Shoppers looking for the best in home and living businesses headed somewhere unusual this weekend: The Wareham High School gymnasium.

Business-savvy students transformed the basketball court into a professional convention center during the Fifth Annual Home & Living Show on March 16 and 17.

Hosted by the members of Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), the event took place on March 16 to 17 and featured about 45 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of lifestyle-related products and services, such as food catering, energy providers, health care, spas, cleaning supplies, cosmetics, and entertainment.

DECA’s CEO of Marketing Danny Minkle III, a senior, said this Home & Living show was a success because unlike in the previous years, it featured local restaurants, such as Taste of Heaven, Good Life Nutrition, Mariachi Restaurant, and Santoro's Pizza & Subs, all of which were giving out samples and selling food to the guests.

“It is a chance for local businesses to promote their products and what they do and it is also a chance for customers to learn about these different places,” said Minkle.

Several business owners came to the event for the first time. Jeanette Fuller, who began offering her photography services in 2015, hopes that the Home & Living show will help build up her clientele.

“Many students come here with their parents, who might want to order pictures for the upcoming graduation,” said Fuller. “I think that this would definitely be a selling point.”

Some returning participants, such as Jack Conway Realtors, believe that the event gives businesses a chance to not only promote their work, but also to connect with the town’s residents.

“I think we are pretty well established in the community,” said office manager Jill Tardiff. “But I think it is nice to continue meeting people that live in our area. We really enjoy talking with the guests.”

Although the Home & Living Show was designed to give the businesses and organizations the chance to spotlight their endeavors, it also helped DECA students gain valuable marketing skills.

 “It is a good way to get young kids like us to experience what it is like being in the professional environment and doing professional things such as organizing this event and participating in the competitions,” said Minkle.

Julianne Matthews, a junior, who is DECA’s VP of Marketing, also said that “managing the show, doing public speaking, and interviews” helped her develop strong leadership skills.

“DECA might allow shy people to feel more confident and come out of their shell,” Matthews said.

All proceeds go directly to the funding of the DECA members’ travel and registration costs for district, state and national competitions, where students will showcase their business know-how.

Last year the Home & Living show raised about $12,000 from the vendors’ registration fees and 50/50 raffle tickets.