First Posted: 3/14/2015
LIMA — The dreamers, the curious and those just wanting out of the house ready for spring were at the annual Lima Noon Optimist Club’s Home and Business Expo on Saturday.
The show is held annually at the Allen County Fairgrounds and gives local businesses, not just in home remodeling, a chance to rub elbows with potential customers. It also gives people wanting to remodel their homes a chance to dream, ask questions, and get an idea of what can be done and how much it will cost.
Deb Brookman was with her husband, Ted, wanting to learn more about water heaters.
“We’re going to have to replace our water heater,” she said.
But Brookman also has other ideas, like a bathroom remodel.
“The Re-bath, I would really like to have that. Maybe I’ll look into that this time. Our bathroom is 20 years old and we’re thinking about a step-in shower,” she said.
Brad Miller, a salesman for K&L Ready Mix with six local locations, said his company was at the show to meet potential customers and answer questions.
“We came out here to get customer feedback,” Miller said. “This is our first year so hopefully we can make a go at it.”
Miller was showing off outdoor brick landscape ideas such as an outdoor fireplace made of brick.
Also showing off items for the outdoors, specifically furniture, was Lydia Bowman of Heritage Furniture on Allentown Road. The outdoor patio furniture she sells is made of recycled plastic and has stainless steel hardware allowing it to remain outside year around.
She said the show gives her and other salespeople a chance to meet potential customers and answer questions.
“We get a pretty good customer base off this. It’s worth our time,” Bowman said.
Bonita Clark, of Delphos, said she attends the show annually to see what is new and to dream but stays grounded in reality. She has nothing in particular she wants for the house but said there always could be something that catches her eye.
“We know what we can afford and what we can’t,” she said.
Optimist Sales Chairman Chuck Eichelberger said the show is spread out through three buildings with more than 100 vendors filling 160 booths.
“We do this every year. This is our 67th year,” Eichelberger said. “You can see all kinds of stuff.”
The show also is the biggest fundraiser for the Optimist Club and helps fund worthy causes, he said.
“We support Safety City and the youth orchestra, a number of things,” Eichelberger said.
The show runs Friday through Sunday and attracts 5,000 to 7,000 people from as far away as Toledo, he said.
“They dream and they talk to them, the vendors, they do really well,” Eichelberger said.
The show has a variety of home-improvement businesses including furnace sales, bath remodel and contractors.
