Ceramic tile and natural stone companies participating for the first time in the Architectural Stone and Ceramic Tile Exposition (ASCTEX) @ NeoCon were greeted by more than 50,000 visitors at NeoCon's 35th annual World's Trade Fair, held at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago in June. According to show organizers, strong demand for natural stone and ceramic tile was evident among the architects, interior designers and decorators touring the exhibits at the event.

The tile and stone companies who participated reported that they were pleased with the results and their decision to join the event. “It was a very good show for us, as we met national architectural accounts and were able to show a whole spectrum of material,” said Sami Tawil, Catco Marble and Granite.

Stone was well-represented on the ASCTEX @ NeoCon exhibition floor, and visitors looking for marble, granite, limestone and cantera found a number of new products to examine, including stone medallions. Michael Coburn, former vice president of the Coverings exposition in Orlando, organized the Architectural Stone and Ceramic Tile Exposition (ASCTEX) @ NeoCon as a way for a select group of natural stone and ceramic tile companies to extend their marketing reach and expand their geographic base. By adding a tile and stone pavilion to long-established NeoCon events, ASCTEX @ NeoCon enables tile and stone companies to reach a large audience of architects and interior designers.

The multi-city exhibition schedule of ASCTEX @ NeoCon also enables exhibitors to greatly broaden their geographic exposure. Companies can even tailor their offerings on a show-by-show, market-by-market basis. And they also gain a way to reach the many tile and stone professionals in major markets throughout the country who prefer not to travel to large, generalized trade shows in distant cities.

The Architectural Stone and Ceramic Tile Exposition @ NeoCon has four events scheduled over the next 12 months: Toronto, Canada, from September 30 to October 1, 2004; Baltimore/Washington DC, from October 6 to 7, 2004; Los Angeles, CA, from March 9 to 10, 2005; and Chicago, IL, from June 13 to 15, 2005.

For more information on ASCTEX @ NeoCon, contact: Michael Coburn of the Architectural Stone and Ceramic Tile Exposition at 561-575-2009; e-mail: info@asctex.com.