ABOUT PROFESSIONAL TRADE PUBLICATIONS INC.

Professional Trade Publications Inc., best known for its flagship title Concrete Decor, produces media and events for specialty sectors in the construction trades. Its print and online magazines contain colorful photos, informative articles, industry news, new product announcements and practical information for contractors, artisans, designers, suppliers and retailers in fields where success depends upon skill, craftsmanship, creativity and quality.

The publishing company also hosts the annual Concrete Decor Show and Spring Training, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee, in March 2011.

THE FAMILY OF MAGAZINES

Today, the company publishes two titles that serve the specialized decorative concrete business:

Concrete Decor, the world's foremost magazine on decorative concrete, is a valuable source for information, ideas, products and training relevant to both commercial and residential work in decorative concrete and related specialties. The magazine contains inspiring stories and news items that give concrete professionals the resources they need in all aspects of design, construction, renovation and rehabilitation related to improving the aesthetics and the performance of concrete. The majority of its readers are contractors and the publication enjoys a high average pass-along readership of three. During its 10th year, each issue of Concrete Decor reached more than 40,000 professionals working in or designing for decorative concrete.

With its print edition complemented by a comprehensive online presence that includes blogs, social networking, a monthly online newsletter, breaking news coverage and an online version of the magazine, Concrete Decor is the world's most influential source of information about decorative concrete.

Regular features of the magazine include the Decorative Concrete Buyer's Guide, Decorative Concrete Training Guide, and an annual supplement focusing on concrete polishing. Another supplement, Counter Culture, addresses the interests of designers and fabricators who recognize opportunities and value in concrete countertops, fireplace surrounds, decorative wall panels and other design features built from cementitious materials.

Visit Concrete Decor website

Decorative Concrete Retailer serves a diverse and growing market of resellers, distributors and retail stores that offer a wide range of decorative concrete materials and equipment, as well as general concrete construction supplies. Targeted to the person behind the counter and in the field representing the retail segment, it provides a vital link in the distribution chain.

Visit Decorative Concrete Retailer website

HISTORY

When Professional Trade Publications introduced PaintPRO magazine in 1999, its unique visual approach and friendly, intuitive editorial style immediately garnered a loyal readership among decorators, faux finishers, coatings applicators and other like-minded artisans. PaintPRO contained inspiring articles and pictorial features covering a multitude of useful techniques, including stories on how to enhance existing concrete surfaces. Its features on staining, stenciling and producing graphics on existing concrete created a sensation, because at that time the aesthetic aspects of concrete received minimal coverage in established concrete industry magazines, which were biased toward engineering and new construction on a large scale.

In response to overwhelming interest, Concrete Decor was launched in 2001 to address the growing popularity of decorative concrete and related areas. It quickly became the "must-read" source of information for professionals in the emerging decorative concrete industry.

The family-owned publishing company moved from the mountain town of Arnold, California, to Eugene, Oregon, in 2001 to accommodate rapid growth and attract educated employees from nearby universities to improve its journalistic quality and style. It added staff to support growing circulation and advertising-related services as well as its rapidly evolving scope of coverage.

PHILOSOPHY

What began in 1999 with a magazine for professional painters has since become a respected construction-trade publishing house with one unifying philosophy:

"Like many of our readers, Professional Trade Publications is a family-owned business with a commitment to excellence. Because of my own hands-on experience as a contractor, I understand the unique point of view of artisans and tradespeople who have a passion for their creative work," says Bent Mikkelsen, the CEO, publisher and founder. "This perspective allows our family of magazines to stay in touch with our readers, speak to their needs and champion their interests in a way that strives to be both independent and personal."

LOOKING AHEAD

Professional Trade Publications has announced that the second annual Concrete Decor Show and Spring Training will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, March 15-18, 2011, to provide training, education, networking opportunities and general excellence in the decorative concrete industry. The Show will also announce next year's inductees into the Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame, founded by Professional Trade Publications to cultivate creativity, promote awareness of decorative concrete and stimulate demand.