July 13, 2001

LAGUNA BEACH, CA �Action Sports Retailer (ASR), the world's leading youth culture and action sports trade show, is pleased to announce venue and date changes for their 2003 and 2004 shows. These changes will allow ASR to better serve their core surf, skate, swim, footwear, resort and urban streetwear industry audience, by holding the show at a time that�s more in tune with the buying season and at a location to compliment the show�s steady growth.

Previously, ASR has held a February show in Long Beach, CA, and September shows in San Diego, CA and Atlantic City, NJ. In response to requests from retail buyers and manufacturers, the February show dates have been moved up. In 2003, the Long Beach ASR Trade Expo is confirmed for January 23-25. In 2004, the show will be held January 16-18.

While the date changes are big news for the youth market, ASR�s not done. Beginning in 2004, after eight successful years at the Long Beach Convention Center, the January ASR show will return to the San Diego Convention Center. Producing two annual shows in San Diego strengthens the future of ASR�s commitment to the venue and lends those benefits to it�s customers and the industry as a whole.

"We're happy with both the event and venue changes," says Group Vice President, Court Overin. "The January dates for buyers and exhibitors focuses the show on their summer buying needs. We'd been getting a lot of requests for these dates, from both retailers and manufacturers and it's great we were able to accommodate them as soon as 2003. The move from Long Beach to San Diego in 2004 is another big plus. Many of our show attendees have expressed a preference for San Diego and the newly expanded facility will allow us to have all of the exhibits on one level."

The reaction from exhibitors and buyers has been equally enthusiastic. "Thank you, ASR, for doing what our industry has needed for years," says Counter Culture�s CEO, Mike Lesher.

"The new dates will make ASR much more of a summer show," says Todd Roberts, of ZJ Boarding House, in Santa Monica. "And we�ve always preferred the San Diego venue. There�s more room to spread out."

"It's our job to be a conduit for the customers we serve and provide them with an event that serves their needs," says Overin. "Luckily we just have to listen, no one in our business is too shy about telling us what they want."

ASR Trade Expo is a division of VNU/Bill Communications. VNU is one of the world�s leading publishing and information companies and has leading market positions in consumer magazines, directories and information services, business information, as well as educational publishing. Worldwide, VNU employs approximately 16,000 people and has annual revenues of more than EUR 2.8 billion. For more information visit the ASR website at: http://www.asrbiz.com or VNU website at: http://www.vnu.com.