WELL-TIMED GROUP MERCHANDISING CONFERENCE PROVIDES BUYERS & SELLERS WITH GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

Atlanta, Georgia (June 24, 2008) - Home improvement industry distributors met with manufacturers during the Group Merchandising Conference organized by PRO Group, Inc. and Val-Test Distributors June 23-25, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

 According to Steve Synnott, CEO for PRO Group, Inc, the timing of the annual event is ideal, the conference format itself is structured around efficiency and cost savings for attendees, who cover multiple meetings during a two day period rather than having to make additional trips. Approximately 890 scheduled 30-minute meetings are conducted between buyers and sellers over the course of two days in Atlanta.

The Group Merchandising Conference allows distributors and vendors a growth opportunity that is especially welcome now in the current challenging economy, Synnott said. “Special buys pave the way for retail placement of new products and categories, end-cap display units, plan-o-grams, pallet displays and promotional merchandising assortments that will fuel growth for vendors, distributors and retailers."

The meeting format features scheduled buyer/vendor appointments in private suites throughout the Embassy Suites Hotel, with Vendors offering conference specials and reviewing benefits of new products, merchandisers, displays and promotions to attending buyers.

Vendor Rick Brambley of Coleman-Cable introduced a timer and low voltage/solar lighting line at the Group Merchandising Conference and updated attending distributors on the company’s 2007 acquisition of Woods Wire. The conference is beneficial for him, Brambley said, because “I get to see all of the members at one time.”

PRO Group has hosted this conference for several years and this is the second year distributors from the Schaumburg, Illinois-based Val-Test participated.

Attendees included 38 Distributor team members, PRO Group and Val-Test corporate office personnel and 95 individuals representing vendors.

The Group Merchandising Conference is tailored to the needs of distributor buyers and is unlike any other conference due to the hands-on nature of the product displays shown in a highly efficient environment.

Distributor Corey Sheely of the Ohio-based Central Farm and Garden, said last year’s GMC led his company to a few new vendors and product lines that are currently in its assortment. He said the GMC provides a good forum to give and receive feedback from vendors and peers in the industry. “We usually come away with a feel for the market in general and ways to improve our share,” Sheely said, adding that the company has re-tooled several parts of the business this year. We are poised to grow in the third and fourth quarter and need fresh, quality products to help fuel that growth. The Group Merchandise Conference usually provides a few of those opportunities.”

Rick Carr, national sales manager for the retail heating division of vendor DESA LLC. attended the conference for the first time this week. He said his goal going in to the conference was to gain new distribution, rank the company’s satisfaction level with current customers and update on current distribution conditions.

Distributor Michael Brady, director of purchasing for Long-Lewis Hardware, attended the conference with two others from his company. "When we leave the Group Merchandising Conference, both the vendor and we the distributor know the level of interest and what needs to be done to take it to the next step or level," Brady said.

Following the Group Merchandising Conference, the PRO Group Merchandise Committee met to discuss upcoming Target Vendor Programs and to hear presentations from new Vendors.  PRO Hardware Stores Program Distributors also met to review 2009 advertising and marketing programs.

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Headquartered in Denver, PRO Group, Inc. www.pro-group.com www.pro-group.com is a merchandising and marketing organization with purchasing power exceeding $3 billion through its 40 Member Distributors.

 
Val-Test www.val-test.com is a Schaumburg, Illinois-based buying group of 100 independent distributors in hardware, paint sundries, plumbing, electrical, variety and marine products with a volume of $1 billion in sales.

  
Note to media: Digital photographs of the 2008 Group Merchandising Conference available upon request from Elissa Motley of PRO Group, Inc. elissa.motley@pro-group.com after June 25, 2008.

For More Information Contact:
Steve Synnott, PRO Group, Inc.
(303) 792-3000

steve.synnott@pro-group.com

Additional media contact:
Ruth Furman, ImageWords

(702) 255-8288

ruth@ruthfurman.com