DIY 1 source Jun 25, 1:52 PM EDT Updated 3h ago 0 views

Planning propels your show experience

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Planning propels your show experience June 25, 2026 | 12:52 pm CDT

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IWF News

Woodworking Industry News

Planning propels your show experience

William Sampson

June 25, 2026 | 12:52 pm CDT

IWF is an unparalleled opportunity to speak face-to-face with experts to have your questions answered, but planning ahead helps.

You’ve never been to the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta before. What should you expect? What do you need to know? Or even if you are a veteran attendee, how should you ensure you get the best show experience?

Attending IWF can be a powerful experience that changes the trajectory of your business or it can be an expensive, overwhelming waste of time. The difference is planning.

It's easy to get intimidated by the crowds at the big show unless you have a plan. IWF photo.

What do you want out of the show? The first step is to decide what your goals are for attending. Are you shopping for new equipment? Are you searching for new suppliers? Are you looking to learn better business practices? Are you investigating a new business segment you want to explore? Are you searching for consultation and networking opportunities to solve problems and move you forward? Are bringing someone from your staff for a team-building or mentoring experience?

IWF can address all of those things, but different approaches and planning apply to different goals. The first step is to prioritize your goals and figure out what you need to do to accomplish each, and realistically plan your trip to make sure you can accomplish as much as possible in the limited time available. That might require doing some homework before the show. 

If you are shopping for machinery at the show, do your research first and make appointments with key suppliers.

Machinery shopping Don’t expect to be able to find what you want just by walking the aisles. Start by doing as much research before the show as you possibly can. Who is selling what you are considering? Check the IWF exhibitor list to see which vendors will be at the show selling the machinery you are considering, then focus on them. 

Check their websites, contact sales reps, ask lots of questions. Will they have the machines you are interested in at the show and under power for a full demonstration? Are there any deals or advantages to buying from them at the show? Are there key features you need to have demonstrated and explained?

Talk to your bank, your accountant, and machinery financing representatives. Can you afford what you want? Do you have all the information in place to do the deal? Knowing your numbers puts you in a much stronger negotiating position at the show.

Finally, it’s not a bad idea to try to make actual appointments with sales reps at the various exhibitors you want to see. You’ll likely have a better experience compared to just randomly walking into a booth and expecting attention.

Sorting suppliers If you are looking for new sources of supply, doing advance research will put you a step ahead. Are you looking for a new supplier to regularly provide you with fundamental materials or are you looking for a particular hardware solution for a single project?

Either way, advance research will help you narrow the field and find the exhibitors who you really want to talk to. You don’t want to waste time in a booth with someone who can’t really meet your needs.

However, searching for new suppliers is one part of the show experience where you need to be kept open to serendipity. It’s more likely you will happen on a supplier at the show that you have never heard of but has just what you need. Be sure to leave time in your schedule for walking the aisles in search of surprises.

Education sessions are a great resource. Study the schedule and plan accordingly.

Learning opportunities Another area that requires planning and scheduling is taking advantage of educational opportunities at the show. Pore over the educational listings and sign up for seminars and programs that can benefit you and work them into your show schedule. 

Education programs can really propel your business forward. They are a great opportunity to be able to confront experts face-to-face and pepper them with questions to get the answers you need to transform your operation.

Maybe you’re considering entering a new business segment. Are you a cabinet shop thinking of getting into closets? IWF is a golden opportunity to explore vendors and experts who can give you a jumpstart to launch your new venture. Check both opportunities on the show floor and in the educational sessions.

Networking opportunities can appear everywhere on the floor. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself.

Consultation and networking If you need advice in your business, likely the resources you are looking for are at the show. Professional consulting firms, software experts, and peer associations are all there waiting for you.

I’d start with the last one. Are you already a member of a trade association or networking group? Will they be at the show? Will they be hosting events? If you aren’t already a member, are there opportunities to join or at least find out more? Check the exhibitor list to find booth numbers and plan to stop by.

Team building A big show like IWF is a huge opportunity for team building. You can bring key employees to the show to get a better understanding of the industry as a whole. Maybe they can help you with machinery and supplier decisions, as well.

Attending IWF often opens people’s eyes to the larger world of the woodworking industry. It changes perspectives. It can transform workers to have a more active role in your business to help you grow. Attendance can energize them to make improvements when they get back to the shop.

No matter what your goals are, IWF can help you reach them, but you do need to plan ahead to make that happen. 

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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About the author

William Sampson

William Sampson is a lifelong woodworker, and he has been an advocate for small-scale entrepreneurs and lean manufacturing since the 1980s. He was the editor of Fine Woodworking magazine in the early 1990s and founded WoodshopBusiness magazine, which he eventually sold and merged with CabinetMaker magazine. He helped found the Cabinet Makers Association in 1998 and was its first executive director. Today, as editorial director of Woodworking Network and FDMC magazine he has more than 20 years experience covering the professional woodworking industry. His popular "In the Shop" tool reviews and videos appear monthly in FDMC.

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