We are finalizing our plan for the Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show and would love to get your feedback on our plan. We have new dates and want to share all the details with you through an online call, so pick a time that works best for you -- click below on "Schedule Here." We look forward to updating you.
If you need to schedule after business hours, please email sales@dispatchevents.com and we will make accommodations for you.
We look forward to speaking with you!
Dear Loyal Partner,
We are 9 weeks away from the opening of the 15th annual Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show and we want to give you an update.
Over the past five months we've been planning for how the 2020 Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show might operate during this unprecedented time. The pandemic in Central Ohio has caused challenges for many of our businesses.
In an effort to comply with the directives of Governor DeWine and the State Health Department we have submitted our Operating Plan for approval, and we have talked with many of you about how to conduct the show and comply with safe practices. We had hoped to have a final decision from the Health Dept by now, but that has not happened.
As a result we are taking a dual approach to our planning for the fall show.
Plan A.
With approval from the Health Department on or before July 24th, we will proceed with the show on Sep 11-13. This is our preferred approach because we know homeowners are booking and spending money on home improvement projects during Covid, and we know that we can operate the event in a safe and secure manner -- just like the many retail stores that are open and operating. In fact, much of our operating plan is based on the operating practices at Lowe’s, which are approved and safe. Given our recent history with the Health Department, we are not confident that we will have the Health Department’s final word by July 24.
The Other Plan A.
We are working on an alternate approach that is 100% certain and is not dependent on any outside approval in order to happen, and we are calling this The Other Plan A. We are exploring ideas and options to host a Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show Experience and we will unveil the detailed plan on July 27. Here are some of our preliminary thoughts at this time. As always, we are open and receptive to your suggestions and ideas, so please send them to us.
The “Experience” will happen in October, a better time for Fall Home & Garden because days are cool and evenings are crisp. Consumers are much more engaged in fall home activities and projects during this time.
The “Experience” will provide fresh and engaging opportunities for all of our partners
The “Experience” will have a distinctive WOW factor.
The “Experience” will provide an emotional connection
The “Experience” will offer a give-back to our partners.
Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show Update (Sep 11-13, 2020)
We are in the process of working through our operating plan with the Columbus Health Department. Once the plan is final we will share it with you in an upcoming Blog. We expect changes in how the show operates in order to keep everyone safe.
Summer Columbus Weddings Boutique Show Update (Sep 27, 2020)
We have moved the Columbus Weddings Boutique Show’s date and location for 2020 to September 27 at the Africa Center Event Center at The Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. If you have already registered, be on the lookout for an email this week asking you to choose a booth space at this venue. If you have not yet registered you can do so beginning July 13, 2020.
Spring Dispatch Home & Garden Show Update (Feb 20-28, 2021)
The 2021 Spring Dispatch Home & Garden Show will be Columbus' 65th Anniversary Show! As a courtesy to our loyal customers and those of you who already have renewed from last year, we have postponed opening the 2021 floor plan for new businesses until July 15, 2020. This will give each of you to have ample opportunity to reserve your same booth space as 2020 or select a new location. Expect a phone call or emails from your account representative in the next week to ensure that we have you in your preferred booth location for 2021. Also, we have extended the renewal discount of $250 off your booth if you sign up for both the 2020 Fall & the 2021 Spring Dispatch Home & Garden Shows. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
In an effort to keep all of our exhibitors and partners updated on the status of the Fall Home & Garden Show September 11-13, 2020, here is some additional information.
We have been in communication with the Ohio Expo Center, and have talked with businesses that have operated throughout the pandemic to gather best practices for operating the fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show. As required, we will be submitting our operating plan to the Franklin County Health Department within the next 10 days, and anticipate their approval because we are working diligently to comply with the current government guidelines for PPE and cleanliness, as well as capacity control. All of the guidelines are absolutely manageable for the fall Home & Garden Show.
To be sure, there will be some operating changes, so we appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through them. We believe that connecting consumers who need Home Improvement projects with quality contractors who provide those services is of a high enough value to hold the event, so we are moving forward. Also, several events are planned to take place at the Ohio Expo Center in August so that gives us added confidence that this event will happen in September.
We will share details of our operating plan in this blog after we receive approvals, so stay tuned. And thank you for your support and confidence in the Dispatch Shows team.
Thank you for being a loyal participant in Columbus Weddings Shows. In light of the current environment we have decided to push our 2020 August Weddings Boutique Show originally scheduled for August 9th back a few weeks. We are in the process of finalizing a new date: September 27, 2020 date at the Africa Events Center at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. We will follow all state and federal guidelines to enable us to host a safe and well attended show. We will announce final plans in early July. Please contact our office with any questions.
Thank you for being a loyal supporter and participant in the 2020 Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show, scheduled for September 11-13 at the Ohio Expo Center in the Bricker Building. At this time we are planning to host the event and will follow the safety guidelines that are issued for such events. Oktoberfest is also planning to happen that same weekend.
Ohio State has announced that they will return for an autumn semester, following safety guidelines and using a combination of face coverings, physical distancing, hand hygiene and limited indoor density. You can read more here.
In addition to Ohio State’s campus, Governor DeWine has announced that he intends to have K-12 students returning this fall, and is working on safety guidelines to reopen schools in that time frame. Read more here.
Governor DeWine has also announced the reopening of many entertainment facilities this month, including indoor family entertainment centers, zoos and public recreation centers. You can see the full list of facilities here.
As these facilities, campuses and schools begin to reopen and all of us learn more about how to remain safe while we go about our lives, we will continue to evaluate the situation. We do know that during the stay safe period, with so many people stuck in their homes, home improvement projects have become more glaring to homeowners – so we believe people are ready to act on their home improvement project list.
As a company, the Dispatch will not take safety of you or our guests for granted. If we determine that we can operate the Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show safely, by following the guidelines, we will do so. If we cannot, we will postpone or cancel the event. Also rest assured that your investment in the show is entirely safe with the Dispatch, too. If the event does not happen your investment can be redirected within the company, or refunded.
Thank you for being a loyal supporter and participant in the Dispatch Home & Garden Shows, and other events that we produce. Here is an update on the 2020 Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show, scheduled for September 11-13 at the Ohio Expo Center in the Bricker Building.
At this time we are planning to host the event and will follow the safety guidelines that are issued for such events. Oktoberfest is also planning to happen that same weekend.
As the economy reopens and all of us learn more about how to remain safe while we go about our lives, we will continue to evaluate the situation. Based on the best information available on July 11 – 60 days before the fall show – we will update you about any adjustments to our plan, including required safety practices for move in, controlling guest counts per hour, and other safety measures that will be required. At that time, if the best course of action is to postpone or cancel the event, we will inform you.
We do know that during the stay safe period, with so many people stuck in their homes, home improvement projects have become more glaring to homeowners – so we believe people are ready to act on their home improvement project list. This is good for all of us. We also know that many of your businesses have continued to operate safely as essential businesses during the Ohio stay safe period.
As a company, the Dispatch will not take safety of you or our guests for granted. If we determine that we can operate the Fall Dispatch Home & Garden Show safely, by following the guidelines, we will do so. If we cannot, we will postpone or cancel the event. Also rest assured that your investment in the show is entirely safe with the Dispatch, too. If the event does not happen your investment can be redirected within the company, or refunded.
For those of you that participate in other shows, we have converted our High School recognition programs in May and June to virtual events, rescheduled Young at Heart Senior Expo to October 1st at Villa Milano, and will reschedule the August Wedding Boutique show to later in the year.