HBA Home Show offers concentrated exposure to new and repeat exhibitors

The HBA Home Show has come a long way since the event was first held 21 years ago on tables set up at Battle-field Mall, according to Charlyce Ruth, Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield office manager. This year's show will be held Feb. 1-3 at University Plaza Trade Center in Springfield.

HBA members and show exhibitors have built from that modest beginning to the show's current size and scope.

When the show initially moved to Un-iversity Plaza Trade Center, the show's exhibitors occupied only one level of the building, Ruth said. "Now it's overflowing on both levels.".

The show, which is always held the first full weekend in February, drew 13,000 to 14,000 visitors in 2001 which represented a 2,000 to 3,000-person gate increase in comparison to the 2000 show, according to Ruth. Last year's show boasted 195 exhibitors, and Ruth expects to have 200 exhibitors at the 2002 show.

As of press time, no booths were available, but Ruth had a few table tops still open for potential exhibitors.

"Last year, we had a waiting list for booths." The booths, which are sold in 8-by-10-foot increments, go on sale in June for the previous year's exhibitors; in July for HBA members who did not exhibit the previous year; and in August for new exhibitors, Ruth added, noting that the show is open to HBA member and nonmember companies.

John Harp, architectural and residential sales representative for Acme Brick, has served as chairman of the HBA Home Show committee since 1985.

"We try to give the public a variety of things to see every aspect of buying, building and remodeling a home is represented at the show," he said.

New at the show this year will be a seminar on safely locating buried cable, presented by City Utilities, and a seminar on marble, tile, and other hard floor surfaces, Harp said.

Immediate exposure'

The show has much to offer its ex-hibitors, according to Harp. "You get immediate exposure to 12,000-plus people," he said. "Our exhibitors would have to spend a lot of advertising dollars to reach that many people. And these are serious customers who are looking to buy, build or remodel not just people who want to pick up some literature or kill an afternoon."

Ruth said that the HBA uses television, radio and print advertising to market the show, and it also promotes the show via the HBA's Web site, www.springfield hba. com.

Vendors' successes

Prestige Millwork has participated in five HBA Home Shows, and is now re-turning to the show after a four-year ab-sence, said sales manager Chuck Waite. "We've tried a number of different ways of advertising, and the HBA show exposes us to a more targeted customer base," he said. "We've picked up a new window line and we're anxious to show it; the exposure will be invaluable. We're going to make an effort to track our leads and see what the pay-back of the show is."

Increte of the Ozarks also is returning to the show this year, according to Gen-eral Manager William Tate, who said the company was a prior HBA show ex-hibitor under different ownership. "It gives us great exposure to let the public know what we offer," Tate said. "We hope to get contacts, leads, and work toward making Increte a household name in decorative concrete." Tate, who serves on the HBA Home Show Committee, said the show also provides a valuable opportunity to network with other HBA members.

First-timers

Jamie Staudenmyer, owner of Califor-nia Closets, was so pleased with the re-sults of exhibiting at the HBA Remod-eling Show that she decided to exhibit at the 2002 HBA Home Show. Stauden-myer said that the money she spent to be involved in the remodeling show was recovered by new business just one week after the show, selling her on the value of HBA exposure. "The HBA people really went the extra mile for me; it was a very pleasant experience," she said.

Staudenmyer said she expanded her business to include a showroom last year, and she is looking to expand her client base via HBA Home Show exposure. "I want more people to be aware that we're here and that we do much more than just closets," she said.

Global Link Land Surveying also is making its first appearance at the HBA Home Show, according to owner Lyndel Link. While Link has been a surveyor for 17 years, Global Link Land Surveying is a new company, one he hopes the show will promote.

"We're just getting started and trying to get as much exposure as possible," he said. "It's an excellent way for a new company to get their name out there and meet people."

Link has been an HBA member for eight years and is impressed with the association's development of the annual show. "They do a top-of-the-line show, and the HBA does a good job of marketing the show," he said.