It has a railroad theme and a new location — not coincidentally, an old railroad station.
It’s the annual Realtor-Builder Tradeshow and Luncheon, a fall tradition for the real estate and construction industries to show their products and spend a day networking.
Over 1,500 are expected to attend the Sept. 27 event at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in downtown Jacksonville. The show outgrew its most recent location in one of the clubs at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
The show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a buffet luncheon. Tickets are $40 and open to anyone.
It is co-hosted by the Sales & Marketing Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
The location, actually, isn’t new — the show has been held at the convention center in the past and was moved to the stadium for its extra ambiance. However, the growth of the show meant that more open spaces were needed, as booths were difficult to fit into the stadium clubs’ areas and there were bottlenecks throughout the exhibit areas.
Thus, the move back to the Osborn, which once served as a rail hub for the Southeast and today reflects the area’s railroad heritage. It even carries a railroad name: the late Prime Osborn was chairman of CSX and its predecessor, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad.
“The show gives Realtors, builders, land developers and related industry professionals an opportunity to showcase their areas of expertise in one dynamic day,” said LandMar’s Andie Patton, who co-chairs the show with Jason Rue of Prudential Network Realty. “The show has grown so popular that it has been relocated from the stadium. Where else can you see it all under one roof and in one day?”
The networking is a major ingredient.
“I can see and be seen by more people in a few hours that would normally take me months to see this same number of people in our industry,” said Chip Pallman of SunTrust Mortgage.
Exhibitors are lined up in booths that are 10 x 10 and many are decorated with an eye toward winning the “Best Booth” award.
“Trade shows are a great way to see first hand the new products out in the market,” said Raymond Rivera of Exit First Coast Realty. “As professionals, it is important to gain the knowledge of the products and services your are going to sell and possibly use. The trade shows are a convenient way to see many products in one place.”
Adds Jeff Kern of Embassy Realty Services:
“As an attendee, I can visit many vendors and see current products and projects. As a vendor, I can meet a vast cross section of top leaders and producers from both associations.”
“I have been attending this event since it started many years ago,” said Jacquie Parrillo of Peoples First Community Bank. “I go to the event to network with other sales peoples, see what products are out there and just enjoy a wonderful day.”
And, said Palencia’s Naomi Lumley, “The show is the best networking event all year. I look forward to seeing my lifelong friends who are in general real estate. Also, I get to learn about all the new builder product and new communities. To be a top producer in real estate you must stay informed. I love this event and would never miss it.”