The 42nd annual Fort Wayne Home and Garden show starts Thursday. The expected high turnout this year could be a sign of economic recovery.
Nationwide, the recovery in the housing market has been slow the last few years, but spending on home improvement and repair has fared a bit better. That’s according a report released by Harvard last month, which also projects that type of spending to slow down this year.
Although the report says the Midwest’s home improvement spending is below the the rest of the country’s, Executive Producer of the Fort Wayne Home and Garden Show Karen Tejara says “Fort Wayne has kind of weathered the storm in this whole market, compared to the national trends.”
Tejara says the show’s vendors have been busy, and expects attendance to top last year’s record of 40,000 visitors.
The show’s biggest vendor is Fort Wayne-based Windows, Doors and More. Owner Kevin Hunter says some of his customers who haven’t fared well in other economic areas since 2008, are channeling their money into their own homes.
“A lot of people are saying we’re not going to be stuck in a state of fear," says Hunter, "and they’re going to go ahead and do things to their homes, because ultimately it’s most people’s number one investment anyway.”
Hunter adds that a lot of his customers are investing in higher-end products, especially for kitchens and baths.
The Home and Garden Show runs through March 1st.