Mid-America's 1 00th convention

T HE Mid-America Lumbermens

I Association celebrated its centennial in strong style with a building products expo that featured 155 exhibitors and a total attendance that exceeded 3,000.

Held for the first time in conjunction with the Western Retail lmplement and Hardware Association, the l00th annual gathering was held in Bartle Hall. Kansas City, Mo. The MLA membership covers Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Its executive v.p., Bob John, writes a popular monthlY column for Building Products Digest.

The convention program was highlighted by Paul Harvey, Jr., filling in nicely for his broadcaster father who was suffering from laryngitis; free enterprise spokesman Dr. Barry Asmus; consultant Bruce Merrifield on employee relations and compensation, and Jerry Attridge, a retired Manville Corp. executive, on competing against price sellers.

Show sales were $4.8 million, a brisk pace considering the six inch snow storm at the start of the convention. Each $100 of sales entitled the purchaser to a raflle ticket on the

1988 Suzuki jeep that was the grand prize. Beating the 48,000-to-one odds to win the vehicle was Jim Jantz, Montezuma Lumber & Hardware, Montezuma, Ks.

The final day of the convention, held February l0-13, a five Year industry forecast was made bY a panel of presidents of this industry's leading trade organizations. Earl T. Carpenter, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Assn., forecast 1.4 million housing starts in '89, rising people costs and more repair and remodeling business. Glenn Hart, National Building Material Distributors Assn., saw less real growth, stronger price competition and the need for more operating capital. Harold Maxwell, Southern Forest Products Assn., expected new mills to increase supplies of southern

Story at a Glance

Successful centennial expo. show sales were nearly $5 million tentative'89 dates: Feb. 15-18, again in Kansas Gity, Mo.

pine, making it competitive world wide, allowing its suppliers to better provide for their customers. Maxwell anticipates that three ofthe next five years will be record years for southern pine.

Roy Nyberg, National Retail Hardware Assn., noted the strength of the independent hardware dealers, observing the giants' declining market share. He said people Problems will be increasingly critical in years to come. Bill Sheathelm, North American Wholesale Lumber Assn., projected "good, but grind-it-out business until 1992," possible domestic timber shortages and price pressures due to environmentalists and a possible mild recession in the next five years. The panel was moderated by David Cutler, publisher of Building Products Digest.

Prize winning exhibitors included Curt Bean Lumber Co. for best double booth; Sherwood Cabinets for best single booth; and Andersen Corp., best multi-booth.

The convention next year is tentatively set for Feb. l5-18, 1989, again at Bartle Hall, Kansas CitY, Mo.

Grab the better part of the outdoor business.

Stock up with Western Red Cedar, the natural answer to your customers' outdoor building needs.

Western Red Cedar comes in allthe sizes, lengths, shapes and patterns your customers want, from decking and boards to fencing and lattice. There is also Cedar siding, paneling, trim, fascia, mouldings and industrial items for a wide range of other construction projects.

Protected by natural phenol preservatives, Cedar is treated all the way through, naturally, and makes imitators turn green with enly. So, bring that additional outdoor business to your store. Grab the coupon and get a selection of idea literature and a source list of Western Red Cedar producers.

Western Red Cedar Lumber Association

Let us send you a set of Cedar idea literature and our Where To Buy Guide. Mail coupon to Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, Yeon Bldg., 522 S.W. Filth Ave., Portland, 0R 97204, 0r phone(503)ZZ4-39J0

Offlco tilarehour Elperlment

Builders Square is developing a warehouse-type format for Kmart, its corporate parent, to sell oflice supplies, furniture and business equipment in mqior markets across the country.

Due to open this summer, the as yet unnamed venture is headed by Jack D, Guthrie, Builders Square executive vice president. His staff includes Robert B, Stutz, gen. merchandise mgr.; Patrick M. Mattingly, operations; R, Gene Cuthbertson, advertising and sales promotion; Mark Perry and James Reding, buyers.

G-P Opene Mlllwork Centerg

Alexandria, Va.; Atlanta, Ga.; Birmingham, Al.; Columbia, S.C.; Hillsborough, N.C.; Arlington, Tx., and Tampa, Fl., are locations for new millwork and specialty centers being established by Georgia-Pacific.

Part of a | 2 center network nationally, the centers will sell and distribute mouldings, door units and window units.

According to senior v.p. Ceorge MacConnell, this will give retailers an important advantage in buying, stocking and merchandising valueadded products. Retailers will not need to buy millwork and specialty products in full truckload quantities to get the selection, pricing and service they need to sell competitively, he said.

Each center will service markets

Alabarna Deck Clinic Popuhr

"successful? You bet!" is the quick answer when you ask about deck clinics at Harper Chambers Lumber Co., Tuscaloosa, Al.

Inaugurated last year, the deck clinic program is being repeated again this year over a longer period, according to vice president Tom Chambers. From the middle of March to the middle of May, customers are being invited to attend either a morning or afternoon deck clinic.

Coffee and doughnuts warm uP the crowd in the morning while soft drinks and popcorn refresh them in the afternoorr. A local school teacher, who is also a d-i-yer, instructs the sessions with the helP of outside within a radius of approximately 200 miles, offering product lines which will ultimately include mouldings, wood and steel entry door units and hinged patio doors; a full range of bifold and other interior door units; stair parts and wood window units. Centers will develop inventories tailored to their specific markets offering both national brand name and Georgia-Pacific brand merchandise.

Dean Treatment Semlnar

A full day pressure treated wood seminar for anyone involved in its purchase, sale or specifying will be held by Dean Lumber Co., Gilmer, Tx., on April2T at the Gilmer Country Club.

Included will be presentations on decking and plywood, a Dricon review, Dricon films, a live burn, and a mill tour of Dean's co-generation power plant, dry kilns, sawmill and new small log canter. A golf tournament and dinner will cap the program.

Home Ouarters In Charlotte

Home Quarters Warehouse has opened a Charlotte, N.C., area store in Matthews to serve the Charlotte metro area including Gaston, Union and Cabarus counties as well as York and Lancaster counties in neighboring South Carolina.

lndoor storage of lumber and a l6 computerized cash register checkout area are special features.

Bulldlng Productr Dlgot

Outside salesmen will visit the home to help the homeowner to figure materials. They often offer suggestion for rails, benches and planters which result in add-on sales. During d-i-y construclion, Harper Chambers will provide free troubleshooting or consultation. They also have free delivery within the county.

This year the 20 year old lumber company expects to have an even better response to the clinics. They now use an advertising agency to beef up the deck clinic publicity.