AG at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show
Last weekend, we returned to the Homebuilding and Renovating Show, at the Farnborough Exhibition Centre.
We had a great time and have been busy since, responding to inquiries from the show and preparing quotes for the many people we met there. This quick post is just to share a look at our stand and highlight some of our neighbouring exhibitors in related fields.
AG at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show - Our stand
We reused our stand backdrop, as printed for last year’s show by Maelstrom Event Solutions, and stored by them in the interim. The large image of the whole kitchen from our CQ Misterio installation in Maresfield really drew the eye from a long way back, and the print quality was awesome.
Footfall on the stand was very good, again. This year we had four staff available throughout the show. This allowed us to take brief breaks, fetch drinks etc, although for an amazing part of the time, all four of us were in separate interractions with customers. It was a busy show for many companies, and for us, it truly felt like a rewarding experience.
The Affordable Granite Sales team at the Homebuilding and Renovating Show
Close up of our fabric backdrop showing print quality from Maelstrom
AG at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show - Our Neighbours
A trade show is always made better by having nice neighbours. We shared our area with two window companies, a general home refurbishments company, and a timber-framed buildings firm.
Refresh Renovations, right next door to us, project manage all kinds of home improvement projects. James was on the stand both days – good to have friendly neighbours!Â
None of us had heard of Drutex before the show. A Polish-based window firm with a fleet of 700 artics should probably have appeared on the radar at some stage… but it has now. Lukasz and his colleague, down from their Scottish office, were friendly and interested in our product.
Privett Windows, just across the other aisle from us, make high-end timber-framed windows and doors. Â
Diagonally across from us was the Elements by Oakwrights stand. Timber framed homes with an emphasis on sustainability, natural materials and energy efficiency – friendly guys and a neat stand – certainly worth a look at if you are thinking about a new build.
AG at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show - Around the Show
We were too busy to meet many other exhibitors properly, but I did manage a quick run round the show with my camera. Here are some of the impressions and eye-catching highlights from another good Homebuilding and Renovating Show.
Our neighbours from Elements by Oakwrights were just part of what seemed to be a trend at the show. If there were so many companies offering oak-framed houses at last year’s show, I didn’t notice them, and certainly some of those on show this year were new.
Several companies had beautiful timber stands – The Green Oak Carpentry Company complete with visible trenails. I thought their stand was stunning, and amazing in its use of space at the show. They are not far from us – just over the border into Hants.
A bigger stand with a solid oak construction was the very impressive showing from Border Oak. Herefordshire-based they seem a long way from our patch – but house-building companies are all pretty much national, so very much relevant to our corner of the country.
As a photographer, I was very struck by the Eavoak (formerly Rookery Barns) stand with its brilliant use of amass photograph at the back. You felt you could walk into the barn! Eavoak are also near neighbours here in the South East.
Working at the more popular end of the market, it was good to meet Stoneleigh Timber, specialists in roof trusses and joists.
Finally, I failed to get and include an image of the Welsh Oak Frame stand. Another friendly, oak-framed team, based in mid-Wales near Newtown.
There were probably other timber-framed builders at the show – apologies for missing you!
A few photos of stands which caught my eye at the show
The sheep and cowskin man was back in town!Â
Crazily colourful Chesterfields on the Da Vinci Furniture stand
Magic Knives – with air holes to ease cutting
Lacanche – always an impressive stand for the high-end French range firmÂ
Striking display of showerheads from Super Soft Shower
Dazzling hand-embroidered curtaining on the Jersey Lily stand
AG at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show - A good show
The Farnborough Homebuilding and Renovating Show was our most successful one to date. We engaged with a large number of visitors, collecting contact details from potential customers involved in nearly a hundred kitchen renovation projects. We also had some great conversations with other exhibitors, and I believe we’ll build lasting relationships with a few of them.
Once again we felt the benefit of a really nice, printed backdrop. The kitchen we showed – a Kitchen Design Hub installation in Maresfield, Sussex, was perfectly positioned between aspiration and practicality, which resonated with many visitors. Over and over, people commented, “That’s exactly like our new kitchen!”
Very pleased with the show – a really good start to the year!Â
We are Affordable Granite, the leading installer of granite and quartz worktops in Surrey, Sussex and across the South East. We look forward to meeting you at a similar Homebuilders and Renovating Show or here at our Charlwood workshop and showroom. For samples, quotes and any questions connected with any aspect of worktop installation or kitchen design, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01293 863992 or by email on sales@affordablegranite.co.uk/ .
