MANUFACTURER NAMED `VENDOR OF THE YEAR'

ST. LOUIS Lee/Rowan, a national manufacturer and marketer of storage and organization products, has been recognized as a "Vender of the Year" by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., for its performance as a supplier.

Wal-Mart selected 32 vendors for this recognition.

"To be among this select group of national manufacturing firms is quite an honor," said Gary Lee, Lee/Rowan CEO. "It's a tribute to every person in our company.

"We have found it a privilege to work with Wal-Mart in a partnership that ultimately benefits the consumer," said Lee. "As one of the country's leading retailers, Wall-Mart challenges vendors to meet high standards in product quality, production and delivery."

Lee said Wal-Mart encourages vendors to provide consumers with products and packaging that are safe for the environment. The retailers also help create jobs for Americans with their "Buy American" program.

"This matches well with our corporate philosophy to manufacture the vast majority of our products at home," Lee said.

Lee/Rowan business methods that have led to its selection as Vendor of the Year include continual innovation of new products; innovation and flexibility in product design, packaging and merchandising, participation in electronic communications for projecting retail inventory requirements and providing quick shipping; maintaining an inventory of predominantly American-made products and use of plating and powder-coating processes that provide environmentally safe products.

In recent years, Lee/Rowan has received similar vendor awards from other major retailers, including Venture, Target, Sears, and Sommerville Lumber.

Lee/Rowan is a U.S. based manufacturers with distribution in Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Europe, Caribbean basin, South America and Mexico. The firm is the only domestic manufacturer of a full line of ventilated storage products and a broad assortment of traditional closet accessories.