CROWN POINT | Thoughts of home improvement and summer gardens were on the minds of the more than 4,000 people who perused Home and Garden Show booths this weekend at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
Vendors were hopeful the record-breaking attendance figure is a sign of good times to come. Attendance more than tripled 2010 figures.
The show was sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Home Builders Association, The Times, Hometown Appliance and Electronics, the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors, NIPSCO, Holloway Geothermal, Crown Countertop and Cabinets, Stash Construction Inc., and Champion Windows.
Caleb Herr, division manager of Champion Windows, described the turnout as "very impressive" and much better than expected. Herr said the show has generated many good leads and he expects to participate next year.
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"The show helps in multiple ways," Herr said. "It helps in branding -- the community gets to know us -- and it generates good leads. I would say it was 100 percent a success."
Champion sponsored trolley service from the parking lot to the two buildings that housed the show.
Don Stash, of Stash Construction, agreed the event was a tremendous success. Stash noted it was the first show since the merger of the Building Industries Association of Northwest Indiana and Porter County Builders Association in January. Stash said the merger has resulted in "two good solid organizations reaching out."
One of the biggest draws was a pair of educational workshops given by Jill Cataldo, author of Super Couponing Tips, a syndicated column read by more than 20 million people nationwide in 130 publications, including The Times.
Cataldo tell beginners: "First get rid of any preconceived notions you have about couponing, especially that it is going to take too much time."
She said an hour a week can save 50 to 70 percent on grocery bills. For those who missed her workshop this weekend, it is available on DVD at supercouponing.com.
Cataldo was happy with the attendance at the workshops and said people were standing in the aisles listening to her talks.
Cataldo began couponing at this level about five years ago. She said her friends and family saw how much money she was saving and asked her to share her secret.
Her first public seminar was at a local library with about 130 in attendance. Cataldo said things just "skyrocketed from there." She started blogging and then came the column opportunity.
