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Following your passion is often easier said than done. But not for Adam Kayce. As President and Director at Home Show Management Corp., producer of the Home Design and Remodeling Shows, he gets to do what he is most passionate about, every day: Connecting people by establishing networks and relationships at trade shows.
Kayce’s fascination with large-scale business exhibitions started at an early age, having spent countless hours attending trade shows with his dad who was in the shoe business. “I absolutely loved the concept and the experience with my dad,” he says looking back, “so it was always in me.”
Kayce was even nicknamed “The Mayor” in high school and college because he was often called into serve as an ambassador of sorts, representing his teams and organizations by helping incoming baseball and football recruits bond with their prospective teammates, “to help make them feel welcome and at home.”
Today, Kayce continues to facilitate new relationships – every day – in his role as a “connector” between his fellow South Florida business leaders who wish to grow their brands and general homeowners looking to improve their home lifestyle. After all, he says, “Home is where it all starts and ends. It’s where we sleep, where we work, where we eat, where we play and entertain, but most of all home is where we experience and create memories that last.”
For the past 15 years, Kayce has been leading the way in home design innovation by producing the largest annual home expos in Florida. Next up is the Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show, Feb. 2-4 at the Broward County Convention Center (1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316). With celebrity guest Bryan Baeumler of HGTV and more than 200 hundred exhibitors and thousands of products, it is the premier one-stop-shop destination for local homeowners to learn from industry experts, get inspired, and get quotes on the top products and services for their upcoming home improvement projects – all under one roof.
“Our shows are like a Mecca of business development where I get to work with hundreds of companies, many of whom will make more connections over these three-days than in an entire year,” Kayce notes. Business owners will agree that the most difficult part of their job is to get people to walk through their showroom door or to call them directly. Herein lies the magic of the Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show, as it serves as a casual and friendly stage by which they are able to bring their brands to a level of approachability that’s difficult to achieve in any other way.
A No Pressure Environment
Using the example of a kitchen design company, Kayce notes that most people in the market for a new kitchen may be reluctant to walk into a luxury kitchen business because showrooms often display only the highest-end product, the shiniest top-end appliances with features they are totally unfamiliar with. And that can come off as intimidating, especially for first-time renovators.
“If they haven’t done it before, they often expect a more challenging or uncertain experience. Buyers don’t know what to ask and what to look for. They can become overwhelmed because they haven’t arrived at a vision and feel they might be pressured to make an investment that may not translate to what they really want. But what they don’t realize is these elite brands often have something for everyone,” Kayce adds.
This is the key to the success and popularity of the Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show. It is a family event where they have the chance to bring their dreams to reality. “For homeowners and the businesses, we strive to make the process approachable because our one-of-a-kind home show places everyone together in one single no-pressure marketplace.”
For the exhibiting brands, Home Shows serve as their opportunity to tell their story to a wide range of potential new customers for today and for years to come – from those who are increasing their square footage and upgrading, to empty nesters and first-time homeowners. Attendees range from consumers pursuing unique luxury products to shoppers seeking items at the introductory or mass-market level. “And for show-goers, they can be confident they are getting the right product they want and best value for their budget. Our Home Show is truly for everyone,” he says.
“A large part of my job is to select and prequalify vendors for the show that offer products and services for all types of consumers,” emphasizes Kayce. “I make sure we bring forth the right businesses, and a balanced variety of products, styles, and quality of product source.”
Case in Point
The formula for producing South Florida’s premier home show clearly works. Take Paradise Cushions by FiberBuilt. In 2023 they were a first-time exhibitor, yet after attending just one show, they immediately signed up for all four shows produced by Home Show Management Corp. spread across South Florida’s tri-county area.
Chantell Holmes, FiberBuilt’s vice president of retail sales, reported that a significant volume of sales was made at the show. “But better yet, many of those customers who were intrigued by what they saw in our booth, subsequently travelled to our Pompano Beach showroom where relationships deepened and more sales were closed.”
Paradise Cushions by FiberBuilt is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of umbrellas and custom replacement cushions for casual furniture. Starting In 2021, they opened a sprawling showroom/workroom in Pompano Beach to meet the growing demand for high-quality residential draperies, upholstery, cushions, umbrellas, and outdoor lifestyle products in the growing retail market.
“Suffice to say, FiberBuilt’s new strategic direction aligns perfectly with the popular exhibitions Adam hosts here in South Florida by Home Shows Management Corp.,” Holmes added. Attendees can visit the next Home Show to experience Paradise Cushions by FiberBuilt firsthand. Visit https://www.paradisecushions.com/ for more information.
It’s All About Presentation
Known for its impressive booth displays and spectacular vignettes showcasing home products and services in the most life-like way, guests are often surprised at the elegant way by which this exhibition is presented. Here you’ll see fully built-out custom kitchens, bathroom design trends, the latest wall coverings, landscape design with patio furnishings, outdoor BBQ kitchens built for entertaining, pergolas – and much more, including:
- Custom Closets and Furniture
- Flooring and Surfaces
- Artificial Turf and Landscape
- Impact Windows and Doors
- Smart Home Technology and Security
- Furniture, Mattresses, and Home Décor
- Solar Energy Solutions
- Roofing and Gutters
The Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show is considered the one destination for everything home design and home improvement. But, more than anything as Kayce notes, ”It all comes down to the people. Our exhibitions are the fabric of our event where they are there to personalize their brands, creating an experience – and ultimately the home show is where your house becomes a home.”
The Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show is Feb. 2-4 at the Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. Hours are Friday noon to 8 p.m., Saturday noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday noon to 7 p.m. For information, visit https://homeshows.com/
