ENFIELD — The annual Home and Product show held in Enfield on Saturday and Sunday showed that interest in home remodeling remains strong even as the pandemic wanes and people emerge from their homes.
The show, held at the Enfield Square Mall, was put on by the North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce and featured numerous home improvement specialists and contractors from throughout the state ready to talk to interested homeowners.
One such contractor was Trumbull-based Power Home Remodeling Group, which focuses on windows, siding and roofing, said employee Esteban Rivera.
Bob Felch of Window Genie was one of the home improvement vendors at the Home and Product Show held on Sunday in Enfield.
Rivera said that even through the pandemic, the contractor still grew to have “record-breaking numbers” of customers.
“We’ve been more efficient as a company with less people,” Rivera added, saying that many employees chose not to work during the height of the pandemic. Still though, the company was able to keep up with the demand.
Rivera said that even though the demand remains for home improvements, customers usually do not have to wait too long for service.
Rivera added that the contractor actually replaced his own windows, doors, and gutters, and he only had to wait two weeks for service. He also said that supply shortages caused by the pandemic have not impacted his company as much as others.
Laurie Schafer, Dan Climan, Steve Durej, and Griffin Cox from Home Depot were among the home improvement vendors who set up shop at the Home and Product Show held on Sunday in Enfield.
“Everyone’s feeling it, but it’s not as intense for us,” he said, adding that the group has a “private line” for getting the materials it needs.
Another contractor with a booth at the show was Window Genie, which serves northern Connecticut and services homes with window, siding and roof washing.
Bob Felch, a Window Genie employee, said that his group was more affected during the height of the pandemic.
“For COVID we took a big hit, Felch said, adding, “We were down about 35% revenue because people just didn’t trust anyone. We still wore the masks and gowned up, but it was hard when we were shut down.”
Despite this though, interest from customers is now high enough that Felch is currently booked for months, he said.
“We just need more people to keep going,” he added.
The 53rd annual Home and Product Show was held on Saturday and Sunday in Enfield. The event gathered numerous home improvement specialists and contractors who set up shop at the event’s booths.
Of the homeowners at the event on Sunday, most were not looking for any particular service, but were interested in seeing the various options.
Adam and Kara Barsalou of Enfield were some of these homeowners at the event on Sunday.
“We have been coming to these shows for years, “ said Adam Barsalou, adding, “Now we are new homeowners, so we are here with a purpose. We want to look around.”
Enfield resident Nelson Ouellet was also one of the homeowners at the event on Sunday, saying that he also comes every year to browse the various options.
Ouellet added that usually, he and his wife are not looking for any service in particular, but will follow up “if we see something that interests us.”
“We just look around and see if something comes up,” Ouellet said.
Esteban Rivera of Power Home Remodeling Group sings at his booth, and also has some dogs that were up for adoption at the event’s pet adoption event.
the Home and Product Show, sponsored by the North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, was held this weekend in Enfield.
In addition to home improvement vendors, the event also featured local crafters, family entertainment, and a pet adoption event by Bloomfield-based Dog Star Rescue and East Haddam-based Change a Life Rescue.
A raffle was also held Sunday, with the prize being $15,000 worth of home window repair and replacement.
Ben covers Coventry and Tolland for the Journal Inquirer.
