National Hardwood Magazine - April 2022

NWFA REVIEW
NWFA WOOD FLOORING EXPO 2022: THE PLACE TO BE IN APRIL
WE ARE GRAF BROTHERS
The world’s largest manufacturer of
rift & quarter sawn white oak products
If the attendance at the recent Indiana
Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association,
Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers,
Inc., and Hardwood Manufacturers
Association shows are any indication, it
appears that in-person conventions and
trade shows are back with a vengeance
in the Hardwood industry. After two years of delays,
cancellations, and general uncertainty, it has been
encouraging to see so many packed meeting rooms and
busy show floors at our industry events.
And with good reason. In conversations with NWFA
members across the wood flooring supply chain,
including manufacturers and suppliers of Hardwood
lumber, many indicate that after a rough start in 2020 due
to cancellations and closings, the year ended up being
one of their most successful ever. And 2021 is looking
like it will be a good year as well as demand for wood
flooring continues to grow. According to Market Insights,
wood flooring is estimated to have grown by 13.5 percent
in total market share for 2021. Growth is predicted for
2022 as well.
Which is why the NWFA is expecting a good turnout for
its Wood Flooring Expo this month. The show will be held
April 12 – 14 in Tampa, Florida at the Tampa Convention
Center. This year’s event will feature 40-plus hours of
industry-specific education and product demonstrations,
340-plus booths on the trade show floor, and more than
50 networking opportunities, including a Manufacturer &
Distributor Reception where you can forge new business
relationships, and strengthen existing ones.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Elliot Eisenberg,
Ph.D., the Bowtie Economist, an
internationally acclaimed economist and
public speaker specializing in making
economics fun, relevant, and educational.
Formerly a Senior Economist with the
National Association of Home Builders,
Eisenberg will provide insights on the
economy, labor and supply chain issues, inflation,
reducing risk, staying ahead of the financial curve, and
more. The session is included in the Expo registration,
and will be held on Tuesday, April 12 at 8:00 a.m.
New this year will be a pre-show education session for
business owners: Succession Planning & Combating New
Tax Proposals – Assuring the Successful Continuation
of Your Company. This in-depth planning session will
be held on Tuesday, April 12 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
During the session, business owners will learn tools and
strategies in the areas of business succession, wealth
preservation, and the eventual transition of assets.
Special attention will be given to the impending proposed
changes to federal estate tax and capital gains tax laws.
An additional registration fee is required.
Another new show feature this year will be a fourpart
Business Plan Workshop. Expo participants who
attend will learn why business plans are essential for
successful outcomes, how to conduct market analysis,
how to establish short-term and long-term goals, how to
formalize your legal structure, how to secure funding, and
more. Those who attend all four sessions will walk away
with a fully developed, and executable business plan that
will help them be more effective, efficient, and profitable.
The full workshop is included in the registration fee.
We have the experience, the capacity and state-of-the-art
manufacturing equipment to handle all your White Oak needs.
PARTNER WITH THE ORIGINAL GRAF BROTHERS!
Please turn to page 71
BY MICHAEL MARTIN,
PRESIDENT & CEO,
NATIONAL WOOD FLOORING ASSOCIATION,
CHESTERFIELD, MO
800-422-4556
WWW.NWFA.ORG
QUALITY / LOYALTY / TRADITION
606-932-3117
sales@grafbro.com
26 APRIL 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE
www.grafbro.com