MERCHANDISING EXCELLENCE AWARDS DEBUT DURING THE INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES MARKET™ WITH SIX WINNERS

Six Winners Take Home Top Honors for Visual Merchandising

CHICAGO (Sept. 15, 2005) – New in 2005, the Merchandising Excellence Awards recognized exhibitors who presented the best of the best in visual merchandising in their showroom or booth during the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™, held at The Merchandise Mart, Sept. 14-17, 2005. This new program is presented by the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR), Hearth & Home magazine and Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI).

Six awards were presented to both permanent showrooms and temporary exhibitors in two categories. More than 30 exhibitors competed in the inaugural competition based on the following criteria: effective use of material; graphics; lighting; originality of design; use of space; use of color and texture; and visual impact.

The 2005 Merchandising Excellence Winners are:

Furniture Category: Permanent Showroom under 5,000 square feet
O.W. Lee         

Showroom #1786
 
Furniture Category: Permanent Showroom over 5,000 square feet       
Laneventure    

Showroom #1748
 
Furniture Category: Market Suites Exhibitor under 600 square feet  
Poly-Wood, Inc.                  

Market Suites #8-1086
 
Furniture Category: Market Suites Exhibitor over 600 square feet  
emuamericas  

Market Suites #8-4076
 
Accessories Category: Permanent Showroom/Market Suites Exhibitor under 1,000 square feet
Laurie Bell      

Market Suites #8-6100
 
Accessories Category: Permanent Showroom/Market Suites Exhibitor over 1,000 square feet
Cuscini Design

Market Suites #8-6078

The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is sponsored by the Summer & Casual Furniture Manufacturers Association (SCFMA) and the Casual Furniture Retailers Association (CFR), the industry’s two leading casual furniture associations, and managed by MMPI.

For more information about the Chicago Casual Market or Merchandising Excellence Awards, please call 800.677.6278 (MART) or visit www.merchandisemart.com and click on the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market.

SAVE THE DATE:

International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market™

Sept. 13-16, 2006

The Merchandise Mart

Chicago, Ill.

Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) is a trade show, leasing and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart, 350 W. Mart Center and 33 North Dearborn in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Washington Office Center in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:

Natalie Campbell

Public Relations Associate

Phone: 312.527.7790

E-mail: ncampbell@mmart.com