FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2006

NASFM and NADI Merge to Better Serve the Retail Environments Industry

Hollywood, Fla. - NASFM and NADI members formally voted today to approve a merger between the two not-for-profit trade organizations. Both serve the retail environments industry, NADI members providing visual merchandising products and services and NASFM members providing store fixtures and associated products and services. Under the terms of the merger, NASFM will assume responsibility for NADI operations, while maintaining the NADI name to identify the visual merchandising activities of the organization. Programs that NADI has become known for, such as the popular ShopTalk series of networking discussions, will continue, and many of the services and benefits currently available to NASFM’s members are expected to be of interest to regular members of NADI. This includes opportunities to attend NASFM’s convention and educational seminars at the member rate, opportunities to participate in industry research including surveys on industry performance and compensation, inclusion in the NASFM Buyers’ Guide and other marketing programs, subscription to NASFM Magazine and access to the NASFM web site, member discounts to participate in Retail Design Awards and the new online Retail Interiors Career Center, and participation in international programs. Strategic Benefits to Members and Industry Says NADI President Robert Rosean, “Beyond the fit with our long-range vision, the merger offers tremendous benefits to NADI members. NADI will enjoy greater leverage in the marketplace on the issues most important to our membership. All of us on the board are excited about more wonderful changes on the way.” NASFM’s President Jim Schubert agrees. He says, “We both feel that by combining NADI into NASFM we become a stronger team than as two separate associations. We believe that by combining the more design-focused, visual merchandising-oriented NADI members into the NASFM “big tent” we will position NASFM to continue to be the home for retail environments professionals in the future—and the best resource for buyers and specifiers of retail environments.” Ultimately, the merger supports changes in the retail market and in the way products and services for retail environments are sourced. NASFM Executive Director Klein Merriman says, “We believe that retailers are increasingly interested in shorter vendor lists. Our members will continue to expand the scope of services they provide to meet the needs of their clients. Our leaders are prepared to make the investments needed to leverage the strengths that NASFM has developed over the years to attract and retain a broad array of retail solutions providers.” For more information, contact: Robert Rosean President, NADI 212-462-8634 robert.rosean@alu.com James Schubert President, NASFM 804-222-5535 jim@showbest.com Klein Merriman Executive Director, NASFM and NADI 954-893-7300, ext. 22 kleinmerriman@nasfm.org About the Organizations About NASFM Founded in 1956 and based in Hollywood, Fla., NASFM has stood for quality and professionalism for 50 years. NASFM members are proven industry leaders—companies that are well known for excellent craftsmanship, topflight service, and cutting-edge innovation. Member products encompass a full range of materials and store fixture types. Member capabilities now extend beyond fixture manufacturing to include importing, exporting, consolidating, installing, project management, engineering, design, and more. It is estimated that NASFM members are responsible for 85 percent of all store fixtures made in North America. More information about NASFM is available by calling 954-893-7300 or visiting www.nasfm.org. NASFM has provided administration for NADI since 2001. About NADI Founded in 1942, the National Association of Display Industries (NADI) is the leading association advancing the growth and development of visual merchandising. Now the visual merchandising division of NASFM, based in Hollywood, Fla., the international, not-for-profit association’s member companies represent a comprehensive array of retail display products and services. As visual merchandising has evolved throughout the years into its current integral role in retail success, NADI has taken the lead in informing and educating members. More information about NADI is available by calling 954-893-7225 or visiting www.nadi-global.com. About the Officers Robert Rosean President, NADI Bob Rosean was elected President of the NADI in 2005 and has been an active NADI participant for years, serving on NADI’s board of directors since 2002 and chairing a NADI task force. He spearheaded the development of ShopTalk, a roundtable/networking event for NADI retail members. Rosean is president of Alu Inc., a New York City-based wholly owned subsidiary of Alu Worldwide based in Italy. He joined the company in 2001. Before joining Alu, Rosean was vice president of marketing and sales for Reebok’s golf division. He also served in a variety of positions for Sara Lee Corp. and its divisions, including divisional vice president of business development and licensing for Coach; director of strategic planning and analysis for the group office of five divisions of Sara Lee Corp.; and senior manager of strategic and retail planning at Sara Lee Corp. James Schubert President, NASFM Jim Schubert was elected President of the NASFM in 2004. Schubert has served on NASFM’s board of directors since 1997 and was named vice president of the board in 2002. Schubert is president of Showbest Fixture Corp. and has a strong background in finance. Having graduated from Waynesburg College in 1972 with a degree in accounting, he became a CPA in the state of New Jersey in 1975. After four years as a senior accountant with Arthur Anderson, he spent eight years as the CFO of the Wine & Spirits Division of Nabisco Brands. In 1984, he joined the Howard Marlboro Group as the COO of P-O-P/Display Manufacturing. Schubert purchased Showbest in 1994. Klein Merriman Executive Director, NASFM and NADI Klein Merriman joined NASFM, based in Hollywood, Fla., as executive director in 1995. Since that time the association has almost tripled in size while greatly increasing the number and scope of programs and services for members. He has been involved in trade association management since 1985. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Miami, and a B.A. from Dickinson College.