Shnier Co. Announces Exclusive Canadian Distribution Rights to Edge Flooring

Toronto, December 22nd, 2004 - The Shnier Co. is pleased to announce an agreement with Edge Flooring™ to be the exclusive Canadian distributor of the revolutionary new Edge Flooring™ system. The Edge Flooring™ system will be available in the Canadian market as of January 2005. This revolutionary alternative to conventional flooring options joins authentic porcelain ceramic tile with a pre-attached backerboard and a tongue and groove edge that allows quick, simple, lock-in-place installation.

Installing attractive ceramic tile flooring is now easier and more affordable thanks to an innovative new flooring product. Edge Flooring™, which uses a patented interlocking system to install real tile flooring, allows do-it-yourselfers and professionals alike to create high-quality floors with fewer materials, less time and less mess. This revolutionary alternative to conventional flooring options joins authentic porcelain ceramic tile with a pre-attached backerboard and a tongue and groove edge that allows quick, simple, lock-in-place installation.

Many homeowners aspire to incorporate real tile into their home décor, but have opted to install laminate because of budget and time constraints. According to Deep Blue Insight, a strategic market research firm, 59 percent of homeowners said the main reason they have chosen not to purchase conventional tile or hardwood flooring is due to the expense involved. Edge Flooring™ addresses these common concerns.

The days of purchasing 14 different materials needed for a tile project are gone forever. Now with Edge Flooring™, only three items are needed for installation: grout, saw blades and underlayment. The Edge® system eliminates the high installation costs and traditional messy mixing and cleanup of mortar and grout while drastically simplifying the tiling process. Homeowners now can have tile installed in a fraction of the time of previous options. Within minutes of installation, homeowners can walk on the Edge® tile; and in just a few hours, can move furniture back in place. For professionals the new process cuts installation time dramatically, which means the ability to serve more customers in less time.

The Edge Flooring™ system is a comprehensive merchandising solution, which integrates everything the consumer needs to install their new floor, all in one location, eliminating the need to make complex and multiple selection decisions associated to conventional tile. Edge Flooring™ allows flooring projects to be completed in three quick steps. Edge® has even taken the guesswork out of calculating how much of their products you'll need by providing an easy-to-use chart to identify how many boxes of tile, containers of pre-mixed of grout, and packages of ready-to-use underlayment the project requires.

· Install the Underlayment · Lock Tile In Place · Apply Grout · Wipe away excess grout with a damp sponge or float.

Edge Flooring™ has the potential to add value to a newly built or renovated home. Studies show that real ceramic tile floors increase a home's resale value more than any other flooring option. With Edge Flooring™, the average homeowner now can get the same expensive looks found in many luxury homes, without the high price tag.

"Edge Flooring™ was created to allow homeowners to enjoy the natural beauty of real ceramic tile flooring without the mess and lengthy installation," said Bob Miller, CEO of Edge®. "Edge Flooring™ has focused its product development efforts heavily on the needs of the consumer and professional contractor. Our dedication to continuous improvement is unmatched in the industry. Since its introduction, Edge's Quality and R&D Teams have re-evaluated and enhanced just about every component in our system. We are continually looking for ways to improve our products and make them easier and more user friendly."

Available in numerous styles, Edge® floors give the homeowner plenty of stylish choices. An assortment of grout colors are pre-matched to specific tiles along with coordinated transition moldings, thus taking the guesswork and confusion out of the buying and color matching process.

"This is but the latest example of how our company (Shnier Co.) attempts to stay a 'step ahead'" says Ed duDomaine, President and CEO of Shnier Co. "It reflects on our commitment as a company to be more innovative with our product design, more flexible in tailoring business solutions for our customers and easier to conduct business day in and day out".

ABOUT SHNIER CO.

Shnier Co. (a division of Gesco Industries Inc.) is Canada's leading National Floor covering Solutions Company. Founded in 1938, the company sells and services over 4,000 residential and commercial flooring customers, offering value-add products, programs and services. Shnier Co. is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, in a state-of-the-art, 255,000 square foot central logistics center. G. E. Shnier's national operations include six warehouse, sales office and/or showroom facilities across Canada.

For more information contact Shnier Co, [email protected], www.shnier.ca or visit Edge Flooring™ website at www.edgeflooring.com.