CALENDAR

February

Florida Lumber & Building Meterid Deelcrs AssocietionFeb. 10, plywood training seminar, Holiday Inn Airport, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.

Mississippi Building Mrterid Deders AssocietionFeb. 10-12. 57th Annual Convention and Building Products Trade Show, Royal D'lberville Hotel, Biloxi, Ms.

Carolinr Lumber & Building Mrterid Deelss AssocietionFeb. 1G'13, Housing and Building Products Show and convention, Charlotte Civic Center/Radisson Plaza Hotel, Charlotte, N.C.

Amarillo Hrrdwere Co.Feb. lll3' Spring Red Carpet buyers market, Amarillo Civic Center, Amarillo, Tx.

Hrrdwere Associetion of thc YirginirsFeb. lll5, convention, Holiday Inn of Old Town, Alexandria, Va.

Lumber Assodrtion of TexrsFeb. 16' Investing in Fixed Assets professional development program, Waco, Tx.

Southern Herdwerc AssocirtionFcb. 17-19' Convention, Ponte Vedra Inn & Country Club, Ponte Vedra Bcach, Fl.

Florida Lumber & Building Meterid Deelers AssocirtionFeb. 22, plywood training seminar, Holiday Inn Airport, Tampa, Fl.

BuiHer Mrrts of Americe, Inc.Fct.. ?:2.U' t2th Annual Independents Days products and managemcnt servics exposition, Atlanta Hilton Hotel, Atlanta, Ga- l\fid-South Hrrdwrre AssocielionFcb. 2G27, convention, Hyatt, Birmingham, Al.

Southern Forest Products AssocietionFeb. 2$24, long range planning committee meeting, New Orleans, La.

Southern Hrrdwood Treflh AssociedonFcb. B-A,62nd annual meeting, The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tn.

Appalachien Herdwood Menufrcturcrs AssocirtionFcb. 24-X, annual meeting, Washington, D.C.

Internetiond Home C-cnter Merteting ConferenceFcb. 26' Convention Center, Dallas, Tx.

Netionrl Home Ccnler/Homc Improvencnt Congrtss & F.xpositionFeb. 27-Merch 2, Convention Center, Dallas, Tx.

March

Internationrl Hardwood Products AssocietionMerch l-5, 27th annual convention and 2nd international forest products exhibition, Inter-Continental Maui, Maui, Hi.

Henderson & Brird HrrdwreCo.Much 5.6, show, Greenwood-Lefore Civic Center, Greenwood, Ms.

Lumber Associrtion of Terrs -M$ch 7' Houston- Mrr,ch t, Dallas, Tx. Managing Time professional development program.

National Lumbcr and Building Mrterid Dedcrs AssocietionMarch 15, Research & Development and Business Management committees meetings, Capitol Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Conferencc with CongressMerch l$17, The Capitol Hilton, Washington, D.C.

Virginia Building Meterid AssocirtionMrrch 21F22, annual convention, The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va.

Southern Hrrdwood Lumber Menufrclurcrs AssocietiooMsrch 2l-23, annual meeting,Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, Ga.

Nationel Association of the Remodeling IndustryMrrch 2& 7,6,41st annual convention & exposition, Atlantic City Convention Center& Playboy Hotel/Casino, Atlantic City, N.J.

80th Hardwood Class

The 80th class of the National Hardwood Lumber Association Inspection Training School will be in session in Memphis, T[., through April 15.

Hardware Buyer Profile

Here's the answer to who buys hardware where for how much.

Men tend to buy in freestanding stores while women shop in enclosed suburban malls and localized shopping centers. Average ticket amount for all hardware purchases in all locations is $48.36 with the average purchase in a freestanding store totaling $63.84. Average purchase in a downtown location is $63.04.

These statistics come from a Management Horizons, Inc. study of consumer shopping patterns. The report categorized purchases of hardware in three categories, hardware, lawn, garden and automotive; home furnishings and equipment; leisure, recreation and hobby products.

More purchases of hardware are made in local suburban shopping centers than in enclosed regional malls or downtown areas, the study revealed. Most downtown purchases are made by the 18 to 25 year-olds and those over 65. Low income groups also shop downtown. Parents, regardless of age, tend to shop in local shopping centers while young couples with no children patronize freestanding outlets.

Magnetic Tags Cut Theft

Shoplifting of hand tools, hardware, and virtually any other hard item packaged or sealed will become nearly impossible with the adoption of an electronic system now being tested in pilot projects throughout the United States.

The method works on the same principle as the reusable magnetic plastic tags often found on soft goods such as clothing. The difference is that hard merchandise is marked with a disposable paper strip which is electromagnetic. When the customer pays for the item, the cashier demagnetizes the strip by waving it over a monitor. If the strip is not deactivated, its electromagnetic field triggers an alarm when the item is taken from the area.

The paper tags are ideal for hard goods since they are inexpensive and do not need to be reused. At a cost of about 5 or 6 cents each, they can be attached to almost any item with an application gun like those used for pricing. The tag is virtually impossible to remove.

Called the universal system because of its wide applicability, the tags are now used in Europe where a trial run showed an 8590 reduction in thefts.