Northwest Home Furnishings® Show Positioned For Growth—March 8- 10, 2003—Washington State Convention & Trade Center

Furniture World Magazine

Universal Shows, Inc. (formerly Western Exhibitors, Inc.) is pleased to announce that the 5th annual Northwest Home Furnishings Show will be expanded at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle, Washington March 8-10, 2003. Relocating to Seattle has positioned this market for growth in both exhibiting companies and retail attendance. The timing will allow this emerging event to stand-alone from other gift and home furnishing industry events and attract a broader exhibitor base. "The March dates will strategically place the Northwest Home Furnishings Show between the San Francisco Furniture Market and High Point," stated Joan Stockton, Show Manager of the Northwest Home Furnishings Show, Universal Shows, Inc. "Many of the companies exhibiting in this market have commented that their schedules have been greatly impacted by the amount of gift and home furnishing-related events held closely together. These new dates will afford our clients the opportunity to aggressively market themselves to the Northwest buyers and in turn, allow the Northwest buyers the opportunity to find great new products closer to home," continued Stockton. "With continued industry interest in home furnishings and décor, it is our job as show managers to ensure the quality of exhibitors and to incorporate a wide variety of merchandise. We have been extremely pleased with the ever-improving quality of products at the Northwest Home Furnishings Show and feel that this market truly serves the Northwest retail community," added Mike Dean, President, Universal Shows, Inc. Show Statistics: Net Square Footage: 80,000 • Anticipated Booths: 350 • Anticipated Exhibiting Companies: 200 • Anticipated Attendance: 6,000 The March 8-10, 2003 market will target retailers from specialty and department stores; furniture stores; home décor and gift stores; juvenile stores; garden centers; mail order catalogs as well as interior designers. The product categories featured are furniture—traditional to contemporary; case goods; textiles; area rugs; lighting; children’s furniture and home accessories; garden furniture; home accents; and wall décor. In addition, new features will be added to enhance the product mix and allow more choices for buying—the Vintage Collection (antiques and found objects) will be incorporated into the March Northwest Home Furnishings Show and offer immediate release of one-of-a-kind vintage items for resale or display. The Northwest Home Furnishings Show also offers the retail attendees an opportunity to be included in a daily drawing for $500 toward invoices of merchandise purchased at the show. Exhibitor Information: For exhibitor information about the gift divisions of the Northwest Home Furnishings Show, please contact Joan Stockton, Show Manager, at Universal Shows, Inc., 2181 Greenwich Street, San Francisco, CA 94123. Telephone 415.447.3233. Fax 415.346.4965. E- mail joan@weshows.com. Additional information may be obtained by visiting Western Exhibitors’ Web Site at www.weshows.com. Buyer Information: Attendee information may be obtained by calling 800.346.1212 (outside of the Bay Area) or 415.346.0168 (with in the San Francisco Bay Area). Fax 415.346.4965. Contact Universal Shows, Inc. via e-mail at showinfo@weshows.com. Web-site: www.weshows.com. Management Information: The Northwest Home Furnishings Show is produced by Universal Shows, Inc. (formerly Western Exhibitors, Inc.) of San Francisco, California.