woodworker show in columbus ohio

[erock]

Hi guys.....anyone ever been to a woodworkers show?  I've never attended one, so I was wondering if they are worth going.  There will be one on feb. 4 thru 6.  would be a 2 1/2 drive for me and didn't want to waste my time going if I heard bad things about them.  I was hoping Incra and Festool would be there but I have been informed that they would not have a booth.  Thanks for any info.
Eric

 

[chrisrosenb]

If it is anything like the Indianapolis Show I attended this weekend, I would not miss it. We went to the Indy Show 2 days.
The show in Indy was the best woodworking show I had attended in several years.
Woodpeckers will be at the Columbus Show. They are an Incra dealer. Festool the company was not at the show, but Woodcraft had a large Festool display & had a Festool rep at the show.

Also, if you go to the Columbus show. Woodwerks is having a  Winter Expo the same weekend. Woodwerks.
Scroll down on the Woodwerks page for info on the Winter Expo. Woodwerks is also a Festool Dealer & have a very nice woodworking store.

 

[HowardH]

the last couple I went to were put on by The Woodworking Show folks.  It's a shell of what it used to be.  No Festool, no big iron to speak of.  No Euro equipment.  Mostly accessories etc.  Unless they get some better participants, I won't be going again.

 

[kfitzsimons]

I'm in Columbus and if you're interested in Festool, Woodwerks has a really nice selection. And, I think they're "opening" the new Festool store within their store. Supposed to be sort of a new concept. Woodwerks carries just about everything you'd find at a show, without the "it slices, it dices" presentations. Saying that, I always enjoy the shows too. Our Woodcraft store in Columbus also carries Festool and is a very nice, complete store. Both stores are staffed with really nice, helpful folks.

 

[RDMuller]

We had a nice show in Indianapolis this week.  There were at least 7 or 8 educational stations with seating that had presentations every couple of hours.  Most of these were vendors and they did a very nice job.  Don't expect to see big iron at these things  ---- margins are way TOO LOW to haul that stuff around for exercise.  Most stores keep minimal inventory these days, partially for that reason(margin) and we're getting to the point where an awful lot of folks have most of the big iron they need -- particularly when they don't trust the economy.

I suspect sales were not what most vendors were hoping for, but I have no way of knowing.

Larry Smith Festool Regional Manager was working and had a lot of activity in the Woodcraft Booth.  I don't know that he had "a minute off" on Sunday while I was there.

Some folks like trade shows,others don't.  I thought this one was pretty good all things considered.  I enjoyed my time from 10 til 4

 

[Sparktrician]

Hi guys.....anyone ever been to a woodworkers show?  I've never attended one, so I was wondering if they are worth going.  There will be one on feb. 4 thru 6.  would be a 2 1/2 drive for me and didn't want to waste my time going if I heard bad things about them.  I was hoping Incra and Festool would be there but I have been informed that they would not have a booth.  Thanks for any info.
Eric

If I'm not mistaken, the Columbus show is put on by these folks - http://cms.thewoodworkingshows.com/cms/.  They also host a show in Northern Virginia in March.  The thing that I've noted in recent years is that the show gets smaller and smaller every year, and the big dogs are seldom there any more.  It's turned into quite a disappointment.  Look carefully at the list of companies exhibiting in your area before making a decision.  A five-hour drive rather sucks when you've seen everything and left the show empty-handed after an hour. 

[sad]

 

[Wonderwino]

Having been an exhibitor at farm shows with Argo ATVs, I can understand why some vendors have backed out.  These shows cost thousands of dollars to attend and if you go for several years and don't cover costs, you have to re-think their value.

Case & point:  Last year I attended the "Husker Harvest Days" near Grand Island, NE with a factory rep and one other dealer.  The outdoor booth rent for the 3-day show was $3,500  [eek]  for a 30' x 50' unimproved space.  Lots of traffic but no sales.  I think most people were on their way to the bathroom behind our space.  Then there's transportation, motels & meals on top of that.

I have attended other shows that are only $500-600 rent, but still run $1,000 or more to show up at.  With the tight economy and fewer big-ticket items moving, a web presence is much more feasable.

 

[erock]

Thanks guys for all of your input.  I got an e-mail from a WoodWerks rep. about the expo they have going on at the same time as the woodworkers show and it sounds better then the woodworkers show.  He also said that they will have 10%, 15% and 20% of sales on everything, so I may go to the woodworkers show, then drive over to WoodWerks and check out there expo.....they have FREE lunch and breakfast! [smile]  Thanks again.
Eric

 

[WoodWerks]

Eric,

Hope to see you here at Wood Werks! It's becoming regular habit for people to visit the woodworking show, then come into our Expo. There's a reason it's the same days every year. As mentioned before, we'll have reps from just about every manufacturer, sales, tons of demos and of course free food.

Folks here on FOG are mostly familiar with our Expos. The real reason I wanted to chime in was to confirm what kfitzsimons posted about.

Our new Festool Test Drive Center is finally complete and open for the public. (You can see a whole gallery of photos here) This weekend at our Expo, Festool is actually bringing ALL of the new 2011 tools to show off in our new Test Drive Center! That includes the following:

    * Rotex RO 90 DX Multi-mode Sander
    * RO 90 DX Accessories
    * WCR 1000 Dust Extractor Workcenter
    * UG-Kapex, a wheeled miter saw stand
    * T-Loc Systainers

So if you've been itching to try any of the new stuff, this weekend will be your chance.

We have people come from out of state just to see our store on a regular day. I promise our Expo is worth the trip.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Rob

Our new Festool Test Drive Center

You can see a whole gallery of photos here

 

[wnagle]

Eric,

Dave Ronyak and I may go to Woodwerks tomorrow am and then to the woodworking show at the fairgrounds.  We went last year and it was a good time.  Every year is different, some better than others.  Also Hartville Hardware is having their show and salle in two weeks, on the 18th and 19th.  They usually have some really nice sales and demos as well.  Hartville Hardware has two every year, one in December and then one in February.  I never miss the Hartville Hardware sales.

Tomorrow, if I decide to go, I'm most interested in seeing the new Woodwerks store and their Festool room, and I want to see Microfence's inlay demo at the woodworking show.

I'd like to see the new Mirka orbital sander but I'm not sure if it is yet available in the US or what show it may be at.

Maybe Dave an I will see you there tomorrow.

 

[WoodWerks]

I'd like to see the new Mirka orbital sander but I'm not sure if it is yet available in the US or what show it may be at.

We have both the 5" and 6" Mirka CEROS on display and ready to be played with. We were the first to have them in the US!

Hope we you this weekend!

Rob

 

[wnagle]

Rob,

Well I have made plans and Dave an I will be there in the morning.  Just a note to anyone going, the WoodWerks Winter Expo 11 party is not at the new Polaris store, It is at the store on Claycraft Road in Columbus. 

 

[erock]

Just got off the phone with my friend and we will be at woodwerks bright and early!  I can't waite to mess around in the Festool section.  Good thing I have a SUV to bring home all the goodies! 

We will also head over to the woodworker show after we visit woodwerks.  But for some reason I feel it will be a bust.  Maybe because I have seen the photos of the Festool setup that woodwerks has. 

I hope woodwerks carries the carpenter pants that Kreg has been wearing in his videos.  I must get me a couple pair of those Bjornklader or Blaklader pants.  Also looking to go home with some Incra products and maybe some Festool accessories. 

Only one bad thing about this Expo.....it's in Columbus, I live in Cleveland, and my buddy lives in Hudson.  I have to drive to Hudson to pick him up, thats going to take me 45 min.  Then drive 2 1/2 hrs to Columbus.....but knowing Festools will be at the end of the rainbow is worth it  [wink].

 

[NVA_WW]

. . .   They also host a show in Northern Virginia in March. . . .

I was told last weekend that Festool (hosted by Capitol Building Supply, I think) will have a large area this coming March.  I always go to the Baltimore and Chantilly show every year.  Aside from Festool, I enjoy all the other stuff.  In fact, Kreg had a wonderful deal on their beaded face frame kit in Baltimore.  I couldn't pass up that offer.

 

[ThomasC]

Wayne & Dave, et. al

I'll also be at WoodWerks in the morning. I'll probably be wearing something with my logo on it. Say hello if you see me. It's always nice to meet other FOG members.

Safe travels,
TC

 

[ThomasC]

I just returned WoodWerks. As in years past, there was a great crowd. Not only that, but people were making purchases. I waited in the check-out line for 15-20 minutes, which for me turned out to be a good thing because I picked up a job during a conversation with a gentleman. The Festool display was impressive - large display area with hands-on demo tools of the vast majority of the catalog. They had the RO-90, the Work Center, the VacSys, new CT's and a few other new items. One of the highlights was that Brian Sedgeley from Festool Training was there. Always fun to talk to him. All-in-all, a good trip.

TC

 

[davee]

Hey Tom,

Did you leave any Festool for the rest of us? I'm planning on going tomorrow - I suspect the crowd will be pretty large at that time.  Looking forward to seeing Brian.

Dave

 

[erock]

Just got home from the WoodWerks Expo.  Great Festool display.  Bought come quick clamps, Festool zip up fleece and a pair of Blaklader pants. 

The Woodwerks Expo was worth the trip.  If you go, get their early!  Parking lot is small, but you can park off the street.  I was able to get the last parking spot in the parking lot, which holds maybe 10 cars. 

As for the Woodworker show at the Expo center, big bust for me.  Nothing exciting at all.  The web site stated that it started at 10.  But it didn't start until noon.  So their were a few guys just standing and sitting around woundering what was going on.  No Festool or Incra booth, but their was a Kreg and Sommersfield booth.  No great deals. 

So would I make this drive again? No.  Not for the Woodworkers show.  But, maybe for the Woodwerks expo.

I took my good friend with me and I think I made him a huge Festool fan.  I was telling him about every tool on display, kinda felt like a salesman. Maybe his blood will turn green like mine has.  He did take a catalog! [big grin]

 

[ThomasC]

Hi Dave,

I did, in fact, leave plenty of Festool stuff for you. Out of the two things there that I don't currently own and are available for purchase, the 2200 and the $11 supplemental cleaning set, I opted for the cleaning set. I bought a few more 50" & 60" Jet clamps and a couple more Woodpeckers wall-mount clamp racks. The new Mirka sander is worth taking a serious look at. Brilliant. Brian said he worked you guys pretty hard at the D&D class, but that it went well. I love talkin' to that guy. I'd like to talk to you more about what you learned in the class. Enjoy your trip to WoodWerks and let me know how it goes. Stay in touch.

TC

 

[tvgordon]

The Woodworkers Show at the fairgrounds seems to have fewer vendors each year.  At one time Lie-Nielsen, Hegner scrollsaws, Glacer woodturning tools and many others were there.  Rockler used to a a big display with really good sale prices.  WoodWerks used to be there to.  It also seems that the prices are the same as what you would find in the woodworking stores and catalogs.  I went to the Indy show this year hoping it was better than what I've seen in Columbus, but I still wasn't impressed and only spent a little money at Woodpeckers.

WoodWerks has better sales, manufacturer reps and better selection but is often crowded and parking is limited.  I still might make it over there tomorrow though. ;D

Tom.