Budget-Awnings.com Gearing Up To Attend IFAI Expo Trade Shows and Symposium

Budget-Awnings.com will return for its 22nd year to the International Fabrics Association International Expo, the largest fabrics trade show in the Western Hemisphere. One of the most vibrant and internationally anticipated events for the fabric and awning industry.

The IFAI Expo is recognized by the US Department of Commerce for its International Buyer Program, which makes it a vital and brisk-paced venue to find new products and manufacturers for retractable awnings and accessories.

Budget-Awnings.com attended the IFAI last year in the sands of Las Vegas. The three day event this year, from October 21-23, will be located in the pine forests of Charlotte, NC.

Budget-Awnings.com has long been a member of the IFAI and its sister organization, the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA). Scop stated, "Some of the benefits of membership in the IFAI and PAMA include networking, product and service exposure, industry information, referrals, and support for growth of the industry."

The core of the IFAI Expo is its emphasis on design. The IFAI focuses on fabric design through its International Achievement Awards; eight categories are devoted to awnings. These competitions focus on the most innovative ways to integrate awnings within larger architectural, landscaping, or functional designs.

The PAMA competition highlights the importance of looking at every retractable awning installation with a fresh perspective, said Scop. "Every retractable awning introduces a new design feature to that home or that office," he reiterated. When searching for a retractable awning Scop Through his 22 years of experience, Scop says that a few questions remain constant with every retractable awning design project:

• What function does the awning need to do a particular space?
• How big a shade area do I need to cover?
• Where is the best location for me to mount the retractable awning?
• What areas, such as a deck, window, or hot tub, will be shaded?
• What direction does the home or office face?
• What design feature do I want to emphasize?

The 2008 IFAI Expo will host a trade show for multiple industries, from engineering to medicine to landscaping, which intersect over industrial-grade fabrics. The symposium aspect of the expo explores in-depth topics related to designing fabric systems and promoting the industry. Together, the IFAI Expo is anticipating surging international interest:
• Over 8,100 registrants from 80 countries, covering every junction of the fabrics industry
• Almost 500 industry-lending vendors and suppliers and the spectrum of fabrics industries from retractable awnings to aeronautics
• More than 90 speakers leading dozens of lectures and panel discussions on a unparalleled variety of topics, including environmental practices, emerging markets and more

"The retractable awning market in the US is growing, and we want Budget-Awnings.com to remain at the forefront of that growth with the best quality, best functionality, and most interesting styles," Scop said. "Attending the IFAI Expo keeps us at the center of retractable awning trends and in touch with the best suppliers and manufacturers. That's something we can bring home to our customers."

Budget-Awnings.com has been shipping retractable sun and rain protection awning systems to residential, commercial, and institutional customers worldwide since 1998. For more information, call 1-877-BUY AWNINGS (1-877-289-2964), email us at sales@budget-awnings.com, or visit www.budget-awnings.com.