The Refinishing Touch Blog

Well, we just returned from the GSA Expo 2009, and we are very pleased with how it went.

The show started with a blur of people coming by our booth to talk with us and express interest in what we do. But more than that, as we watched the show unfold, we began to realize how much is changing for the better this year.

Across government agencies there were days when the mere suggestion of reusing furniture rather than buying new would elicit sneers of disapproval. There are potentially large budgets available and government buyers would automatically first turn towards how to spend these on buying new. That's all changed. In the last few days while walking through the hallways of the GSA and talking to attendees, it's obvious that buyers and users are starting to truly understand why reusing furniture is a better solution.

Across the show itself there seemed to be a greater discussion and focus on best practices to be environmentally friendly. The show featured a brand new range of classes on sustainability and it felt to us that across the convention center, people were all taking the ideals of being environmentally friendly very seriously. It could be due to the changing economic environment we're in, the new administration, the growing focus on the environment or all of the above, but the show definitely felt different this year.

We are proud to have been there to see the change.

Labels: government, GSA Expo 2009, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Sustainability