Apr 3, 2018
BATAVIA — “No Chamber event embodies the mission of our Chamber of Commerce more than the Home Show.”
Genesee County Chamber President Tom Turnbull’s message in a newsletter to Chamber members Monday arrived hours before he and other volunteers showed the business organization’s commitment to the mission.
With former board member Keith Conway at one end of the Falleti Ice Arena’s recently melted rink and Director of Member Relations Kelly Bermingham at the other, Turnbull counted out the spaces where markers needed to be placed to position the more than 90 booth spaces for the Friday to Sunday gathering.
“Fifty-two six, Sixty-three, Seventy-three six,” Turnbull said, walking along the tape measure, short strips of blue tape making the first signs of progress.
Melting down the rink pushed the task back into the early afternoon, but essential work proceeded Monday. A power cord was threaded into the rafters above the rink, dropping into a pair of boxes suited to connect dozens of booths, while a wireless Internet system was assembled.
A season’s worth of skate marks from faceoffs, breakaways and body checks seemed to have scratched along the floor, but the vast gray emptiness that filled between the dasher boards will be broken today with the installation of piping and aprons — that’s what really makes it feel like a booth, Turnbull said.
More than 1,500 visitors are expected to attend the Home Show, weaving around the arena’s floor and warming area.
Turnbull said the layout of the Home Show doesn’t change greatly — a business might expand from a double-wide unit to four of the 10-foot by 10-foot blocks.
It took some tedious measuring Monday, but the Chamber’s goal is to do the legwork for 60 of its members.
“We’re helping businesses do business — they are seeing 1,500 possible customers in a weekend, and how long would it take to see that many (otherwise),” Turnbull said. “And it’s a premier event, people come down here to socialize.”
With tax returns and spring cleanups in mind, the Chamber has arranged for movers, builders, repairers of gutters and water systems; window, door and garage manufacturers; pool installers, mattress dealers; kitchen, bath and landscape designers; landscapers and realtors all ready to sell themselves.
“You’ve got all these people, and it’s a good way to start thinking about spring,” Turnbull said, hoping the forecasts of a cold weekend hold through. “It’s good Home Show weather - not that everyone is outside, but thinking about spring. It’s right around the corner.”
The Home Show runs 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Admissions will cost $3 per person and children under the age of 12 will be admitted for free if accompanied by an adult — and discounted admissions available at the Chamber and participating vendors.
