The 60th annual National Hardware Show is preparing for a full house at its Las Vegas event May 17-19, 2005, with more than 1,800 manufacturers already committed to 481,250 square feet of the available floor space at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and the Sands Convention Center.

"When we first decided to revive the National Hardware Show with a new location, new timing and new content, we knew the manufacturers and retailers in the home improvement industry would quickly and decidedly vote on whether or not we made the right decision," said Rob Cappiello, industry vice president for the National Hardware Show. "And vote they have. With a majority of the industry's top brands already committed to the 2005 show in Las Vegas, the industry has proven that the changes we made were needed and welcome."

To accommodate the growth, the 2005 National Hardware Show will span two Las Vegas venues. The Sands - site of the 2004 show - will house the Lawn & Garden World, New Product World® and Global Hardware Exposm, the international exhibition area, while the LVCC will house Hardware & Tools, Paint & Decor, Plumbing, Electrical and Housewares and its own New Product World®. Show officials said that for buyers to preview all of the companies and new products that will debut next year, attendees should plan to spend approximately three full days at the show.

"We will continue to make improvements to the 2005 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas to make this show even more valuable for everyone who participates," said Cappiello. "The home improvement industry is constantly changing and so must the industry's top show."

The 2005 National Hardware Show has already outpaced the 2004 event, which featured 2,303 exhibitors and more than 479,000 square feet of exhibit space.

For more information on the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, visit www.nationalhardwareshow.com.