- 390 Exhibitors from 32 countries participate in inaugural Paperworld USA
- First transatlantic partnership produced a successful event
- Exhibitors are impressed by 4,025 attendees from 81 countries
- Broad support for the second show edition in Miami Beach in 2006 evident

Las Vegas, NV – The inaugural Paperworld USA took place from November 9-11, 2005 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The trade show was produced in partnership by Messe Frankfurt, Inc., School, Home, & Office Products Association (SHOPA) and PROPAPER (the Spanish trade association). A total of 390 exhibitors from 32 countries were impressed by 4,025 attendees representing 81 countries. The show focused on four product categories, including School, Home & Office Products; Imaging; Scriptum; and Creative. The high level of exhibitor satisfaction with the first Paperworld USA was also evident in the unusually high rebooking rate for space at the next Paperworld USA in Miami Beach, Florida, November 8 – 10, 2006.

Paperworld USA was formed by the school and office products industry in order to provide a stronger networking platform for buyers and sellers in North and South America. The former international SHOPA Show provided the base for the newly created Paperworld USA. The support of the Spanish school and office products association, ProPaper, and the world’s leading office products show, Paperworld Frankfurt, provided additional ingredients to the new show formula. The collaboration among the partners Messe Frankfurt, Inc., SHOPA and PROPAPER succeeded in creating the most comprehensive industry platform for the North and South American market place.

Paperworld USA attracted participants from around the world. “A primary goal for Paperworld USA was to provide a comprehensive industry platform for exhibitors and buyers of the entire American continent. With exhibitors from 32 countries and attendees from 81 destinations – including almost every Latin American country, we feel this goal was achieved” stated Roland Bleinroth, President, Messe Frankfurt, Inc.

Buyers had an opportunity to peruse products from around the world. Featured product categories included Creative, Scriptum, Imaging as well as the School, Home and Office segment previously represented at the SHOPA show. There were over 150 new exhibitors at this year’s event compared to the previous SHOPA show. Many domestic and international exhibitors expressed their enthusiasm about the business contacts generated at the show. Exhibitors utilized the onsite rebooking opportunities for next year’s show eagerly, with many companies opting to expand their space for next year.

The variety of products was also represented at the event’s New Product Showcase, which highlighted 58 products, representing some of the most innovative new designs and hottest products of the year. Special recognition awards were presented to products in each category, as well as the Best Overall product. Entry products were judged by a select panel of industry trade publication editors.

In the School & Office Products category, First Place went to Sisco for their “Fire Safe Model 5054SB,” which featured biometric technology and fingerprint recognition. This innovative product also took the Best Overall Product award. Second Place went to “Docustyle” by Unibind, a desk top binding machine. Third Place honor was awarded to Albern Enterprises for their “Dress Me Right” children’s interactive educational product. In the Creative Products category Barton Enterprises, Inc. won First Place with “Memory Box Kits” and Second Place went to CRI 2000/ECR for the “6 Pack Theme Paper Punch Sets”. For the Imaging Products, Aidata USA Co., Ltd. won First Place honors with the “Flat Panel Monitor Arm (E-Motion)”.

Paperworld USA held 33 industry seminars, including a keynote presentation by Mr. Bernhard J. Teuber, member of the Group Board of Management Faber-Castell AG. Mr. Teuber’s informative session on “The Road to a Global Brand – Challenges for a Medium-Sized Company” was well-received by the audience.

Another show highlight was SHOPA’s “Kids In Need Foundation” Award Gala dinner honoring Staples on Wednesday, November 9 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The Silent Auction and Awards Gala raised more than $300,000 for this charity cause, benefiting students, providing grants for educators as well as supporting the hurricane relief efforts around the Gulf Coast area.

Next year’s Paperworld USA will take place November 8 -10, 2006 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Florida. Based on the increased exhibitor demand after the success of the inaugural show the show partners have decided to expand the trade show floor space for next year.

Paperworld USA show photos will be available on the www.paperworld-usa.com the week of November 21.

Exhibitor Quotes

ArtSkills, Brad Demsky, Vice President - USA
“We met with all the important distribution channels – superstores, small and medium-sized office product retailers, plus grocery and drug stores. We found excellent quality and excellent conversations with the buyers. Our main focus was to meet domestic buyers and we are very satisfied and look forward to Miami next year!”

BOSS FEDERATION, Keith Davies, Chief Executive – United Kingdom
“All of the British companies exhibiting through the BOSS Federation have very positive feelings about Paperworld USA. Several described the quality and quantity of leads as excellent…one of the pavilion companies had over 100 leads the first day alone.”

CENTER ENTERPRISES, Inc., Alan D. Rozinsky, Vice President Operations - USA
“Terrific mix of categories, high quality international and domestic buyers was excellent. The Paperworld USA marquee sets the high standard we are looking for.”

E.S ROBBINS Office Products, Sally Staggs, Marketing Manager - USA
“The quality of attendees for Paperworld USA was excellent! We met with top level decision makers of both domestic and international resellers.”

FABER-CASTELL, Inc., Jaime Gallagher, President/CEO (USA) - Germany
“We saw customers and potential customers here at Paperworld USA that we would not have seen otherwise. We had the chance to introduce our brand and meet with many new international business prospects.”

GRIPPING STUFF Int. Ltd., Jack P. Leenaarts, General Manager/V.P Sales and Marketing - USA
”We had many U.S. buyers visit our booth which made our show! We are very satisfied…we saw everyone we expected to see and more. In addition, we had a broad sampling of key buyers from Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia.”

ICEX, Trade Commission of Spain, Paloma Marugan, Director - Spain
“We believe that Paperworld USA has great potential. In a market as competitive and interesting as that of the United States, this trade show offers an excellent opportunity for companies from Europe who want to have first-hand exposure to the best buyers from the U.S. as well as Central and South America.”

STYB, Miguel Angel Hormigos, Export Department - Spain
“This show has been very good. We are happy and achieved the goals we set for our company. We saw 8 new accounts from Latin America and closed some deals with customers from this region.”

You will find further information about Paperworld USA and Messe Frankfurt on the Internet at www.paperworld.messefrankfurt.com and www.usa.messefrankfurt.com.

Information about SHOPA is to be found at www.shopa.org and about PROPAPER at www.propaper.es.

For more details, contact:
Messe Frankfurt, Inc.
Attn: Scott Easton
1600 Parkwood Circle, Ste. 515
Atlanta, GA 30339
Tel: 770.984.8016 ext. 443
Fax: 770.984.8023

E-mail: scott.easton@usa.messefrankfurt.com
Website: www.usa.messefrankfurt.com

Press Contact:
Messe Frankfurt, Inc.
Attn.: Roland Bleinroth
1600 Parkwood Circle, Ste. 515
Atlanta, GA 30339 USA
Phone: 770.984.8016
Fax: 770.984.8023

E-mail: info@usa.messefrankfurt.com
Web: www.paperworld-usa.com