HIGH POINT, NC –According to The Business Journal, a group of furnituremakers and the High Point Market Authority are planning on turning Pre-Market into a more structured event. Pre-Market is an informal gathering of top sellers and buyers that takes place several weeks before each of the big furniture markets.

LINCOLNSHIRE, IL — Vance Publishing Corporation has acquired two leading woodworking events and related assets from Reed Exhibitions Canada. The shows include the Woodworking Machinery and Supply Expo (WMS), held in odd years in Toronto, and Salon Industriel du Bois Ouvrè (SIBO), held in even years in St. Hyacinthe, QUE.

AUSTIN, TX -- Barry Izsak, an Austin professional organizer and president of the National Assn. of Professional Organizers (NAPO), was honored last month at the 2007 Los Angeles Organizing Awards, sponsored by the Los Angeles NAPO chapter. The annual awards gala recognizes the growing professional organizing industry and celebrates the individual achievements of the most influential organizing experts who define standards for home and business productivity, according to SBWire.com

WASHINGTON – On March 13, Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Jerry Weller, along with the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and a coalition of supporters from conservation, industry and labor groups, announced the introduction of the Legal Timber Protection Act. The act bans the use of illegally-harvested timber and wood products, and it will amend the U.S.

LAS VEGAS – The National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers celebrated the 36th anniversary of its awards presentation on March 7, during an awards ceremony at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Fifty-two awards were presented in recognition of the design of the retail environments. The Fixture of the Year Award went to Lily Simon for its elegant fixture grouping. Shu uemera, which was submitted by NASFM member High Country Millwork, was named Store of the Year.

WASHINGTON – Sales of new single-family homes dropped in January following sales gains in November and December, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department. The preliminary sales pace declined 16.6% for the month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 937,000 units, down 20.1% from a year earlier. The decline was particularly harsh for builders in the West.

CENTERVILLE, MA -- The Green Building Initiative (GBI), a non-profit education initiative, announced Mar. 22 its support for Ecobuild America, a green and sustainable building conference taking place May 15-17, in Anaheim, CA, according to PRWeb.

HOLLYWOOD, FL – Jim Harte, director of store design and construction at Stride Rite nominated Valley City, OH-based Custom Surroundings for this year’s Above & Beyond Award from the National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers. NASFM's Above & Beyond Award recognizes NASFM member fixture suppliers who deliver exceptional service to their customers by exceeding expectations.