The Woodworking and DIY Shows

[The Coach]

Anyone ever been to one of these? There's one in Somerset NJ this weekend and I'm thinking of heading on over Friday afternoon. Looks pretty interesting, but I have to be careful, there's the East Coast Custom Knife show in Jersey City next month. So many toys and so little money!!

http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/

 

[ShawnRussell]

They have been hit or miss for me.

The first one I went to in 2009 in Atlanta, it was a pretty decent show with quite a few classes and some really good demo. It took me about 3 hours to walk around and I spent a few more hours in the classes and demo.

The second one in 2010 was a joke. I was in and out in less than 2 hours.  There were not many manufactures just resellers.. Highland Hardware, Rockler, Peachtree Woodworking(which was half the show). A lot of the demos were at the booth and there was a lot of snake oil sales men there.  The only class that was worth anything was the one on lighting...

I did not go in 2011 after hearing about the AWF show in Atlanta...

I work done the street from the show this year so I might pop my head in.. the Modern Woodworkers is having a booth there this year so I might pop in to support Chris.

I would look at the vendor list and see if you see anyone there that is worth going.. I would be pretty hyped to go if Paul Sellers was going to be in the Atlanta show.

 

[fritter63]

I used to go to these every year in Denver. And I began referring them as "the Router Show".

Ironically, I think I walked past the Festool (or a dealer) booth quite a few times...

 

[honeydoman]

Been going for 12 yrs and its sad to say they are 1/2 the size they used to be or less. Due to Internet sales. Plus cost of booths companies opt out

Still fun for 2 hours. Marc Sommerfeld booth is there and they have some good deals and a great demo on making cabinets

 

[Theshipstore]

Coach    BuilderBob and myself wil be there on Friday. We are planning to arrived about opening time

Sal

 

[The Coach]

I was thinking about going around 2 and trying to get out before 5. That area is pretty bad around quitting time for traffic on 287 (especially on Friday). It looks like Festool, DeWalt and PC are in the same area.

I made the mistake of going to a home improvement show there on a Saturday a couple of years ago and the place was packed. I never did get in.

 

[GreenGA]

A number of forum members are attending the show in Somerset.  Some on Friday and others on Saturday.

A thread was started about a month ago to remind everyone of the upcoming show and at that time, some members had expressed an interest in a breakfast get together before the show on Saturday. (we all have our FOG Hats, right...?  [thumbs up] )

Now that we are down to the last few days before the show, if there is still an interest in a breakfast meeting on Saturday, those that are interested should start posting that interest so others can chime in. [poke]

 

[tvgordon]

Like some of the other guys, I've been going to the shows for years. I agree that the shows are smaller than they used to be.

I would visit the website to see the list of vendors then decide if you want to go. There's usually a few good sales, but it seems that most are around 10% off.  You can find some of the sale prices on the coupons page on the website.

Tom

 

[DKurzweil]

I am definitely interested in breakfast before the show.

Unfortunately I joined fog just after the FOG hat ordering period  [sad].

See you all there,
Daniel

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I'll be there Friday and Saturday.  I'll be wearing a Kreg disguise, so, look for someone dressed in beadboard.

 

[GreenGA]

I too will be there on Saturday, Ken.  Dressed in Blue beadboard I assume...?  [tongue]

So I do not hijack this thread, as I sometimes do, I will start another thread for those interested in getting together on Saturday morning.

And, if anyone cares...

A few years ago I wrote an article on attending trade shows, exhibitions, that sort of thing.  I found it, spiffed it up a little.  Here it is.  It may not be as useful to the members of this forum, but who knows...

 

[Sparktrician]

There's another one coming up in Fredericksburg, VA, the first weekend in March.  The shows have definitely gotten smaller over the years.  I spoke with one vendor a couple of years ago, and his input was that the guy who is the promoter wanted a bigger slice of their already slim profits, so some vendors quit attending.  Last year the people selling Kreg jigs were from Ohio, and were not Kreg employees.  I'm planning to attend this one, likely on Friday to avoid the mad rush on Saturday and Sunday. 

[smile]

 

[GreenGA]

So far, I have attended the show in Somerset, I think, the past three years.  My recollection is that it has remained about the same size.  [unsure]

 

[Theshipstore]

Well I attended the show today at Somerset and had a great time,
I spent most of my day pitching in and helping Ken and Lucas at the Festool Booth, but on occasions I took a walk around to look and see.
Well I spent money's at the Grex Booth, Kreg Booth and of course at the WoodPeckers Booth. I now have to stop walking around.
Tomorrow I will be driving back up and helping out at the Booth again for a while..
Dave is going to be doing some Kapex demo's if we can get it set up and running and the rest of us will be saying hello and doing our best to help out on questions about Festool.
I doubt I will be walking around very much because I blew my budget today, Looking forward to meet and greeting those that show up from FOG

Sal

 

[vwdave]

I'll see you tomorrow Sal and I have your pencil  [big grin].  I'll be packing up my kapex to take with me... 

Dave

 

[Michael Kellough]

Well I attended the show today at Somerset and had a great time,
I spent most of my day pitching in and helping Ken and Lucas at the Festool Booth, but on occasions I took a walk around to look and see.
Well I spent money's at the Grex Booth, Kreg Booth and of course at the WoodPeckers Booth. I now have to stop walking around.
Tomorrow I will be driving back up and helping out at the Booth again for a while..
Dave is going to be doing some Kapex demo's if we can get it set up and running and the rest of us will be saying hello and doing our best to help out on questions about Festool.
I doubt I will be walking around very much because I blew my budget today, Looking forward to meet and greeting those that show up from FOG

Sal

Is the Domino XL on display?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

No Domino XL yet!!!  [tongue]  Be patient my good man!

I will be there again tomorrow and because of a request from today, I will demonstrate the my MFK 700 and using it to trim edge banding.

 

[bijeshj]

I attended the show today - and it was great to meet and chat with Ken, Sal and Dave. They did a good job of selling the Kapex. I am sold and will buy it - I should have stayed away from the Festool booth

 

[vwdave]

I had an awesome time at the show.  It was fun hanging with Sal and Ken and meeting a bunch of fellow foggers.  I wish I had more time to sit through the woodworking demos, I watched a few today and picked up some good hand tool skills.  I brought my older daughter today and she loved it, at lunch she said " dad I'm having so much fun" I told her we were leaving after she finished eating and she started crying.  She really didn't want to leave, plus she was helping out at the festool booth.
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Dave

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Bijeshj and Gary, it was great seeing you guys there.  Thank you very much for showing up!  Always enjoy meeting other members of the FOG and people who share my love for Festool pencils.  [big grin]

I had a great time at the show with Lucas, Dave, Sal, the guys from A.W. Meyer, especially owner Jim Hascup and V.P. Jim Kelly and Kevin.  I look forward to working with A.W. Meyer and their Festool presence.

MFK 700 demo went very well.  I really wish we had a bigger booth area to set up for more demos as that's what brings the crowd to the Festool booth and helps promote the brand's value and sales.