Home Show brings out ‘idea seekers’
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Ty Nicholls walked into the 61st West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association Home Show Friday afternoon with his mother to get a look at the more than 110 vendors and exhibits.
Nicholls, a sophomore at the Pennsylvania College of Technology studying automotive technology, said he was interested in heating, ventilation and air conditioning experts and wanted to see what type of building specialists were inside the spacious former BonTon store at the Lycoming Mall, site of this year's Home Show.
Following a blue ribbon cutting ceremony, done with giant scissors held by U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, Nicholls became one of the scores of visitors invited into the 60,000 square foot of exhibit space during the event's opening day.
The event, which features nearly every type of home building, remodeling or affiliated exhibit, was cancelled last spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's been a long and challenging year," said James Hoffman, of the association, as Keller and other elected state and local officials gathered for the brief ceremony ahead of the opening.
The importance to the economy that the show represents was not overlooked, especially as builders and others in Lycoming County and the region seek customers who might be interested in starting new home improvement projects.
Of course, that takes cash, and Mike Patterson, chief branding officer at Horizon Federal Credit Union, one of the vendors/exhibitors at the show, said those eager to fix their homes and "do stuff" are going to need the financing solutions to buy the products and pay the laborers.
Horizon Federal Credit Union offers low-cost financing options for these type of home improvement projects, he said.
Home remodeling and companies specializing in new builds were among the most featured of the vendors at the show.
One of those experts, Bill Harrison, of Harrison Construction, said despite the pandemic shutting down many businesses and causing job stoppages and layoffs, his business was "booked solid" through 2020 and the same goes for this year.
While the cost of materials such as lumber and stone were up, many people are eager to leave 2020 behind and choosing to remodel their homes, add siding, paint or fix up a special room either out of necessity or due to the bank financing available and low-interest loans offered at lending institutions.
"It has been 50/50," Harrison said of those building new houses and remodeling their existing ones.
A South Williamsport woman said she frequented the show when it was held at Lycoming College Rec Center.
"I'm getting ideas" for remodeling, too, she said.
For Joshua Billings, of J. Billings Development Consulting Inc., his company motto was "Here to make it happen for you."
Billings, who spent 20 years in the Lycoming County Planning Department, specializing in subdivision, land development and zoning, said he is taking his years of career real world experience and applying it to a new venture, his own business.
The business at 2266 Royal Ave., Williamsport, specializes in resident, commercial, industrial, agricultural and recreational development.
The show executive team, including Carroll Pawlikowski, executive officer, aimed for health and comfort for visitors. The move was made to a larger location and spread out vendors with community safety in mind.
A large outdoor exhibit space also is available and there is a gun raffle with tickets on sale.
Admission is $5 for adults. Those 18 and under are admitted free with an adult.
Tickets may be purchased at the door, cash only.
Show times are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.