“This was the best Louisville Show in 10 years.” So said Nathan Smith of SSK Communities, capturing the sentiments of well over a thousand attendees about the 2013 LouisvilleManufacturedHousingShow.com.
Gary Boerner, a factory-built homes sales manager, said: “Norris Homes had not displayed at the Louisville Show in over 10 years. But I visited the show last year and could tell a significant increase in the crowd. As the momentum in our business started to grow and we were ready to expand into Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, the Louisville Show was the perfect venue to do so. We succeeded by coming away with a great list of prospective new Norris dealers. Traffic was great. There will be no question on (Norris Homes) displaying again next year. I’m glad Dennis (Hill and the MMHF) did not throw in the towel on Louisville.”
Comments like those of Gary Boerner about the Show’s upbeat mood and trends need to be considered in the context of the fact that in 2010, the show had been cancelled due to economic declines. Many thought the Louisville Show may not return, so it’s come back has been one of the many positive signs of an industry rebirth.
Show Ways Unlimited’s Michele Middleton said, “Thanks to Tony Kovach and MHProNews.com, we saw a significant rise in the attendance at this year’s Louisville Manufactured Housing Show. We had 1,370 Builder/Developer, Community Manager, Installer, and Retailer attendees. Great start to a new year!”
By comparison, Lorayne Scott, also with Show Ways Unlimited, stated the Tunica Show in 2012 had in those same categories a total 1,023 total attendees. Tunica’s show has been the industry leader in size and turn-out for a number of years.
Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation’s (MMHF) state execs agreed that the feedback on the show was overwhelmingly positive and upbeat. Manufacturers and other exhibitors we spoke with echoed the sentiments of a busy show floor.
Betty Whitaker with the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute (KMHI) and Nathan Smith invited Kentucky’s state auditor, Adam Edelen toured homes and addressed attendees. Auditor Edelen expressed his respect for the Industry and shared his personal, positive experiences with manufactured housing.
IMHA’s Mark Bowersox had two key staff members from Indiana Senator Joe Donnelley’s office as guests who toured homes and engaged in discussions with industry members. Donnelly is considered to be a big Industry supporter in Washington.
The national Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) was well represented at the show. MHI Chairman and Triad Financial Services CEO, Don Glisson, Jr. addressed attendees and engaged in a vibrant discussion with industry members. MHI CEO Richard A. “Dick” Jennison and the National Communities Council (NCC) VP Jenny Hodge also engaged in the discussions and gave updates on their respective efforts. Ann Parman from MHEI, MHI’s affiliated educational institute, was present at pre-Show and at show panels and presentations.
Members of MHARR and MHI met privately during the show, which some hope will signal more cooperation between the two trade national associations.
While seminars and business building educational offerings help attract more people to an industry trade show, in the final analysis, factories and exhibitors have to do well to sustain the high costs of putting on a major trade show.
Nathan Smith said he noted attendees where buying homes again, when by contrast in the 2007-2009 years many were looking but not buying.
“Absolutely your (MHProNews.com and the new LouisvilleShow.com websites) marketing efforts and the pre-show publications did a great job setting the tone.” said Norris Homes’ Gary Boerner.
Success at any good show or event is about team work. It is about exhibitors, show management, associations, promotions and educational presentations working together for mutual success. The formula for the LouisvilleShow.com has clearly been one of mutual cooperation that helps drive business for all those who come. With shipments up in 2012 perhaps 15% over 2011, and with the increasingly strong outcome for Louisville’s annual trade show, there are many reasons to believe that the Phoenix of manufactured housing is indeed rising out of the ashes of the long housing crash. ##
