On June 19, council heard from Erika Westcott on the success of the 2012 Erin Home Show.
Mayor Lou Maieron said “it was a wonderful show and very well attended.”
Westcott said that based on admissions received this year was the highest attended show ever.
Westcott noted that while Erin’s economic development committee in its current state has disbanded [temporarily], she would definitely like to see the show carry on.
She explained the show has continued to grow over the years from the handful of vendors at the beginning, to the over 100 registered in 2012.
“The show is very well attended,” Westcott added.
Her presentation to council was also intended as a marketing tool for the event to potential vendors.
As such, she asked permission to have the presentation posted on the Town of Erin website.
The show was held in April with an official grand opening – something not done in the past, Westcott said.
The event made use of Erin’s official town crier Andrew Welch.
“He was definitely impressed with the show and wants to work with us again next year.”
Westcott said over 100 vendors participated this year.
She added a lot of work goes into the show’s layout and design.
“It’s a manual process that takes about four to five hours to ensure that related or similar businesses are not beside each other and competing.”
She said the idea behind the show is to let local businesses market themselves.
Westcott noted that Erin has a relatively small main street, “but not all of our businesses are on the main street, there are a lot in the rural areas.”
The first 200 visitors received free gift bags, filled with special promotions and offers.
Businesses who could not attend the show were charged a nominal fee to place their materials in the bag, while this option was free to participating home show exhibitors.
“Over the years the quality of the booths has grown substantially. It’s not just a table with some brochures. People put a lot of work and effort into what they bring and the booths they set up.”
Based on admissions received, Westcott said that over 800 people attended this year’s show.
She pointed out that children 10 and under were admitted free, therefore the actual numbers were higher.
As a result, she suggested the real attendance numbers were over 900.
Westcott noted that this year, the show partnered with East Wellington Community Services.
Visitors received 50 per cent off the admission , with a donation to the EWCS food bankl [program].
That approach was incredibly successful, she said, and generated over 780 pounds of donations for the local food bank.
“It was a huge contribution to the community and it greatly added to the food bank. The donations can at the right time for the food bank.”
She noted the event also showcased the new look for Erin Radio – now Main Street Radio FM 88.
Westcott added that it takes the work of a substantial number of volunteers to make the event a success.
Goals for next year include: increasing paid visitor attendance to over 950 paid admissions, collecting in excess of 1,000 pounds of food bank donations, to again sell out the number of spots to provide over 100 exhibitors for visitors to discover.
Maieron thanked Westcott for her persistence in running the show.
“Each year, you’ve built it, and with your co-chair, helped to put Erin on the map with the home show. It is only rivaled by the Fergus Home Show.”
He suggested Westcott might see some support out of Wellington County as well next year.
Councillor Barb Tocher asked what percent of the vendors are local as compared to out of town.
Westcott’s rough estimate was 60 per cent of the vendors are local.
When Tocher asked if local vendors might be turned away, Westcott explained the booking is first-come-first-served.
She said previous attempts to limit the show to strictly town businesses created flak from residents who live in Erin but have businesses elsewhere – or work for a business elsewhere.
Westcott suggested limiting the show just to Erin could potentially limit what the show could offer local residents and as a result affect attendance.
She pointed out the deadlines for application are clearly marked on the website well in advance.
“You snooze, you lose,” said Maieron.
He then pointed out one year he too missed the application deadline for the show.
Westcott added there is a waiting list as well.
She stressed the Fire Code limits the number of vendors the site can host.
Council accepted Westcott’s presentation and agreed to post it on the town website.
Tocher asked that the information be forwarded to the new town CAO for a recommendation as to how the show would proceed.
