What to watch for the week of March 5

It’s no secret that the housing slump has put a damper on the building industry, hurting everyone from the people who design the homes, to those who build them, to those who decorate them, to those who furnish them.

But on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, architects, builders, landscape artists and appliance dealers — hoping for an industry jolt — will exhibit their trendiest offerings at the Washington Home & Garden Show .

This year’s event, which annually draws tens of thousands of homeowners, is to include a “fashion show” featuring Ikea furniture and a showcase of 16,000 square feet of garden space along with the latest in patio paver stones and stone fire pits. Celebrity guests include Ty Pennington, host of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

The event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Friday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Pl. NW in the District.

Every good business needs rainmakers — the people who bring in the customers or clients and, therefore, the money. On Thursday, the Northern Virginia Technology Council hosts a workshop aimed at showing you how you can teach your nonsales staff to be rainmakers.

Experts plan to discuss what everyone who interacts with the customer or client needs to say and do to help drive sales. Speakers include David C. Donovan, president of Aequus Strategy Group; Nancy McCarthy, president of D.C. Rainmakers; and Bill Haskitt, partner at Whereoware.

The session is to begin at 7:30 a.m. at Northrop Grumman, 7575 Colshire Dr. in McLean.

Other events of note

Tuesday, March 6

Need help with your business’s money matters? The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is hosting a financial planning session, to begin at 9 a.m. at the group’s office, 801 North Fairfax St. in Alexandria.

The D.C. Ad Club is offering an insiders look at SmithGifford, AKQA, MDB Communicationsand some of the other major advertising agencies in the area. The event is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. at the Creative Group, 1401 I St. NW in the District.

Wednesday, March 7

SCORE D.C. is planning a workshop to brief entrepreneurs on obtaining loans from the Small Business Administration. The session is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the group’s office, 740 15th St. NW in the District.

Thursday, March 8

Want to know the emotional intelligence behind successful selling? Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a session on the research behind building a successful sales force, set to begin at 7:30 a.m. at the group’s office, 8230 Old Courthouse Rd., Suite 350, in Vienna.

The Maryland Small Business Development Center is offering a session outlining what business owners need to know about intellectual property — everything from trade secrets, to licensing agreements, to trademarks, to copyright. The session is slated to begin at 6 p.m. at Germantown Innovation Center, 20271 Goldenrod Lane, 2nd floor, in Germantown.

— V. Dion Haynes