The Unfinished Furniture Association reported that the recent Unfinished Furniture Association’s 21st annual, Real Wood Furniture Trade Show, was much more successful this year at its new Orlando, Florida venue.
According to Tim Case, Unfinished Furniture Association President, heart of the niche real wood ready-to-finish furniture industry, overall attendance was up and thirty-five percent of this year’s retail attendees had not attended the show since 2008.
The show, previously held in Cincinnati, Ohio, had not been in the Southeast for some fifteen years and was moved this year to Orlando, Florida’s Rosen Plaza Hotel because of its attractive climate, inexpensive airfare, beautiful rooms and ballroom where the exhibition was held.
Al Johnston owner of Wood You Furniture stores in Alabama and Georgia stated, “My associates and I came away from the show more enthused than we have been in years. The networking that we experienced with other dealers and manufacturers was the best ever. It was as though we all realized that the challenges with the economy are going to be with us all longer than any of us dreamed and because of that, we all need each other (even our competitors) more than ever.”
Due to increased attendance and the overwhelming positive response from both exhibitors and attendees at the May 2011 show, the association has committed to the Orlando, Florida venue again for 2012.
New exhibitors included Simply Bunk Beds of Alabama and Guidecraft of Minnesota. The Association is encouraging, and anticipates, additional exhibitors, as well as retailers not specific to the ready-to-finish furniture industry, to participate in the 2012 show. Those interested in finding out more about the 2012 Real Wood Furniture Trade Show should contact Tim Case via phone at 800/487-8321 or via email at ufa@realwoodfurniture.com.
The Unfinished Furniture Association represents more than 650 retailers, manufacturers, and sales representatives in the United States, Canada and the Bahamas. The year 2002 proved a groundbreaking year for UFA as it embarked on its most important program yet, UFA's Brand Awareness. The benefits and qualities of real wood unfinished furniture are promoted nationwide by retailers, manufacturers, and sales reps certified by the Unfinished Furniture Association as marketers of Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way®. For more visit www.unfinishedfurniture.org.