ABOUT PROFESSIONAL TRADE PUBLICATIONS, INC.
Professional Trade Publications, best known for its flagship title Concrete Decor, produces a family of magazines for specialty sectors in the construction trades. The print and online magazines contain colorful photos, informative articles, industry news, new product announcements and practical information for professional contractors, artisans, suppliers and retailers in fields where success depends upon skill, craftsmanship, creativity and quality.

The publishing company is celebrating its 10th anniversary by announcing expansion into event management, starting with the first annual Concrete Decor Show and Decorative Concrete Spring Training, to be held in Phoenix, Arizona, in March 2010.

THE FAMILY OF MAGAZINES
Today, the company publishes three titles that serve the specialized decorative concrete business:

Concrete Decor, the 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 pass-along readership. During its ninth year, Concrete Decor reached more than 45,000 professionals working in or designing for decorative concrete. With an average pass-along readership of three, Concrete Decor has become the most read and most influential magazine covering decorative concrete.

Visit Concrete Decor website

Counter Culture is an engaging new bi-annual magazine supplement that 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. The publication equips artisans in this specialty area with knowledge of fabrication methods and technical details. It is filled with beautiful photos and insightful articles that celebrate the workmanship that brings success. It is distributed with Concrete Decor magazine and directly to an additional circulation of businesses involved in countertop design, fabrication and installation.

Visit Counter Culture website

Decorative Concrete Retailer was added in 2009 to serve 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. The support for education and training of concrete finishers provided through retail stores and distributors helps stimulate the growth of the industry.

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 with an engineering bias relevant to 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 business.

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 objectivity and style. It added staff to support growing circulation and services such as the comprehensive Decorative Concrete Buyers Guide and the Decorative Concrete Training Guide. Both are available online to construction professionals worldwide.

PHILOSOPHY
What began in 1999 as a magazine for paint, coatings and decorating professionals has since become a respected family of publications 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 Concrete Decor Show and Decorative Concrete Spring Training will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, March 16-19, 2010 to provide training, education and networking opportunities. The Concrete Decor Show will also present and publicize awards of excellence to cultivate creativity, promote awareness of decorative concrete and stimulate increased demand.