No place like home (expo)
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald Ryan and Raymond Castro work on projects in Home Depot's Kid Zone at the Columbia Basin Home Expo Saturday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald The Spaceburger booth was open, to general acclaim, during the Columbia Basin Home Expo Friday and Saturday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin HeraldShoppers check out the choices at the LuLaRoe booth at the Columbia Basin Home Expo Saturday.
MOSES LAKE — All things home, outside and inside, were on display Friday and Saturday at the annual Central Washington Home Expo at the Grant County Fairgrounds.
It smelled pretty good on Saturday, too, as chili cooks put their skills on display at the first Chili Cookoff sponsored by the Grant County chapter of ABATE of Washington.
The vendors included dealers in windows, landscaping, home security systems, construction and remodeling, insurance, lending and home mortgages. Home Depot brought the Kid Zone, a recurring feature where kids can build a project. The project was a rain gauge that looked like a boat, complete with sail.
Grant County Animal Outreach brought dogs, all ready for adoption. A vendor created balloon animals and flowers.
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries provided information on rules, regulations and permitting for construction, home remodeling and improvement projects. (And kids and adults tried their hand at the softball throw.) Vendors sold cosmetics, bedding, food products, candles and scented wax, and clothes.
“I want that pink skirt,” said one attendee, looking over the offerings at the LuLaRoe booth.
Costco had a booth, selling memberships. The Moses Lake Lioness opened its Spaceburger booth, and had a line even during Friday's rainstorm.
The expo is a good way to get the message out, said Ward Harrington, co-owner of WTH Construction, Moses Lake. The name predates texting, said Harrington's wife Teresa, and the company name actually stands for their initials.
The company has a showroom at 102 West Broadway Ave., Ward Harrington said, but the expo gave them a chance to reach additional potential customers. That was also the reason Kate Duvall, Moses Lake, brought her home-based cosmetics business. “The idea is to get the word out.”
In her day job Duvall is a social worker, and she volunteers for church and community projects. This is just one more volunteer effort; “it's the fun part,” she said.
Umpqua Bank had a booth, “and we're glad we're here,” said Dave Campbell, who works in the loan department. The home expo gives exhibitors a chance to show people their products, “a face-to-face opportunity to tell people what we can do.”
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.