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Home Show returns

BY RON STAPP, Contributing writer | Wednesday, Oct 21 2009 05:09 PM

Last Updated Wednesday, Oct 21 2009 05:09 PM

With a waterfall flowing from a dump truck and a seminar featuring the "Sultan of Sod" and the "Plant Professor," this year's Fall Home Show figures to have plenty to offer to anyone interested in home improvement.

More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the 18th installment of the event at the Kern County Fairgrounds this weekend.

The event runs from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $7, with children 12 and under admitted for free.

"We've always done pretty good off the home shows," said Sue England, who along with her husband, Lance, owns and operates Four Seasons Sunrooms-LS England Designs in Bakersfield.

"It's because you have people that are serious about doing something to their homes. They're out there for a reason. They want to see what's new and what's available; they like to touch and feel."

There will be plenty of that to do at this year's event, from the main courtyard featuring dozens of small decorative landscape samples to exhibits featuring a patio from Four Seasons and a waterfall and supplies from Buck's Landscaping, among others.

"That's what most of us do out there," said England, who is working her third event.

"We have our sunroom setup out there where you can walk through and see the difference in the glass and feel it, and see the efficiency."

England is also excited about bringing a variety of security doors to the show for the first time.

"They are all steel, high-security doors, but they're beautiful," England said. "I mean you can put them on the best of homes. It's just kind of an introduction to people about what we have then we get them into the showroom where they can see even more."

In addition to the displays and vendors, including several from Home Depot, one of the event's sponsors, the show will feature a seminar from Lindsay Ono, an instructor at Bakersfield College nicknamed the "Plant Professor" and Dale Edwards, the "Sultan of Sod," offering tips for landscape enthusiasts.

"They have a very creative way of doing things," said Joaquin Rodriguez, a logistics manager for G & G productions, the event organizer.

"Sometimes people come out just to see them."

The live auction will also return, featuring home décor from around the world. Event sponsor Home Depot is bringing in exhibits from its suppliers.

"The economy has impacted the shows themselves, but what we have noticed is that while attendance has dropped, we've increased our paid attendance," Rodriguez said.

"We give out comp to our exhibitors to distribute to their client list. What that tells me is they are there for a purpose and they're actually there to get a deal done or to purchase something. If people are actually willing to pay for parking and to pay to come in, then they are there for a purpose."

England added, "You don't see as many people, but you still see the serious buyers; the people that are still doing things to their homes and there's a lot of people moving to Bakersfield. I think because it's still a really good place to live. We get a lot of people's business that are brand new to Bakersfield. It's kind of neat."