The Home Improvement Research Institute's fall conference includes two new features this year. A panel of professional remodelers from the National Association of Home Builder's Remodelor's Council will discuss what they would like to see from manufacturers, distributors and retailers and representatives from Morgan Stanley will host a session on how Wall Street investors view the home improvement industry.

Other highlights for the “Thoroughly Know Your Customers” conference to be held Sept. 9 in Rosemont, Ill. include a presentation of findings from HIRI's proprietary studies; findings from HIRI's 2004 biennial Product Purchase Tracking Study (PPTS) of consumer purchase behavior for 223 products, 34 projects, and 21 home services; and the results of a study completed by Yankelovich Inc. and Meredith Corp., the publisher of Better Homes and Gardens, on which areas of the home consumers are willing to invest the most time, energy and money.