NARI Milwaukee hosted a Fall Home Show in October with approximately 2,000 attendees over three days in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With robust safety procedures in place, including a mask mandate for the show, the organization reports that there were no confirmed cases linked to the event.
The Milwaukee Department of Health notes that it is difficult to trace cases back to events and cannot confirm that there were no coronavirus cases from the show. Overall cases are rising in the state. But Jeff Fleming, the communications representative for the city, says that he had not heard of any cases linked back to the Fall Home Show.
Diane Welhouse, executive director for NARI Milwaukee, shares how the team pulled it off, how their show is different from national shows like IBS, and why they decided to have it in-person in the first place. Diane Welhouse, executive director for NARI Milwaukee, shares how the team pulled it off, how their show is different from national shows like IBS, and why they decided to host their event in person. Watch the video to learn more.
Before the show, NARI sent out safety guidelines to members and had vendors commit to guidelines in place in the contract, which they collected before exhibitors paid for the booth. Each exhibitor was also required to submit a personalized safety plan for its booth. Safety precautions included 10-foot, one-way aisles, space between tables, hand sanitizer stations, frequent cleaning of public spaces, and a mask mandate. Organizers provided masks for those who wanted them.
In spring, NARI Milwaukee plans to host an in-person home show with 500 booth spaces, 250 member companies, and over 15,000 people. If the conditions change however, the organization says it will pivot according to local safety ordiances.
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