KENTUCKY REPORT

WILLIAM THOMPSON lN fHE PAST several months I have Italked to dozens and dozens of people throughout the state and practically all of them have told me that if it were not for their do-it-yourself customer, they would be out of business.

In fact, too many have told me that even though this type of business is the only thing that they are moving, they still are not showing a profit. Of course, some are doing just that and quite a few are breaking even but I've never heard any of them say what they were doing about the situation, except that they were working harder, cutting expenses trying to keep the doors open. light at the end of the tunnel. Most feel that if interest rates hold or even derreasc now through the end of March, we will see an increase in activity come spring. Won't it be great to once again sce builders building and buyers buying! Builder/contractors are still the mosr important source of sales for most independent retail yards.

Well, I want to tell you thatge have one dealer in the state who has done something about it. I want to commend him for the approach he is using to attract customers into his store.

In a recent MLA survey, 8390 of Oklahoma dealen and &)90 of Arkansas dealers projected they would end calendar year 1982 with a profit. With this optimistic feeling for 1982 results, the exp€ctations now for a good l9E3 are blooming and many dealen are starting to think about their sources of zupply and personnel.

Those who get ready fint will pick the fint flower.

His ad in Sunday's Cour&rshowed me that somebody has been doing some thinking and is on the ball.

This insert in a full page ad from Jacob Levy and Brothers read as follows:

HAVE FUN! LEARN! AT LEVY'S_ HOME IMPROVEMENT SCHOOL.

Classes Begin Tues. 6:30 P.M. Levy's, Dutchman's Ln. Learn step by step how to do your own work and save up to 5090 of the totd cost! Valuable instructions from experts for both women and men! Eight 2-hr. weekly classes for only 350! (extra family members 325 each).

This is tangible proof that a dealer is doing something about today's business. My congratulations to these people. Some of you may want to do something similar.