According to US media reports, affected by the COVID-19, the International Woodworking Fair (IWF2020) originally scheduled to be held from August 25 to 28, 2020 has been confirmed to be canceled. After the 2020 CERSAIE Bologna Italy Exhibition, 2020 CEDIA Expo, 2020 Remodeling Show etc., this is another global large-scale building materials exhibition announced to be extended or cancelled.
The report also pointed out that the epidemic may have an impact on the American Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) held from February 9 to 11, 2021. The organizer said that it is impossible to predict whether the number of exhibitors will meet expectations, but they are actively communicating with exhibitors and associations to ensure that the exhibition is held as scheduled.
America’s largest wooden furniture exhibition canceled
Recently, the organizer of the International Woodworking Exhibition announced on their official website that it would cancel the IWF 2020, which is originally held from August 25 to 28 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. It is understood that IWF is the oldest and largest wooden furniture exhibition in the United States. This year’s exhibition is also the first important exhibition of American cupboards, bathroom cabinets and other wooden furniture companies in 2020. The four-day exhibition would have been Showcasing the latest wooden furniture and equipment and materials, etc.. It is expected to attract more than 1,000 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors.
The announcement revealed that as the COVID-19 disrupted people’s lives and businesses’ operations, the ensuing tourism regulations and local regulations also restrict the movement of people from one location to another, and for this reason the organizers cannot guarantee that they will be able to do so without endangering exhibitors, attendees and the whole of the conference. The decision to hold the show in the context of the Atlanta community has led to the cancellation. The organizer said that the cancellation of this year’s exhibition was made after discussions with other exhibitors and participants in the case of a large number of other trade shows and related events being cancelled.
According to reports, exhibitors who registered for IWF 2020 have recently been notified of exhibition refunds and hotel reservation cancellations, and have received detailed notifications about next year’s exhibition and related exhibitor instructions.
Many large building materials exhibitions in Europe and the United States Extended or canceled
In addition to the international Woodworking exhibition, in the first five months of 2020, a number of major industry trade shows in Europe and the United States that were scheduled to be held during the year have been extended or Cancelled, and some exhibition venues have been converted into temporary rescue sites for COVID-19 patients and medical personnel. Among them, Emerald Holding, the organizer of the famous America Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), canceled or extended about 40 exhibitions due to the epidemic, accounting for nearly 30% of the number of exhibitions held by the company every year.
In the building materials industry, important exhibitions that have recently been extended or canceled include:
Cersaie 2020: According to the organizer Confindustria Ceramica and Edier SpA, the world’s largest ceramic bathroom exhibition that scheduled to be held from September 28 to October 2 was extended from to November 9 to 13, but now it is canceled.
IWF 2020: Originally scheduled from August 25-28 in Atlanta, the United States, which is expected to attract more than 1,000 exhibitors and more than 30,000 participants, has now been canceled.
CEDIA Expo 2020: The annual five-day CEDIA Expo exhibition, many of which are related to kitchens and bathrooms, is originally scheduled to be held in Denver, the United States from September 8 to 12, and is expected to attract more than 500 exhibitors and more than 20,000 participants , has now been canceled.
2020 Remodeling Show: According to the latest news from the organizer Informa Markets, the physical exhibit portion of Renovation 2020, which was scheduled to be held at Oct. 13-15 at the Baltimore Convention Center in the U.S., has been completely canceled.
Other extended or canceled building materials related exhibitions include: Euro Cucina 2020, the 2020 Architectural Digest Design Show, 2020 NeoCon, the 2020 Realtors Conference & Expo, the Pacific Coast Builders Conference, etc.
The 2021 American Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) May Be Affected
For European and American kitchen and bathroom companies, the annual American Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is one of the most important industry exhibitions. Although this year’s KBIS has been held from January 21st to 23rd before the epidemic spread, in view of the fact that the European and USA epidemic is into uncontrolled status, local practitioners worry that the exhibition in 2021 may be affected.
According to Emerald Holding, the organizer of the American KBIS, the 2021 show is originally expected that the number of exhibitors will exceed 100,000, but due to the epidemic, it is no longer possible to estimate the number of exhibitors. Although the exhibitors have already determined the exhibition area will pay for their participation in early September, the organizer cannot guarantee whether the number of participants will be meet expectations.
The relevant person in charge of the American KBIS said that Emerald Holding will put the safety of the exhibition, the well-being of its employees and the community in the first place. And is now keeping close contact with exhibitors, associations and other third parties to promote the normal holding of the 2021 American Kitchen & Bath Show.
On the other hand, the National Association of Home Builders is currently investigating the attitudes of previous exhibitors about participating in the 2021 exhibition. The options include “Very likely to participate”, “Likely to participate”, “Unlikely Participate” and “Very unlikely to participate”. In addition, the association is also evaluating the current anti-epidemic measures and specific conditions of airports, hotels, restaurants and other facilities, and is actively looking into the possibility of the ways to increase social distance during the exhibition.
The American Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is one of the most important kitchen and bathroom exhibitions in Europe and the United States. Over the years, it has attracted foreign companies including Samsung, Hansgrohe, GROHE, Kohler, Geberit, American Standard, MOEN, TOTO, Neoperl, and Delta, as well as the domestic companies such as Huayi Sanitary Ware, SHKL, FOTILE, WOMA Sanitary Ware and other companies exhibiting. If the 2021 show is not held on schedule or properly, it will have an impact on these companies.