Cancelled: two scheduled wood industry shows axed
Members of the Ipswich Woodcrafts Club at a past Timber, Tools & Artisan Show
News arrived in our inbox today of the cancellation of two scheduled wood industry show events. In 2018, Timber, Tools & Artisan (formerly known as the Timber & Woodworking Show) went through a rebranding and broadening of the skills and mediums it sought to present to a largely hobbyist market. A succession of cancellations have plagued the show, stretching back to 2020 when the onset of COVID-19 caused widespread event closures.
Show organisers Phoenix Exhibitions cite the reason for the cancellation as being “a lot of our exhibitors are finding it tough with the current climate as the cost of everything has gone up. On the back of Covid, the fires and the floods and now the economic situation, many are simply at breaking point. They wholeheartedly want to attend our shows but are financially simply not able to...”
Phoenix Exhibitions state that the Brisbane show will now be “pushed back” from mid-September, and further that they will “work with our exhibitors and make some changes to our Show concept to help enable a wider base of exhibitors and bring you, our visitors, the experience that you deserve”.
Felder Group Australia stand at AWISA 2018
At the other end of the woodworking spectrum, the Board of the Australian Woodworking Industry Suppliers (AWISA) has yet again cancelled its normally biennial trade association event for the woodworking industry. The latest scheduling was for July 2024.
The Board’s announcement states: “This position was reached over the last few weeks when the majority of the large machinery exhibitors withdrew from the show. These machinery companies represent a large and important part of the exhibition footprint, attracting many attendees to the show to negotiate and buy new equipment. The AWISA Board met to discuss this matter and reached the view that the only option was to cancel the show.”
The main reason given by the AWISA Board that companies have withdrawn “is the ongoing uncertainty around getting approval for the requirements needed to fix and operate their large and heavy woodworking machines”. With a long lead time required, the decision was made to cancel.
A future date has not been announced but rather, the Board has stated their opinion that there is a need for an Australian-based industry show, however final decisions about the future of the show will “take some time to resolve”.
More information from timbertoolsartisan.com.au and from www.awisa.com