2005 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas is Sold Out.

LAS VEGAS -- The 60th annual National Hardware Show(R) is preparing for a full house at its Las Vegas event May 17-19, 2005, with more than 3,100 manufacturers filling 680,000 square feet of floor space at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Convention Center.

"There is no better place than the National Hardware Show(R) to see the innovative home improvement products and trends that are driving this industry," said Rob Cappiello, industry vice president for the National Hardware Show(R). "From the 310,000-square foot Lawn & Garden World(R) to our co-location with the Las Vegas Gourmet Housewares Show(TM) and two New Product World(R) exhibits - the National Hardware Show(R) is bringing the best from around the industry to Las Vegas."

Some of the thousands of companies exhibiting at the 2005 National Hardware Show(R) include:

--Lawn & Garden: RL Flo-master, Fiskars, Melnor, Fountainhead Group (Black Flag), Scott's, Bayer Advanced

--Hardware: Arrow Fastener, Johnson Level, General Tool, Estwing, Olympia Tool, Great Neck Saw, Manco

--Paint and Home Decor: 3M, Dutch Boy, Benjamin Moore, Purdy Brush, Sherwin Williams, Red Devil, Wooster Brush

--Housewares: First Alert, DeLonghi, Cosco, The Companion Group

--Plumbing and Electrical: Fluidmaster, B&K Industries, Waxman, LDR Industries

At the 2005 National Hardware Show(R), attendees will find five key trends shaping the industry:

--Lawn & Garden: As homeowners expand their usable living space to include backyards and decks, outdoor living and gardening have never been more popular. The outdoor living industry will break the $160 billion sales mark in 2005 (including sales of grills, outdoor furniture and accessories, as well as lawn and garden equipment) according to a recent Packaged Facts report. Reflecting this growth, the 2005 National Hardware Show's(R) Lawn & Garden world is nearly 29 percent larger than the 2004 show.

--High-end products: With the average household spending nearly $600 each year on housewares - a number that grows about seven percent each year - the industry is seizing a growth opportunity. With the co-location of the Las Vegas Gourmet Housewares Show(TM) and the National Hardware Show's(R) own housewares section, some 175,000 square feet of space will be devoted to the latest in home style, fashion and design.

--Healthy homes: With daily stories about toxic mold and aggressive allergens, more and more homeowners are concerned about their homes' indoor air quality. The popularity of portable air cleaners, humidifiers and dehumidifiers has allowed manufacturers and retailers to capitalize on homeowners' increased awareness of indoor air quality and their homes' environment.

--Women: Women accounted for 35.8 percent of the total residential repair and remodeling purchases last year, and continue to drive the home improvement category. As the homeowners specifying products with their builders to the advanced DIYers buying supplies for her renovation project, women are influencing retailers and manufacturers to continue to look for new ways to cater to their specific needs.

--Generation Y: By 2010 there will be 78 million Generation Yers who have the potential to outstrip their Baby Boomer parents' influence on the home furnishings market. Manufacturers are beginning to cater to this critical purchasing group with fresh designs, a burst of color and an appeal to Gen Yers' practical sensibilities.

With a strong growth in exhibitors over the 2004 show, the 2005 National Hardware Show(R) will span two Las Vegas venues - the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and the Sands Convention Center. The Sands - site of the 2004 show - will house the Lawn & Garden World, New Product World and Global Hardware Expo(SM), and the international exhibition area, while the LVCC will house Hardware & Tools, Paint & Decor, Plumbing, Electrical and Housewares and its own New Product World.

To ensure that attendees of the National Hardware Show(R) have access to both top manufacturers as well as leading-edge content, the Industry Conferences for the Home Marketplace(SM) were introduced at the 2004 show in Las Vegas. This year, both the LVCC and the Sands will feature sessions that bring together industry leaders, top media outlets and trend experts to explore the changing marketplace and how retailers and manufacturers can maximize their opportunities in the industry with some 45 sessions.

For more information on the 2005 National Hardware Show(R) in Las Vegas, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com.

Reed Exhibitions, which manages more than 420 events worldwide, is a member of the Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading provider of information-driven services and solutions. Reed Exhibitions offers integrated market access programs covering exhibitions, trade publications, direct marketing and the Internet to a database of 3.5 million in North America. Reed has North American offices in Norwalk, Conn., Newton, Mass., Palm Beach, Fla., Las Vegas and Toronto, and sales and operations offices worldwide. (NYSE:RUK/ENL).