Experts Give Tips on Managing Your Business at the 2003 AWFS®Fair

Furniture World Magazine

As woodworking and furniture businesses struggle to compete in an ever-changing global marketplace, the 2003 AWFS®Fair is providing real world solutions in eight seminars in the Business Management track, each led by business owners and consultants who have successfully faced the same challenges. The following briefly describes some of the Business Management track seminars: “Becoming an Employer of Choice,” on Thursday, July 31 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm, focuses on how to recruit, select and train the right people and how to create an employee-centered environment to retain employees. Jon Elvrum of Ritter Mfg., Inc., Duane Griffiths of Stiles Machinery, Inc., Patrick Ruder, owner of Redbud Ridge Custom Shop (on the 13th annual WOOD 100 List), and Erland Russell of Erland Russell & Associates share successful practices and what has worked for their and other firms. Steve Lawser, Exec. Dir., of the Wood Component Manufacturers Association (WCMA) moderates the session. On Friday, August 1 from 8:30 - 10:00 am, Erland Russell continues the employee/employer topic with an in-depth session on retaining workers in “Strategies for Employee Retention.” Russell, currently working as a consultant, has been directly involved in the woodworking industry for 35 years. Also on Friday, at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, “Lean Practices in Competitive Times” brings together a diverse and impressive group of speakers. Presenting a range of “lean” practices as the best strategy against global competition are Daniel Dew of Weinig Group, Spencer Dick of Tiger Stop, Art Raymond of A.G. Raymond & Assoc., Patrick Ruder of Redbud Ridge Custom Shop, and John Rubio of Simpler Consulting, Inc. Brooke Baldwin Wisdom of Modern Woodworking serves as moderator. A diversity facilitator, a bi-lingual trainer and a California manufacturer share their experience of what works in “Succeeding with Diverse Work Forces,” Friday afternoon from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. The ability to get a diverse work force talking and working as a team is a challenge faced often in California, which has a significant Spanish-speaking labor force. Carol Hastings of CorteHispana, Mary Ann Lamascus of Atlas Springs Mfg. Corp. and Jeanne Pieper of Pieper and Associates share ideas with a history of success. The panel is moderated by Helen Kuhl of CWB magazine. On Saturday and Sunday mornings two marketing seminars are offered. In “Marketing Strategies for Small Shops,” three presidents and owners of cabinet shops share successful tactics for marketing the custom and small production business. Slated for Saturday, August 2, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, moderator Will Sampson of CabinetMaker leads the panel: Jim McDermott of Avvento, Inc. (and columnist for CabinetMaker magazine), Rand Moeller of Sweetheart Cabinetmakers, Inc., and Brad Phelps of Phelps Wood Designs, Inc. (current president of Cabinet Makers Association). “Marketing for Fine Furniture Makers,” on Sunday morning, August 3, 9:00 - 11:00 am, is designed to give studio, fine furniture and custom makers successful tactics for getting their work seen, sought after and purchased. John Lavine of Woodwork magazine moderates the panel of fine furniture makers who will address a wealth of marketing methods: Michael Cullen of Michael Cullen Design, Po Shun Leong, Designer/Wood Sculptor, and Thomas Fetherston of Custom Furniture Design. Additional seminars in the business management track include: “Estimating for Profit,” Friday, August 1, 2003, 8:30 am - 10:00 am - Bob Buckley, Owner of Cornerstone Custom Cabinetry and developer of the True 32 Business Partner Estimating Software “Cost Justifying: Decisions that Pay”, Friday August 1, 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Aaron Clark, Cabinet Outsource - Chuck Gemeiner, Charles Gemeiner Cabinets - Jay Lincoln, J. Lincoln & Associates - Michael Miller, Machinery Finance Group - Moderator: Will Sampson, Editor, CabinetMaker Registrations for CWWK seminars are discounted significantly for early registrations and multiple registrations. The seminars are part of the College of Woodworking Knowledge® (CWWK) at the 2003 AWFS®Fair. CWWK is one of the most extensive educational programs at industry trade events. Pre-show workshops, SMART demos and 30 informative seminars make up the program. The biennial trade show is produced by the Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers® (AWFS®), and is the largest industry event in the United States on the odd-numbered years. Special Fair and CWWK pre-registration prices are available to those who register by July 9, 2003. Registration, housing and travel for the 2003 AWFS®Fair is available online at www.AWFSFair.org. The Association has also added special phone (323) 726-8157 and fax (323) 622-0321 numbers, which are direct lines to the AWFS®Fair Department.