Keeping it local, and less flashy, has been the key to the success of the 91Ô­´´ Spring Home Show at the George Preston Rec Centre over the last 23 years.

That was the assessment of show manager Darcy Hope, after more than 3,000 people visited the three-day event that ran from May 31 to June 2.



"We don't try to be bigger than we are," Hope told the 91Ô­´´ Advance Times. 


"We like to keep it community-based. You know, it's a show for local homeowners to connect with local people  as opposed to, you know, going somewhere [else] and, sure,  maybe seeing a lot of big flashy stuff, but it's not really anything you need."
Visitors have come to expect "a level of consistency," Hope said.


"Some might  say, oh, you know, there's a lot of the same stuff every year, but at the same time, if  you don't have those things, then you don't have what people are coming to look for. You have to have the kitchens, you have to have the bathrooms, you have to have the flooring  and the general contractors and the windows and the doors. If you don't have that, it's not a home show,"
 said Hope.

It was billed as 91Ô­´´â€™s ultimate one-stop resource for home improvement and building products, services, samples and advice in one convenient location.

Unlike some of the bigger and fancier shows, the 91Ô­´´ event doesn't charge admission and parking is free.

"If you want to get the home or yard spruce up for the spring and summer season, you know, they're all here. And this is the perfect time to get those discussions and ideas rolling and even you know, start discussions for things you might want to have happen in the fall, to get these conversation started early as well,"  Hope said.



Vendor Sandy Carlson, who works for  Ocean Sales, a supplier of health products, commented that the 91Ô­´´ event was a smaller home show than they were used to, allowing then room for three booths rather than their usual 15, but she was  "very impressed with the entire marketplace, the lighting, the people."