CITY OF COMMERCE, CA -- According to the Association of Woodworking and Furniture Suppliers (AWFS), the preliminary attendee numbers from the 2007 AWFS Fair show a 5% decline (19,923 vs. 18,987) in overall registration from the 2005 inaugural Las Vegas show, although the base of potential buyers actually grew.

The overall decline in attendee registration was a direct result of decreases in two categories: furniture, which declined by 23%, and the non-manufacturer/other category, which was off by more than 50%, according to AWFS. Attendance of cabinet manufacturers expanded with an 8% increase over 2005, as well as plastics/metals, up 33%, mill/primary processing, up 70% and the dealer/distributor category, which increased by 3%. Exhibitors were able to register 5.2% more leads than they did in 2005, a show that saw a 40% increase over the last AWFS Fair held in Anaheim, CA.

As of this writing, onsite attendance was still being verified and is expected to be 5% to 5.5% below the number of attendees that were present for the 2005 show.