Haus & Garten, the German Association of Home & Garden Manufacturers, was founded by a group of 11 manufacturing companies in July 1982. The Association had grown to about 150 member companies. Haus & Garten's mandate is to support and protect the common interests of its members in four main fields: (1) sales & marketing; (2) fairs and exhibitions; (3) public relations and (4) major issues relating to legal, to rules and regulations and to technical matters. Therefore, the association supports its members on various aspects concerning the distribution of Home & Garden products. Because it caters for the varying requirements of its diverse membership, Haus & Garten operates not only as one group but internally also by different groups structured by assortments.