Looking back at 2021, our industry saw record sales largely due to the housing market reaching the highest values in years, in part, due to low interest rates. The pandemic reduced travel, causing more Americans to stay home and invest in their assets. The AWFS®Fair was a success in the new West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The staff was somehow able to have the exhibition through all the COVID-19 variants while many other events were forced to cancel before and after. All of these factors assisted in record breaking sales.
As the first quarter of 2022 comes to an end, our industry continues to move in a positive direction with an upward trend. Despite the positive outcome last year, we are faced with several concerns for 2022. The war in eastern Europe, rising fuel prices, soaring inflation, and anticipated increases in interest rates just to name a few. We are also facing obstacles with inventory levels at an all-time low and supply chain issues causing prices to escalate. In addition, our industry continues to struggle to find employees.
Despite these hurdles, we continue to move forward and are excited about 2022. Even though the Fair is what AWFS® is known for, the association provides so much more to its members. It continues to work through its committees to improve the needs of our industry. I want to thank all of those who have given back by taking their time to participate. If you’d like to contribute by giving back, please feel free to reach out to Adria Salvatore at adria@awfs.org.
AWFS® remains committed to working with education at all levels by shifting the perception of our industry for the next generation. AWFS® has joined forces with other associations to develop programs such as Wood Industry Resource Collaborative (WIRC) to assist our members in attracting and retaining employees. The same is true for the Public Policy committee. Their advocacy efforts in Washington DC provides our representatives with a better understanding of our needs. For example, we have seen strong interest towards industry apprenticeship programs, and AWFS will continue to advocate for legislation that will allow more apprenticeships to develop and grow.
As IWF is just around the corner and the number of COVID-19 are trending downward, we are optimistic and look forward to seeing you all in Atlanta. Feel free to stop by the AWFS® booth to get more information about our 2023 trade show and learn about the various committees you could join to make a difference in our industry.
In closing, it is my hope for peace in Ukraine and continued prosperity for our industry in 2022.
Rob Howell, AWFS® Board President