by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
2009 certainly doesn’t mark the first economic recession that has faced America. There have been major downturns over monetary markets, the stock market or energy prices for decades.
A North Florida tradition that has weathered all those ups and downs, The Jacksonville Home & Patio Show, opened its doors for the 41st year Thursday at the Osborn Center. If the response from exhibitors and advance ticket buyers is any indication, despite the current state of the housing market, the housing improvement market is stronger than ever.
“We have a record number of exhibitors and advance ticket sales are also ahead of last year,” said Show Manager Hillary Lyons. “People have realized that investing in your home is the only way it won’t lose value. And if you want to sell your home right now, it won’t be easy if you still have that blue shag carpet from the 1970s.”
The event’s long history as a showcase for local home improvement providers also plays in its favor, according to Elizabeth Stockton, Home & Patio Show sales representative.
“Statistics show people are spending money with local businesses whenever they can,” she said.
Lyons said one change the economy has brought to the show is the trend for businesses to diversify their product lines.
“We’ve noticed that many of the vendors who have been coming to this show for years have brought new lines and products this year,” she said. “One company that sold only kitchen and bathroom remodeling brought a sun room this year.”
The vendors were also talking about shifts in the home improvement market as they were setting up their displays Thursday morning.
“We’ve been coming to this show since 2003,” said Tony Evans, owner of 5 Star Landscape Design. The company designs and builds outdoor living spaces or “a resort in your backyard,” as Evans described the business.
“The clients we’re meeting now are spending more time at home,” said Evans. “Most people who came to this show several years ago were just looking and weren’t here to buy because they thought they might move. Now they’re not afraid to make an investment in their home because they know they’re going to stay there for a while.”
Robert Hall, owner of Southern Habitat Design Center & Flooring said he has been coming to the Home & Patio Show “off and on for 18 years.” He also said while business is down by about one-third, “People will definitely invest in remodeling their home. That’s where the market is now.”
This is Brent and Erin Marler’s first year at the show. They own J&W Heating and Air and said their business has completely changed.
“Two years ago, we did mostly upgrade business,” said Brent Marler. “Now we do lots of service work for people who want to keep their current system running as long as they can.
“It’s not all service though. I went on a call last week and the lady said she was tired of having $400 electric bills and wanted to replace her system with something more efficient.”
The “green” movement also includes solar energy. SolarWorks Solar Marketing Director Don West said people are discovering they can heat water for their house and their pool as well as generate electricity with solar power.
“Fortunately, we’ve been pretty busy lately. There’s a lot of interest in our products from residential and commercial customers and even some government customers,” he said.
Another home improvement business that has seen a complete shift is Green Cove Custom Cabinets. Lily Morris was at her booth Thursday, her fourth year at the show.
“We used to do only new construction,” she said. “But for the last two years 90 percent of our business has come from people who are remodeling.”
Lyons said the Home & Patio Show is evolving with the market just as its exhibitors are. This year new features have been added including a lounge where people can take a break, sit down for a while and even have a drink from the full bar if they wish.
“It will take at least three hours to see this entire show. We want to make it as pleasant an experience as possible,” she said.
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