Shaw Opts Out of Surfaces ‘04 for Regional Events

Dalton, GA, June 30--Shaw Industries. Inc., has announced that the company will not attend Surfaces '04 in January. Randy Merritt, Shaw's executive vice president of sales and marketing, noted that the large crowds at Surfaces were attractive, but the difficulty in providing enough personal service to individual customers has been of concern. "Our goal has always been to determine how best to service our customers and provide them access to our products and programs," Merritt says. "Over the past few years, our customers have been clear in stating their preference for smaller, regional events, venues that allow them more time to review products and receive the one-on-one contact needed to gain a full understanding of what we are offering." Merritt says that Shaw plans to conduct more regional events in 2004, "As grand an event as Surfaces is, it is extremely difficult from a logistical standpoint to bring all of our field people to the event. On the other hand, not only are we able to give customers individual attention with a regional event, but it helps our sales and management teams to allocate time and resources more efficiently." Merritt adds "We know that Surfaces represents an exciting opportunity for a vast number of retailers, and we have no doubt the show will continue to flourish. However, this year we feel this is the right step for Shaw and our customers."

Related Topics:Shaw Industries Group, Inc.

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