Surfaces Exhibit Space Close To Sold Out

Dallas, TX, Nov. 19--With about two months left until the show, Surfaces--the floor covering industry’s main event--is over 90% sold out. With more than 850 manufacturers signed up, Surfaces is on pace to be ahead of the number of exhibiting companies in the 2003 show--almost 1,000 companies are expected at the 2004 event. In addition to the large number of companies returning to Surfaces, new exhibitors are signing up faster than ever before. With over 200 new companies booked in the show so far (and many more to come), attendees will not only see the new lines their current suppliers are showing, but they will see a multitude of new products and services that have never been offered before. “We are very pleased to be able to offer attendees SO MANY new options this year,” says Michelle Troop, Senior Show Director, Surfaces. “With consumers demanding more CHOICES these days, retailers who attend Surfaces will be able to keep up with that demand and distinguish themselves from their competition.” Each year, the world of floorcovering comes alive for three days in Las Vegas. With the availability of added exhibit space this year, even more of the world will be participating in the 2004 event. Close to 200 international companies are scheduled to exhibit, many of which are first-time exhibitors also. This is a 24% increase over the 2003 event. For the first time, countries such as Austria, Egypt, Japan, Korea and the Netherlands will be represented. Floor Covering Industry Foundation Vice Chairman and industry consultant Larry Nagle says, “I have been attending floor covering shows for almost 50 years—there has never been a floor covering show like Surfaces that gives me the opportunity to see, in three days, floor covering product that is produced worldwide.” The success of Surfaces is also bringing back many companies that haven’t exhibited at the show for a few years. Attendees will be able to view the latest product releases from companies such as Gulistan Carpets, Cherrybark Flooring, RCR International/WJ Dennis, Costikyan Carpets and numerous others. With this wide variety of manufacturers in every product category--including carpet, ceramic tile, hardwood, laminate, resilient, rugs, stone, underlayment, accessories, specialty flooring and more--Surfaces continues to provide attendees with all the choices they need to make their businesses successful. And while attendees have seen an increase in the percentage of hard surface products at Surfaces in the past few years, it’s important to note that new carpet styles, lines and products are also on the rise. In fact, 20% of the manufacturers exhibiting at Surfaces 2004 will be introducing their new carpet and area rugs products for the coming year. “Beaulieu will be fully participating in Surfaces by showing new programs, new products and new promotions,” says Ralph Boe, COO and President, Beaulieu Residential. “We will show…Surfaces attendees how important they are to us. New programs and new carpet styles will make their introductions at the show. We’re sure dealers will find this new program very, very rewarding, to say the least.” "We're really looking forward to this year's show,” says Ed Duncan, Senior Vice President of Residential Marketing and New Business Development, Mannington Mills. “It's Mannington's opportunity to showcase all of the exciting and innovative products we've been working on, in all our categories—resilient, laminate, hardwood and porcelain tile. Also, we'll be showing the new line of resilient flooring that Mannington has been selected to manufacture for Staimaster." Booth space isn’t the only area of Surfaces 2004 experiencing increases. Attendees are registering for the show at record pace. In fact, attendee registration is slightly ahead of the same time last year. Close to 40,000 retailers, manufacturers, distributors, architects, designers, builders and installers are expected to attend Surfaces.

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