Do lt Best Opens Shop On The Internet

Do it Best Corp. plans to open the "World's Largest Hardware Store," a retail Web site reportedly offering the largest selection of hardware and building products on the Internet.

The enterprise is set to come on line July I at www.doitbest.com. The new address fbr the buying group's corporate site is www.doitbestcorp. com.

"Today, nearly 50Vo of all households have computers, and in 1998, consumers purchased $ l5 billion worth of goods on line," says Do it Best president and ceo Mike McClelland. "Three years ago, Amazon.com didn't exist. but todav that company dominates the book caiegory over the Internet. We want to help our members dominate the online hardware category

In addition to an on-line How-To Encyclopedia full of project tips and how-to advice, the site will offer over 70,000 products, and new items will continually be added.

Customers will be able to access the "store" directly or link to the site through a Do it Best member's home page, whereby that member will directly profit from any items sold.

"What makes this Web site different from all the others is that it has the potential for every one of our members to build his own site and link it to the corporate site," says v.p. of mktg. Bill Zielke. "Customers who enter the e-commerce site through a member's home page will never know that they've gone to a corporately-run site. The member's name will be carried over all the subsequent pages of information."

Customers link to the store by clicking the "Shop" button on a member's home page, from there they can find and purchase the exact products they want using a variety of search options.

Do it Best will ship the merchandise from its retail service centers. For orders that cannot be sent by UPS, for example some building products, consumers will be directed to a nearby Do it Best store, and that store will arrange to deliver or special order the items.

The co-op decided to construct its own e-commerce site after conducting a recent survey that revealed one in l0 respondents would buy hardware over the Internet and learning ofa Fonester study that forecast on-line sales of hardware and building products to hit $6 billion within fbur years.

To make it easier for members to have their own home pages, Do it Best is offering three new home page templates.

The co-op will also custom design Web sites for members.

Depot Adding Four Offices

As part of its aggressive growth plan to more than double its store counr ro 1,600 by rhe end of 2002, Home Depot is increasing the number of its North American regional offices from six to 10.

Over the next two years, Depot will convert buying offices in Atlanta, Ga., and Seattle, Wa., into divisional offices and establish new divisional offices in Detroit, Mi., and Boston, Ma.

Currently, the chain operates regional offices in Tampa, Fl.; Dallas, Tx.; Los Angeles, Ca.; Chicago, Il.; South Plainfield, N.J., and Toronro.

Listings are oflen submitted months in advance. Alwavs verdv dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to atlend.

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House-Hasson HardwareJune l2-13, market, Catlinburg Convention Center, Gatlinburg, Tn.; (423) 525-04'7l.

Carolinas-Tennessee Building Material AssociationJune 17.20, summer cont'erence, The Homestead, Hot Springs, Ar.; (704) 376-1503.

Southern Pressure Treaters Assn.June 20-22, summcr meeting, The Homestead, Hot Springs, Ar.; (334) 968-5126.

Forest Products SocietyJune 20-23, annual meeting, Borse Convention Center, Boise, Id.; (608) 231-1361.

Appalachian Hardwood ManufacturersJune 23-25, summer meeting, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, N.C. (336) 885-8315.

Bricolage '99June 23-27, home improvement trade f air, Sao Paulo, Brazil; 55-l l -5505-2243.

Southern Forest Products AssociationJune 24-26, Expo '99, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.; (5(X) 4434464.

National Hardwood Lumber Association -.Iune 25-26, media relations course, Memphis, Tn.; (8OO) 933-0318.

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Louisiana Building Material Dealers AssociationJuly 15' 18, summer conference, Marriott Grand Hotel, Point Clear, At.: (225) 3M-4317.

Watters & MartinJuly 18-19, market, Scope Exhibition Hall' Norfolk, Va.; (800) M6-8205.

Kentucky Lumber & Building Material AssociationJuly 19, Congleton Cup golf tournament, Players Club; July 20' summer board meeting, Embassy Suites, Lexington, Ky.; (502) 245-6'.130.

Houston Hoo-Hoo Club - July 22, elections, Allen Park Inn, Houston, Tx.; (281) 499-5575.

National Hardwood Lumber Association - July 23'24' personnel management course, Memphis, Tn.; (800) 933-0318.

International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Exposition - July ?4-26, Kenttcky Exposition Center, Louisville' Ky.; (800) 558-8767.

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Timber Products Training SystemsAug. 2'6, NGR lumber grading course, Conyers, Ga.; (770) 922-80W.

Southeastern Lumber Manulacturers AssociationAug. 5'7' annual meeting, Westin Rio Mar, Puerto Rico; (404) 3611445.

Mississippi Building Material Dealers AssociationAug.6'7' mid-year board meeting, Silver Star Casino Resort Convention Center, Philadelphia, Ms.; (60l) 267-5522.

Window & Door Manufacturers AssociationAug, 7'11' summer meeting, Williamsburg Marriott, Williamsburg, Va.; (800) 223-2301.

Wood Moulding & Millwork Producers AssociationAug. 10-15, semi-annual meeting, Sun River Resort, Sun River' Or.; (800) 550-7889.

Yirginia Building Material AssociationAug. l2-15, summer conference, Ramada Oceanside Tower, Virginia Beach' Va.; (804) 323-8262.

National Building Products ExpoAug. 15-18' McCormick Place, Chicago, Il.; (847) 605-1025.

National Hardware Shodlnternational Hardware WeekAug. 15-18, McCormick Place, Chicago, ll.; (847) 605-1025.