CONFESSIONS OF A HOME SHOW JUNKIE, VOL. 2: BARBARA MCBRIDE

 A flashback from last year's show!

There’s a little term that we like to throw around the Vancouver Home + Design Show office: “home show junkie.” We save this descriptor for a select group of people – those that have been around our shows longer than we can remember, and who we couldn’t ever imagine throwing one without!

This week, we introduce you to Barbara McBride, one of our most dedicated exhibitors. Barb loves home shows like no other – so much, in fact, that one year she contemplated taking a year off her ‘regular job’ to help us sell booth space! Barb is one of those people that remind us why we do what we do – she’s the best.

CONFESSIONS OF A HOME SHOW JUNKIE: BARBARA MCBRIDE

Barbara McBride of Ocean Sales

Name:  Barbara McBride

Occupation:  Co-owner of the Ocean Sales group of companies, which are Ocean Sales Ltd., Ocean Sales Roadshow Ltd., Ocean Sales Import/Export Ltd., Ocean Sales (USA) Ltd.

Website:  www.oceansales.ca

How many years have you participated in the Vancouver Home + Design Show: Since its 1983 – nearly 30 years.

Describe your involvement: We typically have anywhere from 10-14 booths where we promote and sell various household products.  All of our products are sold by demonstrations, like the Smart Living Steam Mop, Sweepa Rubber Broom, Bamix Mixer, My Pillow and others.

How did you originally get involved with home shows? Initially in 1983 my husband booked a booth at the Calgary Home + Garden Show to demonstrate and sell the Padco Paint Kit.  He was an immigrant from Scotland and this was his profession previously in Britain.

Describe the Vancouver Home + Design Show in five words or less: It’s not possible! To me, it is the perfect setting to see what is new and exciting in regards to home and lifestyle.  It encompasses interior and exterior as well as all facets of the home and the individual lifestyle that we all work to achieve.

What does the term 'home show' mean to you? The perfect setting to see what is new and exciting in regards to home and lifestyle.  It encompasses interior and exterior as well as all facets of the home and the individual lifestyle that we all work to achieve.

What's the best item you've ever purchased at a home show? Since our own products don’t quality for this question I would have to say a built-in water cooler with a tremendous filter system.  It allows us to always have great tasting ice-cold water directly from our faucet.

What is your favourite part of a home show? I love the interior design portion and appreciate the opportunity to learn about upcoming trends. I also love to watch the many product and stage demonstrations for the information they provide as well as the excitement they bring.

Tell us about your best home show memory: My very first sale at the BC Home + Garden Show in 1986.  It was my first show doing product demonstrations and I was very nervous. The two ladies watching each bought the product and my confidence soared.  I will always remember them because they were genuinely interested in what I was saying and were looking forward to spending the day at the show.

What's the craziest thing you've ever seen/experienced at a home show? The craziest thing I have witnessed at the show was a few years ago at our Sweepa booth.  It was an extremely busy Saturday afternoon and our sales demonstrators had a huge crowd, which was creating a bit of frenzy. We had two cashiers ringing them in as fast as possible and one other person who was just handling the cash trying to keep up with sales, when I heard one person ask their friend, “What are we buying?” The response was, “I have no idea but it must be good – everyone else is!”

What are you most looking forward to at this fall's Vancouver Home + Design Show? Seeing the latest ideas, products and trends with the convenience of “one stop shopping.”

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Be sure to visit any number of the Ocean Sales booths at the Vancouver Home + Design Show, October 11-14 at BC Place. Say hello to Barb if you see her!

- It’s the last weekend of the summer season. Enjoy and see you Monday!