Building products big top comes toTexas

fillephants, clowns, balloons and, lZnot incidentally, lots of business transactions characterized the 107th annual meeting of the Lumbermen's Association of Texas.

Cautious optimism was evident as dealers enjoyed an improving business climate, despite a rainy spring and still vivid memories of the recession that battered the state in the mid1980s.

Speakers included Jim Bender, an industry veteran and Pacific Northwest manufacturers rep who mixed magic in his message of telling dealers how to compete with the chains and big warehouse retailers. Bender advised: don't go head to head, do your own thing, be different" do what it takes to win, emphasize customer service, employee training, store cleanliness, making your store fun to shop. Study the competition, he suggested, play off their weaknesses to

Story at a Glance

Gontinuing improvement in the business climate ... attendance up ... Walter F. Foxworth named Lumberman of the Year '94: April 7-10, San Antonio.

your strengths.

William Peny Pendley, Mountain States Legal Defense Foundation, decried the loss of individual rights

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LAT Convention

(Continued from page 2 I ) and freedoms due to environmental extremism being enacted into law and enforced unfaidy by state and federal agencies. "People are more important than snails, birds and bugs," Perry said, urging dealers to get involved at the grass roots level to fight the environmentalists' power grab.

Attendance was up at the San Antonio meeting: 840 retailers and associates vs. last year's 77,5. Some 240 businesses exhibited, with more than 1,100 exhibitor personnel clcrked in.

The circus theme was evident and meetings very well received throughout the expo, judging b1' the many

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TEXAS show included (1) Julie & Mark Gebet (2) Ron Ross, Gayle Tipton. (3) Bob Chamberlin (4) Janet & Greg Matatall (5) Ron & Pat Yarbrough. (5) Scott Stanford (7) Matt Haroldson, Molly Muller, Cheryl Bailey, Darryl Motley (8) Roy Sawyer, David Davenoort. GeorQe Peevev. (9) David Christoirher. E. Z. funt, Anila & Joe Sreeden.

(10)Alan Lrttle. Halold Tate, Johnny Hall. (11) Bob Jackson, Carter Smith (12) Gary Weaver (13) Lonnie Lynch (1a) Ray Chambliss. Dave Blasen. (15) Karl Akers, Bon Middleton, Derrell Jackson. (16) James Bergeron, Michael Reuhnd.