HBA Gears Up for Home & Garden Show

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – As the cold weather begins to break, homeowners are starting to plan their next home-remodeling project. And the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of the Valley will provide plenty of inspiration this weekend at its 67th Home & Garden Show where 75 home-improvement businesses will display their products.

The annual event will take place at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center beginning Friday and running through Sunday. It typically draws between 10,000-12,000 people, says Jennie Brewer, executive officer of the HBA of the Valley.

“We attract a large number of vendors from different facets of home improvement. But it’s small enough that the owners of the company tend to be there so you can meet them face-to-face,” she says.

The show will feature 100 booths with 75 vendors whose products and services range from windows and doors to roofing and siding, landscapers and outdoor furniture, contractors, banks, home security and technology, and more.

Before starting a project, meeting the business owners face-to-face is best and the show is a great place to do that at, Brewer says. “When you’re looking to do a project you really want to have a certain level of comfort with whatever contract or company you are choosing.”

This year having an architect attend the show is new, Brewer says, and more builders are attending the show with the rise in new home construction.

More banks are attending to help people with any financing questions they have on home-remodeling projects, she adds.

Aging-in-place remodels will be more widespread at the show as well, as homeowners look to remodel their home as they age.

“There are a lot of opportunities of fantastic things to do to your house to make it more liveable,” Brewer says.

Even if a homeowner doesn’t have a project in mind, “You’d be amazed after walking through the show for a few hours and finding some things that you’d really like to do,” she adds.

The show is free to attend thanks to gate sponsors WW Heating and Air Conditioning in North Lima, and Banner Supply Co., which has locations in Youngstown, Warren, Cleveland and Greensburg, Pa.

Duncan’s Bath & Kitchen Center in Poland is the presenting sponsor of the show.

“In the past we had a gate-fee for homeowners to come in and look at the show, but we decided to pay that upfront so anyone can come in for free,” says Bill Wiery, owner of WW Heating.

Wiery, who also owns Thompson Heating and Cooling in Warren, started coming to the show in the early 1980s when it was held at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

Now he says the show helps him continue his relationships with his customers as well as meet new ones.

“You get to meet the people who will be in your home and feel more comfortable talking to who will be coming into your home,” he says.

A back room at the show will feature an outdoor-living-space showroom with four different landscapers displaying an outdoor living setup. Masonry Materials Plus from Youngstown sponsors this part of the show.

“We will also have our own booth set up where we will showcase our materials. If someone’s building a home, they can see a lot of the things to make that decision,” says Bill Traynor, sales representative for Masonry Materials Plus.

“It’s a good way to meet the contractors and the people that you need to rely on to get these projects done,” he adds.

At the front doors of the show, the HBA Consumer Guide will be passed out and contains articles about remodeling and construction for attendees to use the rest of the year.

Pictured: Jennie Brewer, executive officer of the HBA of the Valley and Bill Traynor, sales representative for Masonry Materials Plus.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.