There are 70 million garages in the United States today, but according to a recent Gladiator® GarageWorks consumer survey, many need organizational help. Only 40 percent of garage owners listed parking their car as the garage's primary use, with the same percentage referring to their garage as a storage unit or junkyard. To help Americans turn around their chaotic and cramped garages, Gladiator brand has announced the first ever Chaotic & Cramped Ultimate Garage Makeover contest. This contest is aimed at turning the most chaotic and cramped garages in the nation into organized new frontiers with $10,000 in Gladiator® GarageWorks products.

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"The garage is considered one of the biggest shared spaces in the home, yet so much of that space is often underutilized or used improperly," said Lou Ann Schafer, Gladiator® GarageWorks' Senior Marketing Manager. "Gladiator has been around for some time as a garage organization solution, but never before has there been a greater need for our product. This contest is a fun platform to promote garage organization and grow our large base of loyal Gladiator brand fans."

To further illustrate chaotic garage issues, Gladiator brand has teamed up with celebrity designer, host and organization expert, Karl Champley to kick-off the contest. To enter, garage owners must visit www.gladiatorgw.com between August 9, 2007 and October 9, 2007, and submit a photo of their garage along with a description on why it's deserving of a makeover. One Grand Prize winner will receive a Gladiator® GarageWorks Ultimate Garage Makeover worth $10,000 and five first prize winners will receive a Gladiator® Fold Away Work Surface valued at $249.

Founded by the Whirlpool Corporation, Gladiator is the only garage organization line to offer appliances made specifically for use in extreme garage conditions. Gladiator brand has also become a leader in the over 1 billion dollar garage organization industry through its premium and ready-to-assemble line of patented tread plate designed products.

Gladiator® GarageWorks believes that consumers' first step for organization is removing items from the floor and getting them into the brand's organization solutions, like GearWall® Panels, GearTrack® Channels and specialty cabinets, drawers, appliances, baskets and hooks. These products directly address the garage use issues illustrated in the survey, by allowing the space to be a neat, organized and productive.

For a complete list of Chaotic and Cramped contest rules and regulations or for more information on the Gladiator® GarageWorks brand visit www.gladiatorgw.com.

About Gladiator® GarageWorks

Components in the versatile Gladiator® GarageWorks family of products include the Jumbo Cabinet, Modular GearBox, Modular Gear Drawer, the Tall GearBox, Tall GearBox Locker, Trash Compactor, GearTrack® Channels, GearWall® Panels, Chillerator® Refrigerator, Freezerator® Convertible Refrigerator Freezer, Roll Flooring, Tile Flooring, GearTrack®Pack and a variety of hooks and baskets.

These ultimate garage organization products including the new Jumbo Cabinet will be available either through your local garage dealer, Sears, Lowe's or via www.gladiatorgw.com.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: angela_m_hersil@whirlpool.com

SOURCE: Whirlpool