Gladiator® GarageWorks Encourages People to Clear the Clutter in April 2006; Keep the Door Open: National Garage Organization Month Helps People Take Back the Garage

Business Wire, March 31, 2006

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- The home improvement trend of creating gourmet kitchens, spa-like bathrooms and luxury home entertainment centers is spreading to the most underutilized room of the home--the garage. From bikes, sporting equipment and plastic bins to shovels, rakes and garden hoses America's garages are bursting at the seams with stuff. In response to this calamity of clutter, Gladiator(R) GarageWorks has declared April 2006 National Garage Organization Month and plans to help people across the U.S. makeover the room commonly referred to as the "junk drawer" of the entire house.

A recent study on garage organization from Peachtree Consulting found that:

--The garage is ranked as the single biggest storage and organization headache in the home--ahead of closets, basements, kitchens, home offices, attics and laundry rooms

--Cleaning up and organizing the garage is a more highly ranked priority than buying a new computer, building a shed or adding a home office

--The garage is shifting more from a "male space" to a "shared space" - 50% of garage organization purchase decisions will be made by couples

"The garage can be more than a place to park the car and store holiday decorations--it can become an extension to a home's livable space," said Julie Morgenstern, New York Times best-selling author and columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine. "There are countless options available today that can be customized to fit people's space and budget for getting the garage organized. The end goal is that the garage becomes a more usable and enjoyable environment for the entire family."

As the weather begins to warm up across the U.S., April is the ideal time to tackle garage organization. This will give people the opportunity to open the door, conduct an inventory and then develop an organizational system to fit their needs. The garage is considered a launching pad for all outdoor activities (biking, team sports, gardening) and April is the month most of these things begin coming to life.

"We want to provide people with organizational solutions that fit their individual needs for the garage," Savalox said. "Whether it's working on the car, gardening, woodworking or a creating area for the kids to do projects--the garage can be a safe and enjoyable place to make those things happen."

Gladiator(R) GarageWorks will be offering a nationwide 10% discount on all garage organization products in April 2006. For those looking to participate in National Garage Organization Month, please visit www.gladiatorgw.com for tips and information--there's even a garage blueprint estimator on the site to help map out your organizational plan. In addition, Gladiator has an area for you to post pictures of your garage disaster zone. The garage most in need of help will be selected at the end of April to win $1,000 worth of Gladiator(R) GarageWorks product.