The Auckland Home Show proudly brought to you by TSB, 4th – 8th September 2019.
The 2019 Auckland Home Show has wrapped with reports of big spenders attending the 20,000sqm show.
Big ticket items such as the latest kitchen appliances and smart home technology led the charge, with everything from double glazing to Tiny Homes reporting strong interest from the more than 40,000 visitors across the five days.
Angus Macmillan, head of retail for Samsung said that the company had seen "lots of big purchases" of whiteware this year, with 7-8 items being purchased at a time, comparing favourably to the previous year where the brand saw more single purchases.
And it wasn't just whiteware including the incredible Samsung Family Hub Fridge that gained the interest, Angus reported strong sales in home technology, big screen smart tvs and sound bars.
"We were 60% up on sales of televisions against last year, probably due to the Rugby World Cup," he said.
Rachel Louie, Executive Director of Jones Family Business, perennially the largest exhibitor at the show, reported "some big packages" were quoted at the event.
"There were many quality customers, many of whom have plans in Council and we expect these to be firmed up in coming months," she said.
Of particular interest was new technology, including the new Smeg Blast Freezer, which was demo'd throughout the show.
"People loved being able to watch the demo before buying, and we saw very good engagement from visitors," Louie reported.
Another big ticket item in any home renovation is carpet and Carpet Mill factory manager Sam White, also reported strong sales for this important home product, particularly in the "higher end" of the range.
"Sales were a lot more positive and we're on track to beat sales figures for the past couple of years," said White. "Things have been flat in Auckland and right around the country in recent months, so I wasn't expecting it to be quite as good as it has been."
Local foundation innovator Karl Van Vlerken reported that the strong sales weren't limited to consumer goods alone and his product Quickset Foundations saw huge interest at the show.
"We came here for awareness and we weren't sure what it would be like, but we're probably going to walk away with 20 foundation orders, maybe more. That's enough to keep our inhouse foundations team busy for a year," he said.
Karl echoed sentiments from other exhibitors that local innovations definitely gained extra interest from visitors. "People loved that this was a home grown product, using recycled plastic from the Bay of Plenty," he said.
Ecospace founder Gavin Barr was another exhibitor not sure what to expect from his first foray into the Auckland Home Show, but came away delighted.
He sold his Tiny House showhome to a visitor and could have sold it "more than once".
"Every day we had at least 30 people interested and I have a huge list of people to follow up. Definitely the best business decision I've ever made," he said.
General Manager, Exhibitions & Events NZ, Amanda Magnus says that the show is in good health and the Auckland Home Show will be back in style for its 40th event next year.
"The Auckland Home Show has maintained its position as the leading home event in Australasia because of its huge size, its enormous product range and free seminar lineup, and more importantly, the return-on-investment it offers our 500 plus exhibiting companies," says Magnus.
"We're very proud of the hundreds of exhibitors, thousands of contractors and staff that build and staff the stands and make it happen over the five days," she said.
"The Auckland Home Show is in good heart and will be here for many years to come!"