AG AT THE HOMEBUILDING & RENOVATING SHOW

This January saw us return to the Homebuilding and Renovating Show – this time the show at Farnborough.

We had a great time, and have been super busy ever since the show dealing with all the enquiries and quotations that had to be done for the many lovely people we met at the show. This is just a quick blog, showing our stand and some of our neighbours – people in related trades.

We were delighted with our stand this show. We had a shell printed for us by Maelstrom Event Solutions, and they did a stunning job. The large image of the whole kitchen from our CQ Misterio installation in Maresfield really drew the eye of show-goers from a long way back, and the print quality was awesome.

Footfall on the stand was phenomenal. We had three staff on the whole time, and four for a large part of Sunday. It was difficult to find time to take comfort breaks or to buy teas and coffees – the lack of the latter probably taking some pressure off the need for the former! It was a busy show for many companies, and for us it felt very worthwhile indeed.

The Affordable Granite Stand at the Homebuilding and Renovating Show

Close up of our fabric backdrop showing print quality from Maelstrom

Naomi and Cassie on the stand at the start of the show

Busy times – Andy, Naomi and Cassie all talking with show-goers while I grabbed a chance to take a pic

A trade show is always made better by having nice neighbours. We had two small stands with heating-related companies just near us, and the big national kitchen franchiser Kütchenhaus opposite us. It is often the case that smaller, family-run companies are friendlier than the big boys with the big stands.

Right next door to us heat pump specialists Better Planet – a family firm run by Tomas and Stephanie Larsson – also had a really busy show. Not enough time to really talk to them!

Diagonally across the aisle from us was The Unico System for heating, ventilation and cooling, together with Air Craft who often install Unico equipment. Friendly, knowledgeable guys.

Very Large, Very German and Infinitely Cool – the Kütchenhaus stand was the perfect showcase for the kitchen company

We were too busy to meet many other exhibitors properly. I managed to have a quick run round the show with my camera, looking mainly for kitchen people. A brief chat and pick up a few leaflets each time and that was it. Naomi also had a rapid look around – and Cassie hardly stirred from our stand!

A friendly welcome on the Ardent Kitchens stand – handmade, beautiful wooden kitchens from Hampshire. 

Panelven kitchens are another small family kitchen firm, but closer to us in Petersfield

A small stand for a company that builds entire houses – Berkshire-based Vaala were extremely friendly 

Masters of Eco-friendly Scandi design are Koivu kitchens with their distinct style in birch plywood.

Chisholm Design had a neat but visually busy and fascinating stand not far from us. They are based in Farnham – very close to the Exhibition centre. 

At a show it is always good to see old friends – in this case Benjamin Allen Construction. As a family firm building beautifully designed luxury homes across Sussex and Surrey, we are proud to be regular worktop suppliers to their builds, and know the whole family well

MAS Kuchen Collections are another family-run bespoke kitchen company (based in Reading, Berks) with a big nod towards German style. We liked their Patagonia-look ceramic worktop and their friendly welcome

Lucas Grant Kitchens’ impressive stand with lovely handpainted units. We know they were handpainted as we saw that green going on the day before the show! Another warm welcome – another Farnham-based company

Finally, the award for brightest colour and warmest smile of the show went to Charlie Ovens – a great display of some of the best in outdoor kitchens.

This Farnborough Homebuilding and Renovating Show was our best yet. We spoke with a huge number of members of the public, coming away with the contact details for potential customers doing almost a hundred kitchen renovation projects. We also had good chats with other exhibitors so far as the time allowed, and I think that we will see ongoing relationships with some of them.

We learned a lot at the show too – not least the benefit of a really nice, printed backdrop. The kitchen we showed – a Kitchen Design Hub installation in Maresfield, Sussex, was just at the cusp of aspiration and achievability which was where so many visitors were at. Time and time again people said – “Well – that’s just like our new kitchen!”

Very pleased with the whole show – a great start to the year! 

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/ .