Have you ever wondered why so many of the businesses exhibiting at today's home shows ironically have nothing to do with homes? This has become a serious concern among remodeling industry professionals, according to Robin Kocina, President of Mid-America Events & Expos.

"Through a focus group last fall involving key community businesses, we identified the remodeling and design market as being underserved by existing expos. We quickly geared up to create an event to reach this market sector," says Kocina. "With its narrower focus, this expo will be substantially different from all other area home shows, so our attendees, exhibitors and sponsors can have more realistic expectations."

The Mid-America Remodeling and Design Expo, to be held November 4-5, 2006 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, was developed to ensure there is a show that focuses on remodeling, home products and interior design.

The new expo is being produced in partnership with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). NARI is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. It is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. National award-winning NARI members will conduct seminars and presentations at the expo.

"When you have exhibitors selling clothes, vacation rentals, etc. it draws a broader range of people into the expo," Kocina explains. "But if a remodeling specialist spends the money to exhibit, he (or she) wants to meet with people who came to the show because they are interested in remodeling, not to buy chili seasoning!

"You won't find someone offering to clean your jewelry, or check your spinal alignment at this show," Kocina says. "What you will find are people who can help you remodel your bathroom or kitchen, or give you other ideas for updating and re-designing your home and making it more livable. We also will have the Technology and New Products Arena where homeowners can browse the latest home-related items on the market."

Industry experts say that remodeling expenditures by homeowners and rental property owners now accounts for 40 percent of all residential construction and improvement spending. Yet most home shows don't give this industry the attention it deserves.

More than $275 billion is spent on remodeling annually, and that amount is expected to increase. Homeowners have been known to invest as much as 50 percent or more of their homes' initial market value to update their living spaces. According to some experts, the largest percentage of that budget is spent on changing interior space such as kitchens, bathrooms and room additions.

"The Mid-America Remodeling and Design Expo™ will truly be a place where experts and consumers can find each other," Kocina concludes. For additional information about this expo, visit www.101expos.com or call 612-798-7256. To find a qualified NARI professional, visit www.narimn.org or call 612-332-NARI.

Media Note: For additional information, or to schedule an interview, call 612-798-7220.