Do-it-yourselfers no doubt will have a ball this weekend checking out the myriad home and garden products at the 14th annual Deseret News Home Improvement and Modern Living Show at the Salt Palace.
More than 300 exhibitors will be on hand.One thing attendees surely won't miss is the sizeable spread by Ernst Home Centers, which is one of the special features of the show itself.
Ernst plans to have 20-30 vendors in various booths, with many of them doing live demonstrations of their products - or letting the public have at it, according to district manager Don Schulthies.
"We'll have power tools there and you'll be able to use a power tool in the booth and see how you like it," Schulthies said. "Wagner power sprayers will be there and you can see what it's like to paint with one of their sprayers."
There also will be a kitchen and bath computer.
"We can show anyone who's had a dream kitchen or bath how to make it come true in color with our computer," he said.
Ernst Home Centers also will have various Christmas trees and decorations on display, as well as an assortment of furniture, lighting and other items.
Ernst, which has been in Utah since 1971, has home centers in Layton, Ogden, Logan, Centerville, four in Salt Lake City and a new one in Orem.
With its mix of products, it's hard to find a label for Ernst Home Centers.
Schulthies said the company uses the term home center because of the variety of items that it carries.
"We have a full line of nursery products, both indoor and outdoor, any kind of lumber you'd want, a very in-depth line of hardware such as tools, fasteners, automobile parts and one of the broadest lines in Utah of lighting and plumbing fixtures," he said.
"We probably carry more merchandise of this type for the do-it-yourselfer than anyone in Utah," Schulthies said.
Modern living
Discount tickets for the Deseret News Fall Home Improvement and Modern Living Show are available at 7-Eleven stores and all participating exhibitors.
Hours: Friday, Oct. 9, 3-10 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 6 p.m.
Cost: $3 for adults; $1 for children 7-12; free for those 6 and younger.
Senior Citizen Day: Friday, Oct. 9; two senior citizens get in for the price of one.
Ladies' Day: Sunday, Oct. 11; two women get in for the price of one.