Attendance of top-ranking retailers

The participation of 42 chairmen and/or managing directors from 16 countries at the Practical World Forum 2006 in Cologne on 6 and 7 March means that this year's International Hardware Fair/Practical World can boast a new record for the attendance of top-ranking national and international retailers from the DIY industry. The Practical World Forum is being held in Cologne within the framework of the world's leading DIY trade fair for the first time. Frank Loncar, president of Lowe's, the USA's second-largest home improvement retailer, willl be presenting his perspective on Global Sourcing there. Among the other speakers that the organisers have been able to sign up are Gerry Murphy, Kingfisher's CEO, and Horst Paulmann, chairman of Easy Home Centers, Chile, as well as Murray Armstrong, president and general manager of Ace Hardware, USA.