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Keynote theme in 2011: "Work and Life with the Cloud" Event consolidates efficiency edge Hannover, Germany. The global ICT market is responding positively to the arrangement of CeBIT 2011 into four different platforms: "The new platform structure of CeBIT 2011 helps us intersect perfectly with the needs of the global ICT sector, " comments Ernst Raue, Managing Board Member of Hannover-based Deutsche Messe AG. "Whereas, since 2008, a total of 60 ICT-related exhibitions have been cancelled worldwide, CeBIT is actually on a growth trajectory. The event’s restructuring into the segments of CeBIT pro, CeBIT gov, CeBIT lab and CeBIT life has substantially improved its efficiency edge vis-à-vis the competition. The superior orientation at the CeBIT exhibition grounds will allow exhibitors to target their customers even more precisely. In the middle of an economic recovery, this means CeBIT offers them the ideal opportunity to do new business. " With just five months to go before CeBIT 2011 opens its gates, many key exhibitors have decided in favor of participating. "A large percentage of market leaders have already confirmed, and several of them are planning to increase the size of their stands compared with the previous event, " says Raue. Eric Chen, Corporate Vice President ASUS System Business, explains that "CeBIT is a key date in our corporate calendar at ASUS, as it has been since 1995. CeBIT offers us an outstanding platform for showcasing our innovativeness and top performance. At the same time it gives us an opportunity to come into contact with important international clients and media representatives. CeBIT’s strong international status has played a big role in promoting the success of our enterprise. Just like CeBIT, we stand for technological progress and optimism. " Friedemann Hensgen, Senior Vice President for Marketing at Rittal, is equally upbeat about CeBIT 2011: "CeBIT is the world’s leading platform for the IT industry. No other IT exhibition has the international magnetism and thematic authority of CeBIT. For Rittal, appearing at CeBIT is of strategic importance. It is the best marketplace for us to meet customers and other interested parties from across the globe and inform them of our latest developments. We are pleased about the further refinement of the event, focusing even more strongly on the IT industry’s core segments, and we look forward to a successful showing at CeBIT 2011. " From 1 to 5 March 2011, CeBIT will showcase all the key facets of the digital world in four application-oriented segments, making them tangible for users: CeBIT pro will highlight ICT solutions for professional applications at small and medium-sized enterprises as well as worldwide enterprises. "New ICT systems - for example, systems that make intensive use of cloud computing - provide their users with key competitive cost advantages, " comments Raue. CeBIT gov features solutions and applications geared to decision-makers from public-sector institutions. As summed up by Raue: "Decision-makers at the federal, state and municipal level can get a comprehensive overview of the market with just a single visit to the show. ICT solutions are capable of solving the key conflict in public administration - i. E. The need to cut costs, while at the same time offering citizens a higher level of service. For providers, this segment represents a billion-dollar potential. " A new agreement calls for the simultaneous staging of Komcom Nord at the Hannover Exhibition Center, letting CeBIT further consolidate its leading role as a showcase for ICT solutions designed for applications at the federal, state and local level. The future of the digital world will be made tangible at CeBIT lab. "At CeBIT lab, international research institutes and universities will present the solutions and applications for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, " says Raue, adding that: "The ICT sector is the key innovations driver in the user industries. Given the ever-shorter innovation cycles, only companies which are capable of detecting the latest trends will be able to prevail against the competition. " CeBIT life is geared to IT consumer buffs. "The role of the consumer in the digital world has undergone a fundamental transformation: The consumer has become an innovations driver, content supplier and developer of new business models at once, while the distinction between work and leisure continues to blur, " reports Raue. CeBIT life will spotlight all the relevant trends in this area. The keynote theme at CeBIT 2011, "Work and Life with the Cloud", will permeate all four segments at the show: "The growing profusion of cloud-type concepts is leading to a process of structural change within the IT and client industries. Every market participant stands to profit from this new trend. CeBIT 2011 will show how this is the case. For international industry, it will provide practical orientation as well as a glimpse of the future, in equal measure, " explains Raue. A key component of the CeBIT concept involves the CeBIT Global Conferences - the leading convention for the international ICT industry. In 2011 the keynote slogan of the event will be "The power of creativity and innovation". The conferences will cover topics like cloud computing, intelligent networks, real time business, augmented reality and mobile apps. Keynote speakers at the CeBIT Global Conferences 2011 include Neelie Kroes, EU Commissioner for the Digital Agenda and Vice President of the European Commission, Blake Irving, Chief Products Officer at Yahoo and the new power behind CEO Carol Bartz, Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, and Michael Mendenhall, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Hewlett Packard. The Partner Country for CeBIT 2011 is Turkey. "The Turkish market for IT and telecommunications is growing rapidly and exhibits excellent potential. Turkey has developed into one of the world’s strongest economies and is considered a bridgehead to the Near and Middle East, " affirms Raue.

The highly-expected CIAACE 2010---the 10th China International Auto Accessories Commercial Expo, will be held in Beiing National Agricultural Exhibition Center next March. Now the exhibitor-canvassing has been started completely. One bright point about this expo is that the custom built booth has been expanded to 18000 m2 from 9200 m2 of last year. Exhibitors have been registering for this expo since the first day of exhibitor-canvassing. At press time, 60% booths have been taken. Considering the active response from both new and old exhibitors and the encouraging sales and based on the goal of "building the platform through careful operation", the organizing committee will open the whole fair ground for the fist time from Hall 1 to hall 7, by which the exhibition space will be expanded to 50,000 square meters, the exhibition booths will be increased to 2000 and 58,000 professionals will be invited. Meanwhile, the exhibition area is more scientifically arranged, which will allow the attendees to locate the target exhibitors more conveniently. All is done to make this expo the expo of largest scale, greatest creativity, most powerful influence, best effects and service, thus strengthen the expo brand in auto aftermarket industry. The products exhibited on CIAACE 2010 feature interior and exterior accessories, auto electronic products, auto video and audio facilities, auto maintenance products, vehicle communication and navigation products and environmental friendly products. This is the best platform for aftermarket companies to display new products and establish brand images. For CIAACE 2010, the organizing committee will also carefully design high-standard concurrent activities and invite the most influential experts around China to point the industry's way out of the current financial crisis. By doing this, we aim at helping more auto accessory manufacturers to find ways to deal with the current crisis and locate new commercial opportunities. During the four-day expo this year, a record transaction volume of 6. 2342 billion Yuan has been achieved that occupies the top place in this industry. We are confident that next year we will, with colleagues from this whole industry, create new opportunities for exhibition and trade! For more details about the expo, please visit the expo official website.

With the successful holding of CIAACE 2009, which was held on 23 February this year, the booth booking promotion of the next gala of the event has achieved great progress , with surprisingly satisfying exhibitor-canvassing results. At press time, 716 companies have already paid to attend this expo, occupying more than 869 booths, and 50% of the old exhibitors have expanded their exhibiting space. Among which companies focusing on car electronic, auto maintenance products, interior and exterior accessories have showed the greatest enthusiasm—they booked their booths early, approved the exhibition effects of this expo and expressed their expectation for more channels and chances. The highlights of the upcoming expo are the custom built booth zones , especially the zone for in-vehicle electronics, with five years' development, has expanded from 1,519 m2 of 38 exhibitors in 2005 to 10,000 m2 of estimated 350 exhibitors in 2010. These zones have been successfully specialized and transformed into brands showcase area of CIAACE. At present, 102 companies have signed contracts for exhibition booths in the auto electronics exhibition area. Renown producers of auto electronic such as Feige and Ouhua have expanded their booths to 135 m2 and 81 m2 respectively that has approved the actual gains this expo has brought them. CIAACE is the renown one-stop sourcing platform in auto aftermarket industry—it has become the best platform for buyers, producers and suppliers around the world in auto aftermarket industry. As the expo scale and networking expand, it has added tyre and oil to the original exhibits category, coving car care products, interior and exterior accessories, in-vehicle electronic, car floor mats, auto safety products, energy products , environmental friendly and outdoor equipments. This shows the broad exhibition scope and large products variety of CIAACE, which, by avoiding purchasing at different places and satisfying the purchasers' needs for one-stop purchase, can save purchasers the trouble of running about for long time. Meanwhile, CIAACE2010 will hold high-standard complementary activities suitable for each exhibition area to support this grand meeting of auto accessory industry. Basing itself on the goal of 'building platform through careful operation' , this expo expands its exhibition space to 50000 m2, with 2500 exhibition booths, 11 product categories and estimated 58000 visitors with professional backgrounds—all of these have broken the historical records of this expo. CIAACE 2010 will be held in Beijing National Agricultural Exhibition Center on March 12-14, 2010. This expo is powered by YASN International Exhibition Company Limited. For more details about the expo, please visit the expo's official website

The 10th China International Auto Accessories Commercial Expo held by YASN International Exhibition Company Limited has received so enthusiastic response from relevant companies that the supply of exhibition booths falls short of demand to certain extent. To meet the demand of the exhibitors, actively rearranging the layout of this expo, the organizing committee is trying to increase the number of the exhibition booths and enlarge the exhibition space. "Mr. Xie, I have always been a loyal customer of YASN; this time you have to get me a 72m2-large booth, please." "Mr. Xie, YASN should really establish some preferential rules for the loyal customers. When it comes to the exhibition booth, the loyal customers should have the priority to choose. Now we old customers don’t even have a booth in this expo." "Mr. Xie, I really haven’t expected that this year’s fight for the exhibition booths would be so intense. The year after next, you have to let me choose my booth in a dvance." Every day, Xie Yu, the general manager of YASN International Exhibition Company Limited, receives many calls like these—many managers of relevant companies have called to complain for the shortage of exhibition booths and ask for his help. At the end of June, 2009, YASN’s project working team, which has gone to Zhengzhou for the promotion and register-canvassing of this expo, has achieved a great success—the enthusiasm of the exhibitors registering for this expo has soared to unprecedented heights. To ensure a booth in the 10th China International Auto Accessories Commercial Expo, hundreds of relevant companies all around China have been signing exhibition contracts enthusiastically. Since the number of applicants for expo booths has greatly exceeds the booth supply, to meet the demand of the exhibitors, the organizing committee has been trying to make more space for e xhibition while beginning to rearrange the expo layout and enlarge the exhibition space. During the three days of exhibitor-canvassing in Zhengzhou, contracts of 316 booths have been closed, which has exceeded our expectation for the first stage. According to the staff of YASN, "actually, exhibitor-canvassing is easy for us; when the enterprises hear that we are from YASN International, they directly ask us for the layout of the expo and sign contracts with us for the exhibition booths they like; this happens naturally for a mature expo with a well-known brand." Since CIAACE 2010 started exhibitor-canvassing in April, the working team has gone to Tianjin, Hebei, Zhejiang and other bases of auto accessories manufacturers for the promotion of this expo, and the relevant companies’ enthusiasm for exhibition booths has always been tremendous. At press time, 1400 exhibition booths have been booked. From this, we can see that, although the international auto industry is at a low tide, China’s auto accessory market stays strong; it also reflected the superior status of YASN Auto Accessories Expo in this market. With foresight, the 10th Auto Accessories Expo is leading China’s auto accessory market to the highway of specialization, industrialization and internationalization. The most significant reason for the favors and trust received by the 10th China International Auto Accessories Commercial Expo is the "expo effects" which has always been emphasized by YASN. According to statistics, the last expo has set the record volume of business transaction of 6.2342 billion yuan, which has gained this expo the first place in this industry. Now, the gathering of exhibitors and audience at CIAACE has become a professional need. CIAAC2010 will be held at National Agricultural Exhibition Center during 12 and 14, March, 2010. On the occasion, the whole industry will be presented .

Now in its 64th year, the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas is the leading sourcing, trading and learning event for the highly fragmented 343 billion ‘home after market’. The show features all the products sold for the home, after the home is built, attracting a worldwide audience of more than 27,000 industry professionals. New this year - seven shows within a show To make the National Hardware Show easier to navigate, the organisation has broken up the show floor into ‘7 Shows Within a Show’. These seven shows will each be part of the larger National Hardware Show, but will focus on the following areas: Hardware & Tools; Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living; Homewares; Paint & Accessories; Plumbing & Electric; Storage & Organisation; and Global Sourcing. Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living With growing trends like Staycation and an increased consumer focus on Green living, the expanded Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living segment provides hardware, home and garden centre retailers and distributors with the most ‘non-Live’ product sourcing opportunities in the US. The lawn, garden and outdoor living section of the show features over 900 exhibitors spanning the entire North Hall, and several on-the-show-floor networking and educational opportunities. For further information: www.nationalhardwareshow.com

New Products, Merchandising and POS to be featured (NORWALK, Conn Feb. 25-) - - - Together with Black & Decker and it’s licensing partners, Bond Manufacturing Co., licensee of the new Black & Decker line of outdoor garden hand tools and hoses, will unveil a new Black & Decker branded Outdoor Seasonal Store Presentation concept at the 2009 National Hardware Show® May 5-7, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Black & Decker Outdoor Seasonal Store presentation will occupy 1000 sq ft. of space on the show floor, featuring a Black & Decker line of outdoor products including: lawn and garden power and non-power tools; outdoor storage products; personal protective and safety equipment; outdoor painting equipment and more . . . .everything for outdoor DIY projects including personal refreshment from a home water cooler option. “The Seasonal Outdoor Store Concept offers retailers the chance to preview new products alongside merchandising and POS ideas in time for the seasonal and fall products buying cycle,” said Cam Jenkins from Bond. “We believe the powerful Black & Decker brand,presented through the Seasonal Outdoor Store Concept, will stimulate retailers’ sales and ignite consumers’ interest in the outdoors.” “We are honored that Bond Manufacturing Co. will be presenting this new concept at this year’s National Hardware Show,” said Ed Several, Group Vice President, National Hardware Show. “With consumers’ interest in saving money and enjoying their homes, the demand for DIY products will be much greater – whether it is gardening, painting, landscaping -- this demand coupled with one of the best known and trusted consumer brands is sure to change the retail landscape in the category.” Black & Decker is a global manufacturer and marketer of quality power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and technology based fastening systems. Its products and services are marketed in more than 100 countries, with manufacturing operations in eleven countries. Black & Decker has established a reputation for product innovation, quality, end-user focus, design, and value. Its strong brand names and new product development capabilities enjoy worldwide recognition, and its global distribution is unsurpassed in the industries served. Plans for the 64th annual National Hardware Show May 5-7, 2009, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas are well underway and will include many new programs and services designed to empower manufacturers and retailers with the ideas, new products and merchandising solutions to generate sales and increase profitability in a difficult and competitive environment. These initiatives are specifically designed to achieve new growth for the home improvement marketplace. Big brands such as Channellock, Dap, 3M, Cosco Home and Office Products, Westinghouse Lighting, Inc., FHP/O-Cedar, Henkel, Hyde Tools, The Scotts Co., and Whirlpool/Gladiator GarageWorks are recommitting to the 2009 National Hardware Show and in many cases, returning after an absence, to conduct face-to-face sales and marketing opportunities that deliver content, contacts and communities with the power to transform their businesses. For additional and updated information, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com.

One-Stop Home Improvement Product Sourcing Opportunities for Distributors, Wholesalers, Importers/Exporters, Private Label Retailers & OEM Manufacturers (Norwalk, Conn USA Jan. 7) - - - The National Hardware Show® (May 5-7, 2009, Las Vegas, NV USA) will give distributors, wholesalers, importers/exporters, private label retailers and OEM manufacturers with a new opportunity to efficiently source new home improvement products and components through the launch of the International Sourcing Convention at the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. A comprehensive new platform on which to facilitate sales and buying opportunities at the show, the International Sourcing Convention will offer face-to-face, networking & matchmaking services (pre- and post-show), educational sessions on how to conduct business, a business center with translation services, an international reception and web-based programs to ensure sourcing success from over 1,400 international manufacturers from some 60 countries. Recent, extensive research conducted by Reed Exhibitions, producers of the National Hardware Show®, revealed that 89 percent of the survey participants, who are responsible for sourcing internationally, are extremely / very / somewhat likely to attend a trade show to source products if they know in advance that sourcing opportunities exist. The International Sourcing Convention will bring together one of the largest gatherings of international manufacturers offering the broadest selection of international products representing virtually every home improvement category from tools, plumbing & electrical to lawn, garden & outdoor living and furniture, homewares, home storage and organization. “In the past, the National Hardware Show® has offered a passive buying/sourcing dynamic through its Global Hardware Expo,” explained Ed Several, Group Vice President and Show Manager, National Hardware Show. “We have now harnessed that dynamic and have put into place an efficient and defined environment to enable the global home improvement marketplace to conduct sourcing in a more productive way. The multi-faceted marketing program – face-to-face and web promotion -- will provide enormous value and return-on-investment for international manufacturers to accelerate their penetration into the US marketplace. For US-based importers/exporters, manufacturers and distributors, the International Sourcing Convention offers a one-stop shopping experience and virtually brings the sourcing world to Las Vegas in May.” The International Sourcing Convention at the National Hardware Show will be marketed to over 18,000 importers/exporters, distributors and manufacturers all of whom are prospects for the International Sourcing Convention. Combined, the prospect and current list represents the most active and viable database to take advantage of this program. NEW 2009 NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW The all-new 2009 National Hardware Show will be reorganized into 7 segments to reflect how buyers ‘shop’ the show and take advantage of the $428 billion US home improvement marketplace. These include: Hardware & Tools; Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living; Paint Accessories; Plumbing & Electrical; Homewares; Storage & Organization and the International Sourcing Convention. Marketing platforms that showcase current consumer trends, more new products showcased and highlighted throughout the show, easier navigation around the show floor and new merchandising concepts are all new ways to attract more of the right buyers. More and new educational seminars, networking and industry events and information and best-practice sharing all add up to a new and improved 2009 National Hardware Show. For updated information, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com

Taking the advantages of more than 100 thousand customer resources accumulated and high-quality services maturated from last ten years of CIFF, 2008 finally witnessed the successful debut of China International Outdoor & Leisure Fair (Guangzhou) (Outdoor & Leisure Guangzhou), which reached 10000 SQM and attracted nearly 100 brand exhibitors, as Alma Contract, Marstone Enterprise Corp Ltd., Mano Leisure Products Co., Ltd, Nuatong Garden Furniture Ltd., Artie Garden International Ltd., and Gardenart Furniture Co., Ltd. and so on. This four-day fair successfully created a fascinating feast for outdoor & leisure sector, attracting 15,489 visitors from 13 countries, China included. Its good performance also indicated the success of CIFF’s trial of extention from purely interior furniture to the combination of indoor and outdoor livings. The outdoor furniture & home items sector in China has made a great progress in recent years, and she has developed as an irreplaceable powerful player in this sector. Even though, manufacturers has assumed increasing pressure and more furious competition in face of the present economic situation, as RMB revaluation, cost increase of raw materials and human resources and so on since the year of 2007. Thus, Outdoor & Leisure Guangzhou 2009 has made appropriate adjustment in terms of positioning and promotion, in order to create a much more convenient and efficient platform for trading players. Adjustment to New Situation In face of the present situation for outdoor furniture & home items sector, Outdoor & Leisure Guangzhou 2009 will strength the publicity in domestic market, establishing cooperation with enterprises and associations engaged in estate, hotel management and meanwhile, inviting important buyers like B&Q, Hola and Metro. As for overseas promotion, Outdoor & Leisure Guangzhou 2009 will witness its simultaneous focus on American and European markets, as actively promoting in big events and placing ads on Casual Living, Mobel Markt Mobel Kulture, and DIY and exploration of the booming markets like Russia and South-east Asia.

This year, the Global Hardware Expo will offer several enhancements dedicated to promoting Private Label opportunities for Chinese manufacturers. Statistics show that demand for private label products increase in a slowing economy because US retailers, distributors and co-ops source products to ‘brand’ under their own name. “We have created several National Hardware Show programs to facilitate buying including: better location on the show floor, seminars and educational opportunities; a comprehensive promotional and marketing campaign designed to increase the number of buyers in attendance; increased translators and an international buyers lounge to facilitate networking and relationship-building,” said Several. Another major buying opportunity, the National Hardware Show’s Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living also offers increased opportunities for Chinese supplies. These include: Better location and increased international buyer promotion via the National Hardware Show’s integrated marketing program and the US Department of Commerce’s International Buyer Program; early commitments from these leading US and Canadian retailers to attend in 2009: Ace Hardware; Do-It-Best; True Value; Orgill Hardware; Lowes; Home Depot and Canadian Tire. A customized promotional and marketing program targeted to key US purchasing influencers, such as operations, R&D and product managers from multi-national manufacturers and private label buyers from multi-chain Hardware stores, is also planned. Special match-making services will pre-promote the benefits of attending to an international buyers database looking to do business with China. “The National Hardware Show is dedicated and focused on the needs of Chinese manufacturers,” said Several. “In addition to the very specific programming for China, we have also created better platforms for all buyers to conduct business,” said Several. The all-new 2009 National Hardware Show is the largest annual home improvement event in the world with over 800,000 sq. ft of space, 150 product categories and over 3500 vendors representing seven key product categories: Tools & Hardware; Storage and Organization; Electrical & Plumbing; Homewares, selected housewares products for hardlines retailers; Lawn, Garden & Outdoor Living; Paint and Accessories and the Global Hardware Expo. The National Hardware Show, now in its 64th year, attracts retailers, wholesalers & distributors, importers and exporters from all distribution channels including hardware/hardlines stores, mass merchandisers, home centers, discount stores, warehouse clubs, catalogues, specialty stores, and online retailers. In 2009, the National Hardware Show will be implementing a targeted marketing program designed to increase buyer penetration by category to more focused database of buyers. This includes obtaining key buyer contact information and email addresses; targeted marketing messages segmented by product category; match-making services to bring buyers with specific interest in Chinese manufacturers, an enhanced, easy-to navigate National Hardware Show website equipped with learning-about-the-show opportunities; and a refreshed branding campaign promoting the product categories separately. Plans for the 64th annual National Hardware Show May 5-7, 2009, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas are well underway and will include many new programs and services designed to empower manufacturers and retailers with the ideas, new products and merchandising solutions to generate sales and increase profitability in a difficult and competitive environment. These initiatives are specifically designed to achieve new growth for the home improvement marketplace. Big brands such as Char-Broil, Fiskars, 3M, Cosco Home and Office Products, Westinghouse Lighting, Inc., FHP/OCedar, The Scotts Co., Gilmour Group/Robert Bosch Tool Group are recommitting to the 2009 National Hardware Show and in many cases, returning after an absence, to conduct face-to-face sales and marketing opportunities that deliver content, contacts and communities with the power to transform their businesses. For additional and updated information, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com.

New Research Projects Growth As People Remain In Their Homes Longer National Hardware Show Organized To Enable Exhibitors to Profit from This Growth (NORWALK, Conn. USA Oct. 24, 2008) - - - -While a slowing economy is making headlines, the National Hardware Show® is being organized to enable its exhibitors to take advantage of the opportunity that this economy presents. New research issued in Aug. 2008 by the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI; Global Insights Report) projects a +1.6% growth in home improvement products in 2009 after declining in 2007 and 2008. The research concludes that the market for home repair and home improvement products is expected to grow in 2009 as homeowners remain in their homes longer. This predicted growth will be driven by homeowners’ behavior to “do it themselves” versus paying for a company to perform these services in a challenging economy. In other encouraging news, new housing inventory was at its lowest point in Sept. 2008. This fact coupled with an increase in new housing starts in 2009 to fill the void also portends demand for new products. In fact, HIRI is projecting that housing starts will increase +5% in 2009. All of these facts clearly indicate the U.S. hardware market will be strong in 2009. As a result, the National Hardware Show is taking steps to leverage the opportunities for exhibitors by better organizing its show floor and reaching key buyers who are focusing on growing retail sales to homeowners who are staying in their homes longer. The 2009 National Hardware Show is also taking advantage of new research detailing the fact that a slowing economy means consumers will alter their behavior by taking less vacations; staying home on weekends and eating out less often. As people spend more time in their houses instead of traveling, they will make improvements to augment their enjoyment such as adding outdoor living components, purchasing unique amenities to enhance their lifestyle and increase the use of cleaning and homewares products to address their homes’ maintenance and upkeep needs. In order to support the increased demand for home improvement products, the 2009 National Hardware Show will offer several marketing platforms on which buyers can preview products. These include: “Stay-Cation”: Recessionary economy prevents families from taking vacations, but rather, opting for enjoyment and pleasure close to home while doing chores, repairs and easy maintenance projects. Staying at home creates increased demand for products. “Saving Money, By Saving Energy”: Demand for products that will help homeowners reduce energy use ultimately saves money. “Why Pay, When You Can Do It Yourself”: Pinching dollars means doing a lot more of the home improvement projects that used to be relegated to a contractor. Since many homeowners often don’t have the tools to compete a project, a trip to the home improvement store is necessary. This drives demand. “Green and Eco-Friendly Products”: With global pressure to reuse or recycle, homeowners are seeking products that support the environment. These new areas will fuel new growth projected over the next several years meaning that the $428 billion US home improvement marketplace is open for business and ready to offer increased opportunities for Chinese manufacturers despite news of the slowing economy. “The US home improvement market’s increase over the next several years is an indication of the business potential for China,” said Ed Several, Group Vice President and Show Manager for the 2009 National Hardware Show. “We are quite confident that the US market will increase demand for new, private label and competitively priced products, especially in a slowing economy, where housing starts are down and homeowners are staying in their homes longer. On the National Hardware Show floor, we have created a comprehensive plan for Chinese suppliers to increase sales; build new relationships with domestic US buyers and their operations and R&D colleagues and make the process a lot more efficient and effective.” To be continued