[0] Skipco Inc. Unveils Expanded Las Vegas Headquarters; Showcases Newest Toshiba Technology In New 34,000 Sq. Ft. Facility.

Business Editors

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2001

Skipco Inc., the largest copy and business center in the state of Nevada, with annual revenues of $22 million, today unveiled its expanded 34,000 sq. ft. headquarters, to better serve its rapidly growing customer base and accommodate an annual growth rate of 20 percent per year.

To celebrate its grand re-opening, Mayor Oscar Goodman declared April 11, "Skipco Day" in the City of Las Vegas and an Open House celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony was held with special guest Rudy Ruettiger, a motivational speaker and former Notre Dame football player.

Skipco's Las Vegas headquarters, located at 6029 West Charleston Blvd., have been transformed into a state-of-the-art business center. More than 18,000 sq. ft. was added to the remodeled headquarters which now includes a spacious self-service area for making walk-up copies, an expanded selection of copier supplies, a consolidated warehouse and service department and a high-tech demonstration room where customers can see the award-winning line of Toshiba multifunctional printers, fax machines and copiers in action.

One of the largest exclusive Toshiba office equipment dealers in the country, Skipco was purchased in 1996 by TOPAC, a network of seven independently-owned exclusive Toshiba equipment dealers owned by Toshiba America Business Solutions, (TABS).

"We've expanded our headquarters to offer our customers an even higher level of service, as well as access to the most advanced printing and copying equipment," said Gary Harouff, president of Skipco, Inc., who added that Skipco customers produce 250 billion copies per year on Toshiba equipment, with the on-site copy center churning out three million copies a month and servicing an average of 500 walk-in customers per day.

"We are excited to see that Skipco has expanded its headquarters and we would like to congratulate Gary and his staff on the grand re-opening," said Rick Taylor, Senior Vice President Sales, Marketing and Business Operations, TABS. "We wish Skipco continued success as a member of the Toshiba family."

Founded in 1982 by Dwight "Skip" Harouff and now headed by his son, Gary Harouff, Skipco has grown to be the largest copy and business center in Nevada with 102 employees. Its customers include many of the top Las Vegas casino hotels, such as New York, New York, the Bellagio, Station Casinos, Coast Casinos, and the Mirage, as well as other well known area business like Pulte Homes and the new Las Vegas XFL team, the Outlaws.

Skipco also has locations in Reno, NV and Riverside,CA, and offers a wide range of services including graphics support, typesetting, design, custom letterheads, business cards, forms, envelopes, lamination, rubber stamps and mailbox rentals. The company has won Toshiba's "Dealer of the Year" and "Pro Master" awards for exemplary customer service for eight years in a row. Skipco was also voted TOPAC's "Dealer of the Year" for the past three years.

TOPAC U.S.A. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba America Business Solutions (TABS), operates a distribution channel that markets, supports and services office automation equipment across the United States through the acquisition of existing Toshiba copier and facsimile dealers.

Headquartered in Irvine, California, TABS comprises four divisions which manufacture and market business and information-oriented products in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean: the Electronic Imaging Division, Toner Products Division, Document Solutions Engineering Division and TOPAC, a subsidiary which operates a network of copier/fax dealers. Products include network printing products, copiers, facsimile products, toner products and network controllers.

TABS is an independent operating company of Toshiba Corp., the fifth largest electronics/electrical equipment company, and the world's 28th largest manufacturing corporation in terms of sales. Toshiba Corporation is a world leader in high-technology products with over 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. Fiscal year revenue in 1999 was $54 billion.

For more information on Skipco Inc., call 702-878-9771 or visit their website at http://www.skipco.toshiba.com.

For more information on Toshiba copier and facsimile products, or for a local dealer, call 1-800-GO-TOSHIBA or visit the EID Internet Web site at either http://copier.toshiba.com or http://fax.toshiba.com.