WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The warm weather on Saturday might have worked against the third annual Northwest Indiana Home Show at the Porter County Expo Center, organizers said.
Organizers hope today will bring rain and more crowds.
Dan Maurer, owner of Tower Show Productions, the Glen Ellyn, Ill.-based company that produces the show, said the turnout Saturday was "super slow."
Finding parking outside was a cinch, and, inside, exhibitors approached anyone without a badge to tout their products and services.
One exhibitor said organizers predicted more than 2,000 attendees each day of the two-day event, but just two hours before closing Saturday, only 250 had walked through the door.
Some 70 exhibitors, including Milissa Evans, owner and operator of Valparaiso-based Pro Energy Consultants, came to show their wares, such as windows, gutters, pools, playgrounds, cabinetry, countertops and other home improvement-related items.
"We haven't had too many visitors today, but we have talked to a lot of businesses about strategic partnering," said Evans, whose business conducts home and office energy audits.
"People want to reduce their carbon footprint and their energy bills, so we come in with a thermal camera and a blower door and can see where you're losing energy in every room of your home," she said, demonstrating with her equipment and showing video recorded during an audit.
Vern and Sherry Ponikvar, of Crown Point, one of the few couples walking around the show later in the afternoon Saturday, said they came to the show to check out countertops but ended up with something entirely different.
"We came to get some ideas for our kitchen, but we got a great deal on some sheets that have 1,200-thread count," Sherry Ponikvar said.
Chad Rode, who exhibited for Ever Dry, of South Bend, said he's hoping Sunday will better.
"I think more people will be here because it's supposed to rain," Rode said.
The Northwest Indiana Home Show continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Porter County Expo Center. Admission is $3 for adults. Children are free.
