MINNEAPOLIS, MN-An expanded version of the Independents' Days Conference and Glass Show will take place February 24-26, 2005 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fl. The eighth annual event is sponsored by the Independent Glass Association (IGA), the country's largest association of independent glass retailers.

"We are planning on expanding the event and turning it into the spring event for the glass industry," said IGA's Sue Johnson. "The event will have an expanded seminar track, featuring seminars for the auto glass companies, and a first-class exhibition. We are excited to be gearing up for what looks to be IGA's best event ever. Seminars will include info about IGA's litigation and several new programs the association will announce. Our goal is to not only have independents survive, but to prosper in the future."

Johnson added that it has taken the association a few months to move offices and effectuate a transition from California. "But that process is completed now," she said, "and we are hard at work on our expanding our member services."

The association has also hired Key Communications Inc., publishers of AGRR, USGlass and Window Film magazines, among others, to manage and plan the event. "Most in the industry already know many of the people at Key-Deb Levy, Tina Czar, Holly Biller ---from working with them at other Expos. Together, we are planning a major expansion of the show and plan to make it into the spring show for the industry," Johnson added.

Previous exhibitors are being contacted this week and general sales begin on August 17. A preliminary event schedule is enclosed. For information about exhibiting, please contact Tina Czar (tczar@glass.com) at 540-720-5584 ext. 115, for attendance information, ext. 0.

The Independent Glass Association is the country's ONLY organization for independent glass retailers. It provides education, support services and the competitive advantages gained from strength in numbers. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the association has more than 1,000 member locations.

8th Annual Independents' Days
Conference and Glass Show
(Tentative schedule, subject to change)

Thursday, February 24th
8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Golf Outing
1:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. Exhibitor move- in
5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Welcoming Reception

Friday, February 25th
8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Exhibit move-in
8 a.m. - noon Conference/seminars/demonstration
Noon - 1 p.m. Lunch on own
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Conference/seminars/demonstration
3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Glass Show
6:30 p.m. Buses Depart Evening Event
7 p.m. -10 p.m. Friday Night Festivities, tentatively at Sea World.

Saturday, February 26th
8 a.m. - Noon Conference/seminars/demonstration
Noon - 3 p.m. Glass Show with lunch on show floor
3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Conference/seminars and wrap-up
3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Exhibitor move-out

For more information about exhibiting, contact Tina Czar, exhibits manager at 540/720-5584 ext. 115 or by email at tczar@glass.com. For attendee information, contact Pam Marth, show registrar at 540/720-5584 ext. 0 or by email at pmarth@glass.com. Show information is available online at www.glass.com or www.iga.org.