Wood Pro Expo Florida, the spring regional woodworking show is being held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida this coming June 11-13. The entire woodworking industry should be preparing itself as it is set to be a can’t-miss event. 

The show will be sharing space with one of the most exciting events in recent years, the Closet Conference & Expo, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025 and coming off of record attendance in Illinois last year. 

The venue is perfectly placed as the Florida market has been a large bright spot in the past 12 months for both woodworking and closet manufacturing. This coupled with the vast number of distribution locations, showrooms, and other industry outlets could mean attendance is set to reach new heights. 

The three-day event kicks off with a full day of conference and networking opportunities, followed by two days of trade show featuring the latest products for the woodworking and organized storage industries. That includes machinery, tooling, software, hardware and accessories, and components. It’s everything your business needs to stay ahead of the competition and on the front lines of innovation. 

That idea of staying ahead is what makes the educational day so important to attend. Presentations are designed to bring you the knowledge you need to put your business on the cutting edge. The lineup includes some of the best minds in running a successful woodworking business as designers, shop owners, craftsman, and other industry experts fill the card.

Building value in your business
One standout speaker set to share his wealth of knowledge is Chuck Ross. He is the co-owner of Ross Business Solutions and specializes in helping business owners navigate the complexities of exit planning. Even if you don’t plan to exit your business any time soon, Ross has crucial information to share about ensuring that you build value in your business.

His expertise, combined with personal experience in growing a woodworking business from the ground up, makes him a valuable resource for woodworking professionals looking to secure their future and maximize the value of their business.

Ross has a history of business development and process improvement. He was co-founder and owner of an architectural woodworking and furniture firm. He knows what it takes to launch, grow, and determine the best business exit strategies to take business owners into the second phase of life. 

On top of his MBA from Ohio University and his BS from Purdue University in Marketing and Management, he also holds a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) certification and is endorsed through the Exit Planning Institute and a Value Max Certified Advisor. Considering the fast-moving industry we are all in right now with consolidation and acquisition being a daily news topic, this is a presentation everyone will want to see. 

His most recent public appearance was at the Wood Pro Expo Lancaster event in Pennsylvania where his presentation was so well received that it was essential to bring him to the Florida market. 

Pricing workshop on tap
Another industry expert is the Woodworking Network’s very own editorial director, Will Sampson. His presentations on pricing strategies have been some of the most well-attended industry events over the past two years. His presentation titled, “Pricing for Profit and Sales” at Wood Pro Expo will focus on what he calls the pieces of the pricing puzzle including:

• Not so basic economics
• Profit pricing vs. Market Pricing
• Pricing, costing, estimating and bidding
• Knowing your costs
• Understanding value
• Using the FDMC Pricing Survey

Each presentation takes on a different tone as pricing can obviously change based on the section of the country you are in, but the formula and method should be universal. This is evident in the philosophy that there are five pricing essentials, labor, materials, overhead, profit, and value. 

“Having business-oriented presentations is a vital need for our industry and why we target our curriculum in that direction,” said Ryan Wagner, Publisher of FDMC. “Many people in the woodworking industry start their business over their passion for the trade, and making sure that Wood Pro Expo is a resource for business learning is our goal.” 

Wood Pro Expo Florida stands to be an important regional marketplace for woodworking professionals, delivering business intelligence, contacts, and access to essential supplies. 

One of the most important and popular pieces of these shows is that they are regional and move around the country each year. It is common knowledge that most show attendees are regional regardless of the show size, so having this event be so dynamic is great for woodworking professionals around the country. 

“If you are in the southeast this is one event you cannot miss,” said Wagner.

To register or learn more about the event, including a full conference schedule, visit woodproexpoflorida.com.