FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2006

GlobalShop 2006 Heats Up Retail Industry In Orlando

ALPHARETTA, Ga. ­ Marking a modest increase in attendance compared to the 2005 event held in Las Vegas, GlobalShop 2006 ­ the world’s largest annual store design and visual merchandising exposition and conference ­hosted more than 20,000 retail and brand marketing industry professionals at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla., March 26-28. GlobalShop 2006 featured more than 875 exhibitors displaying the latest innovation and cutting-edge trends in retail design.

“With more than 56 million square feet of retail space, Orlando was specifically chosen to host the 2006 event,” said Doug Hope, group vice president of VNU Expositions and show director of GlobalShop. “As Orlando possesses the nation’s second highest Effective Buying Income (EBI) ratio, several of the trends featured at this year’s event will be used in this market first in several of the new Orange County retail developments currently underway. Orlando is fast becoming one of the retail industry’s labs as it is now one of the country’s fastest growing retail and design landscapes.”

Featuring six Globalshop Pavilions, spread across 300,000 square feet of show floor space, all facets of store-design and in-store marketing were covered. Aisles of the expo hall displayed the latest in retail design products, tools and technology. From the latest digital displays, including 3-D holographic technology to attract customers at the point of purchase, as well as technology used to scent aisles to enhance shoppers’ moods, GlobalShop exhibited the newest, most innovative methods to reach consumers.

“CYRO has exhibited at GlobalShop for many years and this year’s show was exceptional,” said Steven Vaccaro, marketing manager, Advanced Polymer Shapes, CYRO Industries. “We launched two new acrylic sheet product initiatives for creative POP displays and store design and received widespread interest with over 500 leads!”

The GlobalShop 2006 conference program offered 21 sessions, including presentations from Daniel H. Pink, author of “A Whole New Mind,” and Display & Design Ideas “Designer of the Year,” Giorgio Borruso, that offered attendees opportunities to learn practical application, gain insight and receive advice from leading experts in the retail industry.

“GlobalShop is an incredibly valuable show,” said Jilla Farazan, executive vice president, Nora Lighting. “Not only do we obtain several quality sales leads, but we also walk away with much more in terms of further marketing our products and communicating our key benefits to the marketplace. This is added value ­ it’s a great educational experience for exhibitors as it connects all sectors of the retail industry.”

Organized into different sections, including The Store Fixturing Show Pavilion, POP Marketplace Pavilion, Visual Merchandising Show section, The Digital Store Pavilion and The Store Design & Operations area, attendees also benefit from experiencing the different sectors of the retail industry.

“It’s so inspiring to see everything in action,” said Andrea Davis, designer, JGA, Southfield, Mich. “The organization of the show truly lends itself to scouting out the newest trends, and seeing how the trends affect each step of the retail process.”

Recognizing that sustainable design is becoming an ever-increasing responsibility of the design community, GlobalShop 2006 introduced a new section of the expo floor completely devoted to Green Retail Design. The area showcased products, including floor and wall coverings, fixtures, etc., that are 100 percent sustainable. Additionally, the New Product Pavilion displayed items that were introduced to market during the last 12 months, and the 2nd Annual Retail Marketing Services Pavilion featured services including large-scale promotion rollouts and retail based event marketing.

“The show is a strong overview in terms of the international retail trends,” said Gunther Berger, international sales manager, Umdasch Shop-Concept, Amstetten, Austria. “It’s definitely beneficial to see parts of the retail industry that I might not be exposed to on a daily basis. Attending this show certainly provides an edge in the global marketplace.”

GlobalShop 2007 returns to Las Vegas, March 7-9, at the Sands Expo at the Venetian. Readers interested in the latest information on exhibits, seminars and events at GlobalShop 2007, can visit the show Web site: http://www.GlobalShop.org.

Produced by VNU Expositions, a division of VNU Business Media, GlobalShop is a world-class trade show with international resources. Since 1993 GlobalShop has been the major resource for the most innovative technology, products and services in the in-store marketing and store design industry. The show draws on scores of store-fixturing, visual merchandising, store design, point-of-purchase and in-store technology industry experts to keep exhibitors and attendees ahead of the current and future business trends. GlobalShop is presented by Display & Design Ideas and BrandWeek, and sponsored by NASFM ­ National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers, NADI ­ National Association of Display Industries, POPAI ­ Point-of-Purchase Advertising International, and NARMS ­ National Association for Retail Marketing Services.

About VNU ExpositionsM
VNU Expositions produces more than 50 conferences and trade shows annually for professionals in fields ranging from presentations and training to travel, design and retail merchandising. VNU Expositions reaches over thousands of industry leaders each year in collaborative environments designed to inspire, inform and entertain.

About VNU Business Media
VNU Business Publications is a division of VNU Business Media which maintains a leading position in the business to business arena by providing clients with innovative and actionable business intelligence, products, and tools via a wide range of delivery channels and methodologies including business-to-business publications, trade shows, electronic applications, database marketing tools, and media intelligence.

About VNU Business Publications USA
VNU Business Publications USA publishes 64 b-to-b titles in the entertainment, media, marketing, retail, merchandising, performance, travel and design industries. Its portfolio includes Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek, National Jeweler, Progressive Grocer, and Successful Meetings.

About VNU
VNU is one of the world's leading media and information companies. Its core activities are marketing information, media measurement & information, business information and directories. VNU is active in more than 100 countries, spread across all continents. The company employs approximately 38,000 people and has annual revenues of over EUR 4.3 billion.

Website URL: www.globalshop.org