MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - Professional contractor and DIY Network/HGTV star Mike Holmes Jr. will bring his wit and wisdom to the WMS Live Stage.

Holmes, the charismatic co-host of Holmes and Holmes, will deliver the keynote speech at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, officially kicking off the Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo. The three-day show runs through Nov. 2 at the International Centre.

Holmes’ presentation, Making It right with your customers, is free to all WMS attendees and exhibitors. It’s a fitting title and in perfect harmony with the underlying premise of Holmes and Holmes. Now in its third season, Holmes and his father “rescue homeowners from shoddy renovations and do-it-yourself projects gone wrong.”

Holmes said he plans to discuss “how I got into the trades, what I have learned and some of the shows I have worked on.” Holmes’ passion for the trades and his firm belief that more needs to be done to support career and technical education is evidenced by his strong involvement with SkillsCanada and Habitat for Humanity’s GTA Young Professionals Build.

No doubt of great interest and importance to custom woodworkers, Holmes will share his strategies for dealing with price-sensitive customers. Education is the key, he said. “One thing we hear from contractors a lot is that ‘It is too expensive to renovate houses the way you guys do it. People don’t want to pay that much money,’” Holmes said. “I want to help break that myth down and show why it is important to explain to the homeowner about how to prioritize their renovation by working from the outside in. This applies to any project, small or large.”

While Holmes and Holmes tackle every home renovation issue from electrical to garage organization, Holmes said woodworking is near and dear to him. “Woodworking is something I like to incorporate in each project we work on,” he said. “I plan to include examples of a few of our custom projects.”

Holmes acknowledges that he owes a lot to his father for teaching him the ins and outs of home renovation. Yet, he said, it is important to “establish your own brand.”

“I grew up working on my dad’s crew,” Holmes said. “For me, distinguishing myself from my dad has always been very important. For example, I am very passionate about healthy homes and building sustainably for our future and why building sustainably will actually save you in the long run.”

Betsy Ayala, senior vice president, programming and development for HGTV and DIY Network, explained the appeal of Holmes and Holmes success. “Viewers love watching Mike and Mike Jr. because of their candor and authenticity. This dynamic pair has a genuine desire to use their construction knowledge to help and empower people.”

About CCI Media
CCI Canada is owned by CCI Media, a business-to-business media company focused exclusively on industrial wood products manufacturing markets in North America. CCI Media’s flagship publication, FDMC magazine, circulates monthly in print and digital formats. CCI Media also publishes the bi-monthly Closets & Organized Storage magazine. Woodworking Network is the umbrella brand for the combined portfolio of wood manufacturing print, digital, and web products and industry events operated by CCI Media. CCI Canada also produces the Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo, Oct. 31-Nov.2, at the International Centre, Mississauga, Ontario and Salon Industriel du Bois Ouvré (SIBO), which will be held April 23-25, 2020, in Drummondville, Quebec.

In addition to WMS 2019 and SIBO 2020, CCI Media produces Wood Pro Expo Texas and the Cabinets & Closets Conference & Expo, both of which will be co-located March 11-13,  2020, at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas. The company also produces Wood Pro Expo Lancaster 2019, to be held October 17-18, at Warehouse at the Nook, Manheim, Pa., and the Executive Briefing Conference, November 8-10, 2020, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo.