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Monday, March 17, 2003

By Lynda Guydon Taylor, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show vendors complaining about poor layout, no booth or aisle markers and pricey food gave new meaning yesterday to the phrase "unhappy campers."

As the event wound down at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, some vendors said Pittsburgh's show competes poorly with other cities. Of the 10 or so interviewed, none would identify themselves, saying they feared being blacklisted from future shows.

Not so, said John DeSantis, executive director of the 10-day show, which concluded yesterday. If somebody had a problem or complaint, this would be the place to come, he said from his first floor office. While the show always attracts more exhibitors than it can accommodate, DeSantis said, vendors are chosen based on what they offer, not on whether they are liked.

The show, with about 500 vendors and 1,400 exhibits, is carefully laid out to guide visitors through the first and second levels, he said. The larger the show gets, the more important it is that traffic flow is directed.

As visitors enter, they are guided to the first floor exhibit hall by a large white eye-level sign reading "All Exhibits" and an arrow pointing into the show area. As they leave the hall, another overhead sign guides the public "Up to Second Level Exhibits."

When visitors gets to the end of the corridor, they see the elevator up to the second floor, DeSantis said.

But one vendor said that because the show is estimated to cover 4.6 miles, by the time people get through the lower level they are too overwhelmed by exhibits to continue upstairs. It would be better if visitors were aware of what's available as they enter and then choose what they want to see instead of being herded through the show, the vendors who were complaining about the layout said.

To publicize the offerings, DeSantis announces hourly via public address that the bulk of exhibits are on the second floor. DeSantis conceded that the show could use signs to mark aisles, but said there is nothing to attach them to. That will be corrected next year by boring holes into the concrete ceiling and stringing signs through the holes.

Aisle markers are more of a problem on the second level, however, where the sweep of the ceiling rises from 60 feet to 110 feet and prohibits sign display.

Booths are not numbered, DeSantis said, because vendors are free to decorate their spaces and number them if they wish. Directories showing the layout of the booths are available at the entrance, he said. It's up to a visitor to count down the aisle to a specific booth.

Other vendors complained about the high cost of outfitting booths with electricity and carpeting, union jobs that, DeSantis said, are beyond his control. That's the case too, he said, with concession food, which is provided by Giant Eagle's Custom Catering and approved by the Sports and Exhibition Authority.