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October 12 2011

*Exhibitors Get In Front of Hundreds of Thousands of Motivated Buyers*

Things are looking up in the home renovation and new house market according to exhibitors at the of the 27th Waikato Home & Garden Show.

32,200 visitors from Auckland, Taranaki, the Bay of Plenty and throughout the Waikato flocked to the Waikato Home & Garden last week and the level of enquiry took even seasoned exhibitors by surprise.

"While this year's exhibition was geared towards homeowners looking to protect and enhance their largest asset,new home companies David Reid Homes Waikato and Platinum Homes reported a level of enquiry which will see them working against the clock to meet demand prior to Christmas and with solid enquiries throughout 2012," event organiser Graham Hannah said. " It's a great result for the participating businesses and an indicator that the local economy is moving ", he said. "We also had exhibitors travelling back to Auckland for additional stock because their product was selling beyond their expectations."

"It was an absolutely fantastic show for us," says Jacqui Patterson, Narellan Pools NZ. "The Show was of a very high standard and it was extremely well organised. We were inundated with enquiry. It's been quite overwhelming. It's a huge amount of work but very well worth the effort."

Rachel Jones from Applico NZ, which showcased more than 200 Italian Smeg and Baumatic appliances hosted the Smeg cooking theatre complete with Italian chefs agreed it was a very high quality show with excellent results. Summing up the feeling however, was David Reid Homes Waikato Marketing Manager Karina Green who said it was clearly evident that people are keen to move forward and put the recession behind them.

"People are getting on with life. Waikato farmers are doing well this year and there are certainly signs that there's positive movement out there. Of course it's an excellent Show -- quality exhibitors and very well organised but the level of enquiry was outstanding."

Graham Hannah said this year's show took full advantage of the $70 million investment in the new Claudelands Event Centre with five huge indoor pavilions and a new massive walk through landscaping and outdoor living marquee,Brooklyn Gardens, nearly twice the size of previous shows. With more than 400 diverse and exciting exhibits presenting thousands of innovations, products and services this year.

The NZ Landscape Design Awards and the NZ Interior Design Awards were judged and presented at the show as well as exhibitor awards:

NZ Interior Design Awards Gold - Rooms Furniture & Design

NZ Interior Design Awards Silver - Bubble Interiors

NZ Interior Design Awards Bronze- Picturebook Interiors

NZ Interior Design Awards Highly Commended -The Designers Library

NZ Interior Design Awards People's Choice - Rooms Furniture & Design

NZ Landscape Design Awards Gold - Designerscapes

NZ Landsacpe Design Awards Silver - Freddie Fisher

NZ Landscape Design Awards Bronze - Plant the Planet Ltd

NZ Landscape Design Awards People's Choice - Freddie Fisher

Sculpture Award - Gold -The Kiwi Riders, Will Clijsen

Sculpture Award -- Silver - Essence of Nature, Heather Olesen

Sculpture Bronze - Undertow, Andrea Connor

Stand Award -- Excellence - Smeg - Baumatic

Stand Award- Best Stand -Narellan Pools NZ

Stand Award -- Best Small Stand - David Reid Homes Waikato (2009) Ltd

Stand Award -- Best Outside Stand Bintyz Ltd

Stand Awards -- Best Outside Stand - Stu Robbie Furniture

Stand Award -- Best Direct Marketing - Easi -- Paint New Zealand

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Rotaform Plastics

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Roofing Renovations

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Spot On Spouters

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Open Windows & Doors

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Straight Paint Ltd

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - TV Bedz

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Origin Windows Ltd

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Pink Batts

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Louvre Tec Bay of Plenty/Waikato

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Weathermaster Products Ltd

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Factory Carpets

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - H.A.S. (Heatpump Airconditioning Specialists)

Stand Award -- Highly Commended - Eggs Incorporated

Stand Award - Highly Commended - Rukuhia Homestead & Landscaping

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