The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), an economic development organization for 13 states including Georgia, is underwriting some of the costs for regional building products and home furnishings companies to attend the Ideal Home Show in London in March and April 2001.
The U.S. Department of Commerce and the states in the region also are to help defray the costs for companies to send representatives to the show, which attracts annually some 600,000 visitors.
The Ideal Home Show generates annually some $250 million worth of sales, according to Bob Erwin, an export program manager with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism.
Mr. Erwin told GlobalFax last week that the show has taken place for almost a 100 years and is the largest home show in Europe.
He added that its success has depended on its ability to continue generating unique attractions and this year’s innovation is the American Country Home Exhibit.
The Appalachian exhibit will be highlighted by a log cabin to be provided by Tennessee Log Homes Inc. of Athens, Tenn., 40 miles north of Dalton, and a surrounding country village where traditional arts and crafts are to be displayed.
“Everything from doorbells to barbecue grills can be promoted at the show,” he said. “Vacuum cleaners, carpets, bird houses, metal roofs and wood preservatives are other examples of the variety of goods that could be displayed.”
The cost of a “standard product display” is $495 and more elaborate displays cost $1,495. Customized matchmaking appointments also are available to any participant interested in finding agents, distributors and sales channels in the U.K and continental Europe.
For more information, go to http://204.186.123.61 Mr. Erwin may be reached by calling (404) 656-0632; fax, (404) 651-6505 or send an E-mail to berwin@georgia.org