Gosh Sandy, have you recovered yet from another fantastic Home Show?
Tom: Gosh Sandy, have you recovered yet from another fantastic Home Show?
Sandy: Barely, Tom, but you are correct that the show was fantastic. The show is a wonderful forum to display your business, whether it is a service or a product or both.
Tom: I recall my time spent there always brought new business in. A challenge we had, and I suspect others had as well, was to follow through with all the leads we got in a timely fashion.
Sandy: That is a good problem to have and that also is the goal of the show. I talked with every industry/vendor, and they were so excited about the leads and appointments. It is critically important that they follow up!
Tom: As always, can you give our readers some stats regarding attendance? Not only visitors, but vendors, also?
Sandy: Tom, I started tracking home show visitors in 2010, although we had home shows in previous years. We did not have a home show in 2020 and then in 2021 we held an outdoor one-day home show. On average, we have 15,562 visitors that come through the doors in a three-day period. The number of vendors back in 2009 was 148 and we seem to have settled in at around 220 vendors. If we had additional inside booths, that would surely increase the number of vendors.
Tom: Impressive, given the weather was nice. That seems to play into attendance.
Sandy: We had a full house. I aways love meeting folks who visit and seeing all our member companies and their employees. The weather at this home show was close to perfect. A little windy, but we have had home shows in the past with snow and rain. Can’t figure out Mother Nature.
Tom: Walking around, it is always good to see some of the same companies that represent their wares and services year after year.
Sandy: We love the consistency of our regulars. While they form the backbone of our organization, we also want to celebrate the new companies as well.
Tom: It seemed like there were quite a few new companies represented this year. More than usual was my uneducated take.
Sandy: Pretty observant, Tom. Yes, I compared the list to last year’s and we had 12 new vendors – and local as well.
Tom: So many new people and their companies speak well of the local economy. Membership is up for the YCCA, too, I would guess.
Sandy: Yes, we do have several new companies. It is always heartening to see people taking the big step in starting their own company. And I love that the YCCA is there to support those brave souls.
Tom: With all the new presenters at the show, I see new faces along with some folks who have turned themselves from employees into entrepreneurs. That is always great to see.
Sandy: We should tell our readers that not every company presenting at the Home Show is a member of YCCA. While members get a booth discount, you do not need to be a member to be in the show.
Tom: Good point to make.
Sandy: By not being exclusive, we are able to provide so much more variety for the community to be exposed to.
Tom: The community had a lot to see at this home show, for certain. With so many different vendors, your volunteer staff must be quite large.
Sandy: I give huge thanks to the YCCA Board members for their participation. We are always walking and watching and helping the visitors. Prescott Regulators and Their Shady Ladies for two years now have handed out bags at the entrance, and that is such a great help. We are grateful for the forklift guys with Earth Resources Corporation who help folks move in and move out. And a huge thanks goes out to Lowes and Home Depot for allowing YCCA to use their push carts for move in and move out. Also, Elan Electric sets up the electrical system, which is huge.
Tom: Each vendor sets up their own booth and you stage that quite well. Beginning with those that are furthest from the loading dock, there are set times that we must get our booth and wares set up.
Sandy: It can look chaotic, but it really goes rather smoothly. There is a great deal of cooperation and coordination that goes on. The same can be said for the dismantling process. The Findlay Toyota Center management is fair, extremely helpful and such a great partner, but strict on the timing.
Tom: Everyone seems to pull it off, year after year. Several of the vendors had quite elaborate set ups.
Sandy: Moving in all the landscape materials and products like fireplaces, stoves and hot tubs takes coordination and a good crew to get it done in the time allotted. Vendors that are show veterans usually have their process down pat.
Tom: Some folks may not be aware of the event center crew that sets up all the booth layout markings for aisle measurements and assists with management of the event as well.
Sandy: Each booth has access to power and WiFi. In talking with many vendors that do other shows, they are charged for forklift usage, electrical and WiFi support, and there are no push carts. YCCA goes above and beyond to be a good partner and assist our vendors and members.
Tom: The outdoor displays are impressive as well. They seem to be reserved for those vendors that need a larger area.
Sandy: Oh yeah. This year we had lots of RVs, which take up a large area of the parking lot, also vendors with yard art and large displays of granite for countertops, along with large-scale landscaping products. The other cool thing was the “tiny house” village as I called it. Clayton Homes, United Tiny Homes and Smart Homes of Prescott Valley all had the cutest models available for walking though. It’s the wave of the future!
Tom: Well, I wasn’t there all weekend so I can’t say for sure, but I suspect the show was successful and as always, a real asset to the community. Bravo YCCA, Sandy and company!
Sandy: I tallied 38 miles, 79,426 steps in two awesome new pairs of shoes! I think my white Sorel snow boots were the hit of the show!
Bye for now. Keep smiling, everyone. Always here if you need YCCA. QCBN
Tom Reilly, Architect, 928-445-8506
Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-778-0040.
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