We always place an ad in the Home-Show brochure inviting attendees to bring their HVACR questions to our booth. This ad differs from other contractors who advertise their home show special or have a picture of a piece of equipment.

We always ensure that we offer some give-away for passersby who may not have noticed our booth. By providing them with a Canco grocery bag, a Canco pen, etc., they generally slow down and look at our display.

In the past, we used to hold a drawing; however, we stopped because people were wary of being hassled when they filled out a slip that asked for a phone number or email address.

Making Connections

Home shows are also a great way to connect or reconnect with customers. It is rewarding to hear what excellent service our techs provide. We love hearing customers say things like, “I use Canco and would never think about going elsewhere.”

In addition, for those of us who spend most of our time in the office, working the booth during a home show helps us by meeting customers and being able to put a face to a voice.

All in all, I can’t imagine NOT participating in a home show. In fact, I just registered this week for a show in April 2024. Again, the cost for participation is reasonable, the time commitment is minimal (usually a Saturday and Sunday), and — despite NOT entering the show with an expectation of making sales — we always do.

Participating in local home shows is a great opportunity to connect with the community, current customers, and potential new ones. It’s also an opportunity to differentiate our company from competitors. Our focus remains on providing legitimate information on what we do.

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Nancy McKeraghan is an owner/operator, along with her husband, Bob, of Canco ClimateCare, an HVAC contracting company established in 1984 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. In 2023, she was inducted into this magazine’s High-Performance HVAC Contractor Influencers hall of fame. The HVAC industry has recognized her for her leadership and innovation. She was the first and only female to be Chair of the National Contractors’ Division of HRAI and Chair of the total organization in 2007. She can be reached at ncilink.com/ContactMe.