The NWFA’s 2009 Wood Flooring Expo and Education Conference was held April 26 - May 1 in Long Beach, CA.  The show attracted 2,438 attendees from throughout the world, with 238 companies filling 434 exhibit booths.

NWFA Executive Director and CEO, Ed Korczak, said that attendance at the show was down about 28% from last year, which was expected due to the downturn in the economy, which has affected the wood flooring industry.

“Our show attendance seems to be in line with other floor covering shows this year,” said Korczak.  “We were planning for decreased attendance, but were pleased to see the trade show floor and our education sessions packed with people.”

Korczak emphasized that this year’s show focused on preparing for the reviving market, which experts predict will surface later this year and into early next year. On the trade show floor, demonstrations included UV Curing on Site, Faux Painting, Hand-Scraping, How to Make Domestic Species Look Like Exotics, Glue Down for Solid Wood, and Custom Finishes & Aniline Dyes. Plans are underway for the NWFA’s 2010 Convention to be held March 22 - 25 in Washington, D.C.  For more information, contact the NWFA at 1-800-422-4556, or on-line at www.nwfa.org.