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By BOB
VEREEEN, Director
Emeritus
News from around the world
HERE IS A VERY USEFUL WEB SITE FOR YOU
Whether you are a business person or a consumer trying to contact one of our members, we want to tell you about a fantastic web site:
www.allmyfaves.com gives you access to about 100 web sites with just one click! The sites are organized by category--travel, translations, news, etc. Then click on any logo shown and you will be taken to that site. Check it out; you'll want to save it and use it regularly.
BUYERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TOURED MAJOR CHAINS
AND FOUND NEW PRODUCTS AT NATIONAL HARDWARE SHOW®
The National Hardware Show®, held in Las Vegas May 6-8, is more than a world showcase of products and promotions. This year it featured helpful industry seminars, a New Products Exposition, and for the first time, a display of new "Green Products" so buyers searching for enviro-
mentally sound products could research them easily.
Show management gave special attention to the needs and interests of international visitors, with programs especially for them, as well as an International Reception Wednesday evening, May 7. This event was co-sponsored by the Worldwide DIY Council.
This year, for the first time, a tour was conducted among major U. S. retailers, and nearly 3 dozen agents, buyers and distributors from around the world went on the store tour conducted by the Worldwide DIY Council.
Stores visited included Wal*Mart, the world's largest retailer, Costco, the world's largest warehouse retailer, and Home Depot and Lowes, #1 and 2 in the ranks of home centers around the world.
Pictured is the group as they pose beside the bus in front of the Lowes store they visited. Each attendee received a profile of the stores, outlining their market position, strategies and showcasing some of their operational data.
For a list of Worldwide DIY Council members exhibiting at the National Hardware Show® this year, click on this link.
MEMBERS' PRODUCTS TO BE SHOWN IN UPCOMING
HARDWARE SHOW IN COSTA RICA IN EARLY JUNE
June 6-8 are the dates for Expo Ferretera 2008, being held in San Jose, Costa Rica, and the products of many member firms will be available for inspection and purchase there--many being shown by agents and distributors such as Rosejo, which will be showing products from Mr. Longarm, Inc. and OCI Americas.
The Worldwide DIY Council will have a small group pavilion in the show featuring products from Lehigh Group, TKO Coatings, Ali Industries, Bigg Lugg and others.
Watch this space for additional names of exhibiting members.
2008 INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR/PRACTICAL WORLD ATTRACTS 70,000 FROM 130 COUNTRIES
Buyers from around the world found bargains this year at the mammoth Cologne Fair March 9-12 when they visited the stands of exhibiting members of the Worldwide DIY Council, due to the dollar's decline.
The dollar makes every American and Canadian exhibitor's products tremendous values. More than two dozen members were in the group pavilion in Hall 4.2 sponsored by the American Hardware Manufacturers Association.
Another dozen or more Council members exhibited on their own in other sections of the sprawling Cologne Fair grounds.
The show opened two halls to consumers this year and conducted educational sessions for them in a small theater. Two German DIY chains, OBI and Toom, also exhibited to educate consumers.
Numerous large and small conferences were held to discuss current industry conditions and problems, as pictured.
 
To find out which Council members exhibited, click on the link below to get a listing of members, their stand numbers and, in many cases, a link to their web pages on this site, which will show you the kinds of products they make.
. Click here for more international news and Cologne stand numbers
Meet our
members in person
In coming
months, members of the Worldwide DIY Council will be participating
in a number of industry trade shows, where you can meet them personally
and have face-to-face discussions of mutually beneficial relationships.
Click here for more information about forthcoming industry events.
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