Some stall owners resorted to food to win over customers.
At the Hire-a-Hubby stall, Wanganui franchise owner Daniel George has given out cupcakes every year - there were 1500 this time.
He and his wife spend two weekends making and freezing them.
"It drags people in, they don't just walk past," he said.
"There's no point sitting at the back there and just watching people walk past."
The show is the only marketing he does and by Sunday afternoon he had a list of 12 big jobs to quote on, as well as many smaller ones.
Also well pleased was Kerry Bray, "The Salami Guy" from Kirwee in the South Island.
He was nearly sold out.
Other popular products were Showerdome, pillows with bamboo covers and memory-foam inners, chamois cloths for cleaning cars and venison.
The Wanganui District Council stall was offering information.
At the Fire Service stall, firefighters were offering free home fire safety checks. Shane Dudley said they had a list of about 70 people and would go to their houses, check their smoke alarms were working and in the right place, and replace batteries if necessary.
"We haven't had many out calls but we've had a ridiculously busy weekend."
Young couple Brett and Jenna Macdonald were looking for ideas about their old house in Feilding.
They were interested in ways to strip paint off weatherboards, grind concrete and keep steam inside a shower.
"So far we are finding it helpful," Mrs Macdonald said.
Older couple Sherryn and Joe Anderson did not need much for their house.
"We more or less came just to fill in the time, just to really get out and be with people."
They bought a little canister for soluble aspirin to put on a key ring and found out about a new hard-wearing carpet.
The Ngatuere children went through with an adult. Ani, 13, liked the Segway personal transporter. Atama, 12, was interested in the MyRepublic display on internet services and 3-year-old Skylah-Jaye was eating lollies from the Resene stall.