Randy Merritt, Shaw's executive vice president of sales and marketing, noted that the large crowds at Surfaces were attractive, but the difficulty in providing enough personal service to individual customers has been a concern.

Merritt says that Shaw plans to conduct more regional events in 2004.

"As grand an event as Surfaces is, it is extremely difficult from a logistical standpoint to bring all of our field people to the event," Merritt says. "On the other hand, not only are we able to give customers individual attention with a regional event, but it helps our sales and management teams to allocate time and resources more efficiently."