at the Las Vegas Hilton. In addition to WOOD 100 representatives (See WOOD 100 Hits the Jackpot, p. 53), winners of the following contests and awards will be honored.

Student Design Contest

This AWFS Fair tradition, started in 1999, features projects from high school and college students in North America. Prizes are awarded in each of four categories for two styles: traditional, which features entries that follow a known design style, with emphasis on workmanship; and creative, which emphasizes uniqueness and functionality. The four categories are chairs, tables, casework/ cabinets and upholstered furniture.

New to the 2005 competition is the "team project" category, which will feature one project completed by multiple students from one class. 2005's theme, "Special Needs Furnishings," will round out the contest categories.

Both first place winners and honorable mentions will be recognized. First place and best of show winners receive a $1,000 cash award, and a $2,500 prize will go to the student's school. In addition, a $500 "People's Choice" award will be given to the finalist whose piece receives the most votes by fair attendees and exhibitors.

Sequoia Awards

According to AWFS, the Sequoia Awards have become coveted prizes for environmental innovation in the industry over the past decade. In 2005, the Sequoia Awards have expanded to encompass nine categories of new products: machinery under $50,000, machinery over $50,000, power tools, tooling, components, hardware, upholstery, software and other.

Up to four separate awards are available in environmental achievement, ergonomics/ safety, product innovation and productivity.

Show Stopper Awards

Several Show Stopper Awards will be presented for the best booth displays, given to suppliers and machinery exhibitors that demonstrate good design elements in their booths, together with good presentation of the company identity and product display.

Top Gun Awards

These awards go to exhibitors who achieved the most pre-registrations from their mailings to customers of VIP and Valued Customer invitations.

While award winners will be invited to the festivities, tickets also are available for $100 each or a table of 12 for $1,000.

WOODWORKERS SCORE BIG ON A DAILY DOUBLE: AWFS & FURNITURE MARKET IN JULY

For the first time in the event's history, AWFS Fair attendees can shop for the perfect panel saw and the best dining room table in the same location at the same time.

The debut of the Las Vegas Market--the newest furniture show in North America--will be July 25-29 at the new World Market Center with additional space being rented at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This will coincide with the AWFS Vegas woodworking fair, July 27-30, also at the convention center.

"With both inaugural shows overlapping during the same week, people in different segments of the industry will be able to see the shows they would not normally attend, creating a truly industry-wide occasion " AWFS Board of Directors President Barry Howerton said in an AWFS press release.

At two months out, the inaugural Las Vegas furniture market has two of its three venues fully leased, with temporary exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center at 90 percent capacity. In all, this year's show will encompass almost 2.5 million square feet of permanent and temporary exhibits, drawing a notable list of names from the furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, bedding and related segments.

To date, approximately 1,000 companies are scheduled to participate in the event, with more than 360 contracted for permanent showrooms.

Meanwhile the AWFS Vegas Fair has been setting records for exhibit space sales since before the Market announced its revised show dates in October 2004. At press time, the show had nearly 900 exhibitors utilizing 414,000 net square feet of exhibitor space.

According to AWFS Fair Director Angelo Gangone, "Both events will see a positive impact from co-locating at the convention center."

WOOD 100 MEMBERS LEAD BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SEMINAR

On Friday afternoon, July 29, three members from Wood & Wood Products' WOOD 100 list of the fastest growing companies will share the strategies that have kept them in a successful growth pattern. Entitled "Growing Your Business," the seminar will include discussions by Reed Felton, T.J. Hale Co.; Brian Swanson, Lexington Manufacturing; and Bill Weaver, Canyon Creek Cabinet. The session will be moderated by Rich Christianson, W&WP editorial director.

This session is appropriate for all sizes of business. Key points to be featured include understanding your company's position in the marketplace, planning for growth (understanding the elements and phases), the role of leadership in growth and change, listening and adapting to the voice of the customer, reinventing your company to meet market demands, and building relationships and aspects of continuous improvement, such as lean and quality systems. Attendees will also learn about "extreme customer orientation," "creating your own luck" and who to hire and how to keep them happy.

For more information, contact AWFS Fair show management at [phone] or visit www.awfsfair.org.