CHARLOTTE -- Kicking off with the theme, "Where design meets manufacturing," the 2019 Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo, scheduled for March 6-8 at the Charlotte Convention Center, will feature a reception the evening of March 7 honoring the winners of the Top Shelf Design Awards at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum, located steps from the Charlette Convention Center. The Top Shelf Design Awards are given annually to honor designers for their creative closet and home organizational designs.  Each entry is judged based on the following criteria: 50 percent appearance/design (emphasizing design creativity) and 50 percent functionality and quality of construction/materials.

The Best of Show winner (project receiving the highest score from the judges) will receive a $500 gift card and all award winners will receive an award plaque and/or a certificate and will be featured in Closets & Organized Storage magazine and its social media platforms. The awards are sponsored by JB Cutting, CCF Industries and KCD Software.

The Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo, which will be co-located with Wood Pro Expo Charlotte, will feature two concurrent education tracks on March 6.  The first track of the event is dedicated to the closet industry (sponsored by the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals.  The second track (sponsored by the Cabinet Makers Association) is dedicated to best practices in woodworking.

The winner of another design competition, the Young Wood Pro, will be recognized on March 8 at the Woodworking Network Booth. The Young Woodworking Professionals competition recognizes outstanding projects and the young wood pros that create them.

"We are excited about co-locating CCCE 2019 with Wood Pro Expo in Charlotte," said Laurel Didier, publisher of Closets & Organized Storage magazine. The synergy between the two events will be strong and we will be able to deliver a better product for both exhibitors and attendees.”   Didier said exhibit sales have been brisk and excitement is building.  "Co-located means we will have more exhibitors, more attendees, more education and more networking."

Plant Tour
A tour of Carocraft Cabinets, a leading custom architectural millwork firm, is planned for attendees at the 2019 Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo, being held March 6-8.  The tour is included as part of the March 6 conference that precedes the two-day exposition. The Carocraft tour is followed by a reception at Biesse America, the tour sponsor.

Keynotes

Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo and Wood Pro Expo Charlotte attendees will hear from three keynote presenters to begin each day of the event March 6-8.

David Linda, founder and former president of SpaceMan, will deliver the opening keynote March 6, the first day of event which is devoted entirely to education and networking.  The full day of education also includes plant tours and a reception.  Linda will offer business advice based on his years of experience in building Houston-based SpaceMan into a leading closet and home organization company.  Linda has been designing and installing closets, garage systems, Murphy wallbeds, home offices and other storage cabinetry in the Houston market since 1999. Linda will discuss how after several years as a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting and a stint as an executive with a $20 Billion retailer, he decided to launch SpaceMan. His engineering and management background, hands-on approach, and personable demeanor made this business a perfect match for him.

Internet expert Brian Kraff, CEO of Market Hardware Inc., will deliver the morning keynote March 7, which is the first day of the two-day expo.  Kraff's presentation, "5 Lead Magnet Ideas to Supercharge Your 2019 Web Marketing Strategy," will provide a high-level view of proven website promotional techniques, drawn from the real-world experiences of small businesses involved in the home remodeling market, including closets, kitchen cabinetry, and finish carpentry.

"When it comes to web marketing, real answers are hard to find," says Kraff, who draws from years of experience beginning with the first years of web marketing. "For this presentation, Market Hardware surveyed more than 100 remodeling businesses about their current Web Marketing strategies, to find out what worked, what didn’t, and what was most effective. We’re ready to share the must do’s for 2019!"

Are you in the process of launching a woodworking business?  Or, have you been in business for a while and just can't seem to stay on track? FDMC Editor-in-Chief and renowned speaker, Will Sampson, will address these subjects and much more March 8 on Day 2 of the expo in his closing keynote address, The Path to Professionalism.   Sampson will share what he has learned from visiting hundreds of shops across North America. He will help you get started on the right foot or get back on track.

Topics will include best business practices, efficient production, effective marketing, and secrets some shops don’t learn for decades.

Sampson's keynote presentation is sponsored by Quis Machinery and is open to all Wood Pro Expo attendees. Admission by badge is included with registration for the show floor; doors open for the final day at 10:00 a.m., immediately following Sampson's speech.

"This presentation is targeted at woodworking businesses starting out and ones that still struggle from time to time," says Sampson. "We'll explore business fundamentals specifically for woodworking shops with an emphasis on custom work."

Also, on the schedule:
•    More than 100 expo exhibitors at press time.
•    Complimentary technical and design seminars on March 7 and 8
•    Products Showcase on the show floor
•     All new Top Choice awards (attendees choose the most outstanding innovations on the show floor).
For more information visit CabinetsandClosetsExpo.com and WoodProExpoCharlotte.com.