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Berkshire Home Expo Opens at MallBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
06:45PM / Friday, March 13, 2009
 Above, mallgoers flock to Patio Enclosures Inc., left, customers look at products at Morrison Home Improvement. Top, Kelly Klinger of John's Building Supply talks to passers-by. |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Spring, or at least the hope of it, was in the air on Friday morning as builders, bankers and home improvement experts filled the center of the Berkshire Mall for the annual Berkshire Home Expo.
There was hope, too, that people will still want to invest in their homes despite the economic downturn.
Darrell Shedd of Pittsfield was already happy with the inquiries he'd been getting about his Re-Bath services, which can custom fit new tubs, walls and even ceilings to existing walls and fixtures.
"For a Friday, and this early, I've already gotten five signups [for more information]. I'm really pleased with the traffic," said Shedd, about an hour or so after the home show opened. "I expect a really big weekend."
Some 40 booths were filled with exhibitors, making this one of the biggest expos the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce has sponsored to date.
This is Jeffrey Bergeron's first expo, although he's been supplying Berkshires contractors with drywall services for years. The Westfield resident said he heard about the expo and saw it as way to get his name out — and expand his operations.
"I'm seeing more renovation work being done," he said, adding that Bergeron Drywall can offer professional help for the do-it-yourselfer who isn't ready to tackle the drywall portion of a project.
Exhibitors ranged from complete home packages from Patlin Enterprises and the Modular Home Connection, to remodelers, designers, siding and windows, cleaning systems, masonry, glass and flooring among others.
Family business John's Building Supply was there for the second year and preparing for its debut at the Western Mass. home show at the Big E at the end of the month.
"We're planting a seed," said Jay Bursey of the retaining walls and garden edging installed for the show. It was important to let those potential customers envision what stonework would look like in their own yards, he said.
The 61-year-old masonry company sells natural and other stone as well as a "locking" retaining wall system called Versa-Lok and officer advice and seminars for DIYers.
Judy and Allen Harris were looking over some over some the option from John's. The Dalton couple have attended the Expo before and read about this weekend's in the local paper.
Darrell Shedd of Re-Bath explains what his company offers |
"We're looking for ideas to improve our home," said Judy Harris. "This is pretty nice. There are a lot of [companies] we didn't even know were in the city."
For quite a few home improvement businesses, diversity seemed key to surviving the recession.
Rick Boshe, who's selling and installing Four Seasons sunrooms for 28 years, 22 of those in the Berkshires, said he also does other work, such as decks and patios to keep busy.
Still, customer satisfaction goes along in the Berkshires, even generations, as Boshe proved by pointed to one illustration of a sun room he'd installed. "That was the first one I put up when I came here. That was in West Stockbridge," he said. "Now I'm installing one for her daughter."
The 2009 Berkshire Home Expo continues during mall hours through Sunday. For a list of participating business and map of their locations, click here.
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