The Bay Home Show brings big ideas, big deals and a $10,000 holiday prize.
This content was prepared by The Bay Home Show and is being published by The New Zealand Herald as Advertorial.
The Bay Home Show is back at Mercury Arena Baypark on October 16-18, bringing more than 200 exhibitors together under one roof for three days of home inspiration, product discoveries and exclusive show deals.
Visitors can enter to win their dream holiday, with Helloworld Travel The Lakes and Helloworld Travel Mt Maunganui joining forces with the show to offer a $10,000 travel voucher prize. Every general admission visitor can enter the draw, with different daily travel deals also available from Helloworld Travel at stand 424.
With one prize up for grabs and thousands of visitors expected, the odds are considerably better than your average big-ticket competition.
“Your chances of winning first division Lotto are about one in 38.3 million,” says Bay Events managing director Dana McCurdy. “By comparison, your odds of winning our $10,000 holiday prize are around one in 4000, so definitely fill in your entry form when you’re at the show!”
There’s plenty more happening across the weekend, including live cooking demonstrations in the Live Cooking Kitchen, sponsored by local business Kaimai Eggs and featuring chefs from around Tauranga. Families are catered for with free children’s entertainment on Saturday and Sunday, including a bouncy castle, rock painting and balloon twisting.
For McCurdy, it’s the combination of exhibitors, entertainment and the opportunity to connect with businesses in person that makes the home show buzz.
“There’s a really strong mix of exhibitors this year, and that’s what makes a home show so enjoyable,” says McCurdy.
“You see products up-close, talk directly to the people who supply them and take advantage of deals that are exclusive to the show. Add the cooking demonstrations, food trucks and kids’ entertainment and you’ve got a great weekend outing.”
The Bay Home Show is organised by a local family business, something McCurdy says gives the event a different perspective.
“We’re part of this community ourselves, so we understand what’s happening here and what matters to local businesses,” says McCurdy.
“That local connection is something we really value. We get to see the relationships that develop between exhibitors and customers, and the contribution the show makes to the wider local economy.”
The event itself has changed considerably over its 14-year history, reflecting the rapid evolution of home products and technology.
Traditional furnishings and decor have been joined by smart home systems, robotic appliances and an ever-growing range of products designed to make life easier.
“It’s been fascinating watching the home industry change,” says McCurdy.
“The products people are looking for today are very different from what you would have seen when the show began. But one thing hasn’t changed – when you’re making a significant purchase for your home, there’s real value in being able to meet the person behind the product, ask questions and build some trust.
“That face-to-face connection is really at the heart of what the Bay Home Show is about.”