Bermudians braved the bad weather to see what was on offer from small businesses at the Coldwell Banker Annual Home Show last weekend.

The all-day event, which was bigger than ever and saw classrooms at CedarBridge Academy being utilised as display areas to accommodate the extra exhibitions, featured the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation (BSBDC) and around 70 home-related small businesses.

Visitors enjoyed giveaways and received information and advice from a variety of firms, such as Norwax, specialising in chemical free cleaning to Bermuda Pest Control.

In its first year of exhibiting at the Home Show, the BSBDC's assistant general manager Lucrecia Ming said it was an opportunity to showcase the variety of the small businesses the organisation works with.

The BSBDC exhibit was designed by Gin O, a small business owned and operated by Amir X. The display highlighted three small business clients that provide home-related services, focusing on exterior and interior construction and home décor.

The exterior display highlighted the contracting services of D'ENLO Construction Company, owned by Dennis Lowe, whose company has been involved with multi-million dollar construction contracts throughout Bermuda.

The interior construction display showcased Home Design Development Construction Ltd., owned and operated by Elizabeth DaCosta. Home Development specialises in all construction, but for the purpose of the Home Show, concentrated on interior installation/construction and landscaping services.

Mrs. DaCosta said: "It was wonderful to have the opportunity to participate in the Home Show", adding that she had "gained a lot of new business leads as a result of her having a presence there". Meanwhile the last exhibition featured Foreign Cargo, which owned and operated by Gaylynne Cannonier and provides home décor products that range from beautiful small handmade baskets to larger more substantial wood pieces sourced from Asia.

Ms Ming was on hand to provide information and hand outs on how to set up your own small business in Bermuda.

The Small Business Construction Incubator (SBCI) Programme was also highlighted at the exhibit.

As SBCI programme director, Ms Ming said: "The SBCI programme assists owners of smaller construction companies' increase their business skills which makes them more competitive in the construction industry."

Both Mrs. DaCosta and Mr. Lowe are graduates of the SBCI programme.

The BSBDC won the coveted "Best in Show" ribbon in recognition of the small businesses that participated in putting the exhibit together and the role they play in Bermuda.