CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The 2016 Cabinets & Closets & Conference & Expo wrapped up a blockbuster week in Pasadena, California from March 22 - 24 with significant increases in size and attendance.

Show attendance shot up 24 percent compared to Cabinets & Closets Expo 2015 in Chicago. And total square footage for the Southern California event, held at the Pasadena Convention Center, increased by 28 percent, including 30 first-time exhibitors.

Highlights included jam-packed conference sessions on March 22 filled with fired-up crowds as they engaged in topics within three tracks on closet design, finishing and custom cabinets. There were also high-powered keynotes from John McDonald, SemiHandMade, Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design and Lindsey Thudin, Houzz sales and marketing guru.

Two busloads of more than 70 show goers attended the Stiles Machinery sponsored tour of K&Z Cabinet Company, located in Ontario, California. K&Z Cabinet uses high technology with a touch of custom woodwork in its cellular production approach to high end architectural casegoods and millwork.

The Expo on March 23-24 featured a dynamic mix of cabinet and woodworking machinery, CAD/CAM software, cabinet and closets hardware, wood components, informational presentations and much more. Also, for the first time woodworking collectives met to discuss their needs and the challenges as well as the opportunities they face. The conversation was hosted by FDMC magazine editor Will Sampson and  Laura Zahn, director of Off the Saw, a collective based in Los Angeles.

On March 23, the 2016 Design Awards reception was held on the Expo floor announcing the winners for 2016 Top Shelf Closet Design Awards competition and the 2016 Best in Wood awards and the Young Wood Pro winner. The event also celebrated the relaunch of Closets magazine. 

"Plans have already started for an even more robust conference program and plant tours in 2017!," said Laurel Didier, Closets publisher. "To stay up-to-date, please check out the Cabinets and Closets e-newsletter sent every Thursday, and also Closets magazine."

Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo 2017 will be held April 11-13, 2017, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, located in Schaumburg, IL (Chicago). For more information, visit www.cabinetsandclosetsexpo.com.