MANHEIM, Pa. — Wood Pro Expo Lancaster, to be held October 12-13 at Spooky Nook Sports and the Warehouse on the Nook, will feature a pair of complimentary keynotes aimed at two of the most critical issues facing woodworkers: pricing and labor.

While the industry as a whole did surprisingly well during the pandemic, labor issues persist as companies struggle to recruit and maintain staff. Similarly, supply chain problems have eased but pricing and profitability remain a bugaboo for woodworkers.

FDMC Editorial Director Will Sampson will address the pricing quandary with his Day 1 keynote on Oct. 12 titled, "Avoiding Pricing Pitfalls." The veteran woodworking journalist, podcaster and lean advocate will share the highlights and his personal insights based on his decades of interactions with hundreds of woodworking companies as well as his analysis of FDMC's annual Pricing Survey. He’ll examine what various shops charge for the same work, the fundamentals of pricing custom work, and common pitfalls to avoid in the estimating process.

Sampson has directed FDMC’s Pricing Survey for more than two decades. He said he is constantly amazed by the wide range of prices submitted by participating readers who develop their estimates using a common set of project specifications. Invariably, he added, the larger and more complex the project, "the more startling the price variations.” 

Brady Lewis, the founder of Allmoxy, will be the featured keynote for Day 2 of Wood Pro Expo Lancaster on Friday, Oct. 13. His presentation is titled, "Building a magnetic company culture to attract, empower, and retain your team."

“We'll explore some innovative strategies designed to cultivate a culture that not only attracts but also retains employees of diverse skill levels,” said Lewis. “We'll examine the significant role of non-monetary value-adds and their potential to make employees feel seen, heard, and appreciated. Participants will leave with tools and insights to transform their organizations into spaces that truly empower their teams, thereby driving performance, innovation, and business growth.”

Allmoxy is a web-based platform for woodworkers to manage their businesses and sell products online. While running the family cabinet outsource shop in 2008, Lewis began creating a system to solve everyday problems the business would run into. The system became so valuable that Brady knew it should be available for others to use, and Allmoxy was born. Running a successful cabinet company and starting Allmoxy has given him substantial knowledge and experience to share.

Spooky Nook Sports is one of the largest indoor playgrounds in the country. In addition to a spacious exhibit hall, the mega facility has more than 700,00 square feet (14 acres) of space under one roof that includes an 80,000-square-foot fitness center, 10 maple basketball/volleyball courts, three enclosed multi-purpose turf fields, and a rock-climbing gym. The sports complex connects with the Warehouse Hotel at the Nook, the headquarters hotel for WPEL and venue for the event’s two-day conference.

Attendee registration will open later this month. For more information about Wood Pro Expo Lancaster exhibiting opportunities, including the Running Machine Program, Classic Machine Pavilion, and new spotlight on functional and decorative hardware, contact Lewis Goldman at [email protected] or 800-969-2212. Learn more at woodproexpolancaster.com.

About Wood Pro Expo 
Wood Pro Expo is a regional event for woodworking businesses that brings together suppliers and experts for a localized presentation of equipment and supply solutions. WPE includes a strong educational program on best practices for shop production and business management. The expo features a wide variety of equipment and supplies mainly geared to small and medium-sized shops.

Wood Pro Expo Lancaster takes place Oct. 12-13, 2023 at Spooky Nook Sports/Warehouse at the Nook in Manheim (Lancaster County), Pa. For information visit woodproexpolancaster.com. For exhibitor information contact Lewis Goldman at [email protected] or 800-969-2212. 

More upcoming Woodworking Network events 
Executive Briefing Conference, Sept. 26-28, 2023, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo. 

Wood Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo (WMS), Nov. 2-4, 2023, International Centre, Mississauga, Ontario.

Closets Conference & Expo / Wood Pro Expo Illinois, April 17-19, 2024, Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, Ill.

Salon Industriel du Bois Ouvré (SIBO Expo), Oct. 24-26, 2024, Centrexpo Cogeco, Drummondville, Quebec.