PASADENA - Closet and cabinet manufacturers and suppliers crowded the Pasadena Convention Center to mark the opening of the Cabinets & Closets Expo. The annual show takes place March 28-29.

Attendee pre-registration was more than 1,100, marking a record level for the Pasadena venue. Hundreds more are expected through on-site registration at the show. Targeted for professional woodworkers and designers involved in cabinetry, and closets, the Cabinets & Closets Expo exhibit floor features booths showcasing new and popular materials, wood components and machinery to help grow their business.

Expo attendees came early to hear the morning keynote presenter Keith Morgan, of Bespoke. Speaking before a packed crowd, Morgan shared his knowledge for  selling directly to the luxury consumer.

Thursday's 9:00 a.m. keynote will be Elise Lowerison of Houzz, Inc., speaking on the Sales & Marketing Success Funnel: How to Attract, Close, and Retain Business. In addition to the keynote, there will be free panel discussions throughout the day on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the 2018 Cabinets & Closets Expo is Tim Fixmer, CEO of CCI Media and theWoodworking Network, the show's owner. The 2018 Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo was sponsored by SNX Technologies and Wurth Louis & Co. Partners of the show are the Cabinet Makers Association and Association of Closets & Storage Professionals.

The event kicked off March 27 with a full day, high-level education conference program. The Cabinets & Closets Conference featured three tracks, with topics including closet and cabinet design trends, sourcing, pricing information and lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Keynoting the conference program was Whitney Pyle of Advanced Cabinet Systems speaking on The Business Case for Diversity.

Tuesday's conference program also included a tour of IKEA Hacker Semihandmade 20,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly facility in Duarte and a look at the company's new location in Monrovia. Founder John McDonald shared with more than 90 visitors his company's history,  operations, and business philosophy.

More than 90 CCCE 2018 attendees visited Semihandmade in Duarte on March 27, 2018.