Oct. 17-19: HBA Remodeling Show builds on successes

When people visit the fourth-annual HBA Remodeling Show, Oct. 17-19 in the west exhibit hall of the E-Plex at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, they won't notice any major changes.

"There's not a lot different about the show. Last year, we made a lot of changes to it and that seemed to work very well," said Charlyce Ruth, office manager of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield.

Major changes made to the show in 2002 included holding it in October. In its first two years, the HBA Remodeling Show was held the third weekend of September. However, because back-to-school activities and final summer vacations were taking precedence in family schedules, that timing didn't allow many people the opportunity to visit the show. The October dates were selected to remedy that.

Last year, the show moved to the E-Plex for the first time. That location, near Interstate 44, has plenty of parking and plenty of room for exhibits.

Metro Builders Supply and Whirlpool Corporation held a drawing last year in which a show attendee won a new Whirlpool kitchen, complete with all new appliances. This year, instead of a drawing for a kitchen full of appliances, Ruth said Metro Builders is giving away a Whirlpool washer and dryer.

With about 100 vendors, Ruth said, there are more vendors this year than last year.

"More vendors this year is a wonderful thing," she said.

Making the Sale

Selling is allowed at the HBA Remodeling Show, Ruth said, as long as it's related to the remodeling industry.

"It can be home dcor, anything, but it's not going to be things that you would see at the fair or some other gathering. It has to be remodeling-related," she said.

If vendors are remodelers who make structural changes to houses, then they have to be HBA members to be in the show Ruth said, but if they are suppliers, HBA membership isn't required.

Seminars

Seminars about remodeling issues are a key part of the three-day show, and there are some new presentations for this year's event. Ruth said seminars are conducted on a volunteer basis.

"We try to look at what seminars were successful the prior year. We kind of listen to the public during the shows (to determine) what they want to see, what they think's important," Ruth said.

Also, she noted, the seminars aren't product driven.

"We try to make it real educational, and not just a sales tool for one particular brand," she said.