sffilg. -Cro IJOllg.

European Softwoods Offered

New South Intcrnational is working with Klausner Holz ol- Gcrnrany to rnarket European spruce and pine products in the U.S. Thc deal contbines n'rarketing and distribution networks of thc largest privately owned sawmill in Europc with one ol'thc l0 largest tintber processors in thc Southcast.

Parcnt conrpany Ncw South, Inc., Myrtle Bcach, S.C., recently began a fir'c-year carnpaign to double thc sizc of thc company. Presidcnt Mack Singleton says thc relationship with thc German mills will "expand choices for retailers to offcr thcir customcrs sotne clf the highcst quality construction products availablc anywhe rc."

Coopcrltion began carly last ycar. Now New South Intcrnational ships Klausner wood into the ports of New York, Norl'olk, Charlcston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Mcmphis and Housion. scrving customcrs cast o1-the Rocky lvlountains.

Oi its 800 million bd. lt. annual production, Klausner plans to export 70 to 200 rnillion bd. Ii. to rhc U.S., adding to Ncw South's ou'n l,carly production of 350 million bd, Ii.

New South's intcrnational division, hcadcd by Thomas Mende, was foundcd fir,e years ago to expand on the company's cxport progrant and now buys or sclls wood products in 26 countrics across four continents.

SYP Output Sets Record

Southern pinc lumbcr production hit an all-tinre high last year, shattering a 90-year-olcl rccord, according to prclinrinary figurcs by the Southern Forcst Products Association.

l[.r'or-r r c]onstnrction challcngc incltrrles:L ncctl

Ior crtr':r.orrIinalv su1r1rort :rlong an rrnusrutllt' lo,re .pa,-r, l)ou'er []"",r,@ ll'or-n .\nthonv

Forest Protlucts is rrlrsolrrtel\' \'our- [;cst c'hoicc.

Thc 1999 output ol 16.79 billion bd. ft. lar surpassed thc prcvious high, 1909's 16.27 billion ft., as wcll as the modcrn day rccord, 1998's 16. l6 billion ft.

Southcrn pine production has again excccdcd I billion bd. li. for cach month of thc ycar and, 1.or 13 straight ycars, has topped l2 billion bd. ft. annually.

Do lt Best With Boats

Noting that just as homcowners upgradc and rcpair their homes, boatcrs upgrade and repair their vcsscls, Do it Best re tail scrvice ccntcrs arc now stocking marinc products.

The DCs arc carrying Seachoicc Products' 275 top-selling itcms for snrall- trl rncdium-size boat repairs and irnprovernents, including lights, purnps. hinges, winches, floatation deviccs and boardins ladders.

Payless Cashways Ups Spending

Paylcss Cashrvays plans to spcnd $29 million this ycar on capital expcnditurcs to improvc technology, rclnodcl 30 to 3-5 stores, ol)en ncw locations and for regular mainteniincc.

'l'hc rnoncy will conrc frorri ope rations, salc ol' rcal estatc and borrowings undcr tlrc conrpany's crcdit agrccments. In Novenrbcr, the chain conrpleted a three-ycar $260 rnillion revolving secured loan agrecrncnt with an unidcntificd lcnder.

Paylcss Cashways' capital expenditures of $47.2 nrillion in 1999 and $26.9 mrllion in l99tt mostly were to renovatc existing storcs and add e cluipment. Last ycur, it opcned t\\'o storcs and closcd 12.