THE HOWARD COMPANY

The Company is Founded in 1950 The Howard Company was established in 1950 as Howard Displays by Al Howard. It was primarily referred to as point-of-purchase display advertising brokerage. With an in-house design staff, Al Howard and sales people developed and contracted for point-of purchase display advertising pieces and programs for national advertisers. All production, assembly and services, other than art, were purchased on the outside. The Company was incorporated in 1957 as The Howard Company, Inc., continuing in the same line of business. Due to ill health, Al Howard appointed his son, Kent Howard as president of the Company in 1969. Kent served as president until 1996 when he assumed the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Today, Doug Watson, serves as COO of the 100% employee owned company. The Howard Company has about 50 proud employee shareholders. Mainstreet Menu Systems is Introduced in 1986 Until 1986, all business was done on contractual basis. Display programs were developed, produced and inventoried against contracts with national companies such as General Motors, Ford, Dr. Pepper / 7-Up, and Sherwin Williams. In 1986, Mainstreet Menu Systems was introduced as a stock product based on fast food menu system experience the Company had with Hardees, Dr. Pepper, Bonanza and others. Inventory was built with no commitment, and menu systems were sold one at a time or in any quantity needed by the customer. The Mainstreet Menu System brand is recognized as the market leader in indoor and outdoor menu boards. The product is sold through dealers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and through distributors in Europe, Japan, South Africa and other selected parts of the world. Howard Menus Providing a proprietary, custom menu system was a natural outgrowth of the point-of-purchase experience.

The Howard Company's design, engineering and project management expertise delivered major indoor and outdoor programs for national accounts like Arby's, Dairy Queen, Yum! Brands and others. How We Work We work with the customer to deliver what the customer wants. Our designers, engineers, and model makers execute the concepts to reality. Our project managers work closely with our suppliers to assure a quality product, delivered on time. We assemble and test each display or menu system before shipment. Most of the programs and systems purchased by our customers require very personalized fulfillment. We meet these needs with world-class pre- and post-sale customer service. We eliminate the risk from our customers program by delivering as promised. Conclusion The Howard Company has in-depth experience in many markets. Through the three segments of the Company- Mainstreet Menu Systems, Howard Menus and Howard Displays, we serve many vertical markets including quick serve restaurants, convenience stores, hardware, mass merchants, automotive, banking and state lotteries. We work with virtually all materials and we are as comfortable outdoors as indoors. Our focus on quality and service sets us apart in our various marketplaces.