I’ve mentioned a few articles in the past about the importance of attending tradeshows. I’m writing this article for you while sitting at one — AWFS 2025. This is a rare opportunity to give you insight from the event itself. Insight that I thought would be relevant and important for Young Wood Pros and also so you can have a taste of what attending is like. 

The show has a lot of vendors this year that offer a wide range of products from machines, power tools, finish supplies and equipment, clamping, sandpaper, hardware, and design/cnc software. The most intriguing part of this year’s show was the robust education lineup (and I’m not just saying that because I was included in giving several seminars myself). As I’ve always recommended to you, I came with my own personal shopping list or solutions I’m looking for, too.

First, let’s talk about what kinds of vendors I have observed here. I have visited booths showing large woodworking equipment across various quality ranges and budgets. Even though I’m not really in the market for new machines, I like to take a look at new offerings because sometimes there will be new machine that I didn’t even know I needed. This is the practice that has served me well. 

As a matter of fact, I saw several new machinery companies that offered some fresh takes on tried-and-true machines. I also noticed that the automated equipment has been around long enough now to where there are competitive models positioned against each other. That’s a big improvement because it allows for competitive pricing in a market that is growing, not just one company making a certain type of automated machine that no one else has. Without competitors, companies can name their price. That kind of evolution is a good thing for us consumers and business owners. 

One of the biggest trends I experienced was an influx of different software programs for designing and communicating with your CNC. These programs have evolved quickly, and even some interest me, not because I have a CNC, but because they would allow me to do sketch ups for clients quicker and better. Software like this has been around, but it has improved in usability for less savvy computer users like me. 

Last but not least, the small vendors were great at the show. Whether it was sandpaper, clamps, spray, finishes, or hardware, I was able to view and potentially source several new variations of supplies I use. For example, several new companies were in attendance offering paints and lacquers.

My favorite part of the show was being able to get a really nice look in person at hardware. Hardware is a feature used in my work and sometimes quality is hard to discern on the Internet. Putting my hands on the actual pieces themselves and being able to see how the parts move or slide helps me judge better as to what I will be putting in my work. I cannot stress enough about how important it is because my clients will often associate the quality of my work with how well the hardware functions and looks even though I don’t make it. 

My choices in hardware purchase and use are a reflection of my work. This is an incredibly important aspect of being a professional and I encourage you Young Wood Pros to also start looking at your product that way. Putting actual hands on things can give you valuable information about how those products could help or hurt your reputation as craftspeople, and that is a big deal.
The educational portion of the show was robust. Topics included pricing strategies, sourcing decisions and discernment, a beginner’s guide to running a CNC, as well as open discussions catering to specific solution needs. I am confident that any Young Wood Pro could have found several sessions that would have been helpful to them. 

I didn’t have enough time to attend as many as I would have liked because I was a very active participant in moderating or speaking on behalf of my own educational seminars. What I do know is that the educational part of the show all by itself was worth the trip to the AWFS Fair. 

The show also tried out a new concept called field trips. There were several field trips catering to different aspects of the industry, such as furniture, kitchens, closets, and getting started in business. I was one of the tour guides for the field trips. They were well attended and allowed people to sign up for a personally curated tour. 

Since I was a tour guide, I had a first-hand look at what people got to experience. Most of the attendees I talked to felt they got their inquiries met, and they were able to narrow down to booths that really served what they were there to see. This was one of the features that I really feel would benefit some of you Young Wood Pros, it helps drown out the noise if this is one of the first trade shows you attend, and it helps you dial in to focus on what you need to see. 

Last, I will mention some of my personal checklist needs and what I found. I have recently had one of my daily sanders of 10 years die and was excited to see what the market had to offer for my choice of replacement. I was aware that several new sanders have been added to the market by different companies competing with the sander of mine that died. 

I was not disappointed. I was able to put my hands on two different models that would fill that space perfectly. They were designed to rival the brand I’ve been using. After doing so I was easily able to narrow down to which one I will be purchasing and would not have been able to do that without attending the show. It is hard to get a grasp of the quality of components and materials on a power tool without seeing it in person. 

Another big part of my checklist was to get a chance to talk with some of my already existing suppliers about replacement parts and finding out when upgraded variations of what I’m already using are on the horizon. I’m not talking necessarily about a product but more about information and intelligence to help move the replacement stream a little quicker. 

Being able to talk to somebody in person who I have already built a relationship with from attending these events yielded the exact results I expected. I got answers and was assured that my replacements are on the way. 

I also have to note my favorite little guilty pleasure — Japanese hand tools. The hand saws and Japanese pull saws I’ve been using have not really lived up to my expectations, and I was excited to see a new vendor and their offerings along with a new release of Japanese-style chisels. I will be emptying my bank account very soon to purchase some of these upgrades. It was only after putting my hands on them in real time that finally convinced me that these are a better purchase than what I’m using daily.

The AWFS Fair is one of the larger woodworking trade shows you can attend in North America. The size of it can be intimidating for your first time or two. Hopefully, I have given you a useful narrative of what my experience was like this year and enough to get your imagination turning as to what might lay in store for you at a show like this. It’s fun to get out and be amongst other woodworkers, but even more importantly it’s good for your business. 

Speaking of shows, I’ll be attending and speaking at Wood Pro Expo Lancaster October 23-24 in Pennsylvania. This year’s Young Wood Pro contest winner, Brian Skalaski, will also be on hand. We’d love to meet you. Learn more at woodproexpolancaster.com.

#YoungWoodPro is a contest and an educational program sponsored by Grizzly Industrial to help novice professionals improve their skills in business and woodworking. Entries are now closed for the 2025 contest. Learn more about the contest.