After learning this year’s Contractors Association of Kauai Home Show was canceled, John Smith reserved a replacement venue and paid all costs to continue the annual event for its 26th year.
His company, Storm Stoppers, is sponsoring the 2018 Home Show from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kauai Veterans Center.
“I was shocked and saddened to learn that CAK had lost the venue of the War Memorial Convention Hall,” Smith said. “For 25 years, the Kauai community has been faithfully attending this home show.”
This year’s event is free and also complimentary for the 30 attending exhibitors, who will be displaying home products from solar panels and air conditioning to flooring. The exhibitors will provide a tangible item valued at $50 to be used as a door prize and make a $100 charitable donation to either of two charities: Kauai Humane Society or Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
“I want the focus this year to be on the exhibitors and the attendees,” Smith said.
An emcee will promote each business and award door prizes. Storm Stoppers will also be giving the first 100 families in the door a $5 Starbucks gift card.
“I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that the Kauai community has a reason to attend,” Smith said.
The Waimea High School JROTC Color Guard will present colors at the 9:30 a.m. opening ceremony, and its JROTC Band will perform the national anthem.
One of the exhibitors, Kauai Flooring &Interiors, attended the trade show last year with favorable results.
“We really like the Home Show opportunity to not only be able to tell our local folks that we exist and where we are but really be able to show them a little sampling of what we carry — all different types of flooring — that can help them with their home improvements that they’ve got planned for the year,” said owner Nancy Smith.
Just a few weeks ago the flooring business had a customer come in who remembered them from last year’s Home Show. She said people often get ideas and return when they are ready to remodel their home.
“It’s just a good thing for the community to see what kinds of businesses are out there,” Nancy Smith said.
Last year was the first time the business attended since they opened their showroom in June 2016.
“I am doing this out of investment in the people of Kauai,” John Smith said, “and also to bring in new business for all our exhibitors, including my Storm Stoppers company.”
Nearly 15 years ago, Smith invented the Storm Stoppers Hurricane Window Protection product and for the last 10 years has been selling to the Hawaii market. In 2014, Storm Stoppers appeared on the 100th Episode of Shark Tank.
“Exhibiting in last April’s CAK Show led to a tremendous increase in business for Storm Stoppers, introducing our ‘As Seen On Shark Tank’ product to many Kauai homeowners,” John Smith said. “In addition to meeting and selling to almost 60 new customers in 2017, myself and our new installation manager James Fobes created several free hurricane seminars to provide preparation information to Kauai residents.”
“I think it is important for our exhibitors to get to know each other in a social setting prior to the Home Show,” John Smith said.
An exhibitors dinner is set for 6 tonight.
“Leave your wallets at home — this free meal will be on Storm Stoppers,” John Smith said. “This will give all of us a chance to get to know each other in an informal setting and also go over the details of the Home Show one final time, so the next morning setup goes smoothly.”
Booth assignments will be given at the dinner. Only a couple exhibitor spaces remain.
“This will be good for the community, good for the exhibitors and is the right thing to do,” John Smith added. “I sincerely hope that the CAK board has appreciated my leadership in creating and funding this free community event.”
