---

Pickups Plus Retains Southern Financial Services for National Mergers

23 May 2000

Pickups Plus Retains Southern Financial Services for National Mergers and Acquisitions Campaign

    MASON, Ohio--May 22, 2000--Pickups Plus, Inc. (OTCBB:PUPS), a national retailer and franchiser in the $30 billion a year accessories market for trucks and SUVs, today announced that Southern Financial Services, an investment banking firm, has been retained to start an aggressive national campaign of mergers and acquisition on behalf of Pickups Plus.
    In an industry dominated by mom and pop operations, Pickups Plus is the first publicly traded Company to emerge on the scene. "We are in a position to acquire small to medium size competitors through mergers and/or acquisitions as we become the largest retailer and franchiser in the truck and SUV accessory after market" said John Fitzgerald, President of Pickups Plus, "and there are no large competitors to look at."
    Southern Financial Services will implement a program that will contact truck and SUV accessory retailers throughout the country. They will offer them the opportunity to either be acquired by Pickups Plus or to join this nationally known franchise. By becoming part of the Pickups Plus organization they will benefit from the franchise system, have a nationally known logo and the buying power of the largest organization in its field.
    Jeffrey Dale Welsh, President of Southern Financial Services, said "Our research tells us that many single and multiunit owners are looking for an exit strategy for retirement -- Pickups Plus is that solution. Acquiring these retailers for stock in Pickups Plus is a win win situation for both parties. It allows the storeowners to secure their future and it gives Pickups Plus an even faster growth opportunity. Unlike ReMax or Century 21, who enlisted thousands and thousands of Realtors to pay them a royalty to join a national network, Pickups Plus offers two attractive alternatives."