Wallace Hardware Celebrates 40 Years of Dealer Markets

Gatlinburg, TN (May 12, 2005) - The Morristown, Tennessee based Wallace Hardware Co., Inc. hosted its 86th Dealer Market May 10 - 12, 2005 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Approximately 300 dealers attended the market and 450 vendors exhibited at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Marvin Wiley, Wallace's PRO Hardware program director, said, "We have signed 15 new retailers, five new PRO Hardware stores and one FARM MART store."

This year marks the 40th year of dealer markets at Wallace Hardware. The first Wallace Market was July 3 - 5, 1965, when 78 vendors exhibited at an open house and trade show at the Wallace warehouse in Morristown, Tennessee.

Richard Snowden, vice president of sales for Wallace Hardware, said, "The show’s key focus was celebrating 40 years of Wallace Dealer Markets and continuing the tradition of great values, focused training, and wholesome family entertainment." This theme was interwoven throughout the market and Dealer Celebration Banquet, where University of Tennessee Head Football Coach Phil Fulmer was the featured speaker. Fulmer challenged the audience with five principles that have been instrumental in his successful 13 years as head coach: attitude, communication, discipline, leadership, and hard work. Coach Fulmer said, "These principles can work for you to be a winner in life and in business as it has for me in football."

Nine vendors received special recognition for 40 years of exhibiting at Wallace Hardware markets. Vendors honored included Campbell Chain, Crane Plumbing, DeWalt/Black & Decker, Kwikset Lock, Nutone, PRO Group, Rubbermaid, True Temper/Ames, and Werner Ladder. Each received plaques that included Case Cutlery's "John D. Wallace Commemorative Knife."

Wallace Hardware also recognized Carson Cox with Werner Ladder and Harry Salyer of PRO Lebanon Block in Lebanon, Virginia for having attended all of Wallace Hardware's shows.

Prior to the market's opening, PRO Group personnel and Wallace Hardware management hosted retailers at a Dealer Advisory Board Meeting. Shari Kalbach, managing director of PRO Hardware, and Brendan Sullivan, managing director of FARM MART, led the retailers in a discussion about their experiences with PRO Group’s new fully flexible circular program available to retailers. The group also discussed a fall support strategy for the Marine Corp. Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The advisory board suggested a regional mid-summer CEO and Senior Management Roundtable meeting.

In other news, Wallace Hardware and PRO Group management personnel honored the Waynesville, North Carolina - based Haywood PRO Builders Supply as Wallace Hardware's 2004 Retailer of the Year. Wallace Hardware also honored Ryan Moore of Supreme PRO Building Products in McMinnville, Tennessee and Scotty Steele of Poultry Electric PRO Hardware in Winchester, Tennessee as "Wallace Hardware's 2005 Young Retailers of the Year."

Many retailer attendees also participated in PRO Group Partners Day events and seminars, including a presentation, "Are We Communicating Yet?" by Carl Mays. American General Finance presented a new dealer financing program with options up to 12 months same as cash.

Wallace Hardware Company, Inc., based in Morristown, Tennessee, is a wholesale distributor of hardware, lumber and building materials and farm supplies. Wallace Hardware joined the PRO Group in 1963 and currently markets the PRO Hardware, FARM MART and GOLDEN-LINK Programs to more than 2,000 retailers. Wallace Hardware serves retailers in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

(click to enlarge) Wallace Hardware and PRO Group management personnel honored the Waynesville, N.C.-based Haywood PRO Builders Supply as Wallace Hardware's 2004 Retailer of the Year. Richard Snowden (right), VP of hardware sales, presented award to Danny Wingate, general manager of Haywood, and June Ray.		(click to enlarge) Wallace honored Harry Salyer of PRO Lebanon Block and Supply in Lebanon, Va. (pictured with John Wallace) for attending every show since the first show in 1965.
(click to enlarge) Carson Cox of Werner Ladder has attended 84 Wallace Markets.		(click to enlarge) Lynn Dawson (left) recognized Shari Kalbach (center) and Brendan Sullivan (right) of PRO Group, Inc. at the market's award banquet. Kalbach and Sullivan also participated in the dealer advisory board meeting prior to the market.

PRO Group, Inc. is a multi-divisional, international merchandising and marketing organization with corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Its operating units include PRO Hardware, GardenMaster, FARM MART and GOLDEN-LINK. The Company's purchasing power exceeds $3 billion through its 41 Member Distributors.

For More Information Contact:
Steve Synnott, President/Chief Operating Officer, PRO Group, Inc.
(303) 792-3000 steve.synnott@pro-group.com
 - or -
Ruth Furman, Publicist
(702) 255-8288 ruth@ruthfurman.com