AT A GLANCE WHAT: Tauranga Home Show WHERE: Mount Action Centre WHEN: Today until Sunday COST: Tickets are $10 each or use the coupon in the Bay of Plenty Times to get 2 for $15. PARKING: At Blake Park with Hopper buses running at five-minute intervals all day.
THE debut of remote-controlled shutters andblinds at this weekend's Tauranga Home Show could soon have women handing over yet another remote to their male partners. Santa Fe, the Mount Maunganui shutter and blind company, will be showcasing its automated blinds at the event. Paul Christie, managing co-director of Santa Fe, said it was usually women who had more interest in buying blinds and shutters but he expected the introduction of remote controls to change this. 'This is bringing men into the equation," he said. They were perfect for high windows, he said, to protect furniture and art from harsh sunlight. "We are evolving our products for the convenience of our customers and automated products are becoming very popular." This was Santa Fe's ninth year in the show, which is set to exhibit products from 205 companies at the Mount Action Centre. Mr Christie said he found the show an excellent opportunity for potential customers to see their full range of products. Santa Fe hoped to generate enough leads to potentially get more than $50,000 worth of sales. "Where else can you get 7000 customers walking past your shop?" Now in its 15th year, Tauranga Home Show is expected to attract 12,000 people with its exhibition of new and improved home products from builders to gas heaters to window glazing. New to the show this year are free Property Know-How Seminars, aiming to cover investment issues, financial and legal, and ideas to boost the value of your property. One person who attends one of the seminars will win a $7000 prize package. An auction will be held to raise funds for Tauranga's Riding for the Disabled at 4pm on Sunday.
