Home show comes to a close

Raleigh, N.C. — Vendors at the Raleigh Spring Home Show had been hoping for a boost to their bottom lines during the three-day exhibit at the Raleigh Convention Center, and it may have panned out.

Vendors with whom WRAL News spoke Sunday said that the crowds were better than they expected and that many who attended were serious about making improvements to their home.

"This is the first time we've done this show, and we were pretty overwhelmed with the response,” vendor Frank Hurst said.

Thousands of people attended the show. Organizers' motto this year was, "Don't move–Improve."

“We ran out of catalogs, business cards, (and) we even ran out of Jolly Ranchers,” Hurst said.

"The people that came were really wanting to purchase something,” vendor Gail Taylor said.

With the slumping economy, consumers were shopping to find rock-bottom deals.

“That is one of the reasons I came out here. ... I was wondering if they would work with me a little more. (However) everybody was about the same price,” homeowner James Warren said.

Price was a big concern, but vendors said consumers seemed willing to spend when it came to home improvements.

“Most people, if they are going to stay and talk with you for at least 30 minutes, they are serious,” Taylor said.

It is not cheap to set up a booth at the Raleigh Spring Home Show. It cost one vendor $2,000.