LAS VEGAS - The AWFS Fair opened with woodworkers from around the country and Canada making the sojourn to the Las Vegas Convention Center to view and compare the wares of more than 500 exhibiting companies.

The Association of Woodworking and Furniture Suppliers, which manages the show, is predicting a rebound in attendance as both the number of hotel nights booked and pre-registration were running well ahead of the 2011 AWFS Fair. The last edition of the AWFS Fair attracted about 8,500.

Woodworking Network noted a strong groundswell of optimism among exhibitors that we talked to during set up on Tuesday and in the hour leading up to the 9 a.m. opening of the show. The show continues through Saturday, July 27.

In addition to woodworking machinery and supplies, the 2013 AWFS Fair features the College of Woodworking Knowledge, including three free seminars, one each day on Wednesday, Strategies for Reducing Citations in the Woodworking Industry; Thursday, Regulations and Certifications Impacting the Woodworking Industry; and Friday, Benefiting from Industry-Education Partnerships.

Woodworking Network, the umbrella of Wood Products, Custom Woodworking Business and Closets magazines, will host two free sessions during the show: Women in Woodworking and Amazing Woodworking Stories to be held at noon on Thursday and Friday respectively, at the AWFS Theatre.

Woodworking Network is also participating in a pari of 50 CWWK sessions: Introduction to Closet Systems, Designs, Manufacturing & Sales scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday and ; and Smart Marketing Despite Changing Conditions, featuring speakers from Wood Products WOOD 100, taking place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday.

The CWKK seminars are divided into eight tracks:

* Business Management,

* Cabinet/Millwork,

* Small Shops Ten and Under,

* Software and Technology,

* Techniques and Applications,

* Safety and Environment,

* Handcrafted Furniture, and

* Wood Education

In addition to updates in its daily e-newsletter, Woodworking Network is publishing and distributing the official AWFS Fair 2013 Show Daily on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. WWN also is the official videographer and will be posting and emailing videos live from the show.

The staff of Woodworking Network and its family of publications, Wood Products, Custom Woodworking Business and Closets are on hand at booth 9803. Stop by to exchange views of the industry.