At some point, you have probably attended a local home improvement show where landscapers, contractors, interior designers, and other companies showcase their products and services. Now, imagine these trade shows at a 10x or 20X scale in Las Vegas, Orlando, or Chicago. There are two main types of home shows:
- Home Improvement trade shows are geared towards industry professionals, such as contractors, builders, architects, and designers. The audience is primarily B2B (business-to-business).
- Home Decor trade shows or events cater to a broader audience, including homeowners, interior designers, and retailers. Their audience is both B2B and B2C (business-to-consumer).
Exhibitors at these shows require larger, more elaborate booths than at local home shows, where 10 ft. and 20 ft. booth sizes are the norm. Trade show exhibits for home trade shows must adhere to specific build regulations, so exhibitors typically work with custom exhibit houses to design and build their displays and assist with their trade show marketing strategy. Many of those exhibit houses partner with Classic Exhibits, the largest private-label exhibit manufacturer in North America.
Home Trade Shows in the United States: Key Benefits
Trade shows in general and home trade shows, in particular, have always been a valuable sales and marketing tool for companies. Many companies devote as much as 40% of their total marketing budget to trade shows and events. They recognize that a targeted, well-managed trade show program is a cost-effective platform for connecting with their target audience, generating sales leads, and building brand awareness. Here are five key benefits to exhibiting or attending home trade shows.
1. Face-to-face Interaction and Relationship Building:
- In today’s digital age, face-to-face interaction remains invaluable. Home Improvement and Home Decor trade shows provide a unique opportunity to connect with potential customers, partners, and industry influencers in person.
- Building relationships through personal interactions can lead to stronger connections, increased trust, and more fruitful business collaborations.
2. Lead Generation and Sales Opportunities:
- Home trade shows attract a concentrated group of industry professionals who are actively seeking products, services, or solutions within a specific industry.
- This makes trade shows a highly effective environment for generating qualified leads and even closing deals on the spot.
3. Brand Awareness and Visibility:
- Exhibiting at a home trade show allows businesses to showcase their brand, products, and services to a significantly larger and more targeted audience.
- A well-designed booth and engaging presentations can help increase brand visibility, create a lasting impression, and enhance brand recognition within the industry.
4. Market Research and Competitive Analysis:
- Home trade shows provide a valuable opportunity to gather market intelligence and gain insights into industry trends.
- By attending trade shows, businesses can observe their competitors’ offerings, identify emerging technologies, and understand customer preferences, which can inform product development and marketing strategies.
5. Networking and Collaboration:
- Home Decor trade shows bring together a diverse group of industry professionals, creating a hub for networking and collaboration.
- Attendees can connect with peers, potential partners, suppliers, and distributors, fostering valuable relationships that can lead to future business opportunities.
In addition, home improvement and decor trade shows offer companies a venue for product launches, media exposure, and industry education. They are a powerful marketing tool for businesses that want to grow their customer base, enhance their brand, and remain competitive.
Top Home Improvement Trade Shows
National Hardware Show, Las Vegas, NV, March 18-20, 2025.
The National Hardware Show is a leading international trade fair for the hardware, tools, and DIY industry. It brings together manufacturers and resellers of all products used to remodel, repair, maintain, and decorate the home and garden.
National Hardware Show exhibitors often want to show their products which can be large, extensive, or both. Classic Exhibits works closely with these clients to ensure their exhibit showcases both their products and their branding in a functional demo-friendly space.
NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS), Las Vegas, NV, February 25-27, 2025
The International Builders’ Show (IBS), organized by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), is the largest light construction show in the world. It serves as the premier event for residential and commercial construction professionals, offering a comprehensive platform for industry networking, education, and product discovery. IBS showcases the latest innovations in building materials, technologies, and construction methods, provides valuable educational sessions and workshops, and connects attendees with industry leaders and experts.
Exhibit design trends change from year to year. What was novel one year may be pedestrian the next. Classic Exhibits’ extensive distributor network of over 250 exhibit houses offers our designers real-time visibility of design trends from Boston to LA and Miami to Seattle.
KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show), Las Vegas, NV, February 25-27, 2025.
KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, is North America’s largest trade show dedicated to all aspects of kitchen and bath design. This dynamic event brings together industry professionals, including designers, architects, builders, retailers, and manufacturers, to showcase the latest products, trends, and technologies. From cutting-edge appliances and innovative cabinetry to stunning countertops and luxurious fixtures, KBIS provides a comprehensive platform for discovering the future of kitchen and bath design.
It’s not enough to design a beautiful trade show exhibit. Any exhibit in North America must assemble quickly and flawlessly on the show floor. Classic Exhibits specializes in modular and custom modular booths that save exhibitors time and money during the install and dismantle. Every exhibit includes detailed setup instructions, numbered components, and the industry’s best crate and case packaging.
Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, Los Angeles, CA, November 4-7, 2025
The Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is the largest annual gathering for green building professionals worldwide. This influential event brings together architects, engineers, builders, developers, and other industry leaders to explore and discuss sustainable building practices, technologies, and policies. Attendees gain valuable insights into the latest advancements in energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, and the use of environmentally friendly materials.
No exhibit builder has designed and built more eco-friendly trade show exhibits over the past 20 years than Classic Exhibits. Our ecoSmart line of sustainable exhibits is the #1 resource for exhibitors committed to green exhibiting. But this is merely the starting point. Our extensive knowledge of green materials ensures that Classic Exhibits can design and build a sustainable exhibit to any client’s unique exhibition requirements.
Popular Home Decor Trade Shows
The Inspired Home Show, Chicago, IL, March 2-4, 2025
The Inspired Home Show, formerly known as the International Home + Housewares Show, is North America’s premier trade show for the home and housewares industry. This influential event brings together thousands of retailers, manufacturers, and industry professionals to discover the latest innovations and trends in kitchenware, cookware, dining, home décor, cleaning supplies, and more. The show provides a vital platform for networking, building relationships, and gaining valuable insights into the evolving consumer landscape.
SKUs, lots and lots of SKUs dominate The Inspired Home Show. These require shelves, hooks, waterfall brackets, counters, and demo stations in the exhibit design. Along with secure, locking storage. Finding the perfect balance between products and graphics can be challenging without past experience designing for home and houseware shows. Classic Exhibits has that experience with over 30 years of designing exhibits for home shows (and hundreds of other industries).
Las Vegas Market (Winter Show), Las Vegas, NV, January 26-30
The Las Vegas Market is the premier West Coast marketplace for furniture, home décor, and gift products. Held twice annually, this influential event brings together thousands of buyers and sellers, showcasing a vast array of products from over 3,500 brands. Attendees can explore the latest trends, connect with industry professionals, and discover new and exciting products to enhance their businesses.
Some trade shows are equal parts “show and tell” and networking in the booth space. Comfortable meeting space is essential, and Classic Exhibits can create the ideal casual, private, or business areas in a booth that are both attractive and functional.
Atlanta Market (Summer), Atlanta, GA, July 15-21, 2025
Atlanta Market is the premier gift, home, and lifestyle marketplace in the United States, connecting wholesale buyers and sellers. Held twice a year, it showcases a vast selection of products across various categories, from home décor and furnishings to giftware, seasonal items, and outdoor living. With thousands of brands and a vibrant atmosphere, Atlanta Market provides a valuable platform for industry professionals to discover new products, connect with key players, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations
Whether you’ve reserved a 40 x 50 space on the show floor or a 10 x 10 space, you want to shine at the Atlanta Market trade show. Classic Exhibits has over 1500 exhibit designs available either “as is” or as building blocks for a custom configuration. Start your exhibit design journey here.
Local Spotlights:
The Tacoma Home and Garden Show, January 30 – February 2, 2025
The Tacoma Home & Garden Show is a vibrant marketplace where you can shop for home-related products and services, experience stunning displays to help inspire your next home project, connect with industry experts, and enjoy informative presentations from renowned local and international home professionals.
Portland Home and Garden Show (Spring), February 20-23, 2025
The Portland Home & Garden Show is a premier event showcasing the latest in home improvement, gardening, and landscaping. This annual show brings together a diverse range of exhibitors, from home renovation experts to landscape designers, offering attendees the opportunity to explore innovative products and services, gain valuable insights from industry leaders, and find inspiration for their own home improvement projects. Nearly 300 exhibitors showcase their products and services at the 2024 show.
You’re in the Pacific Northwest and so are we. Contact Classic Exhibits or our Seattle/Portland division, Exhibits Northwest, We have exhibit solutions to fit any budget.
How to Stand Out at a Home and Garden Show
Use Interactive Elements to Engage Attendees
Trade show booths have become increasingly interactive and experiential. Attendees want to be informed and entertained. But interactive for the sake of interactive shouldn’t be your goal. Instead, choose experiences that represent your brand and match your strategic objectives for the show. The following are just a few of the Interactive Elements available.
1. Interactive Product Demonstrations:
- Hands-on Experience: Let attendees physically interact with your products.
- Example: If you sell kitchen gadgets, have a cooking station where they can try them out.
- Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR): Allow attendees to experience your products in a new way.
- Example: Use VR to let them “walk through” a smart home with your products installed, or use AR to show how furniture would look in their own living room.
2. Gamification:
- Contests and Giveaways:
- Example: Host a trivia contest about your products or industry, or a raffle for attendees who complete a short survey.
- Interactive Games: Set up a simple game at your booth that relates to your products or brand.
- Example: If you sell board games, have a mini-tournament.
3. Social Media Integration:
- Photo Booth: Create a branded photo booth with fun props. Encourage attendees to take photos and share them on social media using your event hashtag.
- Live Social Media Wall: Display live social media posts related to your brand or the event on a large screen. This creates excitement and encourages further engagement.
4. Interactive Displays:
- Touchscreen Technology: Use touchscreens to display product information, videos, and interactive presentations.
- Digital Signage: Utilize dynamic digital signage to showcase product features, testimonials, and captivating visuals.
5. Personalized Experiences:
- Product Customization: Allow attendees to customize products with their own initials or designs.
- Personalized Consultations: Offer brief consultations with experts at your booth to address specific needs or answer questions.
By incorporating these interactive elements, you can create a more engaging and memorable experience for trade show attendees, increasing brand awareness, generating leads, and driving sales.
Incorporate Eco-Friendly Design Materials
Many, if not most, companies have sustainability guidelines and goals. Those guidelines impact how waste is handled in your facility, what the purchasing department buys, and how the company sources and uses energy. Yet, sustainability often isn’t a criterion when making decisions about trade show marketing. But it’s an easy choice, one that can contribute, often significantly, to reaching a company’s “green goals.”
Trade show sustainability isn’t difficult, nor is it more expensive. Exhibitors often think they need to make an either/or decision regarding sustainability. Either choose a 100-percent eco-friendly exhibit or a booth that gives Mother Nature a symbolic middle finger. Exhibitors with this mindset often fail to realize there’s a middle ground where they can make sustainable choices that align with their marketing goals and budget without going 100 percent granola. Whether you opt for 75-, 50-, or even 30-percent sustainable components, you’re still making a big impact.
For those ready to take sustainability further, there are also eco-friendly exhibits for sale, offering designs that meet your marketing needs while reducing your environmental footprint. These exhibits blend creativity and responsibility, proving you don’t have to sacrifice innovation to prioritize sustainability.
Since 2007, Classic Exhibits has produced over 1000 sustainable exhibits through its Eco-Systems Sustainable (ecoSmart) line of portable, modular, and custom displays. No other display manufacturer has been as committed to offering affordable eco-friendly displays as Classic Exhibits.
Home Trade Show Booths, Exhibits, & More!
If you’ve ever attended or participated in a trade show, you know their ultra-competitive marketplaces. Home Improvement and Home Decor shows are perfect examples of shows where every company must bring their A+ game each year. Successful exhibitors work with dedicated trade show professionals like Classic Exhibits and their Distributor Partners. Their experience with exhibitors of all sizes at home shows gives their clients an advantage in both the design of their exhibit and their trade show marketing strategy.
For 30 years, Classic Exhibits has been designing and building creative custom solutions for our Distributor Partners and their clients. As North America’s largest private-label exhibit manufacturer, we have the unmatched capability, capacity, and creativity to create 3D projects ranging from 10 x 10 inline displays to 60 x 80 double-deck islands.
Find success on the trade show floor with an exhibit that reflects your marketing message. For more information, see www.classicexhibits.com and explore Exhibit Design Search or request a meeting with a Classic Distributor Partner.
