Are you planning to make the home show pilgrimage this year? If you are considering a remodeling project, these expos are for you. They are designed to connect homeowners with the latest trends, technology and products around. And if you are a service provider, being a vendor lets you showcase the quality and craftsmanship you deliver to thousands of people who are interested in remodeling. It’s like a UN summit, only with less foreign dignitaries and more free refrigerator magnets.
As you might have guessed, we love home show season. We are all about kitchens! And beyond adding beauty and functionality to the heart of your home, kitchen renovations tend to be the highest recouping interior home project, generally returning over 80% on the investment. That may be why the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University’s Improving America’s Housing 2019, found there were roughly 2 million kitchens remodeled in 2017 alone.
It makes sense that there would be a cornucopia of kitchen information at your local or regional home show. These events are full of excitement and offer so much to see and investigate that, all too often, people leave more confused about what to do with their kitchens than when they walked in.
Don’t let this happen to you! Below is sound advice on how to do your homework and visit your next home show prepared to get the most out of the day.
“A resealable one-gallon plastic storage bag can be your best friend at a home show,” says James T. Norman, Director of Business Development and Product Innovation at Kitchen Magic. “It’s where you can keep samples of the materials and finishes you want or already have, along with fabric and paint swatches, photos and print outs of kitchen designs you want to emulate, really anything that can illustrate what you are trying to achieve at home.” He cautions to keep the brochures and samples you pick up at the home show separate from these items. “You don’t want to waste valuable time fishing through a swag bag on a crowded expo-room floor.”
“If you know you are looking for something in particular, treat the home show like speed dating. Give yourself a predetermined amount of time with a selected set of vendors and make the rounds to see what feels right to you,” recommends Norman. Get or give contact information only with companies you are serious about spending your money with. “You can always circle back to chat more with a contractor or product rep that you really like, but you can’t buy back time that was over spent at one particular booth.”
With your cell phone or camera, make a short walk-through video of your kitchen. Highlight the areas you want to address and give a sense of the flow of the space when more than one person is in it. If lighting changes dramatically during a specific time of day, you might want to capture that on video too. “This is really valuable, because it helps give vendors perspective on the kitchen,” says Norman.
You will have a long day in front of you, so dress in clothes you won’t regret wearing after several hours of strolling booth-to-booth, possibly in crowds. Bring something to collect brochures and samples in that won’t bother your back or shoulders later. Consider a backpack or bag with a strap that can be worn easily on the shoulder or across your chest. And don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, as you will likely be doing a lot of walking and standing.
Chances are, you are going to be asked to fill out a form with your name, address and email more than just a few times. It’s how you can get publications and set up appointments. It’s also how you can sign up for sweepstakes and prizes. Printing out a sheet of adhesive labels with this information on it makes this repetitive task simple and quick. Old address labels also work in a pinch, although you will have to fill in your email address when it is necessary.
Home shows should not feel daunting. They are exciting opportunities to find the perfect renovation ideas, contractors and products for your home. We hope you stop by and see Kitchen Magic at one of the many home shows we attend throughout the year - we'd love to hear about your kitchen plans! With some thought and imagination, your old kitchen can be transformed into a space that blends both form and function with your own personal style. Ready to turn your kitchen dreams into reality? Schedule a consultation with Kitchen Magic today.