Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Fifth Annual Home Sweet Home Regional Show April 21

Story by Celeste von Mangan

If you’re in the market for anything for your home, whether a cleaning service, rock work, appliances or even the home itself, the Home Sweet Home Regional Home Show can supply your needs in one day and under one roof. The show is Saturday, April 21, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Ashe County High School. Admission is $2 for people 19 years of age and up, and free for those 18 and under.

“Our fifth annual Home Sweet Home show is once again a sellout,” said David Desautels of Main Street Marketing. “We have tripled the number of booths since our first-ever show five years ago. The show is just such a wonderful experience, very low pressure, a warm show where you do not have to spend a penny. It’s not a pressurized situation like in a store. People are in booths and you can just keep on walking if you are not interested; if you are interested, you can stop. I’ve seen relationships develop—our friend stepped into the show and spent $30,000. I’ve seen relationships develop where in excess of over $300,000 was spent.”

Exhibitors at the show will help you with buying, building, financing, landscaping and heating a home. You’ll also find info on electric work, plumbing, appliances, windows, countertops, hardwood flooring, garage doors, modular homes, cabins, custom-made furniture, siding, patio furniture, rock work, awnings, storage buildings, entertainment systems, block work, wells, vacuum cleaners and systems, gas, oil, paving, home and cellular phones, insulation, golf carts, senior services, resort living, sunrooms, wood stoves and more.

At this home show, the focus is on creating an atmosphere that is both warm and inviting, bringing the exhibitor and consumer back year after year.

“This thing has just grown and grown,” said Desautels. “We started our first show using 2,058 square feet of exhibitor space and this year we’re using 13,000 square feet. Every year, nine out of ten exhibitors come back. We’re very proud of that fact. Amazing things have happened. One exhibitor had been to a three-day home show in Greensboro to sell tools, and guess what? He sold more tools at our one-day show in little old Ashe County than he did in three days in Greensboro. Another exhibitor averaged $35,000 per hour selling garage doors. I have just been humbled by how this has exploded.”

Desautels describes the Home Sweet Home show as part community fair, part carnival and part “what deals can we get today.”

Two authors, Sam Shumate and Phil Lewis, who write about Ashe County will be at the show to sell and sign copies of their books. New this year is the Dan’l Boone Inn supplying food for the hungry, and a 13-year-old girl, Allison Yount, is handling the beverages. Desautels met her on a mission trip and was impressed with her “can-do” spirit—so much so that he wanted to give her the opportunity to be an entrepreneur.

For the first time this year, a small admittance fee will be charged. “We are charging $2 this year to those who are over 19,” said Desautels, “and actually it is not us charging a fee but the high school. The money will go towards the state-mandated tutorial for students at risk.

“If somebody comes to the home show and does not find what they wanted,” joked Desautels, “they probably did not need it. If you want cultured stone, we got it; if you want new replacement windows, we got it. You could literally buy a house in one day. It really is an opportunity under one roof and in one day to do it. My dad used to say how important it was to have good clean fun. Our home show is a day of good, clean fun.”

Grand sponsors of the home show event include Main Street Marketing, Parker Tie Company and Magic Home Entertainment.

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday, April 21
Time: 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Location: Ashe County High School
Cost: $2 for those 19 and older