If the attendance at the recent Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc., and Hardwood Manufacturers Association shows are any indication, it appears that in-person conventions and trade shows are back with a vengeance in the Hardwood industry. After two years of delays, cancellations, and general uncertainty, it has been encouraging to see so many packed meeting rooms and busy show floors at our industry events.
And with good reason. In conversations with NWFA members across the wood flooring supply chain, including manufacturers and suppliers of Hardwood lumber, many indicate that after a rough start in 2020 due to cancellations and closings, the year ended up being one of their most successful ever. And 2021 is looking like it will be a good year as well as demand for wood flooring continues to grow. According to Market Insights, wood flooring is estimated to have grown by 13.5 percent in total market share for 2021. Growth is predicted for 2022 as well.
Which is why the NWFA is expecting a good turnout for its Wood Flooring Expo this month. The show will be held April 12 – 14 in Tampa, Florida at the Tampa Convention Center. This year’s event will feature 40-plus hours of industry-specific education and product demonstrations, 340-plus booths on the trade show floor, and more than 50 networking opportunities, including a Manufacturer & Distributor Reception where you can forge new business relationships, and strengthen existing ones.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D., the Bowtie Economist, an internationally acclaimed economist and public speaker specializing in making economics fun, relevant, and educational. Formerly a Senior Economist with the National Association of Home Builders, Eisenberg will provide insights on the economy, labor and supply chain issues, inflation, reducing risk, staying ahead of the financial curve, and more. The session is included in the Expo registration, and will be held on Tuesday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m.
New this year will be a pre-show education session for business owners: Succession Planning & Combating New Tax Proposals – Assuring the Successful Continuation of Your Company. This in-depth planning session will be held on Tuesday, April 12 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. During the session, business owners will learn tools and strategies in the areas of business succession, wealth preservation, and the eventual transition of assets. Special attention will be given to the impending proposed changes to federal estate tax and capital gains tax laws. An additional registration fee is required.
Another new show feature this year will be a four-part Business Plan Workshop. Expo participants who attend will learn why business plans are essential for successful outcomes, how to conduct market analysis, how to establish short-term and long-term goals, how to formalize your legal structure, how to secure funding, and more. Those who attend all four sessions will walk away with a fully developed, and executable business plan that will help them be more effective, efficient, and profitable. The full workshop is included in the registration fee.
Also new this year is a Student Day where young men and women from local high schools are invited to attend the show to learn more about our industry. Students who attend will take part in demonstrations, tour the trade show floor, learn about different career paths in the industry, and have opportunities to meet with companies anxious to hire. The Student Day will take place on Thursday, April 14 during show hours.
If you do business with the wood flooring trades, or if you have thought about adding it to your business offerings, the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo provides the most-targeted audience of wood flooring professionals anywhere. The show typically attracts 3,000 wood flooring professionals from all over the world, in all areas of the supply chain – manufacturing, distribution, retail, contracting, inspection, business services, and more. Whether you choose to exhibit to showcase your products, or to simply attend to see all the industries latest innovative technologies, you will walk away with new contacts that can help your Hardwood business grow.
Make plans today to join your industry peers at the largest trade show anywhere dedicated exclusively to the wood flooring industry. Register at nwfaexpo.org. The National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit trade organization, with more than 3,200 member companies world-wide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. The NWFA can be contacted at 800-422-4556 (USA & Canada), 636-519-9663 (local and international), or at www.nwfa.org.
