by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
For more than four decades, Jacksonville’s Home & Patio Show has made Downtown a springtime destination for thousands of North Florida residents.
The 42nd edition of the show opens today at the Osborn Center and with advance ticket sales ahead of last year’s numbers with exhibitors in every available square foot for the first time since 2007, this weekend’s event may turn out to be a record-setter.
“There was a waiting list of companies who wanted to be here for this show,” said Home & Patio Show sales representative Elizabeth Stockton. “We think that’s a very good sign for the economy.”
Businesses that downsized their displays for the past couple of years have amended their marketing plans for 2010, said show manager Hillary Lyons.
“Companies that had been setting up smaller booths called us and said they needed more space this year,” she said.
More than 500 companies were moving in merchandise Wednesday morning, including some that have not participated before. The “regulars” are also out in force with new offerings to appeal to people who are considering home improvements.
There are hundreds of kitchen and bathroom products on the exhibit floor this year. Lyons said that’s because people who realize they won’t be selling their home until the real estate market recovers are investing in their property to improve their quality of life and their house’s eventual value.
“Some people come to the show to take advantage of special prices and make a purchase but a lot of people come just to find out what’s new in the home and patio market,” said Lyons
One of the new exhibitors is Ford Motor Co., which sent a marketing team to show off the “Transit Connect” commercial vehicle. It’s custom-designed for contractors and other small businesses with 23 miles-per-gallon fuel economy and a base price of about $20,000, said Ford spokesman Jeff Allmen.
“It’s small enough to be economical but built to the highest specifications with heavy-duty hinges on the doors and rolled-steel bumpers and other commercial-duty components. Ford has been selling a version of this vehicle in Europe successfully for years and now it’s available to the American market,” he said.
It’s also the first time a major vehicle manufacturer has exhibited one of its products at the show.
“We realized that all of our exhibitors are small businesses, they all own trucks or vans for their work and they shop at the show too,” said Stockton.
Celebrity guests this year are Christopher Straub from season six of Lifetime’s “Project Runway” and John Giddings, star of HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” and “Curb Appeal: The Block,” who will conduct seminars and sign autographs.
“He’s very big on meeting and spending time with fans,” said Stockton.
The show is open from noon to 9 p.m. today and Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 6-18 years old. Discounted tickets are available on-line and admission is also discounted $5 every day after 5 p.m.
For the celebrity guest appearance schedule or to purchase tickets before you arrive at the Home & Patio Show, visit www.jacksonvillehomeshows.com.
356-2466
