The College of Woodworking Knowledge (CWWK) education program will offer a host of seminars targeted to cabinet and millwork shops, with a special series tailored to very small shops this summer at AWFS®Fair in Las Vegas, July 20 – 23, 2011.
A new education track, Small Shops Ten and Under, will focus on the issues and needs of shops with 10 or less employees. The new program is in direct response to a survey conducted by AWFS which found that more than 86 percent of 2009 attendees hoped seminars dedicated to the small shop could be offered at the next show.
Topics in the new small shop track range from sales and management to automation and software.
Implementing Successful Sales Systems will address the challenge small business owners face when running the front and back end of the company. The seminar will be presented by Rick Hill, owner of OnPoint Sales and founder of WoodReps.com, a nationwide association of independent sales reps in the woodworking industry.
Business owners who wear all the hats in their companies will want to check out the in-depth workshop, Think Like an Entrepreneur!, based on the best-selling E-myth books of Michael Gerber.
A panel on Automating the Small Shop offers a view into automation conversion with two veteran shop owners who have been through the process as well as software and machinery representatives.
Tim Killen, author of the e-book, Google Sketch Up Guide for Woodworkers, will offer a two-hour Saturday morning session on Google Sketch Upfor Woodworkers. This free software application can be advantageous for those who have yet to commit to purchasing a software system.
Courses under the Cabinet & Millwork track include:
- Designer Carol Lamkins tackles a trend considered the “wave of the future.” Aging in Place with Universal Designed Cabinetry will cover options for homeowners who want to remain in their homes in their golden years and have them customized to their needs and lifestyle.
- In a panel entitled, How to Work with Architects & Designers, a designer, architect and project manager for a cabinet company share their perspectives and wish lists for working together.
For those seeking ways to capture additional market share, two seminars will lend inspiration:
- Transitioning from Residential to Commercial Work will cover the pros and cons and what’s involved in making this kind of move.
- Diversify! How to Capitalize on Market Opportunities is a panel prepared to line out the realities and opportunities in healthcare furnishings, closets, historic government jobs and adding a millwork packages to your cabinet line.
The CWWK classes begin on July 19, the pre-show day, and will continue throughout the four days of the show. All seminars are priced individually. The full CWWK program is available online at www.AWFSFair.org.
For additional information, contact Nancy Fister at nancy@awfs.org or 323.215.0303.
About AWFS: The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS), founded in 1911, is a non-profit organization that wholly owns and produces the biennial AWFS®Fair. The largest trade association serving the entire home and commercial furnishings industry, AWFS has more than 400 members, including manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, software, tooling, lumber, components, wood products and supplies for the woodworking industry including cabinet, furniture, millwork and custom woodworking products.