Rotorua Home Show exhibitors already planning to return

From cars to cookware, cleaning products to cabinets and carpet.

The 2018 Rotorua Home and Lifestyle Show, sponsored by OneRoof, filled the Energy Events Centre with businesses from all over New Zealand, and curious visitors.

The three-day event wraps up this afternoonat 5pm.

Rotorua Home Show 2018. Photo/Stephen Parker

NZME Home Shows regional events director, Tracey Vandenberg, said there had been more visitors than expected.

"We cannot tell the exact numbers, each day is different, but the site-holders have told us they are very happy ... even Friday was a good day."

She said some exhibitors had already mentioned plans to return next year.

Rotorua Home Show visitors from left, Tina Leach, Tia Raukura Leach, 6, and Ngahirata Haumaha, 9. Photo/Stephen Parker

"Organising the event and stalls can take up to a year but most of the actual set up happens on the Thursday. Exhibitors take a day on Thursday to pack in. The builders build the sites the day before that."

Vandenberg said, behind the scenes, the event was "very difficult to arrange".

"When it is actually open, I do not think anyone has any idea ... Some exhibitors plan their set-up for months, others have a kit set."

This afternoonshe said the show had run "really smoothly; without hiccups", but the events crew still had a busy evening ahead.

"We are packing down tonight, we have all got to be out of here tonight."

Eden Orchards Cherry Juice exhibitor Cam Bignell said his family business had not exhibited at the Rotorua Home Show until this year, but he had "sold heaps".

"It has been good. It was the busiest yesterday , but Friday was better when it was slower because I could chat to customers and find out more about how they use the products."

He said a lot of the exhibitors knew each other well from other events and markets.

"I am a one-man-band this weekend so I have been stocking up on food first thing so that I can last 9am to 5pm behind the stall here ... there's another stall-holder I text when I need a toilet break and he comes to help for a few minutes," Bignell said.

He said some exhibitors caught up to "have a beer and watch the rugby together" on Friday night.

When asked if he would come back Bignell said, "of course".

Rotorua mother Tina Leach was back at the show this year to make the most of Skyline Rotorua's buy-one-year, get-one-free deal.

"We got a family pass for the kids, my hubby and I, for the first time."

She said the event was a "good day out with the whānau" and it was not hard to keep the kids entertained.

"They had a ball with the freebies and competitions to enter. They thought it was great."

Home show visitors could enter the draw for a $5000 trip for two to Fiji, offered by Helloworld Rotorua.

The winner, who will spend four nights on Treasure Island, will be announced next week .