Home expo attendance down a bit, but interest high
DANVILLE – This year’s AMBUCS Home and Business Expo brought four times the interest over last year for Frank Wright and his heating and air service.
“The main thing they’re going to want is higher efficiency and better air quality than ever before,” Wright said, pointing to a low-cost, high-efficiency heating system that kills germs with an ultraviolet-light attachment. “You don’t have to have a high bank account to enjoy high-quality comfort.”
The three-day annual fundraiser ended Sunday and helped AMBUCS gross nearly $33,000 for its summer camps and community projects. Event Coordinator Carol Wade estimated there were about 4,000 visitors throughout the weekend.
Though the number of visitors may have declined slightly from four years ago, the quality of interest remained high, Wade said.
She said she initially worried how the economy would affect attendance this year, until she spoke with several vendors such as Wright.
“I expect people like that have products that can offer immediate returns,” Wade said. “Products pay for themselves through energy savings.”
Visitors browse the booths Sunday at the 2008 AMBUCS Home and Business Expo at the David S. Palmer Arena in Danville. The event’s organizer, the Danville chapter of AMBUCS, uses the money raised through booth sales and corporate sponsorships to fund its summer youth camps, challenger baseball league and other projects throughout the community. By Holly Hart
Martin Lipa, who owns Priority One Auctions, Priority One Real Estate and Country Carpentry, said visitors to his booth were more interested in his auction business than in real estate.
“We’re seeing a lot more interest in downsizing … more interest in turning (excess) to cash,” Lipa said. “People are selling homes, liquidating garages full of stuff. They want to get out of the storage units.”
Lipa said, though, that he has also had steady interest in home-improvement projects.
“I think Danville has good value for the dollar,” he said, noting that it does not have the real estate problems other parts of the nation have seen.
Tom Chamberlain, vice president of Iroquois Federal, agreed. Interest in home-equity loans for improvement projects was up, said Kimberly Geralds, a teller who staffed the bank’s booth.
“We’re not seeing in Danville what you’re seeing in other areas,” Chamberlain said.
For other vendors, though, there was a visible drop in interest in some products.
Gary and Cathy Sackett, owners of Springwater Water Features, said they had not received as many leads this year than the year before. The Bismark-based company custom creates backyard ponds and waterfalls as well as other products.
“There’s a little lull right now; I don’t know if it’s economy related,” Gary Sackett said.
Cathy Sackett pointed to a sign-up sheet with five names. Last year, one day netted 20 potential customers, she said.
“They are great quality leads, so that’s a judge for us,” she said.
Weather also played a role in this year’s event.
Lu Green of Osage Energies, based in Georgetown, said there was more interest in generators than in the prior year because of all the snow and ice – reminders of last year’s ice storm that severely affected west Illinois.
“If it’s not in front of somebody, it’s hard to think about needing this power,” he said.
Other vendors said the home show has its rewards.
“It’s for a good cause,” said Dale Schleef of Illiana Insulation in Cissna Park.
This was the first year that Tony Jacobs of Covington-based Jacobs Construction had a booth at the home show. Jacobs displayed concrete counter tops.
“This is a new product for us, and we thought it was a good place to get some exposure,” Jacobs said.
Visitors such as Danville resident Michael Goodyear said the show offered a chance to grab new ideas and preview new products.
“It’s stuff I use everyday for work,” Goodyear said.