siness

A show demonstrates that
remodeling is big business.

STEVE STEIN STAFF WRITER

Some 275 exhibitors, a sell-
out, blanketed the 200,000-
square-foot Expo Center at last
week's show. About 95 percent
ST4TEMENT
of the exhibitors already have
an 0
signed up for next year, Ms.
veil
Rosen said.
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With all the giveaways,
demonstrations and workshops
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going on, the show had almost
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a carnival atmosphere.
Representatives from three
of the Jewish-owned business-
es at the show — Fairway Con-
struction in Southfield, Home
Window Company in Livonia
and Tarnow Doors in Farm-
ington Hills — praised it and
he sun was out, but temperatures were hovering expressed optimism for their companies in the corn-
near zero and the wind-chill factor was hitting 40- ing year.
below.
"I think most people in our industry are eager-
No, spring was not in the air Sunday morning. ly awaiting when the Ford and Chrysler workers
But it was on the minds of many in the traffic back- get their profit-sharing checks," said Henry Tarnow,
up along Novi Road as a steady stream dears made owner of Tarnow Doors, which has been in busi-
its way into the rapidly filling parking lot at the ness since 1966.
Novi Expo Center.
What are the hot items in the door business? In-
It was the final day of the third annual Spring sulated garage doors and fancier, more colorful en-
Home & Garden Show, one last chance to check try doors, Mr. Tarnow said.
out what's new in home remodeling and gardens.
At the Home Window Company display, a talk-
Nancy Rosen, a spokeswoman for the Builders ing robot was attracting attention. So were the In-
Association of Southeastern Michigan (BASM), the sul-Sash glass windows the business was
show's sponsor, estimated that thousands attend- showcasing.
ed the show during its four-day run.
"We sold 11 Insul-Sash deals (Saturday night),"
Exact attendance totals are not kept, Ms. Rosen said Home Window Company salesman Doc Mob-
said, because many show-goers come in on fami- ley. "Most of the exhibitors here are happy to get
ly passes which allow an unlimited number of chil- appointments, and we made 11 deals."
dren.
Home Window Company is the exclusive Michi-
The number of exhibits at the Expo Center and gan distributor of Insul-Sash, Mr. Mobley said, and
the crowds have increased' each year, Ms. Rosen in three years it has become the nation's largest
said, and that's no surprise considering the growth dealer. Insul-Sash is produced by Homecraft, a
of the remodeling industry.
Connecticut-based company.
According to BASM, national residential re-
Owned by Mike and Lonnie Morganroth, Home
modeling expenditures have grown nearly 9 per- Window Company has grown in 11 years from a
cent the past two years and are expected to go up 300-square-foot facility in Westland to an 8,000-
50 percent in the next five years from $116 bil- square-foot office and 1,700-square-foot showroom
lion in 1994 to $175 billion in 2000.
at Laurel Park Place in Livonia and an 11,000-
Currently, the top three remodeling projects and square-foot warehouse in Westland.
the average cost per job are kitchens ($17,592),
Not too far away from Home Window Company
bath/powder room ($9,449) and a remodeled or
HOME page 54
added deck or patio ($4,437).

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Top: Kids check out Home Window Company's
talking robot.

Above: Doc Mobley of Home Window Company.

52

Right: Henry Tarnow of Tarnow Doors.

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