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View Full Version : Woodworks Show Novi, MI Nov 21-23 - Who's going?



Doug Shepard
10-18-2008, 8:37 AM
The woodworking shows have been getting increasingly lame hereabouts and I haven't been to one in probably 5-6 years. I was looking at this years offering as far as the schedule and while I still cant find a list of vendors, the presenters list has taken a turn for the better compared to what the local show has offered in the past.
http://www.woodworksevents.com/seminars_novi.shtml

Anybody around this area planning on going this year?

Matt Meiser
10-18-2008, 9:15 AM
I might since it is a different promoter. There are actually two events in Detroit this year. Apparently no one told the promoters that everyone's move away!

The old "The Woodworkers Show" has been moved to Gibralter Trade Center North in Mt. Clemens. The last "show" I attended at Gibralter Trade Center (the original one) was a computer show full of counterfeit software, so I'm not banking on that one being worth the long drive to Mt. Clemens.

Doug Shepard
10-18-2008, 9:24 AM
...Apparently no one told the promoters that everyone's move away!
...


And the one's still here are probably out of work:( I figure if I'm going to buy anything, it's now or never.

Doug Shepard
10-25-2008, 7:52 AM
Well I've been poking through the list of exhibitors on the Woodworks site http://www.woodworksevents.com/links.shtml. There does not appear to be a vendor list for each location, but here's the outfits I've been able to confirm will be at the Novi show. There may be more that either have no link on that page or just dont have a show schedule on their site for confirmation.

http://www.adjustabench.com/
(I'm assuming this since Geoffrey Noden is one of the presenters but they dont have it actually listed on their site)

http://www.advmachinery.com/ (Hegner, Apollo, Plano, Rali, Nobex, Tormerk, et al)

http://www.kellerdovetail.com/
http://www.lakeshorehardwoods.com/
Lee Valley - noticably absent due to same dates in Chicago for the other Woodworking show
http://www.mannyswoodworkersplace.com/
http://www.microfence.com/
http://www.pswood.com/home.php
http://www.detroitareawoodturners.org/
http://michiganwoodworkersguild.org/

Ron Kinel
10-25-2008, 6:08 PM
I gone to the wood show two years ago with my nephew in Novi, He said it was half the show from the year before neither of us went last year

Doug Shepard
11-03-2008, 8:52 AM
I emailed the show this morning regarding a Novi specific vendor list and got an extremely quick response. While it's not exactly a "list", here's the response (partial):

We have virtually all major manufacturers participating, including Fein, Festool, HTC, JET. Delta Oneway from Canada and Steel City, making their only appearance in MI this year.
Woodpeckers, Keller Dovetail, MicroFence and numerous other 'niche companies. BTW- Keller, MicroFence are the inventor owners, not a pitchman. It's the same for most exhibitors at WoodWorks.

David G Baker
11-03-2008, 10:15 AM
I am considering going to the Novi show but it isn't locked in yet. It will be my first woodworking show.

Geoffrey Noden
11-17-2008, 10:49 AM
Adjust-A-Bench will be at the Novi, MI show Nov 21-23. Though Geoffrey will be teaching classes, he should be available most of the day. Stop on in and say hello!

Suzette

Matt Meiser
11-17-2008, 12:31 PM
I'm still trying to decide whether or not to go. There still doesn't seem to be a list published and I hate to drive over an hour and pay $10 for admission and some ridiculous amount for parking find out there's not much I'm interested in.

It seems like it wouldn't be that hard to put a list of vendors who have paid for space together and put it on a web site. I emailed them and asked for a definitive list--I'll post if I get one.

Doug Shepard
11-17-2008, 12:42 PM
I'm still trying to decide whether or not to go. ...
It seems like it wouldn't be that hard to put a list of vendors who have paid for space together and put it on a web site. I emailed them and asked for a definitive list--I'll post if I get one.

Yeah. Dont know what the big deal is. Point out to them that their competition doesn't seem to have a problem creating individual city vendor lists
http://cms.thewoodworkingshows.com/cms/Shows/DetroitMIDec57/tabid/75/Default.aspx

Matt Meiser
11-17-2008, 3:12 PM
Ah--should have but I already sent the email.

One has to assume that Peachtree is not going to be there since it isn't on their calendar (http://www.ptreeusa.com/shows.htm). Usually I like to pick up some jig parts from them. :(

I called Woodline USA since they have a rail/stick profile I'd like to look at in person--they are going to be there. That's one not on the list they sent you. I specifically mentioned this weekend so hopefully she isn't confused by the two dates.

I think I'll try emailing Woodpeckers to see if they are going to be offering any deals worth coming out for on router plates.

Matt Meiser
11-17-2008, 6:12 PM
Hmmm... I didn't get a straight answer either. I hate when the answer to competition is to bash the other guy. That's what political ads are for. :(

Maybe I should email him back and ask to guarantee we won't be disappointed? :D


Do you have a definitive vendor list for the Novi show yet? I'm debating coming and am hesitant to drive 1-1/2 hours, pay for parking, and pay for admission without it, especially after the dismal turnout at Detroit shows the past few years.

I realize you didn't promote those shows, but I got the impression the problem was more a result of vendors not believing it was worth their time to come to an economically depressed area.


Matthew:

Thanks for stopping by WoodWorks online and your inquiry about the show this weekend.

WoodWorks is not the show that disappointed so many folks at the Rock in the past few years for all the reasons you mentioned. Our show features virtually all major brands including the only display of Steel City Tools in Michigan. You'll also see companies like Oneway, Keller Dovetail, Micro Fence, Festool, Fein, SawStop, Woodpeckers and a number of other speciality and niche companies. In many cases the inventor himself or the owner will be in their booth to meet and talk shop and probably offer even deeper discounts now that the economy has stalled. In addition to the companies I mentioned, you'll also have the opportunity to meet in person some of the top tier woodworking experts from around the country including Frank Klausz, Garrett Hack, Andy Rae, Paul Anthony, all of whom are published and considered to be the definitive top in their discipline.

We realize the show that has been at the Rock in the past had degenerated to the point where there was nothing worthwhile. So did the building, which is why the other show was not allowed back. Shows are no longer what they once were 15 years ago, but WoodWorks still provides a unique opportunity to shop with companies that represent quality, service and value, and there is no question that our floor demonstrations, which are non-commercial and our educational programs are second to none.

We hope you'll give this show a try and that each year more people will support this show and return it to a level that you and all other Detroit-metro area woodworkers deserve.

Work safely,

Jonathan

Myk Rian
11-17-2008, 7:38 PM
I'll be there Friday @ 3p. I need to look for band saw tires, and whatever I can beg my wife out of while on the cell.

Matt Meiser
11-17-2008, 11:15 PM
Hmmmmmmm...... I responded to their email and asked why they wouldn't just provide a list (like their competitor and almost all other tradeshow type events) rather than bashing the competition. The response was that they can't keep track and then a two paragraph explanation about how their competitor is lying about their list.

Still waiting for a reply from Woodpeckers...

Matt Meiser
11-18-2008, 8:19 AM
Got an email back from Woodpeckers. I asked about router plates, templates, and pattern bits.



Our show special is $10.00 off, on our router plates, which also happens to be on sale for the same price on our website. We will not have the insert templates nor the bit you need at the show. I would suggest purchasing those items on our website.


We will have many different clamping, measuring and layout, and router table accessories at the show at some very good pricing. There will be a brand new clamping system that will be shown at the show this weekend, not yet on our website.

The tools you mentioned you were interested in, won't still be on sale through our website when the Detroit show rolls around.

Mike Sheppard
11-18-2008, 10:29 AM
I am still thinking about going fri., from South Lyon it's not much of a drive. The last time I went all I got was a box of Kreg screws, cost of screws +parking+$10= expensive screws.
Mike

Doug Shepard
11-21-2008, 8:32 AM
Well I've was leaning towards going but think I need to skip it now. I managed to pull a muscle in my back earlier in the week and it's getting rather worse. Took the dog for a walk last night and could hardly move once we got back from going around the block so standing or walking about the Novi Expo Center for hours doesn't sound real good at the moment. There were only a few vendors I really wanted to see, but nothing in particular I needed to buy so I wont miss much there. Maybe next one.

Eric Franklin
11-21-2008, 8:57 PM
I will be there Saturday late morning. This will be my first woodworking show and hopefully I won't be disappointed.

Michael Gibbons
11-24-2008, 10:56 PM
I went and was sadly dissapointed. So was my wife who grudgingly came along. It took me all of 25 minutes to walk through and see what was interesting, then made it back to the Keller dovetail booth to place an order, then we left. It might be better to combine the two shows-WoodWorks and the Woodworking Shows as not to saturate the area and commit all the companies to be in the same place at the same time and give the public value for their money. But there are egos to bruise at the management level. The woodworks show was at Novi the 21-23 of November and the Woodworking Show will be in Mt Clemens the weekend of Dec 5-7. The companies that were at Novi won't be at Mt Clemens.

David G Baker
11-24-2008, 11:42 PM
I couldn't make the show but a friend did and he was also very disappointed. He has attended in the past and was happy with it but this year was nothing like past years.
Glad I didn't go.

Ray Schafer
11-25-2008, 8:43 AM
I went to the Denver show. It was actually bigger than last year, but not as big as the year before. I did not think it was fantastic, but there was enough to keep me interested for about 4 hours.

Matt Meiser
11-25-2008, 8:55 AM
After hearing the reports, its clear to me why they didn't want to release a list. It will be interesting to hear reports from the Mt. Clemens show.